Hair Styling Tools

Bad hair day?  Too hot for your trusty baseball hat?  Regardless, a girl has got to have options!  This five minute updo is a perfect addition to any bad hair day repertoire!

-Skip the brush and use your fingers to gather dry hair into a low ponytail.  Fasten with an elastic band.

-Next, twist the tail and begin wrapping it around the elastic.  Use a bobby pin and secure in place.

-With an aerosol hair spray, mist all over.  Gently rough up the bun to give it that loose, undone feel.  If you are uncomfortable with too many flyaways, use some hair serum and dab them on on those unwanted strands.

-To top off the look, slip on a headband.  The hair behind the band will bump up a little and will add a dressier finish.

Oh no…you sit up straight in bed and realize, you’ve overslept!  You have a meeting in 20 minutes and your hair is a tousled mess!  What do you do?  Skip the shower and do the Beat the Clock Blowout!

-Spritz the roots of your dry hair with a volumizing spray.  Flip your head upside down and blast your hair for a full minute with your hairdryer.  Then part your hair on one side. 

-Using a rounded flat iron or large barrel curling iron, begin working in about three inch sections.  Run your iron from roots to ends, making sure to gently curl the ends under.

-Finally brush your hair through to blend sections and smooth any flyaways.  If need be, dab some of your hair serum on the flyaways if brushing your hair through doesn’t do the trick.  Finish with a light mist of flexible hold hairspray.

From bed head to polished in under 10 minutes?  You may have to start sleeping in more often!

We’ve all been there…a casual Saturday, hair in a ponytail, and then you get it…a call from your crush for a last minute date!  Have no fear…if you  have 10 minutes, you can have a head full of luscious curls, perfect for a night out!

-Begin with dry hair.  Part it low on one side.

-Next divide your hair into about five sections.  Spray each section with hair spray, then start wrapping each section around your curling iron (either a clipless or spring grip curling iron will work). Be sure to fan hair out along the barrel, to evenly distribute heat, and allow curl to set faster.  Roll the curling iron up to your cheekbones.

-After you’ve completed curling all five sections, gently brush through your hair to relax the curls.  Finish with drop of hair serum (I prefer Potions International Super Serum) applied to the ends.

-If you’re feeling fancy, tuck the hair behind your ear on one side and hold in place with a pretty clip or barrette.

 A little lipgloss and some killer heels, and you’re on your way!

With the days getting shorter and back to school shopping looming, most of us would do anything to hang on to every last bit of summer!  Why not embrace the essence of carefree, sunny days with a carefree, sunny style?  As far as I’m concerned, it’s never to late for beachy waves!

Here’s how to get the look:

1. Wash and towel dry your hair.  Spray in a salt or beach spray from roots to ends to achieve that volume and texture.  Be sure to evenly saturate your hair, don’t forget to lift sections and spray all over.

2. Next, part your hair.  Begin blow drying while carefully raking your fingers through your strands.  In order to eliminate tangles and frizz, be sure to point the hairdryer straight down from above.

3. Using a one-inch curling iron or curling wand, start curling your hair.  Hold the curling iron vertically and wrap random sections of hair around the barrel, leaving the last inch or so out.  Hold for a few seconds and release.  Gently tug on the ends to relax the curl.

4. Lastly, use a styling wax to define and defrizz the ends.

Four easy steps to achieving an endless summer…well, at least an endless summer look!

What better way to frame your face and draw attention to those gorgeous eyes, than mixing up the way you style your bangs?  Dig into your arsenal of hair styling tools and your ready to go.  Here’s your how-to guide for three fun and fabulous looks!

-Wispy and Whimsical - Start by pointing your hair dryer straight down over you bangs.  Begin moving the dryer back and forth from side to side as you comb through to be sure you aren’t flattening your bangs against your forehead.  When your hair is just about dry, use your fingers to gently tug down and tame any fly aways.  Finish with applying a drop of lightweight pomade or serum to the ends.

