Hair Styling Tools

Brazilian Blowouts have actually been available for close to a year or more now and yet they appear to be a treatment that will not be going away any time soon.  More and more hair stylists are becoming certified to perform this process, whether it be the brand name Brazilian Blowout, or another keratin type process that has been designed to do the same or similar type thing.  As you probably already know, these treatments are not cheap and can range anywhere from $150 to $400+, depending on the area, where you go to get the process, and what kind of special deals might be going on at the time.

If the desired goal of a Brazilian Blowout is to relax super-curly hair, add more shine, make wavy/frizzy hair straight but with a natural look to it, allow you to air-dry hair leaving it looking like a flat wave, and decreasing the amount of time it takes to blow dry and leaving your hair silky-smooth….THEN what do you do and use to hopefully extend the life of this keratin process.

It’s all about the haircare products that are used on your hair after you have had the keratin treatment and when to use them.  If your stylist has performed the brand name Brazilian Blowout keratin treatment on your hair there are no time limit restrictions as to when you can wash your hair.  However, most if not all other brands require that you wait a minimum of 24 hours and in some cases up to 96 hours before you wash your hair.  This is because these other processes need the additional time to settle into your hair and ensure that the process is complete and  successful.  No matter which brand of keratin treatment you have had, it is strongly recommended that you use a shampoo and conditioner that is free of sulfates and sodium chloride.  If you don’t, you will definitely strip your hair of the treatment that you not only spent a great deal of money on, but lose out on the time you invested in getting the process done.

There are several sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners in the marketplace, but not all are sodium-chloride free.  I’ve done my research and my vote is for Potions International (PI) Super Moist Shampoo and Super Moist Conditioner.  They are sulfate-free, sodium-chloride-free, paraben-free and are not only great for keratin processing aftercare but for regular use as well.  PI offers an extensive line of haircare products to include a super serum, a fantastic conditioning cream reconstructor made with pure carrot oil called Power Construct. and a whole host of other varieties of shampoos and conditioners.  All Potions International products are made in the USA!!

So many climates, especially for those of us who live in the midwest, south and east coast regions have to deal with the humid months of the year and its affect on not only our skin but especially with our hair.

What about droopy soggy bangs?  Did you know that dry shampoo can be your newest friend?  For a temporary fix, spritz your bangs with a small amount of dry shampoo and you will see an instant fix.  Or, if you are not opposed to wearing a headband, the really wide headbands will easily hid your limp layers.  For a chic look be sure to push the headband back approximately and inch from your hairline.

What about puffy hair caused by humidity?  Definitely using haircare products that are specifically designed to resist humidity and frizz are initial considerations in dealing with these hair conditions.   Whether it be a serum, shampoo, conditioner, styling cream, or even the hairspray that you use, may all contribute to either solving the problem or add to the problem.  That is why it is extremely important to see what the product is designed to do.  While humidity can be around for several months out of the year, changing your regiment during this timeframe  may be something you will be doing on a routine basis.

An important thing to remember, however, is that humidity can actually be quite healthy for your hair.  The extra moisture that humidity provides is actually hydrating your hair and giving it extra curls for those who already have curly  hair as well as some extra bounce.  A layered style may also be a consideration for the curly head of hair as it will accentuate the curls.

Another option is the now very popular keratin hair straightening treatments for professionally straightened hair.  This process will also dramatically cut back on the frizz and puffiness that humidity can cause.

If wearing your hair longer during humid months appeals to you, the extra weight will help contibute to keeping your hair from puffing out.

Obviously, the most common practice nowadays is to use a flat iron on your hair to achieve the optimum results.  Of course, using a straightening iron could potentially be damaging to your hair if you do not use it properly and also if you are not using one that has been manufactured with all of the new modern technology that has been designed to provide the least amount of damage to your hair.

If you don’t already have a flat iron, or are in the market to replace one, make absolutely sure that the plates are 100% ceramic.  One of the most important reasons for this is that the ceramic technology allows for a more even heat distribution across the plate so that when you are gliding the plates through your hair you are not getting hot spots in certain areas, thus resulting in damage to overheating of those strands of hair.  In your search for flat irons if you can also find a ceramic plate that has been infused with tourmaline, the quality of the flat iron is even better.  The reason for this is that tourmaline is a crystal that when ground into a fine powder, and then infused onto the plates of a flat iron, will also product negative ions that ultimately results in shinier and smoother hair.

