Search Results: Cozy Friedman
Mae reviews Boost by T3 and Orlando Pita.
I was a teenager when facial scrubs first became available. You know the ones I mean—crushed apricot kernels (currently marketed by St. Ives”>. They seemed like a miracle product with their promises of clearing away dead skin cells that could clog your pores and cause blackheads and blemishes.
What we didn’t know is that the crushed kernals had rough edges that could tear at your skin, making it more prone to blemishes. And tearing at the pimples already present not only spreads bacteria, it also made them heal slowly and scar. The scarring I got on my cheeks lasted well into my 30s when acid peels finally became available
There is no doubt that exfoliating is a good thing for your skin. It does slough off dead skin cells, helps stimulate blood flow, and deep cleans pores.
But it’s more than possible to over-do a good thing.
The popularity of the Clarisonic skin cleaning system and various knock-offs is leading to an increase in patients showing up at dermatologists offices with over-exfoliated skin. Despite the products’ claims that these brushes are safe for daily use on all skin types, including those with rosacea and sensitive skin, you may want to think twice before reaching for a sonic brush.
However, if you are determined to try a sonic brush because you’ve heard so many good things about them, practice an ounce of prevention. Get the softest brush they offer; unless your skin is like leather you won’t need the “normal” (i.e. “harder””> brushes.
Use the brush once a day. Sure, they all say to use them twice a day, but if you’re using it at night before you go to bed, is your face really going to get so dirty while you’re sleeping that you need to use it again in the morning?
FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON TIMING—I cannot emphasize this one enough. When they say 20 seconds on your forehead and 10 seconds on your cheeks, stop when you’ve reach the prescribed time. It’s the people who ignore this advice and keep scrubbing for longer who are the ones landing at the doctor’s office with the damage to their skin.
Since these brushes are expensive ($150 US for the Clarisonic Mia mini-brush”>, you might want to try something cheaper and a little more low-tech. I’ve been using a soft brush to wash my face for years. The Body Shop sells a small one that fits in the palm of your hand for the amazing sum of $3.00 Cdn. Shiseido has one with a handle available for $23 US and Sephora sells a similar one for $5.
Using gentle pressure and your favourite cleanser, these brushes might not vibrate 300 times per second, but they can be very effective in removing makeup and the grime of daily living.
Common sense should be your guide when exfoliating. Be gentle – you’ve got one face that has to last the rest of your life!
3 Steps to Successful Styling:
1. Condition, condition, condition! Use the Deep Therapy Masque at least once a week to keep your hair hydrated and healthy.
2. Have the right haircut for your hair texture and facial features. You should trim your hair as needed to get rid of split ends and encourage healthy hair.
3. Use the right styling tools for your hair texture and know the right technique to achieve beautiful, bouncy curls.
Dear Christo: I have curly hair and I believe it’s type 3a. My hair is a little bit past my shoulders and has layers. Every time I try to do it, it just ends up looking too straight, or wavy. I have tried every tip I can find online—diffusers, different products, using wide-toothed combs, and so much more, but nothing seems to help. I want it to be curlier, and cooperate with me every day. I also need something easy and fast because I’m still in middle school. Most of the time, I have to go to school looking like I didn’t even try to make my hair look nice, but my entire morning is all about trying to fix my hair. i just want it to be less puffy, and curlier but I don’t know how. Please give me some advice.
A: Remember step #1: Condition, condition, condition!
It seems like your hair is dehydrated and that is the reason why it does not hold your styles. You need to start using a Deep Therapy Masque at least once a week to bring your hair back to life. Ridding your hair of split ends by trimming it every 6-10 weeks is also very important. This will keep your hair from ruining your styles. If you don’t know the right styling tools or technique for your hair, I suggest you log onto www.curlisto.com and click on the Styling Your Own Hair Video where you can choose the hair texture that best matches your own and watch a step-by-step instructional video on how to properly style your curls using the right hair products. By following these three steps, you are on your way to successful, long lasting styles.