-Side-swept and Sultry- Using your 2.5-inch round brush, carefully wrap your bangs around it and pull them gently away from the side you normally wear them (i.e. if yours typically go to the right, start by drying them to the left.)  Move your dryer back and forth from above for about 10 seconds as you smooth them.  Next begin bring pieces over in half inch sections, pinning them in place as they cool.  This helps to maintain shape.

-Straight across Shag- Comb out your wet bangs with a fine-tooth comb.  With your hairdryer fitted with a nozzle, begin drying your bangs.  Be sure to  focus the heat from above.  Next using a paddle brush, pull your bangs to the right for a few seconds, then to the left .  Repeat until your bangs are completely dry.  To keep flyaways at bay, always finish by holding the paddle brush underneath with your hairdryer set to cool.

Give these super cute styles a try, see which fringe best frames your face!

I don’t know about  you, but I do not like having to spend my time trying to figure out what shampoo to try next when I notice that my hair is starting to lack volume or perhaps is starting to appear dry at the ends.  Therefore, I have found that when you find a brand that you really like, make sure it carries a variety of types of shampoos so that you can at least stay with a brand that you are familiar with and obviously must be of the quality that suits your needs. 

Most of the professional or salon quality brands of shampoos and conditioners do carry several types of shampoo as well as conditioner to choose from.  If you are in a position where you are going to try a different type shampoo, then I recommend using the companion conditioner as well.  So, if you have been using a volumizing shampoo and conditioner, and you want to switch to something that is going to hydrate your hair, then buy both the hydrating shampoo and the hydrating conditioner.  I have found that the ingredients are similar in both with the obvious difference in ingredients that are found in shampoo versus conditioner.  There is something in the chemistry of keeping with the same product line that produces far better results than if you were to mix up the brands.

If you are not happy with your current haircare products, then I would recommend trying my favorite, Potions International (PI).  All of their products are made here in the United States with natural ingredients.  Most of their products are sulfate free, paraben free, and in some cases, sodium chloride (salt) free.  In comparison to many of the salon and professional lines found in your salons and in some beauty supply stores, they are reasonably priced.  If you are looking to improve the health of your hair as well as its appearance, this is definitely a brand well worth trying.

When it comes to choosing a flat iron for African-American or other ethnic hair types, consideration always needs to be made with respect to the texture of the hair as well as the thickness and degree of curl the hair has.  If the degree of curl is such that it is a loose curl or loose coil, you may be able to get by with just using large rollers rather than having to use a hair straightener.  If your hair is thick and has a tighter curl or coil to it, the following information will be extremely helpful in selecting the best, but more importantly, the right type of flat iron for your hair.  And, it is important to note that there is more to achieving straight hair than just plugging in the flat iron and using it.  Applying the right haircare products is essential to keeping your hair moisturized and protected from any drying out that could occur during the straightening process.

1. Shampoo and deep condition your hair.  The added moisture from the conditioning will help protect your hair from drying out as you straighten it.
2. Use a leave-in conditioner and then spray a good heat protectant on your hair.
3. Using a wide tooth comb, comb through the hair, starting at the last couple of inches of your hair and working upward so as to not to break off or pull out hair unnecessarily.  You will also be evenly distributing the haircare products you have already applied.
4. Make sure your hair is towel dried extremely well and then section your hair for ease in drying.
5. Use a medium setting on your dryer and use a large barrel styling brush to stretch out your hair as you are drying.

For the above haircare products, I recommend Potions International, they have a wonderful ”Super Moist” Shampoo, a deep conditioner called “Power Construct”, a leave-in conditioner by the name of ”Rinse-Free Hair Moisturizer”, and for the spray-in heat protectant, “Super Argan Spray-In” is awesome.

So, what type of flat iron is going to work best on black hair?  As with any type of coarse, thick, or curly hair, we have already established that this type of hair has tendancies toward being dryer than most.  At a minimum, the use of a ceramic plate with the lowest temperature possible is strongly recommended.  Experimenting with the temperature control to see what works best for your particular type hair is the name of the game, with whatever flat iron you choose to use.  Tourmaline and titanium flat irons will add natural shine to your hair so this too is an excellent choice for a flat iron.  One problem that many African Americans have with the straightening process is the ability to get the straightener close enough to the roots of the hair without burning the scalp or skin.  I have found one that is perfect for this.  The Le Angelique CareTin Titanium straightener is aerodynamically modeled with a curved end that allows you to get extremely close to the scalp to not only straighten, but curl the hair.  The modern mirror titanium plates generate nano negative ions, which work to seal in the hair’s moisture, leaving your hair silky and frizz free. 