So now that you have the proper hair straightener I recommend that you follow what I call my ”Be Smart” straightening guidelines.

1)  Straighten your hair only when it is completely dry, unless you are using a specific “wet to dry” hair straightener.

2)  Unless you are African American or have thick, course hair, you should not have to use a temperature setting of more than 400 degrees.  If the flat iron has fixed heat settings they generally have been calibrated for normal-to-thick hair.  Therefore, if your hair is fine or damaged, or even chemically treated, try to resist the higher temperatures.

3)  Do not straighten your hair more than 2-3 times per week.

4)  Be kind to your hair by using haircare products that contain moisturizing ingredients not only in the shampoo but in the conditioner as well.

5)  Use a heat protectant spray or creme on your hair prior to straightening.

6)  If your hair is already straight or wavy, you need only pass the iron once through each section of your hair.  Move the iron slowly down the section of hair and don’t use the iron as if you were trying to iron a garment.  If your hair is thick, course, or curly, the hair can withstand a second pass through.

Are you looking for some new ways to style shoulder length hair, or perhaps some easy ways to freshen up a hairdo or shorten the time spent?   If the answer is yes, then the following ideas may be of some help or give you some additional options to how you are styling your hair.

TOOLS AND HAIRCARE PRODUCTS NEEDED:

Medium to large size barrel curling irons ( 1 to 1/2 inch barrel)

Vent Brush

Styling Brushes (2 to 3 inch barrel)

Beachy or Enzyme Rich Spray

Shine Serum

Aerosol Hair Spray

Small to Large Claw Clip

The first style gives you those free flowing waves that give you a more natural look.  All you need to do is wash and blow dry your hair straight as usual till it is about 95% dry.  Whether you have bangs or not, take the hairs that frame the sides of your face and wrap the ends around your styling brush as you continue to dry your hair so that you get a definite wave at the bottom of these sections of hair.  Once your hair is completely dry, and you find that the ends are not waving as much as you would like,  take the large barrel curling iron and curl under for a very short period of time so that the curl/wave is swooping down into that free wave look you are going for.

What if your hair is naturally curly and you are going out for the evening but don’t have the time to go to a lot of trouble?  Spritz your hair with some beachy  or enzyme rich spray.  Next take the front sides of your hair on both sides and rake them back with your fingers so that you can create some lift to your hair and fasten loosely with a claw clip at the back of your head.

How about layered hair that you want to give some focus to and have the layers stand out?   Taking your freshly washed hair, coat the layers that are closest to your face and coat them with shine serum.   Now dry these coated sections with your hairdryer so that they fall  naturally.  Take a vent brush and dab more shine serum on it to brush through the remainder of your hair and let it air dry.   Finally, toss your head over and spray with hair spray and then toss your head back into the upright position and you are done.  This is great for the summer while the air temperatures are warmer and hair has the ability to dry a little faster when wet.

Yes, the warm days of summer have already hit some of us and for others it is just around the corner.  So that you are not looking back after summer is gone and asking yourself what went wrong, start thinking about what is needed to keep your hair healthy and protect it from the sun and other elements.

For all hair types the summer is the best time to try to cut back on the use of all hair styling appliances if at all possible.  I know some of you are saying that you absolutely have to blow dry your hair or you won’t get the volume you need or the style without using your styling brushes and hair dryers.  Believe me, I understand this.  However, many of us who are in the workforce don’t work 24/7 and there are days that you can compromise.  I have thin fine hair and rather than wash and condition my hair daily, I wear regular off-the-shelf  hair rollers on those inbetween days and my hair works out great.  Yes, I wear the hair rollers to bed.  If your hair is either extremely short or if you have longer hair, allow for extra time in the morning and let your hair air dry.  To get that extra volume that you might need if you let your hair air dry, try skipping conditioner more often during the summer or only apply it to your ends.  Also try using a clarifying shampoo at least once a week as this will rid your hair of all of the haircare products that you have been using and that have been building up in your hair.  These tend to weight your hair down.

Hair must stay hydrated.  Obviously, thirsty strands of hair are going to absorb water from the air.  To do this avoid over washing your hair.  If you can get by shampooing only once a week, do so.  On other days, condition only.  However, if you tend to have frizzy hair or live in a more humid climate where tendancies for frizzy hair run rampant, don’t forget to always  apply your frizz-controlling products while your hair is still damp.