Dear Christo: I cut my bra-strap length hair to well above my shoulders. With more frequent deep treatments (like 3/week MINIMUM”> I’ve achieved so much healthier hair than in the all the months of going natural. My hair has actually taken on a more 4a curl. But I seem to have lost my curl pattern in the crown area. Now some of it is leftover heat-damaged hair, but the other stuff just sort of….happened! From 1.5″ or so past the crown to just past the middle of my head I have no curl or wave….just straight-ish hair. It’s frizzy and poofy and dry; won’t blend or hold fingercurls or anything. The front/sides and back are curlier than ever. I’m wondering if this loss of patten is from a henna treatment. Yet no other areas of my hair were affected—just this patch in the middle of my head (I’ve hennaed once before, btw”>. If it is the henna, is it repairable? If not the henna….is it still repairable??
A: The effects of heat damage and chemical processes can sometimes take a while to become apparent. The loss of your curl pattern must be a result of years of stress caused by heat styling and using the products (including henna”>. Henna is not good for the hair; it dries out the cortex which will in fact make your hair lose its pattern. There is no quick fix to years of damage so I suggest that you put your hair through Hair Rehab. This amazing system will restore abused and/or over processed hair. The crown area took the most abuse which is why it is taking longer to repair. Have patience and continue to nourish, hydrate and care for your hair. The only way to get your curl back is to restore its health.
I suggest that you send a picture of your curls to prescription@curlisto.com. One of my senior stylists will be able to write you a personalized prescription and provide you with plan to return the healthy your hair. There are always solutions; you just need to have the right team available to help you find them.
Dear Christo: I know it’s normal to lose 40-100 strands a day but I am losing gobs in the shower! Could it be because I wash my hair about every 3 days and those 40-100 strands are entangled in my curls and they are coming out all at once? I don’t have any balds spots and no signs of thinning but I am fuh-reaking out! It’s been happening forever but now I’m thinking maybe its not so normal. Ideas?
A: It is true; you are supposed to lose 70-100 stands of hair in a single day. Since curly women do not need to wash their hair every day, strands accumulate and it seems like there are massive amounts of hair being shed. The lifespan of a hair strand is 4-7 years. It is important to note that factors like a change in weather, diet and stress levels can cause you to lose more hair than normal.
If you don’t feel like your hair is thinning, then there is nothing to worry about. You are lucky to get your hair back. If you are thinning out, I highly recommend that you see your physician.
You should also follow the 3 steps to successful styling because it is something that everyone should do to keep their curls beautiful and bouncy.
Dear Christo: This problem has plagued me for years! I have between 3c or 3b curls (depends on what place on my head you are looking at”>. Color is the only thing I find that gives my hair body. I get it professionally colored every 6 weeks. And in between I touch up my the roots. So I am coloring it every 3 weeks. I know, I know what you are thinking: “but is it in good condition?” I get to the week before I should be coloring it and it is horrible!
Seriously, I am late for work, I’m in a foul mood because I now it looks bad and I can’t do anything about it. It gets real soft and flat, it lies flat to my head. I use more product, I try to lift it with clips while it is drying. Forget it. I HATE IT!!! But then I add color and presto everything is right in the world. It has the body I need to work with it. What is the ingredient in color that gives my hair body? Is there any help for my hair except for color?
A: Coloring your hair will give the illusion of your hair being fuller and thicker because the cuticle will expand 30%. Chemicals in the color will swallow your hair’s cuticle which is why it will only last for limited time and your hair starts to feel unmanageable and flat until you touch up your roots. I suggest that you try and find out the right styling products for your hair type.
It seems like you have a very fine hair texture that easily becomes limp, especially in the scalp area. It is important to use the right styling products that will address this problem and boost the root area. I suggest that you use Curl Reform whose expansion technology will make your hair look fuller and less flat.
No sooner had I emptied my mailbox of all the makeup companies’ emails about holiday gift sets, than it filled up again with promises of spring.
“First Look at Spring,” said one. “Your Spring Fling,” promised another. With an Aussie friend taunting me with details of her steamy summer and groundhogs dashing hopes of early warmth for the northern climes, I opened all these messages eagerly.
So what is in stores for spring makeup 2010?
BeneFit velvet eyeshadow
Eye candy from Benefit with six limited edition shades of their velvet shadows. The colours are Bo Peep (lily pink”>, Buns (golden sienna”>, Fancy Pansy (pale lavender”>, Mermaid (golden turquoise”>, Nice Melons (papaya pearl”> and Shamrocker (iced mint”>. To go with your sparkling lids, you might want to try their new shimmering body balm called “Take a Picture, It Lasts Longer” – it’s a golden pink shade that should nicely set off your faux-tan.
