Hair Styling Tools

Making that decision to finally take the plunge and let that gray shine on through is never easy.  Yes, it is an admittance that you are getting older (I didn’t say old), but on the other hand you can save some time and money by not having to color your hair every 4-8 weeks.  And, perhaps it’s time to take on that more dignified look anyway.  Who says you can’t have gray hair and be as well as look sexy?  In fact, just look at Jamie Lee Curtis!   So, just exactly what are the steps to growing out the gray?

First of all, it is important to know that it takes about a year to grow out your grays.  So, it is not an overnight process and there still will be some coloring costs involved in the interim.  Secondly, the recommendation by most hair stylists is that you consider going with a shorter hairstyle .  Marie Robinson, color director at Clairol suggests you “get lowlights to make the transition easier.”  As we all know, gray strands of hair tend to grow out coarse and porous, and a result make our hair look more dingy.  This is where haircare products come to the rescue.  By using a gloss that helps to boost shine to your hair ( I recommend Potions International Super Serum), and a violet-tinted shampoo (I recommend Clairol Shimmer Lights Shampoo), the yellow tones to your hair will disappear.

Black hair is extremely fragile and as such, extra care must be taken to avoid hair breakage, hair loss, and splitting of ends.  Two very important ways to address these issues are to make sure that you own a wide tooth comb as well as a natural boar brush.  The wide tooth comb will not get caught up in your hair.  A natural boar brush pulls the sebum from your scalp through your hair and coats the strands.  This results in providing a protective barrier and adds shine and fewer split ends.  Think in terms of a boar brush as an aid to providing your hair with a natural conditioner.

Conditioning black hair is of the utmost importance.  Keeping the hair moisturized is key.  When shopping for haircare products, finding the right kind of conditioner is important, such as a leave-in conditioner for routine usage.  A once-a-week conditioning treatment can also be something to do on a regular basis, especially during those times of the year when your hair has more tendancies to dry out.  Lastly, because the texture of black hair requires more oil, a serum that contains natural oils that can be used on a daily basis is also highly recommended.

If you haven’t already heard of Potions International (PI) haircare products, then now is the time to check them out.  They manufacture a Rinse-Free Hair Moisturizer that has organic aloe vera juice and coconut oil just to name a few of the many natural ingredients.  Their product called Power Construct is a a Beta Keratin Oil treatment that is rich in natural ingredients to include almond oil, aloe vera gel, olive butter and even mango butter.  Use this at least once a week and you will see improvement in your hair after even the first use.  And, PI’s Super Serum with Organic Argan oil will instantly penetrate and absorb into your hair and reduce the frizz, repair the hair, protect the hair from heat, create shine, and provide UV protection.  This serum smells amazingly fresh and you will find yourself dabbing it on yourself in areas besides just your hair.

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.