Beauty Blog

Less than 2% of the world's population is a natural redhead! That's why it is so attention grabbing. So, if you want some of that spotlight and are thinking of going red, let us give you some tips. Before we talk about some red hair care tips, let's learn a little about color pigments. In the final run, the mixture of only two pigment groups determines the color of our hair, namely eumelanin and pheomelanin. Only a minimal amount of the small pheomelanin molecule will cause the red tinge. Quite a bit of this small pigment is however necessary for a gorgeous flaming red head. In case you or your hair stylist has created the red coloring of your hair, you'll know that keeping red hair vibrant is a struggle. The red color will readily disappear and even slowly leach out when you merely rinse your hair with water. Born redheads certainly know how light will quickly bleach their hair color. This is due to the fact that pheomelanin is degraded faster in the presence of UV light. Mere hair care and protection will not preserve the copper red color. It takes active care and knowledge of how to maintain red hair to keep the red hair color brilliant. Red pigments are light-sensitive, especially those that come in a bottle. Both natural and other redheads should stay out of the midday sun, use hair care products that are made for red hair and that protect against UV rays. If your hair is dyed red, you should not go in a swimming pool for at least two weeks after dyeing your hair because chlorinated water is much harder on those red pigments. As your hair starts to fade, you should use a red color rinse. It will help maintain the brilliance. Products like Celeb Luxury Colorwash or Tressa Watercolors are perfect for this. Use an intensive mask/treatment on your hair weekly. Using a conditioner on red hair is not enough. Intensive treatments contain ingredients that penetrate the hair and can fill out gaps in the hair cuticle. This keeps the red pigments in the hair for a longer time. Matrix Total Results Color Obsessed is great for this. Now, what shade of red to choose? Fair, cool skin tones look best with a ginger or cinnamon shade of red. Make sure to balance the copper and gold and avoid any orange tones. They are too abrasive. . Fair to medium neutral skin tones will love the classic auburn with touches of warm toffee. Brunettes will find this a great way to transition to this warm color. . Medium neutral skin tones will look best with pink-red shades. You can warm up your blonde with a metallic red. Apricot shades really flatter the pink undertones in your skin. . Medium to deeper skin tones really rock the fire engine and scarlet reds. The cooler red shades are flattering to skin with yellow undertones.

So, you've decided to grow out the short style, or maybe want a new style but need to let your hair grow a bit first. Does it seem as if your hair is growing so slowly? And, of course, styling is a big pain when you're growing out a style. Hair extensions is one answer. But if that is not what you want, don't give up. Here are some tips for helping your hair get growing! Tip 1: Strengthen Your Hair. First things first, if your hair is already in a bad way, your best bet is to get rid of the damage and start afresh. But don't panic, this doesn't mean you need to rush out and get a buzz cut "“ regularly trimming damaged hair to remove split ends (in extreme cases this means getting a trim every 6 weeks) can stop damage in its track and help prevent split hairs from traveling further up the strand, weakening the hair and making it prone to breakage. Contrary to popular belief, trimming your hair does not in fact promote faster growth (it's hair, not grass) but may help prevent hair damage that can lead to the appearance of slower or less healthy hair growth. Tip 2: Pamper Your Hair. Even with regular trims, no one can achieve long hair without looking after its condition. Washing and treating your hair with the right products can make all the difference. Hair needs to be treated with protein-based shampoos and conditioners, to make it stronger. The more you can do to pamper the tips of your hair to help them, the less you'll need to cut them. A product like Redken's Extreme Length Sealer can really help with split ends. Don't forget, oil is incredibly beneficial for your hair and scalp, but you don't want to use it everyday. A weekly Keratin-based hair masque is also extremely beneficial in getting and