Tarte is offering “Flower Child”, a collection that includes one of their signature cheek stains in a new golden rose shade, and an eye shadow palette that could take you from day to evening with colours like Daffodil and African Violet. They’ve also got a new mascara and lash primer that they claim have “lash-enhancing” properties.
Bobbi Brown Cabana Corals
Stila was responsible for makeup at Betsey Johnson’s shows during New York Fashion Week last fall. Johnson is known for her wild use of colour, and her collection for this spring is no exception with shades of blue and turquoise dominating along with punk rock chic little black dresses. In order to match everything, Stila chose a classic smoky eye with bare lips and barely blushing cheeks. The Betsey Johnson colour collection at Stila is available in a set for $32 on their website.
Bobbi Brown is showing coral for spring. The Cabana Corals collection features a BB Shimmer Brick in coral-gold shades, pot rogue in a shade called Cabo Coral and three new shades of shimmering lip gloss: Sunset Beach, Golden Nectar, and Coral Sand.
Not to be outdone, MAC Cosmetics has four Spring Colour Forecast collections in pink, coral, plum and amber. There are shadows and lipsticks and some beautiful new shades of lipglass available along with a new perfume called PinkAura that is described as “(starting”> off green then (bursting”> into a flowery bouquet of freesia, black violet and magnolia petals. (Sashaying”> into a rich warm amber and balmy vetiver.”
Urband Decay’s Book of Shadows
One of the most-anticipated movies of this spring is Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland”. Directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp, the photos that were seen last fall showed Depp with fantasically-made-up eyes in shades of blue and red. As a tie-in to the movie, Urban Decay has created one of their very popular Book of Shadows collections in colours suited to the magical world Alice finds herself inhabiting. It contains 16 eye shadows, a mini-primer potion and two eye pencils. Unfortunately, this collection sold out in one day and many are available on eBay for $100 – or more!
A slightly more affordable movie tie-in comes courtesy of OPI with four nail polish shades in honour of the movie: Thanks So Muchness, Absolutely Alice, Mad as a Hatter, and Off With Her Red!
It’s time to break out the brights and cast-off the cashmere! Happy Spring!
Curly Hair Solutions is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Created in February 2000, the company has been providing curly knowledge, tips, techniques and the highest quality products for the past decade.
It was created by veteran stylist Jonathan Torch, who developed a passion for curly hair, and became obsessed with finding new techniques to cut, care for and style waves, kinks and curls.
Those have efforts include 10 products in the Curly Hair Solutions line, several accessories and tools, a series of how-to videos, the Frizzoff.com web site and the Curly Hair Institute in Toronto, a salon specializing in curly hair
For the month of February receive a free Curl Keeper 4oz/120ml with every order placed at www.frizzoff.com.
Torch’s fascination with curls began 20 years ago when a client came in with a head of bulky, unmanageable frizz. The Canadian (via South Africa”> hairdresser admits that the layered cut he gave her looked terrible. But after that misstep, he made it his mission to figure out how to work with curly hair.
Over the years, he has become a student of everything curly. He has studied how curly hair looks when it’s wet and dry, how it shrinks and what makes it frizz. He has discovered the best ways to reduce bulk. He has watched how it changes from season to season. And he has learned that no two people have exactly the same curl types.
“I’ve come to accept that curly hair is my expertise,’ Torch says. “I believe it’s my destiny, and it’s what I know and what I do the best. I just love it.”
Torch is constantly working on new products and technologies—with the latest ingredients—to help those with curls and kinks find solutions to their hair issues. Two standouts in the Curly Hair Solutions line are Tweek and Curl Keeper, a Holy Grail product many curlies can’t live without.“Teaching individuals with curly hair what the right products and techniques are for them, and how to achieve complete curl success has made our journey fun and exciting,” Torch says. “It encourages us to continue promoting curly hair and creating the unique products that people with curls require.”
Ten years, and going strong. Here are some of the major accomplishments of Curly Hair Solutions
Videos | Shows | Salons/Stores | Models | New Products | Techniques
Dear Cozy: My daughter will be 10 at the end of this month and I want to start teaching her to care for her hair. I have on occasion let her rinse her deep conditioner out while she was in the shower (actually once “> and she has been begging to keep doing every since. So my question is 10 to young? I will of course be assisting her, and I’m not sure that I would actually let her do her weekly co-washes alone, but maybe rinsing her DT’s and showing her how to detangle.
