Preparing for Spring part 2

Effortless sexy is coming for a visit this spring!  The unkempt look can be done on any hair texture.  While it is most popular down, it should most definitely be tried in an updo or tousled pony tail.  Use a blow dryer and a texture spray to create volume and added texture.  Enjoy Texture Spray would work great!  You can also add a chic braid to your tousled pony or messy updo.

Is It Spring Yet?

As we anxiously await the arrival of spring on the west coast, let's get prepared!  There are many changes taking place in the hair and nail world and we need to uncover all of them one by one.
Have you noticed all the retro hairstyles on the runways and red carpets? They haven't gone unnoticed by us and we are in love!  There are quite a few 30's and 40's styles being worn by today's celebs.  Our favorite is the super glamorous style like Bette Davis wore in "All about Eve."  The fabulous brushed out waves have been spotted all over.

To create the soft waves curl your hair using a 1" iron, making sure to protect your hair. Chi Infra Texture would work great for protection and to hold the style without being tacky or hard.  Re-spray the curls and brush out your hair creating a severe part where you prefer. 

Speed up your morning Routine

Dragging ourselves out of bed gets increasingly harder as the week goes on.  Some girls adjust by taking their routines on the road (i.e. mascara in the car, lip gloss as you walk, etc.)—but this can prove to be dangerous.  By now we’ve all heard the shocking story of the woman who wrecked her car while shaving her bikini line.

A shocking amount of women take over an hour with their morning beauty routine but then there are those more reasonable women that dedicate 30-60 minutes to the beauty gods. To help everyone catch a few extra minutes of shut-eye, I’ve compiled some tips on how you can speed up your daily routine and get your self out the door a little faster.

Wash your hair the night before and style it in the morning

Getting your hair styled just right probably takes up a lot of your morning.  Get your day off to a good start be showering the night before, and putting off the styling until the sun rises.  This works for girls that straighten their hair but a great alternative is to pull your hair into a loose tousled side braid.  Give yourself a side part and loosely gather hair to the side of your head, securing a sexy, disheveled braid.

Use pencil liner instead of liquid

Since we’re barely awake enough before work to see what color we’re applying to our eyelids, there is no point in trying to successfully use notoriously difficult liquid liner.  Take the easy way out and quickly trace a line on your upper eyelid with pencil liner and then gently smudge.  It’s perfectly office appropriate and not at all time consuming.

Try having a curled mascara brush

Having a curled brush on your mascara wand makes your lashes curl without the added step.  Make sure to carefully trace each lash with mascara, and twist your hand upward as you apply.  This should result in the desired effect, without having to break out the eyelash curler.

Use a tinted moisturizer

Tinted moisturizer is a great way to skip extra steps in your beauty regimen—don’t bother with your face moisturizer or foundation, since it cleverly combines both.  You can simply smooth the light weight product over your skin and go.  For the days that you have more blemishes than you would like to admit you can always use a little concealer.

Make your cream blush double as shadow

Cream blush is faster to apply than a powder—so ditch the brush and use your fingers.  After swiping some color onto your cheeks, use the remaining product to add a little color to your eyelids.  Remember you have already applied eyeliner, so just adding a light shade to your lids will complete your daytime look and get you out the door quickly.

TAKE CONTROL

Do you remember the days when our hair spray choices were limited? Those days are definitely gone!  Here’s a look at three essential types that will satisfy a variety of styling needs.

Working Spray

Use a working spray to allow for combing or sculpting the hair during styling.

Sebastian Re-Shaper adds volume and texture to the hair while blocking humidity.

Enjoy Styling Spray adds volume to any style while adding thermal barriers and shine.

Finishing

Use a finishing hairspray to set a style and keep it in place.  These fast drying sprays come in a variety of formulas. 

Pureology In Charge Plus is a great non-flaking color protecting hair spray that fights humidity, adds shine, and blocks harmful UV rays.

Redken Quickdry is a great medium to firm hair spray that doesn’t flake or make the hair feel stiff or tacky.

