Beauty Blog

Shampooing is routine like brushing teeth or cutting nails. Maybe it's time to put some thought into your hair washing routine and use some washing hair tips to take advantage of the many good things you can do for your hair. Here's a how-to shampoo guide for the best way to shampoo your hair. Step-by-Step Guide to Properly Shampoo Your Hair. Step 1: Prep your hair by combing residual styling products out of your hair. Step 2: Choose the Right Shampoo. See whether you're using the proper shampoo for your hair type. Is your hair fine, dry, oily or did you see some dandruff flakes lately? Does it need extra volume or frizz taming? There are so many good shampoo formulas and one type does not fit all. If you've been just buying the same shampoo year-after-year, maybe it's time to re-think it. Step 3: Water (Part 1) Dampen your hair with lukewarm water. Step 4: Use about half inch wide dollop of shampoo (about the volume of a hazelnut should be enough for short to medium long hair. For long hair, adjust this amount accordingly. Distribute the shampoo through your hair. Step 5: Shampooing"“ getting down to how to shampoo hair "“foam up the dollop of shampoo with a little water before massaging it through your hair and over the scalp with circulating movements. Be sure not to scratch your scalp with your fingernails which can lead to infection. Step 6: Water (Part 2) Completely rinse the shampoo out of your hair using clear water. It is important to thoroughly rinse out all shampoo. Squeeze the hair with your hands during the rinse. Tip: A good hair washing tip is complete when your hair feels "squeaky" clean. Step 7: Water (Part 3) Finally, rinse your hair and scalp with cool water. Washing hair in cold water feels exhilarating and stimulates the blood circulation. Step 8: Remember, wet hair is very sensitive and you should therefore abstain from toweling or rubbing it dry. Instead, simply press a towel on your hair. The towel will absorb excess water without moving it back and forth and damaging your hair in the process.

Some of us love to get haircuts; others are shy of the shears, usually because of fears, like facing a dramatic change in appearance or using excessive length as a security blanket. But we all need to get hair cuts to maintain healthy-looking and strong strands. Frequent trims or mini trims combat breakage, as well as refresh the style. Plus, a change every now and then is a great way to perk yourself up, feel revitalized, and put a spring in your step. So read on...you may find yourself in one of the 7 signs! Sign 1: When you brush your hair you "shed." Do you look like you live in a house with a pet after you brush your hair? Those little bits coming off are breakage and are a sign that the split ends are traveling up the hair shaft. Time for a trim! Sign 2: Your hair is starting to look like a V in the back. A distinct V shape in the back is due to old hair thinning out. Have your hair cut. Reestablish the base line! Sign 3: You can't get your ends to blow-dry nicely anymore. No matter what you do, you can't get your ends to turn under or out, they just hang there. They are dead. Cut them off! Sign 4: Does your hair tangle easily? Stronger tresses don't tangle as easily as thinned out ends do. If you brush your hair and five minutes later it's tangled, it's time to refresh the cut. Make it tangle-free and brush-able, please! Sign 5: You're wondering when was the last time somebody complimented your hairstyle when you come across a picture of the cutest-ever cut on your favorite celebrity. It's a sign. It's two signs. Go for it! Sign 6: It's a fresh start! Changing your hair can change how you look and feel about yourself, and how others perceive you. A hair cut is the easiest way to mark a fresh start in your life. Sign 7: It takes you 30 minutes or more to get your current do looking great and while that was fine and dandy when all you had to worry about was how hot you looked for a date, now that you're a working woman, maybe you need a cut that is still cool and stylish, yet comes with effortless low maintenance.

Even the best hair can have a flat, tired day, but when tired limp hair becomes the norm, it's time to get serious. Fortunately, there are hair care products out there that will help you achieve the desired fullness, volume, and lift your perfect style needs. Step 1: Begin by using a good shampoo and conditioner formulated specifically for volumizing. Then use a root lifter to style your hair. Did you know? Most hair root lift products are sold as sprays or in a mousse format. Their primary ingredient is polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate (VP/VA) copolymer. This ingredient works by keeping the hair from absorbing moisture which would weigh it down. When the root lifter is applied to the hair at the scalp, it expands the hairs, making it appear as if you have more hair. Step 2: Always apply root lifter to wet hair and style immediately. Most complaints about root lifter are that it makes hair sticky or unmanageable. This usually happens when hair is not styled right away. Applied root lifter requires immediate attention. Step 3: Spray or apply mousse to roots of hair in small sections. Depending on your style, you may want to add just to the crown or to all roots. Step 4: Blow dry hair using a round brush and a dryer with a diffuser, lifting hair and focusing the air at the root level. Tip: if you want even more lift, try using a crimping iron underneath sections of your hair just at the root level once your hair is dry. Clip top hair in place, take a small section of the underneath hair and apply the crimping iron as close to the roots as possible. Hold for a few second and release. Finish styling your hair.

Thinking of going from brunette to blonde? Before you do, here are some tips to help you decide. After all, brunette is beautiful. So, you want to consider carefully before taking the step. Is blonde complementary to your eye color and skin tone? The truest test is looking at childhood photos to see if you had any natural blonde in your hair when you were young"”but if you didn't, that doesn't mean you can't try it now. Ultimately, you're looking for a shade that will complement your coloring, keeping in mind that non-brassy, ashier blondes complement cool skin tones, while golden shades work better on warmer ones. It's also worth noting that blonde can have an especially washed-out effect on yellow undertones. Tip 1: Can you dedicate time and money to multiple appointments and at-home treatments? Simply put: a transformation isn't going to happen overnight. Natural looking blonde hair may take several steps: "‹going from "‹sombré "‹to babylights to a whole head of highlights to the whole head. Furthermore, ensuring your hair is healthy enough to keep going lighter and lighter is another task in and of itself. Not to mention,"‹ you need lots of moisturizing treatments in-between each service to help maintain healthy hair. Hair masks are a non-negotiable part of the process. Tip 2: Is your hair in healthy shape? Coloring damaged hair is about much more than just split ends or straw-like strands, it can affect the color itself and how it is absorbed in the hair. As a rule of thumb, you should always proceed with caution, but if your hair is in particularly bad shape (color, sun, or heat damage), perhaps wait until it's in better health to begin a blonde transformation. Tip 3: Are you willing to cut down on hot tools? If we can't pry a 1-inch curling iron from your dead, cold hands, you're not the best candidate for a drastic color change. Because your hair is inherently suffering damage from going lighter, you're going to need to cut back on hot styling tools as they cause internal damage that weakens the protein cross-links. To use them wisely, keep them on lower temperature settings and always use a heat protectant to minimize damage and keep your color looking fresh. Tip 4: Are you prepared to also change some or all of your cosmetics? The big change will also affect how your skin tone appears and the color for your eyebrows, cheeks, and lips.

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.