Whatever hair straightener you select, it is advisable that after you have completed the straightening process, apply a small amount of serum to your fingertips and dab gently on the hair with more focus on the ends.  This serum will add shine, refresh any dry ends and seal the cuticle.  This product is Potion International’s Super Serum, which is the companion hair product to the previously mentioned Super-Argan Spray-In.

If your face shape is narrow at the jaw line and wide at the cheekbones and/or forehead, then guess what – you have a heart shaped face.  Ok, so now that it has been determined that you fall under this category, what is the right hair style for you?

For starters, it is best to consider chin-length or longer hair styles.  Some additional considerations would be to try out parting your hair on the side or sweeping forward layers around the upper part of  your face with some gentle wispy bangs.  What about a bobbed hairstyle that is chin length?  As you can see there are many options, but let’s focus on the type hair you have and what styles will work with your particular texture and length.

RELAXED, STRAIGHT, AND FINE:  Can you picture a pixie?  If so, ask your hair stylist for a short, wispy layered cut with enough length to allow for some face-framing bangs in the front and some coverage at the nape.  This pixie/shag cut on Victoria Beckham as shown in the picture on the right, can be a fabulous style for a heart shaped face with fine features.

SHORT, MEDIUM, OR LONG LENGTH CURLY:  Short: Layering is the name of the game, but don’t have short layers near the top of the head. This will give you a “top-heavy” look and defeat the goal of making the chin area look wider.  A pixie cut works, or for thosse who have looser curls a bob cut hitting just beneath the ears is great. If you have tighter curls then a bob cut above the ears will help even out the “top-heavy” look.  Medium:  Medium length curly hair styles are actually the best for heart shaped faces.  If your hair is wavy curly then try some side swept bangs and not blunt cut. Blunt will make your face look shorter.  The looser the curl the better the bangs look.  And, once again, layering works well only if the hair is tapered around the face to make those fabulous features stand out.  Long:  When your curly hair is longer, try keeping the length no more than 4 to 5 inches below the chin.  This adds width to the lower part of the face where you are trying to achieve some balance.  For extra curly long hair you can try twisting your hair back away from the face as long as the hair is not pulled too far back.  Allow the hair to frame the face and leave just a touch hanging on the sides. 

MEDIUM TO LONG STRAIGHT OR WAVY:  Medium:  Medium length hair on a heart shaped face provides the most options for hair styling. Some definite don’ts,  however, are 1) do not add height at the crown of the head, 2) do not have your cut end at the chin line.  If your hair is straight and you elect a medium-length bob or longer layered bob, add a few waves by using a curling iron or some hot rollers.  If your hair is medium length and naturally wavy, add some haircare product such as mousse or curl enhancer and use a diffuser when drying your hair.  If your hair is medium to shoulder length, a cut with wispy layers that kick out can be a great option.  The most essential element in either medium or long hair is having some bangs. Stick with wispy layered bangs and definitely stay away from the choppy bangs.  Reese Witherspoon is a prime example of a heart shaped face and more times than not you will see her with bangs that complement her face shape and accents her facial features.  Long:  If you have longer hair, then there are some very specific things that will help.  Have I mentioned the word layering before?  Well, it applies here once again.  And, if you don’t want bangs, here is where a center part with face framing layers that fall forward on your face will really provide an illusion of balance.  If you add curls or waves to this cut, all the better.  Long hair can take attention away from a pointy chin when long soft layers that are wispy and graze your cheekbones.  Highlights can add depth and multi-tones into long hair. As for length, it’s best not to go any more than 4 to 5 inches below the chin so as not to elongate the chin.  When I think of long heart shaped celebrities, I think of Jennifer Anniston and Michelle Pfeiffer.