Shine Enhancing

Use a shine enhancing hairspray to leave hair looking shiny and healthy all day long.  Most shine enhancing hairsprays tend to offer humidity resistance.

Moroccanoil Luminous Hair Spray adds tremendous shine, fights frizz, and blocks humidity.

Catwalk Sleek Mystique look lock Hair Spray is a medium hold spray that helps fight frizz, block humidity and adds gorgeous shine.

Braided headband

Braids and headbands are two of the biggest hair trends right now, so combining them is the next logical step.  If you need a style that keeps your hair back but doesn’t give you a horrible headache, this is the look for you.

Follow the steps below to get this gorgeous boho style

Make two parts, one on each side of the head near the ear.  Comb the remaining hair backwards and put into a ponytail.

Take the right side of the hair and braid, lifting us and around the head.

Wrap a hair tie on the end of the right side.  Repeat on the left side.

Lift both braids and wrap around your head, positioning them towards the front.

Secure both braids along the bottom of the head with a bobby pin. Release the remaining hair in back.

If you are unable to successfully get braids in place, you might consider trying “Braidies” from the Tony Tail Company.

BEDHEAD URBAN ANTIDOTES #3

RESURRECTION™ SHAMPOO

Perfect for: Weak, brittle hair that needs an intervention

Urban Antidote #3: Admitting is the first step! Face it . . . Your hair needs some rehab. Let the hydration therapy begin. Bring weak & brittle hair back to life with this powerful moisture packed shampoo.

Making a comeback has never been so easy.

• Moisture overhaul
• Helps keep color vibrant
• Zeros in on dry, damaged hair

RESURRECTION™ CONDITIONER

Perfect for: Weak, brittle hair that needs an intervention

Urban Antidote #3: Admitting is the first step! Bring dead-end hair back to life once and for all. Formula targets areas in the most need of repair, giving your whacked out hair the revival it has been waiting for!

• Revives lifeless hair
• Thermal protection from harsh conditions
• Zeros in on dry, damaged hair

 

 

BEDHEAD URBAN ANTIDOTES #1

URBAN ANTIDOTES™
RE-ENERGIZE™ SHAMPOO

Perfect for normal hair that needs a daily pick-me-up

Urban Antidote #1: Work hard, play hard ... That's how you roll. Get yourself back to normal with a hydrating, strengthening & shine-enhancing shampoo.

RE-ENERGIZE TIRED HAIR AND GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!

• Livens up moisture levels
• Boosts hair strength
• Promotes colour retention

 RE-ENERGIZE™ CONDITIONER

Perfect for normal hair that needs a daily pick-me-up

Urban Antidote #1: Put some oomph back into your tired, over-stimulated hair. Supercharged hydrating conditoner helps strengthen weak, blah hair giving it a rush of shine and health.RE-ENERGIZE & GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!

• Blast weightless shine
• Detangle unruly locks
• Boost hair strength

 

DEVACURL

Botanically infused and always 100% sulfate-free!

Depart from the ordinary with this exclusively designed hair care system for curly, wavy and chemically processed hair. Deva's interchangeable product line allows for individuality, simplicity and the freedom to address your hair's specific needs.

"Americans are addicted to lather" says the tress-obsessed curly girl Lorraine Massey, author of the must have book, Curly Girl (Workman Publishing,2001). Massey warns, "laundering curly hair (which is what most people are doing with ordinary detergent shampoos) just about guarantees a mass of over-dry, frizzy, shapeless locks." That's why Lorraine, along with co-owner Denis daSilva, world-class chemist Ralph Zissel and Devachan's acclaimed Color Director Shari Harbinger developed the Deva product line. This unique system, with its own unique blend of botanically infused moisturizers and cleansers, will rejuvenate, restore and respect your hair's natural order without the use of harsh chemicals.

