Hair Styling Tools

Having bangs doesn’t have to be a permanent proposition.  Most of us who have bangs at one time or another have the urge to push them off our face for a different look, or when feeling  a little warm the last thing we want is our bangs sitting on our forehead.  So what is the remedy?

Lifting your bangs up and off the forehead can be achieved simply by using the right haircare products and something as simple as two bobby pins.  Select your favorite root volumizing  product (I like Loreal Nature’s Therapy Mega Volume Instant Root Lifter) and spritz the roots of your bangs.  Take your round styling brush, and dry with the cool setting of your hairdryer curling the bangs away from your face.  If you want some added lift then you can tease the bangs and then pin in place with the two bobby pins by crossing one over the other.  Or, as in the picture, you can go formal with the bangs pulled back and use a decorative hairpin instead of the bobby pins.

What you now have is an instant transformation and some flattering volume at the crown of your head.  

SPECIAL TIP:  Take the bobby pins and spritz them with some hairspray before you place them in your hair.  This will help the bobby pins stay in longer.   Or, spritz the clasp section of the decorative hairpin and it will also hold longer.

It’s definitely travel season with school out and families planning or preparing for their summer vacation.  Most of the time if you are traveling to a destination where you will be staying in a hotel, hairdryers are usually provided.  However, if you are visiting friends or family, there may or may not be a hair dryer there for you to use, or more importantly, the dryer won’t be one that you like or will work well on your hair.

What are your options?  You can take your own hair dryer that you use at home, or you can purchase a smaller and sometimes more lightweight travel hair dryer.  This can be a very important factor in traveling these days with the airline weight restrictions.  The last thing you want to have happen is to get to the airport and have your luggage be overweight .

 Travel hair dryers come in all types of sizes and configurations.  Some of the travel dryers in the marketplace are foldable so that you can more easily fit it into your luggage.   Many of the newer models also now have the ionic and other advanced features that we have all come to appreciate in our full size dryer.  One key thing to take into consideration is whether or not you will need a dual voltage hair dryer because you are traveling out of the country.  Another important factor is to make sure that the dryer you are taking has an extended length cord because  many times outlets in hotel rooms are not in the most convenient spots

Forgotten flat irons are notorious for causing burns and starting small fires, which has deterred many people from using this pragmatic beauty tool. In addition, many flat irons dry out hair and create a frizzled appearance. Now you can achieve straight, gorgeous hair without worrying about setting your house on fire thanks to digital flat irons.

Unlike traditional flat irons, the digital models have an auto shutoff mechanism to prevent overheating and mitigate fire risks. Achieve your ideal flattening temperature with precision using the digital control panel. You can even curl up or flip out the ends of your hair to add a little personality to your style.

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.

Have you really looked closely in the mirror lately and noticed that your chin has started to expand?  For many of us whether we like it or not, the double chin has finally surfaced and we are not liking it one bit.  Aside from dieting, there has got to be a way to do something about it in the meantime.

Well, using makeup does have its advantages.  So, what do you need?  First you will need to buy a powder bronzer or foundation that is a few shades darker than your natural complexion.  Secondly, you will need to check your makeup brushes to see if you have a powder foundation bronzer brush.  I personally like the Spornette Marche Powder Foundation Bronzer brush because it helps apply powder on all skin types as well as give a finished professionally applied appearance.  It can also be used to brush off excess powder, thus reducing a “caked on” look.

Now that you have the makeup and the brush, you will want to apply a small amount to the brush and brush where the jaw meets the neck.  Blend downward to create a shadowing effect.   If you didn’t get enough powder on the first time, repeat the process.  This really does work!!

As an avid traveler, I have garnered several useful tips over the years for making my jaunts around the globe less stressful and, in turn, more enjoyable. The key to any successful trip, in my opinion, is proper planning. I begin packing a couple weeks in advance and keep a separate set of toiletries and beauty products specifically for traveling.

This set includes travel hair dryers and other appliances with dual voltage technology, as well as small containers for liquids and cosmetics. Since shopping is usually one of my main diversions, I tend to pack light and bring an empty duffle bag or two. While I am on vacation, I end up wearing many of the clothes I purchase and bring them home in the extra luggage.

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.

When we are all looking for ways to save money in these hard pressed economical times, even some of the must haves such as hair cuts, styling, etc. need to be readdressed.  While for us women who have very defined types of hairstyles, trimming our own hair could be very disastrous.  However, trimming boys, young men and older men alike can be accomplished fairly easily at home. 

There are many hairstyles that are being worn these days by the male species just as with us females.  However, many males are also wearing shaved heads or are sporting an extremely short cut.  Knowing this, it doesn’t take much to see that one could invest in some hair clippers or hair trimmers and perform this job at home.  There are even clipper kits that are available which typically include everything you need from the clippers to the variable sized combs or guards, oil, a cleaning brush and even a neck cape.  If you have teenage sons at home, you’ll find that they already know exactly what to do.  If you ask them they will more than likely tell you that they have friends who do each other’s hair shaving or clipping or their parents are already doing it.   

Hair clippers and trimmers come in all price ranges and just because some appear to be pricey, doesn’t always mean they are the best.  Check out what is available.  You can find some hair clipper kits for as low as $22.00.