A: I think it’s wonderful that she wants to take an active role in her grooming, and by all means you should allow it! There’s no reason that you can’t do a quick check when she’s finished, just to be sure she rinsed thoroughly. I would seize the moment and take this opportunity to teach her about proper grooming. Enjoy — this is special time between a mother and a daughter that you will both remember for the rest of your lives!
Dear Cozy: My daughter is 2 and has curly, wavy and even some hair that seems straight. Almost her entire canopy is straight/wavy but her hair underneath is very curly. I really have no idea where the straight hair came from, but there it is! Anyway, she is due for a trim soon and I was debating whether to let them give her bangs. It isn’t something I’ve ever thought about before, as I haven’t had bangs since I was a teenager in the 80s, but a few people have mentioned that she would look cute with them.
I get her hair trimmed every few months so the ends stay healthy, but am letting it grow out so I ask them not to cut more than 1/4″ off at a time (unfortunately, the last person who cut her hair cut off way too much and now it’s back to the length it was 6 months ago–UGH”>. With her curl/wave pattern being something I have no experience with, I don’t really know what would be a good cut for her. So I just have the ends trimmed and that’s it.
A: It’s difficult to make a recommendation as to a hairstyle without actually seeing her hair, but I do have some advice. First, you should know that a variety of hair types is quite common for young children. This is because baby hair is growing out and new hair is growing in. Very often, children’s hair type changes as they age (same with adults”>. My guess is that the “newer” hair growth, is likely to be the way her hair will be for the near future. A great option that is very in-style right now is side bangs. You can see on TV and in the movies that it’s the new, hot style. It’s not as drastic as cutting bangs, as they are longer and not as blunt and thus easier to grow in if you aren’t happy with it.
Dear Cozy: I need to find some products that might work for my 3-year-old daughter. I don’t know what is worse — the summer with the pool or the winter with the heat on. I have stopped shampooing and have been braiding to keep it so it doesn’t mat up. What’s your routine? From shampoo and product to second day hair? What leave-in should I use. I haven’t been using any. Suggestions… I am open and willing for anything right now.
A: I definitely recommend using products that are formulated specifically for children’s hair. You are absolutely right, it’s hard to say which is harder on your hair—summer or winter?! So Cozy Hair Care for Children has products that will address all of your child’s needs. Try the Green Apple Swimmer’s Shampoo in the summer and the Sweet Strawberry Conditioner in the winter. Use the Fruity Delight Detangler & Leave-In Conditioner all year round. Sleeping with a loose braid or pony will help prevent matting, but for heavy duty detangler, try combing out her hair with a wide-toothed comb in the tub with So Cozy Lucky Lime PreDetangling Cream.
Dear Cozy: My daughter will soon be 6 yearss old and she is starting to lose her curls. I just started the shampoo free method one month ago. She is still losing curl definition in the back by the end of the day. She also has back-of-hair frizz. I figure hair weight may be an issue. She is a 2b, 2c, 3a parts with thick medium/coarse hair. She use to be 3a-3b. Her last hair cut almost left the back in a barely 2a, with loss of ringlets even in the nape area. Ideas?
A: There are 2 possibilities as to what’s going on with your daughter’s hair. The first possibility is that her haircut is lacking layers, which means it’s weighing down her curls. The more likely possibility however, is that her hair texture is changing and she won’t be a curly girl for much longer. It’s quite common for a child’s hair type to change as they get older, which is usually much harder for parents to face than the kids!
No one is exactly sure of how the word “sugar” came to be a euphemism for “kiss” but in this month when we celebrate love and sweet stuff, I thought we’d take a look at some sugary and sugar-inspired beauty products.
Sugar scrubs for the body have become especially popular over the past decade. While sugar as a beauty product has always been in use in some parts of the world (the Middle East, North Africa and India”>, the Boston-based cosmetics and personal care company Fresh is probably responsible for promoting the sweet stuff in North America.
While the company started with bar soaps in 1991, their Fresh Sugar line (launched in 1997″> has come to define the brand. Using brown sugar and several natural oils as the base, the centerpiece of the line is the Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish. Not only does this gentle scrub exfoliate well, the oils leave your skin feeling silky soft, and the gentle lemony scent supposedly has aphrodisiac qualities. A gentler version is now available for facial use.
