1. Moisturize Moisturize Moisturize! Like a mantra repeat it until it sticks-OOOOHHMMMMoisturiiiiiizzze… Your hair needs a drink! Dry hair gets frizzy and brittle as it screams for moisture. The summer heat brings on a bit of sweat now and then which seems like good enough reason to shampoo more often but this is exactly the problem. Constant over stripping of the hairs naturally produced essential moisturizing oils is the leading cause of that dryness. So ease off on that militant shampooing and maybe just use conditioner next shower..or two.

2. Go hat shopping seriously, if you know you’re going to be in the sun a lot this weekend why not shop for an amazing hat. The idea is try to keep your hair out of extended exposure to sunlight. You can see it in a piece of paper left on a dashboard, a toy left in the yard or the face of women with tanorexia, how prolonged UV exposure will destroy the surface and beyond. So just be aware and, when you can, do your best to keep your hair out of the sun. Umbrellas, hats and patio coverings are great, let the light shine in just try to keep it from shining on your hair too much.

3.Do you have to go swimming? Really? I’m kidding …but I’m kinda not! If you plan on getting into a chlorinated pool you might as well take every precaution down to the tight swim cap. Pool water is wretched on the hair, especially if you have color work done. Saltwater isn’t as bad but excessively and with our bonuses in ocean water these days its best to take precaution. If your hair will be in the water first soak the hair with a deep conditioner. A hair strand filled cannot absorb the pool or salt water. If your in the water for a longer period of time reapply first wringing the hair out with a towel. …going into a pool with your hair you might as well throw on the swim cap and a shiny set of goggles, just to be safe.

I Love Kerastase hair sunscreen! Duh.

http://bit.ly/summersuggestions

I have never tried this but I like how ambitious this sunscreen is.

http://bit.ly/supersunscreen

I Love it!

http://bit.ly/UVhairspray

I now keep a large bottle of Moroccan Oil on my station. With oil in the name you would expect otherwise but It’s very lightweight, soft and not greasy at all. It provides a smooth surface which is what makes Moroccan oil an excellent  product for enhancing shine. I have used it when the hair is freshly shampooed and towel dried. I have also used it at the end of styling to add just a bit of shine and luster.

I think it’s important to know that Moroccan oil is a Silicone based product. This means that the smooth shiny appearance as well as the softness in the feel of the hair is not necessarily the hair itself through a repairing of the hair shaft but rather is the seal that the Silicone envelops around the hair shaft. I have some concerns with the use of Silicone on the hair, for more information on this visit my previous article on Silicone based products. However, used in moderation along with a regular schedule of clarifying and conditioning treatments I think that Moroccan oil is a great product.

Firstly It is important to understand what silicones are and how they perform so as to better understand why they are used in the formulation of many hair products. Silicones are man made polymer compounds with quite a few interesting properties and uses. They can be heat resistant which is the reason for the use of silicones in many modern cooking utensils. They also have a high electrical resistance which, along with their heat resistant properties, is why they are used in electrical products for insulation purposes. Used as sealants  and caulks, as lubricants and coatings it is their properties of resistance that has made silicones so widely used in a large variety of products in many industries.

It is the hydrophobic property(water resistance) that has made them such a staple in many hair care products. When you smooth your hair out in the morning walk out your door with shiny bouncy locks and see limp frizzy hair by the time you are leaving work this is due to the absorption of moisture from the humidity in the air around you. Which is the reason why women in drier climates get away with doing so much less to their hair to maintain style. Silicones in hair care products assist in preventing this limp frizzy disaster by creating a seal around the hair shaft; A seal that blocks the absorption of moisture thereby preventing the swelling of the hair shaft that is frizzy limp hair. It is also said that the silicones smooth and soften the hair. What I have found is that the silicones themselves are smooth and soft so it is not so much that the hair is becoming smoother and softer but rather that the seal formed around the hair shaft is soft and smooth.

Now this all sounds great. Frizz is caused by the absorption of moisture, silicones prevent the absorption of moisture. I agree, honestly I have used some of these products and been very pleased with their immediate results. However, it is the long term effects of excessive use that I intend to caution here. I liken the regular use of silicones on your hair to deciding that the air around you is not the best air you could be breathing so you tie a bag around your head. To sustain your own life you at some point will need to breathe again and a bag tied tightly around your head would make that quite difficult. Your lungs need oxygen as do your skin and hair need moisture. Winter rolls around and we all see the benefits of the moisture our humid climate provides. The cold dry air of winter brings with it chapped dry skin and dry brittle hair.