keeping hair in shape. Tip 3: Massage Your Scalp. Your scalp likes to be touched. A gentle scalp massage every day will stimulate the blood supply to the hair follicle, bringing it nutrition and helping increase hair growth. The more you help the follicle secrete oil and push out the hair, the better. Before you go to bed each night, spend a couple of minutes gently rotating your fingertips around, massaging the scalp. Tip 4: Rethink Your Styling Routine. Heat from appliances and friction from brushes can leave you with dry, brittle, and weak hair that will snap at the mere suggestion of being combed. If you are extremely dedicated to getting longer, healthy hair you need to stop using all heated styling appliances full stop. If you absolutely must blow dry your hair and can't face leaving the house otherwise, do so on the lowest setting and air dry your hair as much as possible before finishing it up with the blow dryer to give it a bit of volume. Tip 5: Detangle Your Hair with a Wide-Tooth Comb or Hairbrush. Rigorously brushing your hair (especially when it's wet) will cause breakage. Also be wary of tying your hair up too tightly. Tip 6: Avoid Stress. Avoiding stress is easier said than done, but intense physical or emotional stress can cause hair growth to slow or shut down completely. In severe cases, stress can even cause hair loss. Tip 7: A Healthy Diet will Result in Happy Hair. Treat your hair right from the inside out by eating a balanced amount of protein every day. Hair is largely composed of keratin, a protein made up of amino acids, so eating protein is essential for healthy hair growth. To grow new hair, your body must produce more amino acids, which it can only do from consuming protein. Healthy protein sources include lean meat, fish, eggs, nuts, beans, and soy products. Ensuring you have enough protein in your daily diet will literally give your body the building blocks for new hair growth. If you don't feel you get enough protein from your diet, consider taking a supplement made especially for hair growth/hair loss. We list all of the ingredients contained in the supplement right on our web site product page so you know exactly what you are getting. Tip 8: Have Patience. This may be the hardest of all! If you're getting too frustrated, a trip to the salon may be in order. Ask your stylist for tips to styling during this growing-out phase!

Even the best shampoos and conditioners won't work their magic unless you take care. Follow these simple 7 steps for getting the best cleanse without damaging your hair. Detangle & brush your hair prior to cleansing! Starting with tangled hair, then adding water and shampoo can only make matters worse. The more controlled your hair is prior to cleansing, the fewer problems you'll have when you are finished. Brushing first will also loosen dirt and oils from your scalp, so you get a really good cleanse. Massage the shampoo only into your scalp. Massage gently with your fingertips, never "scratch" with your nails which is very delicate. Most of the dirt and oils in your hair are near the scalp. Only run the shampoo through to your ends at the last. Your hair ends will get clean as the suds run down the hair. To really protect your ends as you shampoo your scalp, apply a little conditioner on the last couple of inches of your hair. This way your ends are getting the extra touch of moisture they need as you cleanse your scalp. Never pile your hair on top of your head. Piling shampoo-filled hair on top of you head only creates tangles....the worst kind. If it tangles while it's hanging down, you can pull the tangle out in a downward motion which reduces hair breakage. Rinse hair thoroughly. Leaving shampoo residue behind will only attract dirt more easily and quickly and weigh down your style. Apply conditioner to the ends of the hair and work upward. Remember, the ends will need the most moisture. Unless your scalp is excessively dry, it does not need conditioner and the product will only clog scalp pores. Gently detangle your hair while it is saturated with the conditioner. Keep a good hair brush, like the Wet Brush, in the shower if that is where you shampoo. This seriously minimizes breakage. Then rinse hair with water running down the length of your hair. Never use a towel to dry your hair. Even the softest terry will shred through your hair and give you split ends. Simply gently squeeze excess water from the hair. Use a T-shirt or a other micro-fiber product.