NovaLash has developed “candied lashes.”
Another fragrance that is decidedly sweet is Aquolina’s Pink Sugar. While many describe the top note of this scent as cotton candy in nature, the list of ingredients shows that the middle and base notes put it firmly in the “oriental” family: bergamot, Sicilian orange, raspberry, fig leaves, lily of the valley, licorice, strawberry, vanilla, caramel, and musk. Pink Sugar not only comes in eau de toilette, but also as a body scrub, cream, mousse, shower gel, perfume hair spray and in a deodorant.
Sugar is a natural healing agent. How often have you heard about dabbing honey on cuts to help them heal? With that in mind, some companies are using sugar as ingredients to help with a wide variety of cosmetic difficulties, as in Korres’ Sugar Crystal Antioxidant Eye Treatment which helps combat under-eye puffiness.
For centuries, sugar paste was used for hair removal. Currently on the market is a mini “wax” kit from Anastasia of Beverly Hills ($12 US at Sephora”>. You heat the sugar paste in the microwave for a few seconds and use it with linen strips instead of wax to remove unwanted hair. Since regular wax gives me welts, I’ve been using sugar to do my brows for years and find it works very well—without welts!
Benefit Cosmetics has a new blush product they call “Sugar Bomb”. Available in the same format as the popular Dandelion and Georgia blushes, Sugar Bomb contains four shades of blush in one box: rose, shimmering pink, soft plum and peach. Just swirl your blush brush across the four colours to create a new look each time.
Finally, for the very daring, Nova Lash, the originators of the eye lash extension system, have developed “candied lashes”. These individual lashes are crystallized, hand-dipped, freeze-dried splashes of colour available in brown, blue, green, pink, gold, purple and black.
Happy Valentine’s Day to you and yours!
So Cozy Pre-Detangling Treatment
Q: I have twin 2-year-old daughters. One of them has long, luscious hair past her shoulders (ringlets around her head, of course, but stretches reach past her shoulders”> and the other has hair long on the sides, but short in the back. At first I figured it was from sleeping on her back so I changed their sheets and their pillow cases to satin. Their hair is finally long enough to keep in just one pony tail so I do that every day. It does WONDERS for tangles, since their hair is very fine and tangles very easily, I only leave it loose for special occasions or when they are home with me.
For a few months now I’ve noticed that Alina’s hair is longer and thicker than Alex’s hair. I figured that although they are identical, it won’t be EXACTLY the same. However, now there are chunks of hair coming out whenever I comb her hair. This doesn’t happen to Alina. Not one strand! So I called the doctor. The doc said it was from the pony tails, and although I didn’t think so, Alina’s was thinning in the hair line too and that some kids lose more than others from the pony tail. So, I left their hair loose two days in a row, and they both lost more hair this way than they ever did with a pony tail while I combed it out.
Cozy: Yes, it’s fairly common to see damage to hair from pony tails if you are always placing the elastics in the same places or if you are wearing elastics too tight. Putting hair back definitely helps prevent tangles but perhaps you should try a loose braid or alternating the styles so hair doesn’t get damaged.
Q: My 2-year-old has curly hair. When wet, it is half-way down her back. When dry, it barely covers her shoulders. I am having a difficult time keeping tangles away. Have been washing it only when I must, and using a baby conditioner on her hair every time I bathe her. But the biggest problem right now is that it becomes severely knotted every time she rides in her car seat—and has recently started breaking off in back. TONS of tiny little knots. Sometimes I am forced to cut them out, as I cannot remove them even after oiling her hair. Any advice on how to prevent the car seat problem? General advice on hair products?
Cozy: The challenge with tangles is that it’s a never-ending job! It’s the type of thing you must stay on top of daily, or else you get to the point of no return (cutting the tangles out with a scissor”>! First, I recommend that you put your daughter’s hair up prior to her riding in her car seat. You can do a pony tail, pigtails or braid—just be sure to keep hair pulled back to prevent from tangling. Next, for hair that tangles so easily, be sure to detangle DAILY! For painless tangle removal, try So Cozy Pre-Detangling Treatment when your daughter bathes. Apply a liberal amount and comb through with a wide tooth comb. Doing this frequently will detangle as well as help prevent future tangles. Good luck!
Q: My 14-year-old son won’t stop scratching his scalp. I have tried SLS-free shampoos, but my son continues to have dandruff and itch all day. He has a very dry scalp. Please help.