What is in the Deva System? The answer is what is NOT in the Deva System. We took the poo out of shampoo, the harsh lathering and dehydrating detergent found in most shampoos that has no inherent value in the cleansing process. We've removed all unnecessary chemicals that often play on hair's vulnerability. We added extra botanical and moisturizing ingredients that cleanse, condition and re-hydrate the hair, more than any products existing on the market today. Each product has it's own unique blend that will enhance the overall quality of dehydrated hair. 

 http://www.youtube.com/user/DevaCurl

Control Frizz

From the straightest of tresses to the curliest, most if not all of us have issues with FRIZZ! It’s an awful nuisance and some of us have a hard time trying to control it. Try these tips:
• Make sure you are using a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. If you keep your locks moisturized it will help to tame the unruly frizz.
• Deep condition your hair once a week.
• Use a leave in conditioner or serum.
• Once a month apply a clear demi permanent hair color to coat the hair shaft and calm the frizz.
• Get regular trims.

Bad haircut help

The dreaded bad haircut goes beyond a bad hair day! It can change the way you feel about yourself and undermine your self esteem for months. It’s no secret women are picky about their hair. It’s hard enough to get a good style but with a bad cut it’s almost impossible.
Fist of all, don’t panic! If misery loves company, you’ve got plenty. The bad hair cut club is not exclusive anybody can get in; it may help to know that you are not alone. Here’s some advice to get you through it.
Contact your stylist
You need to tell your stylist that you are not satisfied with your cut. It’s possible you wont realize it’s bad until you are home. If that’s the case, give your stylist a call and tell him or her why your not satisfied. If there is some hair to work with, make an appointment to have it corrected. If it’s too short it is better to just let it grow you don’t need to make it any worse.
If this is a new stylist and you wont trust him or her again, get a referral, go back to a trusted one, or try a new one to get help for your bad cut. There’s no reason to have someone cutting your hair again if they’ve caused you so much grief to begin with.
If this was a trusted stylist who botched your hair, it’s better to forgive and allow them to make a mends. Nobody is perfect, and it may just have been a bad day for them or simple miscommunication. While this is little relief, they’re trying their best to make it right.
Some Consolation
Now for some bad haircut help. For your emotional stability, you need to remember that hair grows about ½” a month and it’s probably not going to take near as long as you think to grow it out to a stage where it’s acceptable. Trust me, this is the only time you will appreciate dark roots because it means your hair is growing!
Give it some time. If you’re one of the few lucky ones, you may decide the cut wasn’t that bad after all and you may even like it. If that’s not the case…
Growing out a bad haircut is awkward but there are ways to minimize your discomfort. If the hat fits wear it. Some people look great in hats and already have some. Ok so that may not be what you had in mind.
Add some style
Try adding some body to straight hair with Velcro rollers or a curling iron. Adding some waves and curls will help disguise any blunt cuts. If your hair is wavy or kinky, straighten it out to give it some length. Don’t be stuck in a rut. Now that you have a different haircut (like it or not) you need to do damage control with some new styles.
Use hair Accessories
A rotten haircut gives you a good excuse to try out some of the awesome new hair accessories. If your hair is long try pulling it back and leaving a few strands hanging out around the face to give the illusion of longer tresses. Try using some of the new headbands and clips that have come out recently with bows, feathers, flowers and rhinestones.
Add hair extensions
You can find clip on synthetic pony tails, braids and straight hair extensions almost anywhere these days. If you can match the color of your hair you’re in luck! You will have an instant feminine look. I personally do not suggest extensions that are glued or fused into the hair because in the long run they will create more damage giving you one more thing to have to work at growing out.

Whatever bad haircut fix you decide on, remember, it’s only a matter of time before you’re back to your normal fabulous self and this will be only a bad memory.