Through much hair analysis I have seen that excessive use of  silicone based products lead to the hair under the seal becoming dry and weakened. I have also observed that silicone based products can and often do become difficult to wash out with a simple shampoo which leads to a further inability to absorb the necessary moisture from conditioners and natural secretions of the body. This can be taken care of with a good clarifying treatment. I recommend seeing your stylist to do this and getting a conditioning treatment at the same time. Excessive clarifying can extremely deplete the hairs moisture balance.

So I’m not screaming “Here comes Silicones! RUN!” All I am really saying is be conscientious with what you put both in and on your body. Eat your vegetables but also enjoy your wine. Just maintain a balance and take care of your body from hair to toes. Chase health and beauty will chase you -Clemente

Researcher professor Nick Martin, author of the research, said a variation in the trachohyalin gene determines the straightness or curliness of  the hair. Professor Martin also says this discovery will lead to a pill that will make it possible to grow straight hair rather than treating the hair directly to achieve the sleek look.

Honestly, knowing what it takes to straighten curly hair and maintain that smooth style, I can see the appeal of  a pill being your straight salvation. But I don’t even like the idea of doing chemical texture changes because you lose your options by permanently straightening your hair. All that aside there is something rather questionable in the possibility of changing your genetic makeup for different hair. I am however excited to see what comes of all this. Tell me what you think by leaving a comment here.

A good thermal protector is what stands between you and, dried up, broken, dull, lifeless locks. Thermal protectors can be found in cream or spray forms. To apply, towel dry clean hair and work the cream forms from the mid length and ends up to the root area. Then comb the hair in all directions to ensure even coverage. With the spray forms it can be helpful to flip your head forward so that you can move the hair more freely in all directions. Again, comb the hair in all directions to ensure complete and even coverage. Be sure not to miss the hairs at the front hairline as this tends to be the area where the hair is more fragile and therefore more vulnerable to heat damage.

There are many many thermal protectors out there. I personally like Kerastase’s Nectar Thermique for its combination of moisturizing complexes as well as thermal protective agents. What is most important is that you practice safe styling. Styling your hair is loving your hair. Loving without wearing protection is not just a bad idea, its wrong. Practice safe styling, get a good thermal protector and use it!

Hmmm…… that’s super.

“FRIZZ!” I scream waking up in a panic, its a nightmare. I’m not a fan of hairsprays, because I’m not a fan of stiff untouchable hair, but I despise frizzy hair. Luckily Kerastase makes a spray that cares: Double Force Controle Ultime. This is a wonderful product. Double Force is actually a protective spray, with its UV filter and Ceramide, as well a unique control spray. I say it’s unique because of the way that it does the job of controlling frizz and maintaining shape while not making your hair stiff or robbing your hair of  its touchable soft feel.

Just as important to acknowledge is the protective benefits I mentioned. The UV filter technology protects your hair from sun damage, a very important step in maintaining beautiful hair. while ceramide is a synththetic version of a chemical by the same name naturally produced by your hair follicle to maintain the hair structure. When the hair shaft becomes damaged this is lost, synthetic Ceramide replaces the lost natural Ceramide. A genius product made by an amazing company. So, if you too are not a fan of hair spray or you just want to love your hair the way it deserves to be loved find your local Kerastase salon and pick up a can of Double Force Controle Ultime.

In this video I talk about the importance of having your stylist trim your bang.

I know most women have trimmed their own bangs at least once in their life. And honestly, it never looks good.

You can spot this look a mile away. And really, why even do it? Bang trims are almost always complimentary so why not take advantage? Just make an appointment about 2 weeks after your haircut and get your bangs trimmed. It will keep your style looking good longer.

This bang trim took about three minutes and didn’t cost my client a dime. Have a professional do it for you. A hairstylist uses specific high dollar shears to cut your hair and his perspective standing in front of you will always give best the results.

Plus it’s nearly impossible to do the correct diagonal cutting technique that should be used on your bangs.

If your stylist is cutting straight across your bangs, I suggest you get up and leave the chair and never return.