Cozy: I recommend that you talk to his pediatrician. This may be just a common case of dandruff, that would be solved with a dandruff shampoo. A doctor will help rule out psoriasis or eczema, which are also quite common.
Q: My name is Arielle and I am a college student in Rhode Island. I straightened my hair with a CHI staightener and it looked great. I then missed my big tight black curls and wanted them back. So I washed my hair and only one side of my head went back to normal and the other side is still straight! I need to know if there is something I can do to get back my big beautiful hair that I love and would cry for if I had to give it up.
A: Hair is like fabric and has some degree of memory to it. It should be handled with care. We see this all the time in the salon where someone has straightened their natural hair only to wet it and it not snap back to being as curly as before. Heat can break those bonds that make your hair curly just like a chemical. The key is not to style your hair straight, because it is unpredictable as to whether you will regain your curl or not. What you can do now is wash it and try to style it curly. If your hair does not regain its original curl I’m afraid it will never will. You will have to take this as a learning lesson and grow it out. The thing with straight-styling curly hair is that it is unpredictable whether the curl will come back or not. It depends on the hair’s porosity and the amount of heat used and the application of this heat. This is sometimes difficult to determine so I say always proceed with caution when you are styling your own hair straight. A flat iron can be a dangerous tool because if the heat is allowed to rest in one area too long the hair might remain straight. I would recommend straight styling with a rollerset and blow. Only use a flat iron if you are a professional.
Q: I have type 4 hair, and I live in Philadelphia, PA.I currently use Aubrey’s protein shampoo and conditioner. Currently I keep my hair plaited and I wear wigs. I am so tired of the wigs. I would like to wear my own hair, but I don’t want to put chemicals in it, nor do I want to put heat on it. Can you help me with some products for shampooing, conditioning and everyday care of my type 4b hair. Thank you.
A: For shampooing I would recommend Creme de la Curl, its a non-sulfate shampoo that cleanses with moisturizing castor oil ( the idea being that oil removes dirt”>. For conditioning I would recommend Creme de la Creme and Rapid Recovery Treatment. These are moisturizing conditioners that will aid in detangling and really make your hair manageable. If your hair is a similar texture all over then I would recommend Curly Pudding for fingerstyling your 4B hair. If you have varied textures all over I would do a two strand twist with Curly Pudding. Moisturize daily with Baby or Curly Buttercreme.
Q: My son’s hair varies in texture from the back and sides, to the middle and along the front of his hair line. Several months ago he scratched the top of his head so much that he created a bald patch. He was diagnosed with excema and once a week we gently wash his hair with a prescribed version of Selsum Blue shampoo. Afterward, I just massage in a little extra-virgin olive oil and comb it out with a wide-toothed comb. Now that he passed his first birthday I wanted to ask if you have tips on how I can manage his hair. After he wakes up each day it is so dry and right now, I just wet it a little and brush it. But this does not help much.
Q: I have had this problem for a while now. I wash my hair in sections once a week concentrating on my scalp with Trader Joe’s Nourish Spa Shampoo and deep condition with 365 no fragrance conditioner with Extra Virgin Olive Oil added. I then twist my hair in two-strand twists in the back (from crown to nape”> and flat twist the front (from temple to crown”> using my mixture of Shea butter, coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, peppermint oil, and vitamin E oil (based in olive, jojoba, rosemary, oregano oils”> and pin it up in an updo. No more than 4 days can go by and my scalp starts itching like crazy. When that happens I promptly take it down and either wash it or just oil my scalp with coconut oil. The oiling of the scalp helps for just one day then it is back itching like crazy.
A: Crazy itching only 4 days after washing may indicate a deeper problem. Have you seen a dermatologist? As far as natural remedies go have you tried tea tree oil? It’s naturally anti microbial and may help with your scalp situation.
Q: What is ‘heat trained’ hair and is it considered healthy for hair?
A: I have never heard of ” Heat Trained” but if I were to guess, I’d thin it was altering the texture of one’s hair by making it looser with heat. I would say this is not a healthy option. Using heat to alter the texture of one’s hair is not a predictable or sustainable method. How would one determine the right texture they are looking for? And if they were to achieve it by some freak of nature how could they prevent additional loosening every time they heat styled their hair? Hope that helps!
