Does Your Shampoo Have Some Dark Secrets?
Hmmm…… that’s super.
Growing Longer
The one mistake almost all women make while they are trying to grow their hair longer is to decide that because they want long hair they are not going to get it trimmed until they reach their goal length. When uninformed this does not sound like the wrong idea at all, it actually makes sense if other factors are not considered.
One thought to consider is this: unshaped hair is not enjoyable to wear and can be difficult to manage. If you have a heap of medium length hair with a problematic shape, for styling, or keeping a put together look, that road to long and glamorous hair is going to be frustrating and most of the time feel like it’s not worth it. Then come the ideas every morning, as you struggle to get some bounce in your mass of weighted down hair, of how easy it would be to just cut it all off and give up. NO, It is worth it. It is SO worth it and growing your hair longer can be easier.
Shaping and style aside, manageability has other factors involved namely health and integrity of your hair. The condition of your hair obviously determines how well it will look styled or not(why wouldn’t you? Ever!? Okay, the gym. fine.) That being said consider this: the hair closest to your scalp right now will be, at the least, months old by the time it plays with your earrings. When growing your hair long the hair at the very ends is being expected to fight aging and the likelihood of this depends on both the texture of your hair and the care you put into protecting it. If you grow your hair out expecting that which is at the top to at some point still be around when it constitutes the bottom, chances are the ends of your hair will look like very old people standing at the bar in a club. They’re old and tired and should have been gone a long time ago. In many cases you can see discoloration at the tired old ends of long hair, a sign that it is ready to retire.
I know that the desire for longer stronger locks leads to a fear of the shears. I am also aware that many, not all, but many hair stylists can tend to be a bit scissor happy. Cutting large amounts of hair is usually not necessary when growing your hair longer. Proper shaping and then trimming, however, is absolutely necessary. I like to get my clients on a system where we trim and then see each other again when its time to trim and sometimes skip it for a conditioning treatment, but we still see each other every 6 weeks. If you really want beautiful healthy longer hair there is only one way, communicate and commit to someone who cares enough to help get you there.
Kerastase Double Force Controle Ultime
Im generally not a big fan of hairspray, especially on longer hair. Shorter hair sometimes requires the shape to be set and held into place, sometimes. But on long hair I believe the hair should be movable, touchable, and feel soft. The problem is hairspray is often necessary as in more humid climates where my arch nemesis humidity haunts all hair types. It threatens any blowout, taunts straight hair, and down right mocks curly tresses.
“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.
Behind The Scenes Photo Shoot
Here’s a cool little video of a photo shoot I just wrapped.
I had the pleasure of working with two awesome talents: Photographer Tracey Tesmer of http://www.TracyTesmerPhoto.com and Smoking Hot Cigar Model, Teresa of http://www.SmokingHotCigarChick.com
This is a short behind the scenes video of the shoot and some of the photos that were taken.
Enjoy.
Never Trim Your Own Bangs
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.
The Social Event of the Summer
I did five haircuts last night on five beautiful girls, not much older than five years old each, well after five o’ clock! ..I need a moment, maybe five… Okay, it was as head spinning as it sounds and just as much fun! While it was quite the impromptu makeover party we all went along as though it were what we woke up that morning to do.
An evening where a quick visit and maybe a bite to eat was in the plans turned into the social event of the summer where anyone who is anyone, who is my niece, was there. There was music, provided by the glowing screen of a pink Nintendo DS, sweet and sugary libations, and the random bits of conversation that will be re-referenced still by the onset of next summers social calender ” Oh my god! I can’t believe you still like Hannah Montana, she’s so last year!” It was absolutely the place to be. If you missed it I am sorry for you and if you aren’t related to me you probably did. Hey it is all about who you know.
It truly was a wonderful evening, I had so much fun. More importantly, the girls had fun and they were so happy to be getting their hair done. I have said many times before that one of my favorite sites in the salon is seeing a woman when I’m finished with her hair looking in the mirror at herself with a smile that reveals that little girl inside. I love that! To see actual little girls with twinkling eyes and that “look at my hair!” smile, it felt like the greatest work I’ve done this year.
Every woman deserves to feel that beautiful. A beautiful self image is not the only important thing in life but from a beautiful self image so much can be achieved. Just think about that morning you woke up late, having not slept near long enough, nothing in your closet you wanted to wear, no time to do your morning routine, and out the door. One glimpse of yourself in the rear view mirror and nothing went right for you that day. On the other hand there were those other days, good sleep, worked out, new outfit, plenty of time for the morning routine, mirror check before you hit the door and no one could stop you that day! Sometimes all you need is a hair re-fresh to get all of that back. I would love to see you smiling in my chair.
Eating for Healthy Hair
Eating a well balanced diet is important for the proper function of the entire body. Remaining consciously active in a pursuit of healthy eating benefits all aspects of your life. In this article I am discussing what foods specifically target the goal of growing and maintaining beautiful strong healthy hair. Eating for Healthy Hair is beautiful.
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.
What Is In Right Now?
What is in right now? I am often asked this question and always ever so pleased to answer: Everything so, nothing. I am happy to be a hair stylist in the time we live in currently. There was a time when a look, style or even specific article of clothing could become the “it” of the season and as such, all would flock. This is where the “in” look came from. “In” being short for in style, all that was not “in style” was OUT. And thus all who did not jump ON the train would find themselves “OuT Of sTyLE!” OMG!! Well breathe, step away from your closet and put down the lighter fluid, it is a new day.
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.