Hair is a keratin protein based cell structure. With this in mind it is understood that a diet deficient in protein would lead to poor cell reproduction and therefore depleted hair growth. Part of a healthy well balanced diet that will promote strong hair growth should have a sufficient amount of protein. Eating steak three meals a day is not necessary to get that needed protein. White meat poultry, milk, cheese, yougurt, eggs and pork tenderloin are all protein rich foods. For the vegan diet, beans, soy, and protein shakes/supplements are excellent options. Seafood is a great source of protein because it’s usually low in fat. Fish such as salmon is a little higher in fat but it is the heart-healthy kind: omega-3 fatty acids, which is also a necessary ingredient in Eating for Healthy Hair

Omega-3′s have been highly researched and found to greatly benefit a vast amount of our bodies necessary functions. It is now known that the types of fats we consume directly effects the health of cell membranes. Every cell in our body is surrounded by a cell membrane composed mainly of fatty acids. The cell membrane allows the proper amounts of necessary nutrients to enter the cell, and ensures that waste products are quickly removed from the cell. Omega-3′s maintain the fluidity of the cell structure. In the hair structure this allows the proper nutrients your hair needs, to grow strong and healthy, to get where they need to go and get the job done. Flax seeds, walnuts and salmon are excellent sources of Omega-3′s. While not as rich in these necessary fats but still very good sources, scallops, cauliflower, cabbage, mustard seeds, shrimp, halibut, cod, tuna, soybeans, kale, collard greens, tofu and Brussels sprouts are also options.

Iron plays a very significant role in the production of hemoglobin which is the part of blood that carries oxygen to your body’s organs and tissues. Researchers are now aware that iron deficiency can be a leading cause of early hair loss. When the hair structure doesn’t get the oxygen necessary for proper cell reproduction it eventually suffocates withers and dies. To prevent this, Eating for Healthy Hair aims to maintain a balanced level of hemoglobin production, therefore a sufficient amount of iron in your diet is the key. Great sources of iron include red meat, especially liver, eggs, and seafood such as salmon, tuna, and oysters. Many grains such as oats and wheats, as well as lentils, beans, leafy greens like mustard or spinach, broccoli, oatmeal, whole wheat bread and soy products such as tofu are all excellent sources of iron.

Nutritionists and dietary researchers agree that proper balanced intake of  the major vitamins are greatly beneficial to growth and sustained health within our bodies. While there are a number of supplements that provide the full spectrum of vitamins, as it pertains to a healthy balanced diet, the foods you eat can generally provide the vitamins and nutrients needed for growth and sustained health. B vitamins play important roles in cell metabolism, which is the growth cycle of every cell in our body, hair included. B vitamins are found in unprocessed foods. Bananas chile peppers, lentils, beans, potatoes, tuna, liver, turkey, molasses and nutritional yeast are all good sources of  B vitamins. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for your body, it acts as an antioxidant to prevent the breakdown of cell structures. Many fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of vitamin C such as blackcurrant, red pepper, kiwi, papaya, broccoli, strawberry, orange and lemon just to name a few of the many. The benefits of vitamin E are much the same as those of vitamin C in its antioxidant effects. Whole grain foods, sunflower oil, hazelnuts, almonds, milk, eggs, asparagus, and avocado are all great sources of vitamin E.

Eating for Healthy Hair is all about maintaining a nutritionally balanced diet while taking into consideration some food sources that can directly promote strength in your hairs growing process. Drinking plenty of water, getting sufficient amounts of sleep and limiting or avoiding your intake of  unhealthy toxins such as caffeine nicotine and alcohol will further strengthen the effects of your dedication to Eating for Healthy Hair. Chase health and beauty will chase you.

I am very pleased to report that, fashionably/stylistically speaking, we have far moved beyond the times of “This is cool, if you wish to be cool put it on!” Hair, clothes, makeup, all things encompassing personal style are no longer subject to the narrow scope of the world before the internet. I do believe it is our rapid exchange of information that has led to the opening perspective of the masses and individuals alike. We are now capable of studying and admiring the styles of the world all over. Before the internet became what it is today, programmed television and magazines were the primary sources for current information. Farrah Fawcett was the “it” girl with the “in”-hair-style in the mid to late70′s because television and magazines were inundated with her image. Today we know what people are doing with fashion all over the world, if we care to look. This Is what has brought us to the exciting and liberating time we live in today.

What is your personal taste, what is your body shape, color palette, lifestyle these are a few of the determining factors in deciding what is right for you as it pertains to your personal image. And even when considering all of the relevant factors this does not narrow the scope back down to a “this is what’s right for you, this and only this” option. All over the world, for quite awhile actually, we have been seeing an emergence of new artists, with an array of influences and cultural upbringings, that are introducing new perspectives in a new world. This has led to an expansion, for industries that progress through creativity, in how they produce as well as how they market what they produce. And for us, the fashionably focused, this means options options options! And not just for a select few but for anyone who cares to look in all the boxes as a way of staying out of just one. So don’t find yourself falling into the “what is in right now” box. Rather find yourself realizing who you are right now and use that as your guide to finding your personal style.