Have you noticed more and more celebs are wearing bangs these days?  For some it definitely adds to their already youthful looking appearance but others are wearing them because believe it or not, bangs can make a statement.

When deciding whether to wear bangs or not, it is always important to take into account the shape of your face.  if your face is long an oval, a straight, blunt cut works.  If your face is round, square, or heart-shaped, it is recommended that the sides of the bangs be tapered to frame the face, resulting in a more flattering appearance.

The fun thing about having bangs is that there are multiple options in how they can be worn and styled.  If you can find a style that matches your personality that’s even better.  Some of the 2010 trends include choosing from extra short bangs to the long choppy ones. 

 If you are looking for elegant styled bangs or that professional look  and your hair is long, medium, or short, go for a side swept bang look or longer bangs to hide your eyebrows.   If your bangs are curling up on you and you want them to stay longer looking,  mini flat irons are the way to go.  You just simply straighten them as you would the rest of your hair with a flat iron but what is so great about a mini flat iron is that you can get close to your scalp and straighten this smaller section of hair without the concern of burning your forehead or face.  The other cool thing about having longer bangs is that they can be changed up with almost any style haircut.  So, whether it be for the office or formal affair, or to wanting to fulfill that wild and crazy party personality, all you have to do is use some haircare products that will pump up the volume and/or add extra texture to your hair.

What about layering your bangs?  Some of the new looks for 2010 are the choppy asymmetrical edgy hairstyles so why not add that look to the bangs as well?  If you have a large forehead you can get away with that uneven eyebrow sweeping bang cut.

Lastly, if you have a small forehead you can definitely get away with the more extreme bang cuts.  These include anything from straight shaped to the asymmetrical choppy layered bangs with extreme edges.

In my last post I indicated that the trends for hairstyles in 2010 were leaning more towards longer hairstyles and that you will see that those of us who have short hair will be starting to let it grow out.  HOWEVER, there are still those of us who just don’t look good with longer hair for all sorts of reasons.  Especially for those of us who have thin or fine hair, shorter styles always make us look like we have more hair.  And, some of us just want the easy way out in starting out our day with less time having to be devoted to our hair.  OR, is it easier?  Actually, shorter haircuts require more trims, and more importantly, because your hair is shorter, you need to keep it in the best shape possible because you don’t have the luxury of hiding it with your longer locks.  Don’t let this steer you away because keeping your hair healthy is easy to do with today’s haircare products.

So, if we have short hair, or are even risking getting it cut like Katharine McPhee (former American Idol contestant) did, it might be helpful to know what the 2010 short hair trends are.  

Pixies, piecey layers, bold color, asymmetry, bowl-shaped cuts, texture, retro, funky bangs, and big hair are what some of the more well known fashion and hair experts are talking about.  I can understand all of them except for the bowl-shaped cut.  Unless you start seeing a lot of people wearing this style, especially in the celebrity mix, this is one I would steer clear of. 

Personally, I like the idea of some funky looking bangs.  If you have been sporting a bob hairstyle, and you already have bangs, get your stylist to show you how to change them up.  It might require some special trimming but don’t we always need to get our bangs trimmed anyway?   I also like the asymmetry and textured layer looks because they are so out there.   If you are new to short hair, then this messy look as displayed in the photo below might be a starting point for you. 

For most of us, when we think of pixie haircuts, we think of Halle Berry.  Considering she is in every magazine we pick up, whatever she wears always looks good.  Halle is not the only one out there with pixie cuts and you too may want to consider going extremely short because there are some very unique and sexy styles that can be created with extremely short hair.   Not everyone can wear their hair this short, but if you can, then you go girl.

The hottest new trend for all lengths of hair is retro waves.  Apparently, for these hairstyles, the curling irons are no longer being used and the switch is being made to hot rollers.     

Short hairstyles are being worn by all ages and walks of life.  You can be a chic professional or the girl next door.  Whatever you feel comfortable in is what is going to make you the happiest.  Don’t be shy and if you are ready to explore some new avenues then be sure to check out all of the latest short styles either online or in your favorite magazines.

Well here it is already midway through the month of April and I’m just now getting around to addressing 2010 hairstyle trends.  As they say, better late than never.

So what is the outlook for 2010?  After reading many magazine articles and online forums and blogs, the one descriptive word that rang out loud and clear was VERSATILITY.   Apparently, there is a movement towards longer hair.  Certainly, the more hair you have the more options are available to you in the styling of your hair.   Most hair styling and beauty professionals agree that most face shapes and body types can accomodate longer hair lengths.