How to get the Best Haircut and Style

Have you ever come home from the salon upset because you thought your hair was ruined? And to top it off you paid for the catastrophe on your head! It’s probably happened to just about all of us at one time or another but you can prevent it from happening again. On your quest for the most fantastic hair cut and style here are some important steps to ensure you get just what you want.
Choose a Reputable stylist
Seek out others for referrals. Ask your friends with great looking hair which salon they go to and the name of the stylist. More important, ask those who have similar hair texture, thickness and styles that you prefer where they go. If you see stranger whose hair you adore, don’t be shy, flatter that person with compliments and get the information you need. Most people are happy to share their stylist and can often get a discount for giving referrals.
Take Pictures to your appointment
It’s not always easy to vocalize what haircut you want. Your description may bring up something completely different in the stylists mind, leading to a bad cut that can take months to recover from.
Salons are full of magazines and styling guides for a reason. If you bring a picture from home or select one from the salon’s magazines, you’re more likely to get just what you want, Be reasonable, not all cuts and styles will work on every hair texture and some can accentuate facial flaws. The best insurance is to bring along a few pictures and ask the professional’s advice.
Be Precise
If you want your long hair to stay long, say just that. If you want just a trim, tell the stylist how much you want cut and make sure you show them with your fingers. Don’t be afraid to interrupt while your hair is being cut. If you just sit there, knowing they are on the wrong track you will kick yourself later. A stylist who asks plenty of questions about how you want your hair to look is one that wants to make sure that you will walk out happy.
Watch Closely
Don’t get into heavy chatting and then discover that you have no idea how to achieve that fantastic look. A great hairstylist is one you’ll want to replicate over and over so it’s important to watch carefully and see how it’s done. Again, ask questions and you can pick up some good tips for manipulating your hair into the style that’s perfect for you.
Be Decisive
There are times when you’re just not happy with the cut. If you are aware of it before you leave the salon, make it known. If the salon is not busy, this may be able to be corrected then and there. If you feel rushed, tell the stylist and let him or her know that you may be in touch soon. If you discover that the haircut is not to your liking after you get home, make another appointment to follow up. After all, you wanted to look better, right? The best way to do this is to communicate with the professional.

15 Minutes to a New Do

For a sexy, sideswept look, work a texturizer through dry hair with a boar bristle brush.
Spray a little hairspray onto a vent brush and tease hair at the crown for a little extra height. Then grab that section and sweep loosely back to the side, fastening with a flower pin accessory.
Mist entire head with a light hairspray to keep the sexy, tousled look working hard all night.

Unwashed straight hair is the perfect foundation for this style. Run a little mousse through hair to give it some extra hold and volume.
Make a deep side part and tease the front section pulling it loosely back, over your ear instead of tucked behind it. Do the same with the other side.
Use a little styling cream on your ends and pull loose hair forward over your shoulder.

To loosen natural curls, take a wide-toothed comb and rake some mousse through dry hair.
Then, grab a large-barreled curling iron and wrap different sized sections (1-3 inches) around the iron loosely. The heat will help cut down on the frizz. Don't do your entire head, just a few pieces.
Then, flip your head over and spray with hairspray.

The easiest updo is the kind that's only half up. Make a side part.
Take a front section on either side and twist it back so it stays very loose in front.
Gather the two sections together in a twist in the back and clip with a small, embellished barrette.
Spritz a little shine-spray all over to finish the look.

CURLS ROCK!

Big curls like those spotted on the spring 2010 catwalks at Emilio Pucci and Christian Dior, remain one of the season's hottest trends.  Right on cue, TIGI has launched its Catwalk Curlesque Curl Collection, starring products that are designed to enhance natural curls and waves.  Infused with kelp, algae, cucumber water, seaweed fennel- rich botanicals that form the Catwalk Aquacomplex- the seven product assortment delivers extraordinary hydration and definition to strands.  The three prep products consist of sulfate-free Defining Shampoo, Hydrating Conditioner, and Leave-in Conditioner.  The three styling products, which can be worked through wet hair, Curls Rock amplifier, Lightweight Mousse and Strong Mousse.  Rounding out the collection is Defining Serum, which creates unsurpassed sheen and light hold while perfecting curly styles.
With great fragrances, amazing packaging and the awesome performance of the products TIGI has issued a curl line that will be hard to surpass.