Q: My 5-year-old daughter has very thick 3c/4a hair. It is a hassle to detangle her hair. What product is a good detangler? Here is her normal regimen.
li class=”pink”>Shampoo with Kinky Curly Come Clean
li class=”pink”>Condition/detangle with Kinky Curly Knot Today (but it seems to just dry her hair out making it look dull”>
li class=”pink”>I keep it braided up in ponytails for a protective style, which lasts about 2-3 weeks. Should I even be using products on her hair since she is just 5? Thanks in advance.
Cozy: Keeping your daughter’s thick, curly hair detangled must be quite a challenge! There are actually two important parts to dealing with tangles. First, you have to deal with removing the knots and second, trying to prevent the knots! So, to start you need a really great detangler. Try So Cozy Lucky Lime Pre-Detangler. It was designed to be used in the tub with a wide-toothed comb. Comb will slide through tangles without fuss. Work on 1” sections, and holding hair strand with one hand, start combing from the bottom of the hair strand, working your way up the strand, 1” at a time.
Now, to prevent knots, spray hair with So Cozy Fruity Delight Detangler & Leave-in Conditioner. Keeping your daughter hair in braids will definitely help prevent tangles; just try to try different styles and placements so that hair doesn’t get damaged from tight braids and elastics.
Q: I’ve been trying to figure out the best combo for my daughter’s hair. I think she has 3a hair. It used to be straight on top until we started going no ‘poo, and now it has curled some on top — more of a wave. The main problem I’m having is that her hair looks weighty on top by the end of the day if I don’t pull her hair back. I’m concerned that the conditioner is weighing her roots down.
Cozy: Your daughter’s problem may be partially caused by conditioner that’s weighing down her hair if not properly rinsed, but it may also be caused by her haircut. Perhaps take her to a trusted hair stylist and ask about giving her long layers to prevent the flatness on top.
Q:My daughter has come home with lice. This is our first experience, so we are learning as we go. She also has relatively curly hair and it tangles easily. The over-the-counter products are basically all poison/chemicals. We did one round and have almost destroyed her scalp, and her hair is extremely dry. AND we have do another session in 10 days. Are there any safe alternatives?
Cozy:What I have found over the years is that different people have VERY different feelings about how to contend with lice. Some people have no problem using chemicals to get rid of lice, while others would never use chemicals and prefer to use natural alternatives. I recommend that you educate yourself from as many different sources as possible to find the manner that best aligns with your own personal philosophy about health and wellness. There’s a lot of information online, and I also encourage you to talk to your pediatrician about this.
John and Lotte Davis, founders of AG Hair Cosmetics
For most curlies, shampooing every day is a big no-no. But even if you don’t wash it every day, you want it to feel fresh and clean.
That’s why dry shampoos are gaining popularity with the curly crowd.
Dry shampoos comes in a variety of forms and provide a waterless way to freshen and restyle hair. Traditional wet shampoos contain a soap-free detergent that reduces the surface tension of the water, allowing it to move into the small crevices in the scalp and hair shaft, breaking up the oil into droplets that can be washed away. Dry shampoos usually contain a base of talc, cornstarch, potato, or rice that absorbs rather than washes away sebum and dirt.
For those who think of Psssssssst! when they think of dry shampoo — a relic from the ’70s that left a white film on the hair — the category has evolved dramatically in recent years.
This fall, AG Hair Cosmetics, creator of curly favorite Re:coil Curl Activator, developed FastFWD dry shampoo. It is designed to refresh without suds absorbing oil without leaving a film.
“Clients were demanding a dry shampoo,” said John Davis, founder of AG. “The main reason they want it is because of the shear convenience. And people with curly hair don’t like washing it every day because they don’t want to dry their hair out.”
Creating a dry shampoo wasn’t necessarily an easy endeavor. AG spent the past year developing FastFWD, Davis says. The biggest challenge was the technology — creating a powder that comes out in a spray that wouldn’t cake or lump. To accomplish this, the company looked at a variety of powders and liquids, working on different formulas in parallel until they came up with the perfect formula. Davis said the final product uses rice starch, silica and a polymer in an aerosilized can – a combination that absorbs dirt and creates body without leaving a powdery residue.
“You can get up in the morning, give it a quick refresh and boom, you’re ready to go,” Davis says.
This column is dedicated to permaholics who are in recovery. Also known as recovering permies, these women are addicted to chemical relaxers but are ready to kick the habit.