So, what happens to those of us who have gotten comfortable with their pixie cuts and bobs?  I guess  it is time to start letting our hair grow out and get with the program on the longer flowing locks and natural looking hair styles.  That is not to say that short haircuts are going going gone because they aren’t.  In fact there are some new short style trends which will be covered in another article very soon.

Regardless of whether or not you jump on the bandwagon and start letting your hair grow out, it is still critically important that you treat your hair with kindness.  Kindness means using shampoos and conditioners that are suited to the type of hair that you have.  If you have dry and brittle hair then you need to be using a shampoo that has moisture therapy ingredients.  If you have color treated hair then you need to be using a shampoo that is specifically designed for color treated hair.  This same advice applies to hair conditioners.  I think you get the picture. 

In addition to using the right haircare products, it is also extremely critical that you are using a professional hairdryer that has ceramic and ionic features.  There are many other features that can be associated with ceramic and ionic technologies that are also good for your hair.   Also, it is very important to be mindful of the hair dryers that are sold in your discount stores that claim to be ceramic and ionic.  Just how good can the technology be in these extremely low priced dryers?   Do your research and even discuss with your hair stylist what they might recommend.  There is the right hair dryer out there for you and that in combination with the right haircare products, you too can enjoy the new hairstyle trends of 2010.

The obvious answer to what is the alternative to a wet shampoo, is a dry shampoo.  Are you serious?  Do they still make this stuff and if so does it really work?

Yes, there are several dry shampoos in the marketplace and they range in prices from about $7.00 to $20.00.  What is the difference in the price ranges?  Different brands charge different amounts.  Will you accomplish the same thing whether you are using the $7.00 variety or the $20.00 variety?  Yes, both perform the same function and why pay more when you can get it for less.

For those of you who have never used a dry shampoo, you really should have a can on hand.  This baby powder in hair spray form will get you through those mornings when you have either overslept, or for whatever reason you just don’t have time to shampoo  your hair.  Even if you are on time and your hair is looking just slightly oily, a spray of the dry shampoo will help absorb the oil but also add texture to your hair.  If you are also looking for a slight lift at the roots, this will do the trick as well.

When I last visited my hair stylist for my usual  7 to 8 week trim and color, I was on the fence as to whether to make a change to my current hair style.  My style really works for me and it actually isn’t all that difficult or time consuming  to do, but there was this nagging feeling that perhaps it was time for a change.  I was flipping through magazines in the reception area and I wasn’t all that intrigued by what I saw.   While sitting in the stylist’s chair I thought I would just ask what the current trends are in hair styles.  I actually was somewhat shocked to hear her say that anything goes.  Since I didn’t really have anything particular in mind, I went ahead and stayed with the usual.  

After leaving the salon I started paying more attention to hairstyles being worn by women just out in the general public and in no particular setting.   My stylist was right.  There is this hodge podge of hair styles going on.  Long hair is either straight, wavy, or curly.  Some have their hair pulled back in a pony tail or hanging loose.  Short hair is styled all different types of ways.  Some women are wearing bangs, and some women aren’t.  So, as I drove home it hit me.  We are so fortunate to be living in this space and this time.  Why??  Because, with the use of a few hair styling tools, we can accomplish just about any hair style we want, whether our hair is long, short, straight, or curly.    

Obviously, having the right hair styling tools, and hair styling accessories isn’t the answer to everything, but it can make our life so much easier.  When I stop to think about when I was a teenager and the only two hair styling tools I owned (and felt ever so fortunate) were a hairdryer and a set of steam hot rollers.   Of course, my hair was long and became very damaged.  Hair health wasn’t the topic of the day back then and the only answer was to either stop using the hot rollers, or to get a trim every two to four weeks.  I remember always getting my mom’s sewing scissors out and individually cutting split ends on my head of hair.  One other major reason that we are so fortunate today to have the multitude of haircare products at our fingertips.  Albeit,  there are so many haircare products available it is sometimes hard to choose just what works for our own particular hair type, the point is that we have these choices!!

The next time you think about going for a hairstyle change, first consider your options in terms of what’s available out there to use to style the head of hair that you already have.  In these tough economic times, we sometimes just have to take alternative routes and much of what we think we need, we might already have, or a friend might have and could be easily borrowed.  Just remember what’s hair today, is still hair tomorrow.