How to Choose A Salon

How to Choose A Salon

Longing for a new haircut? Want highlights or an Updo? Just a bang trim? Is it time to treat your self to a facial?

Your appearance is important to you, so choosing the right salon can be a challenge. With so many options, from the most basic to full-service, you’re guaranteed to find a salon that suits you and your beauty needs.

Here are a few tips to help you in your search for a salon:

Ask for referrals. Do you have a coworker whose haircut you covet? A friend who is always well-coiffed? Ask them where they get their hair done. Same goes for facials and waxing. People who love their salon will happily recommend their stylist or esthetician to a friend. Make sure you get the name of the person you want to see, since most salons employ many people.

Check the Yellow Pages, and then do a little research online. The phone book will have every salon in the area listed, but you won’t be able to glean much more than a phone number. That’s where the Internet comes in.

Many salons these days have a Web site, so you can go online and get a feel for who they are and what they do.

Consider their hours and location. Is the salon close to your work or home? Do their hours suit the times you can be there? What might seem like trivial details at first can actually make a big difference in the long run. Is it worth it to travel almost an hour to get your bangs trimmed? Will it be a hassle to run out at lunch to get an eyebrow wax? With so many options out there, a salon that is close by, with hours that fit your schedule, can make all the difference when it comes to enjoying your beauty treatments.

Ask about prices. Costs will vary from salon to salon, even from hairdresser to hairdresser within the same salon. It’s important that the cost fits your budget, because no one wants to go broke, even for the perfect haircut.

Call and speak with someone at the salon. Many places have a receptionist who can answer any questions you might have. They’ll also be able to fill you in on all the services they offer. Or, stop in for a visit. Check out the space, the clientele and the products they offer. Make sure their services fit your needs.

If you are looking for a hair stylist, schedule a consultation. A good stylist will take the time to talk to you about your hair type, your face shape and your styling habits, and they will help you make a good decision about the hairstyle that will fit you and your life.

It is always helpful to bring a photo of what you’re looking for, but most salons will have books filled with photos of hairstyles. If you are unsure, ask the stylist to recommend a few styles they think might work for you. Taking the time to find a hair stylist who understands what you want will make all the difference.

Once you’ve found the perfect salon, sit back, relax, and enjoy the experience.

THICK HAIR

      People with thick hair have over 200,00 hairs on their head, that's a lot to handle.  While some of us love the fact that we have thick luscious hair, thick hair is very hard to maintain.  Caring for thick hair creates a unique set of problems, thank heavens there are beauty tips to get you through all of them.
      Natural oils are present in all hair types, when natural oils remain in thick hair over a long period of time it helps condition the hair.  Shampooing removes oils from the hair, so it should be kept to a minimum to prevent the hair from drying out.  After washing thick hair, be sure to use a good moisturizing conditioner.  Thick haired ladies should avoid volumizing products.
     Care for thick hair is not limited to shampooing alone.  Thick hair tends to be harder to control. It is important to hire a stylist that is familiar with thick hair.  Out of control thick hair needs some taming, adding some layers is a good way to take some weight out of the hair to make it appear thinner.  Avoid one length styles.
      Styling thick hair takes time and lots of effort!  But the most important part is protecting your hair from the abusive heat we apply to it.  Using thermal protecting styling products that are moisturizing as well is a huge part of your hair care regime.  You should try to let your hair air dry as much as possible before you apply heat to it.  The less heat you use on it the better.  When you have your hair completely dry you can use your irons to finish your styling.
      With more than 200,000 hairs on the head, people with thick tresses have a special set of issues when it comes to caring for their mane. With the right hair care regime, thick hair can be maintained keeping it healthy beautiful and manageable.