There are many reasons you may be searching for a hair stylist, but it can be a nerve wrecking experience. Your hair is a large part of your image and if you have ever had a bad experience the thought of someone you don't know cutting or coloring your hair can be even more frightening. Finding the right stylist may take a little effort on your part but it will be worth it. So, if your ready to start your search, try the following tips: Decide on the type of salon ambiance you would enjoy. You will spend as much as four hours of a day every six to eight weeks sitting in a chair there, so being in comfortable will make you much happier. Do you like it young and hip with trendy music, quiet and refined with soft classical music, a comfy neighborhood feel? It is more likely you will find your right stylist working in a place where you feel comfortable. Ask a friend or two or even the lady next to you in a checkout line if you like how her hair looks. Recommendations, both pro and con, will help you. . Know your hair type. Many salons or stylists specialize in curly hair, ethnic hair, or thinning hair. If you have special needs hair then be sure one of your considerations is the stylist's skill with your hair type. . Walk into different salon lobbies. Get a feel for the atmosphere and clientele. Check out the prices for services. It's no use moving ahead if their prices are more than you can afford to pay. . If you are happy with everything, then work with the receptionist to schedule a "no cost" consultation. At your consultation, discuss openly what your expectations are, show pictures of different hair styles you may be considering. Consider their reactions. See if they offer ideas you like. Don't be afraid to say "thank you for your time" and walk out. If, however, you get a positive feeling, like what they have to say and their ideas, then go ahead and book the appointment. .

Gorgeous curls can be the envy of everyone with straight hair. Lovely waves that flow gracefully is a style all its own. Achieving the bounce and definition that takes curls from ordinary, looking tangled and frizzy, to extraordinary takes a little time and the perfect hair product. Curly hair needs the extra moisture these products provide. To help you on your journey toward bouncy, shiny curls and waves, we've put together a list of our top selling products made specifically to enhance curls and waves. Plus, we've added some useful tips specifically for curly hair. Take a look. AG Hair Curl Trigger - Curl Defining Spray. This is a light hold spray that works perfectly to tame those unruly locks. It adds moisture and shine and controls the frizz. The no-mess spray makes application to damp hair a breeze. . ISO Bouncy Spray. Spritz a little bounce and separation with this medium hold curl enhancer. You'll get great texture and a lovely shine. . CHI Aloe Vera w/ Agave Nectar Curls Defined Curl Reactivating Spray. Your curls will be soft with a wonderful shine when you apply just a touch of this oil. Made with aloe and agave to help maintain healthy hydration. . Sexy Hair Curly Sexy Hair Curl Power Curl Bounce Mousse. When curls or waves are in need of a little lift, this very light mousse will bring a little bounce and support without weight. It also helps keep humidity and frizz at bay. . Osis Curl Honey - Curl Cream cream. If your curls are coarse and frizzy, then this cream is your perfect solution. It will tame those curls, giving them bounce and definition. . Surface Curls Curl Whip Mousse. Add back moisture and give those wonderful curls some protection with this shape-defining mousse. Keeps your curls soft and pliable. . Goldwell StyleSign Curly Twist Curl Control Moisturizing Curl Cream. Curls are smooth and defined, with a soft shiny appearance when just a dab of this cream. It keeps them hydrated too! . Redken Curvaceous Curl Refiner Moisturizing and Curl-Defining Primer. Add moisture and frizz control to your curls before styling. The Curl Memory Complex with sugar crystals, moringa oil and a UV filter will keep your curl definition all day long. . Ouidad Whipped Curls Daily Conditioner & Primer. Get instantly softer curls with this healing, moisture rich whip. Olive oil, shead butter and glycerin combine to restore stressed, dry hair on contact. . DevaCurl The Curl Maker Curl Boosting Spray Gel. This spray gell is 100% alcohol free and free from silicones. Just a little spray will give your curls a crunch-free lift and lots of texture. . Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream. Wonderful for anyone with natural curls, this cream provides intense conditioning and detangling. You'll love the volume and shine it adds. . GHD Curl Hold Spray. When you need curls to last all day and into the night, then this is your style's best friend. Has thermal protection so go ahead and create your style. . Mizani True Textures Curl Enhancing Lotion. When you want to loosen and elongate your tight coils, apply this lotion first. When you are creating twists and curly sets, it gives incredible stretch to wet hair. Made with Jojoba & apricot oils, plus Vitamin E, it will reduce frizz and bulk. . Matrix Total Results Curl Please Contouring Lotion. Even the most unruly curls are tamed with this lotion that adds long-lasting definition, body and shine. It will control volume rather than boost it. . Alfaparf Style Stories Twisted Curls Cream. Separate, amplify and control your curls with this medium hold cream. Leaves your curls soft and with ultimate definition. TIPS FOR CURLY HAIR SHAMPOO LESS"”OR NOT AT ALL. The best way to wash curly hair is with a 100 percent sulfate-free shampoo. Sodium lauryl sulfate, the key ingredient in most traditional shampoos, is both a salt and a detergent"”an effective cleanser that's too harsh for most curls. Without enough conditioning agents, it can lift the hair's cuticles, leaving hair dry and frizzy. For those looking for even more hydration, consider a so-called "co-wash" formula. Co-washing (the curly community's term for washing hair with conditioner) has resulted in the rise of cleansing conditioners. . CONDITION, CONDITION, CONDITION. Did we mention condition? The curlier the hair, the longer it takes for natural oils to travel from the scalp to the ends, causing the lower half to appear dry and frazzled. Start adding moisture in the shower. Then protect and hydrate every inch with a styling product that doubles as a leave-in conditioner. Just be sure to pick the right formula to deliver moisture without weighing hair down. We recommend sprays for soft curls, thicker gels for medium to big curls and denser creams for crimpy coils. . STYLE YOUR HAIR WHEN IT'S SOPPING WET. Hands off your bath towel for just one more minute"”you can stave off frizz and prevent a stiff, sticky feeling by applying products before you've even stepped out of the shower stall. Use your fingers to rake products through from roots to ends, then scrunch and squeeze upward toward the scalp. . DON'T BLOW-DRY WITHOUT A DIFFUSER. A regular nozzle disrupts the curl pattern and focuses hot air on one small section at a time, while a diffuser dries curls evenly for a full, uniform look. After applying a heat-protecting product, flip your head upside down and diffuse right at the roots and mid-length, making sure to dry the area completely to lock in volume. Do the ends last and leave them only semidry. Because the ends tend to be more damaged, let them air-dry more.

Benjamin Fuchs shares some new skin care products with Jennifer Coy, Beauty Care Choices CEO. Truth Treatment products contain only active ingredients, all of which are organic, alcohol free, fragrance free, with no artificial colors. Active ingredients only; is the key to Truth Treatment products. Ben's favorite line, "your skin doesn't contain avocado or coconut, so why put it on your skin." Skin contains collagen, omegas, and proteins. From the molecular, and cellular level, this is what your skin needs to heal and to slow the aging process. That's what Truth Treatment delivers. All Truth Treatments products are organic and cruelty free. Tune in to these key times for specifics on key products! 17:16 AHA Energizing Mineral Exfoliator. 36:08 Hyaluronic Honey Mask And Vita Mask. 39:04 Ultra Sonic Device.

Technically, a hair conditioner is a hair care product, which alters the texture and appearance of human hair. Conditioners are used to give the hair extra care and nourishment, especially after a thorough shampooing. The primary function of a conditioner is to replace the sebum, which is lost from the hair after shampooing. For decades, natural oils have been used to condition human hair. These oils are used still in use today and include essential oils like tea tree oil and carrier oils such as jojoba. FUN FACT. Macassar oil was a popular conditioner in the late Victorian era, however it was quite greasy and required pinning a small cloth, called as antimacassar, to chairs and sofas to protect the upholstery from being damaged by the greasy Macassar oil. Modern hair conditioner was formulated and developed at the turn of century, when a renowned perfumer Ed. Pinaud presented a product that he called brilliantine at the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris. The product was formulated to soften men's hair. Technical. Conditioners