So how do you know whether or not your face is considered square shaped?  First of all you could measure your head from top to bottom and side to side and you would find that it measures about the same.   Take a good look in the mirror and if your face has a parallel width at the jaw, cheeks, and forehead, then consider yourself one of the lucky ones because you share this trait with a host of celebrities such as, Ellen Barkin, Jessica Biel, Rosario Dawson, Keira Knightley, Demi Moore, Mandy Moore, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Simpson and many more  A distinguishing trait of a square shaped face is that it has strong angular features.

Ok, now that you have determined that your face is square, what type hair style is going to look the best on you?  It can depend a lot on what length hair your have as well as the texture and thickness.  Some general do’s and don’ts for square faced hair styles are as follows:

HAIRSTYLE DO’S FOR SQUARE SHAPED FACES:

 1)  Stick with a short to medium length haircut

2)  Try some long wispy bangs – make sure they are swept to the side and longer on the sides

3)  Lightly layer the hair as this helps soften the square look and adds volume to the head – the result is a rounder looking face

4)  Wear an off-center part

5)  Have your stylist incorporate some curved lines along the edges of your style to balance out the angles of the face

6)  Try some choppy ends

7)  If your hair is long have the hair layered that drapes the sides of your face ad apply some curl or wave

 If your face is square and narrow, add volume to the sides of your hair to help your face appear wider and fuller

9)  If you have curly hair, consider keeping the length of your hair below your jawbone – if too short hair tends to frizz – if cut is longer it weighs down the curls

10) If your hair is super straight spritz your hair with a spray-in hair protectant and using a curling iron, wrap two inch sections around the barrel – run your fingers through your hair and then apply hair spray

HAIRSTYLE DON’TS FOR SQUARE SHAPED FACES:

 1)  Do not wear blunt bangs or straight bangs

2)  Avoid center parts

3)  Don’t wear long straight hair styles

4)  Do not wear a chin-length style – this draws attention to the jawline

5)  Avoid any type of geometric lines in your style

6)  Do not pull your hair back as this accentuates the squareness of the face

7)   If your hair is short do not wear it all in one length – taper it

Do you know if you have a round shaped face?  If you are having trouble determining this, a simple rule of thumb is that if the length and width of your face are almost the same dimensions, then you have a round face.  Another way to validate this is if you don’t have strong cheekbones, your cheeks are full (chubby cheeks), you have a rounded chin, and lastly your neck appears to be short.

So, if your face is round,  first and foremost you want to wear a hairstyle that diminishes the fullness of your face and make your face appear as if it is slimmer.  If you want to go short, you need volume at the top of your head either via layering or if you have bangs by increasing their height.  When going short, the best length is above the chin or a few inches below, but above the shoulders.  If you want to go really short, consider a pixie haircut.  Also, if you part your hair, be sure to do it off to the side as this will also help in lessening the roundness of your face.

What if you have long hair?  You are already off to a good start.  Keep in mind that a center part will accentuate the length of your face.  If you have a layered look be sure that the layers fall in long lines along the sides of your face.  If you don’t already have layers, consider asking your stylist to layer your hair with longer layers until the layers pass below your chin.

HAIRSTYLE DO’S FOR ROUND FACES

1. Do wear a side part and if you have bangs make sure they are wispy and layered.
2. If your hair is long enough, do wear it in an updo or pulled back as shown above in the picture of Cameron Diaz. The long side-swept wavy bangs can be achieved by using a large barrel curling iron if you don’t already have some wave to your hair.
3. If your hair is fine and straight, do consider wearing a long bob that you can either use a flat iron on or a curling iron for a semi-curled look as shown below in the picture of Tori Spelling.
4. Do wear hair styles that keep the sides of your hair short or closer to the face. 

 HAIRSTYLE DON’TS FOR ROUND FACES  

1. Do not wear your hair in a short bob style as this style only ends up drawing attention to the cheeks.
2. Wearing curls next to your cheeks is also a no-n0 because the curls will make your face look fuller.
3. Stay away from blunt ends near your cheeks as they will widen the look of your cheekbones.
4. Don’t wear heavy, blung bangs as they will add volume to your facial appearance.