PRODUCT SUGGESTIONS:
SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER~ Pureology Hydrating, Thermafuse Moisture, Sebastian Drench, Joico Moisture Recovery
STYLING PRODUCTS~K Pak Color Therapy Restorative Serum, Thermafuse Shine, Marrakesh X, Marrakesh Serum, Moroccan Oil, Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal

Sleek Styles for this Spring

For quite some time it’s been difficult to turn on the tube or hit the cinema without witnessing volume and big blown out waves, and these hairstyles have been heavily coveted, and not easily maintained by the average viewer. And though big volume and beautiful blow outs are well worth the effort, you may be happy to hear that when it comes to trends, gone are the days of the starlet blown out look, as today’s Tinseltown queens have been sporting sleek new locks that are straight. While this look is pretty, if you don’t have bone straight hair it can be tricky particularly in spring where one is prone to catch the wrong wind or precipitation.. So how do you achieve this look, and maintain it all day once you’ve got it? Easy, just a few simple tools and steps and you are well on your way to a gorgeous sleek main.
Tools you will need: Flat iron, straightening balm, hair gel (just a smidge), and a serum. Yep, that’s right!
Step 1 – Use your flat iron to flatten your hair from root to tips. And yes, even if you have straight hair use it. If you DON’T have straight hair, keep the iron on your locks longer than normal. It will straighten, and if you DO have straight hair, you only need to sweep it down your hair like you would a brush. You don’t want too much heat on your hair if you don’t have to.
Step 2 – Use a straightening balm over your locks once they’ve had the iron once over. You only need to smooth it over your already straight hair. Rub a drop and smooth it over, that’s all you need for stay put hairstyle.
Step 3 – If you have really stubborn locks, you will need to go a step further and this is where the hair gel comes in. Just rub a smidgen between your palms and smooth it over your straight hair. You can bring back the flat iron and lock in the gel for an all day hold.
Beauty Trick – Here’s where the serum comes in, and you can use whatever brand you like. As the day progresses, if you find yourself stuck with some flyaways, rub a dab of serum between your palms and smooth it over. Your locks will be sleek AND shiny all over again. Too much and you will look like you really need a shower!

HELLO SPRING

Winter is almost gone and with a new season on the horizon it's time to revamp you hairstyle.  Need ideas?  Here's a few tips of what's in store for us this spring...

While blonds were prominent on the runway for this spring there were also some gorgeous brunettes as well.

BLOND:Platinum blond is set to be massive, in many variations.  For the daring divas all over platinum, for the less adventurous nice bright highlights or blond flashes to accentuate your cut.

BRUNETTE: For the dark locks it's all about the glamorous shine!  Rich chestnut and chocolate brown are in full bloom.

No matter which way you fall blond or brunette maybe a little of both, remember healthy hair is always in style!  Condition it well to keep it shiny and luscious.

Happy Spring!

Get the Most Flattering Hair style

Many people look to celebrities for hairstyle ideas.   Then they go into the salon and request the fabulous style they saw on the celebrity only to find out (usually when they style it themselves) they can't have it!  That no matter how much time they spend on their hair it doesn't look like the picture.

There are a few very important questions you should ask yourself if you want the most flattering hair style for you!

• How much time are you willing to spend everyday doing your hair?  Include hair drying, straightening, curling, special conditioning, etc.  Be realistic about your lifestyle and grooming habits.  If you don't have time to spare don't get a high maintenance style.
• What condition is your hair in?  Do not plan on doing any type of perming, bleaching, straightening or extensions if your hair is already damaged or brittle.
• What is your face shape?  Your face shape has a big impact on weather or not that A-line in the magazine will look good on you!  Check out my previous blog on face shapes to find your face shape and suggested styles for you.
• Are you happy with your hairstylist?  Does your stylist give you instructions on how to properly care for and maintain your locks?  Do they address all of your concerns about your hair?  Your hairstylist plays a vital role in the way your hair looks from day to day.  You need a style that YOU can make look great on your own and the cut is key!
• Do you know what hairstyles you like and why?  If you can explain to your stylist what you like about certain styles--i.e. the long layers in the back or the fullness on the top-- your stylist may be able to add some if these features to your hair style if the entire style isn't suited for you.

Super Cute short cuts