are generally acidic, as low pH adds a proton to a molecule of the amino acids, which in turn provides positive charge to hair and as a result more hydrogen bonds between the keratin scales which gives the hair a more compact structure. Conditioners are generally formulated using organic acids like citric acid to maintain acidity. So, what type of conditioner should you use? Fine, flat hair. Use volumizing conditioner on fine, flat hair. If you have straight, silky hair with no frizzing problems, you want a conditioner that's going to add some much-needed texture to hair that might otherwise seem to just hang from your head. Volumizing conditioner is lighter than a regular formula, and doesn't add extra weight to hair when used regularly. People with fine, flat hair should never use smoothing conditioners; these heavy products will make your hair hang even more flatly. . Wavy Hair. Look for a light-weight moisturizing conditioner. Wavy hair can be hard to work with "” in humid weather it can frizz out of control, and in dry weather it can grow limp. The more curl there is in a strand of hair, the dryer the end of the strand gets, because it's hard for the natural oils from the scalp to wind their way down a curled strand than a straight one. Although wavy hair doesn't tend to be as dry as curly hair, you still need a moisturizing conditioner to stand in for those oils that aren't making their way down to the tips of your hair. Just be sure it is a lightweight moisture and apply mostly to the ends of hair. . Thick, Curly Hair. You need deep-hydrating conditioner. The curlier the hair, the dryer it gets. If you have thick, curly hair, odds are that without a deep-hydrating conditioner to make up for the lack of oils making their way from the scalp to the tip of the strand, you'll have dry, dull hair with a tendency to frizz. Look for conditioners labeled as "deep hydrating" or for curly hair specifically. You should also consider using a leave-in conditioning mask on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. These conditioners are meant to be left in your hair for 10-15 minutes, then washed out like regular conditioner. With regular use, you should see a significant change in the way your curls hold together rather than frizzing away. . African-American Hair. Protect the intense curl with a deep-hydrating conditioner or oil-based products. The right conditioning product can make even the curliest hair shiny and healthy. Products with shea butter or various types of oils "” from coconut oil to the more expensive Moroccan argan oil "” are a good bet. . Dyed Hair. Use color-safe or color-depositing conditioner if you dye your hair. As time passes after your initial dye application, you'll notice that the dye in your hair will get washed away by your showers. To keep the color vibrant for as long as possible, you'll want to choose an appropriate conditioner. It's the water, not the conditioner, that washes the dye from your hair when you shower. However, color-safe conditioners seal hair cuticles, allowing your hair to hold onto the dye for a longer period of time. Look for packaging that advertises products as "color safe," "color extend," "color care," or "sulfate-free." Color-depositing conditioners actually deposits a small amount of color each time it's applied in the shower, not only maintaining the richness of the original color, but also hiding the roots that emerge as your hair grows out for a period of time. . Dandruff. Use a light, fragrance-free conditioner. Dandruff is a scalp issue, not a hair issue; the skin on your scalp grows and dies at a faster rate than in people without dandruff, leaving an embarrassing flaky white residue in your hair and on your shoulders. The shampoo you choose will have more of an effect on your dandruff than your conditioner, but there are still many products on the market geared toward treating this condition. Look for lighter conditioners rather than high-moisturizing or oil-heavy ones that can contribute to the problem on your scalp. Hair products with heavy fragrances often irritate the scalp, which leads to more itching, and more evidence of your dandruff on your clothes. Avoid heavily perfumed conditioners. The Bottom Line:. Think about your hair, how you are feeling, what you are eating and any medications you are taking when choosing your hair conditioner. All of these can affect the look and feel of your hair. Sometimes it's best to alternate conditioners and sometimes it's best to skip the conditioner altogether! Think about conditioning before shampooing or co-pooing. You know your hair best. There are so many options available.

It has happened to us all at some point; your hair gets stuck to your clothes and random objects you go near. It sticks out randomly and it ruins the hairstyle you worked so hard on. Sometimes it even gets stuck on those perfectly glossed lips! That's right; we are talking about static hair. We have all been there before, dealing with the annoyance of static hair. Some of us get it in the winter season and sadly, some all year long. Whatever the case, we all can agree that static hair just ruins everything. What causes it? Static can be produced when temperatures drop low and air dries up or when hair just becomes charged with electricity in which electrons (which are negatively-charged) fly off your hair, leaving your hair with positive charges that make the hair strands resist each other causing the unwelcoming "static effect". Now the big question, how can we deal with it? Luckily, there are a few tricks, products and tips to diminish static hair! Avoid using a plastic comb. Using a plastic comb will only make your hair produce more static vs. a metal comb that will not because the metal is conductive to electricity. Switch to an Ionic Blow Dryer. Using an Ionic Blow Dryer helps diminish and reduce static by emitting negative ions causing H2O molecules to divide into smaller particles to evaporate and dry hair faster while also reducing heat damage. Try using hair oil. Our hair may conduct static because it is lacking hydration. Using hair oil will moisturize your hair strands to get rid of the static. Plus, it adds a gorgeous shine to your hair! Tip: Those with fine and thin hair, don't be afraid to use hair oil, there are plenty of lightweight hair oils available. If you're not sure of which one to select, call us and we'll make some suggestions. Hairspray is your best friend. Hairspray fights static! Just spray some onto your comb/brush and brush away for a static and frizz-free look. Use a product made to reduce frizz and static. There are many products available that specifically are made to target frizz and static. These include shampoos, conditioners and styling sprays. If you struggle with static issues, check out these featured product links on our website: Suavecito Metal Combs, Ionic Blow Dryers, Hair Oils, Hairsprays, Fairy Tales Static Free Detangling Spray

If you are considering updating your style by cutting bangs, stop for a moment! While bangs can be high maintenance and while hair does grow back, the grow out process can be painful. On the other hand, bangs can make your style more dramatic, draw attention to fabulous eyes or be very flirty and cute. Here are four tips before you or your hairdresser grab the shears: Bangs require extra work each day. Bangs are not for those who are style lazy. If you've got your style down to a 3-minute routine, adding bangs will change things a bit. Bangs need to be styled everyday if they are to look great. Bangs need to be trimmed at least once every three weeks to keep them and your style looking like you intended. Many hairdressers will trim bangs for free if you are a regular client (but don't forget to tip for this service). You might want to try a starter bang at first. Side-swept bangs are versatile and much easier to style, plus they look great on almost any face. The advantage of this is to help you decide if bang maintenance is for you and they are easier to grow out if you decide you don't want bangs. Invest in dry shampoo. The oils from your face and fingertips are going to make your bangs limp and greasy long before your next shampoo. A good dry-shampoo can work wonders to soak up those oils and refresh your bangs!

When you think of a conditioner, most of us think of the big bottle right next to the shampoo as our best choice. That's not always true. We also think leaving a conditioner on the hair will leave it greasy or weighed down. That's not always true either. A good leave-in conditioner may be a better choice for many of us, including fine hair, color treated hair and dry hair. Read on to see why. The Light-Weight Leave-in Conditioner. If your hair and scalp tend to be greasy and even the lightest conditioner is too rich, a leave-in hair conditioner may be the light-weight solution. After shampooing the moisturizing conditioner can be targeted to the part of your hair that actually needs conditioning. The hair ends are the usual targets. Leave-in conditioners also work well for fine hair. There are, for example, collagen-containing leave-in cures, which give flat, thin hair more bounce. These leave-in cures may also be applied to the root portion of the hair where more volume and bounce is needed. Leave-In Conditioners: Sometimes More Is More. Leave-in hair conditioners can often be the best conditioner for dry hair. If your hair is over-processed or dry, a leave-in treatment with shea butter, coconut extract or argan oil is a good choice. Some leave-in hair conditioners contain the hair building block keratin, structure-improving proteins and moisturizing glycerol. These cures are suitable for over-processed and damaged hair. You may decide to use leave-in treatments regularly in addition to conditioning shampoos and hair rinses to provide sufficient conditioning. Don't forget to add a weekly hair mask or hair cure to your hair care regimen. Leave-in Conditioner: Extra Luster for Color-Treated Hair. Color-treated hair looks more brilliant after the application of leave-in conditioners containing enzyme-rich apricot kernel oil, panthenol for protection, and hair-regenerating keratin. These special ingredients add glow to any hair color. Special pigments in leave-in cures for blonde hair provide a golden glow. Very damaged color-treated hair may need a conditioning rinse and a leave-in treatment after shampooing. This applies in particular to hair after frequent bleaching. However, your color-treated hair may be quite healthy so that no more than a leave-in treatment is needed after shampooing.