First, let me congratulate you for your decision to make the transition to a more natural lifestyle for your hair. You have taken a major step toward setting your follicles free.
While I hope your transition will be a smooth one, you will likely face challenges along the way. Brace yourself for criticism from those who will question your sanity and don’t be surprised if there are times when you second-guess yourself. Post-Perm Guilt is common among recovering permies. You blame yourself for taking your hair off drugs. You need to be reminded that those feelings of guilt are only “natural” and you have done nothing wrong.
As recovering permies, you should not take this journey alone. I strongly urge you to find a support group—particularly one that hold regular “hairepy” sessions where you can get help managing your chemical relaxer addiction. I also encourage you to build a network of supportive, nappy-headed friends who you can call on whenever you feel a relapse coming on.
For those of you who need spiritual support, I offer my 12-Strand Program for Permaholics. Please note that any similarity to other recovery programs is purely parody.
The 12 Strands
- We admitted we were powerless over perms and that our lives had become un-mane-geable.
- Came to believe that a Hair Power greater than ourselves could restore us to nappiness.
- Made a decision to turn our will and our follicles over to the care of a Higher Hair Power as we understood Her.
- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of our follicles.
- Admitted to a Higher Hair Power, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our follicle failures.
- Were entirely ready to have our Higher Hair Power remove all these defects of character.
- Humbly asked our Higher Hair Power to remove our short-combings.
- Made a list of all nappy-headed people we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
- Made direct amends to nappy-headed people wherever possible.
- Continued to take personal hair inventory, and when we snuck out to get a touch-up, promptly admitted it.
- Sought through meditation to improve our conscious contact with nappiness as we understand it to be, meditating only for more knowledge of that state of being and the power to maintain it.
- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to permaholics and to practice these principles in all our hair affairs.
It is my sincere hope that these guiding principles, dear permies, will help you stay the “coarse” and take your recovery one nap at a time.
Poking around the new CurlStylist.com site recently reminded me that I haven’t gotten a hair cut in a while. I think it’s awesome that stylists with an interest in curlyheads have their own site. For those of us with curly hair, a good stylist can totally transform our look.
The first time I went to a curl-friendly stylist was when I was in seventh grade. Up until that point, I went to the barbershop with my dad. I always got my hair cut by the same aging Italian gentleman who cut my father’s hair. He would sit me in the chair, spray my hair with some water, cut straight across the bottom, give me my choice of those cute and tiny Dum Dum lollypops and then off I’d go. My hair was generally a frizzy mess, but I didn’t know enough to care. My idea of a “style” was a matronly coil bun. This changed in the fall of seventh grade, when my mother made me an appointment at a local hair salon. Not only did the stylist give me my first good haircut, she also taught me how to bring out the best in my curls. I wasn’t surprised that she transformed my hair from an unruly mess to well-defined curls, but I was surprised to learn how easy it was to replicate the style myself. That haircut was a breakthrough.
Since then, I’ve had stylists move away or switch careers, and I’ve had to look for a new stylist more than once. While bouncing around from stylist to stylist, I’ve had some pretty unfortunate haircuts. At one point I had these heavy, rounded layers on either side of my face that looked exactly like floppy puppy dog ears. Cute look for a canine, not so much for a high school student. I’m currently looking for a new stylist, and picking a good one is especially important as I consider going shorter than shoulder length for the first time. I read this site’s article “Top Ten Clues to Finding a Savvy Stylist” which offers a lot of good advice, from good questions to ask to ways to determine how curl friendly a salon is. The first step in the article is “find a matchmaker” and I definitely think word-of-mouth is a curly girl’s secret weapon, whether she’s looking for a new hairdresser or the perfect styling product! Getting good advice is especially easy on NaturallyCurly.com, where the web brings thousands of curly girls together every day.
As I experienced in middle school, a good stylist can really transform your look. When you find one that really understands your hair, let them know how much you appreciate their expertise with kind words, generous tips and frequent referrals!
Stay Curly,
Julia
Get Hot Curls Like Michael Cera
The Curly Cut: Layers
Who it Works Best for: Waves or loose curls
How to Get the Look: On very wet hair, apply Curlisto Control II Gel and slick it down with a wide-toothed comb. In doing so, you allow your waves to show while creating a sharp look for yourself at the same time. Finish up with Curlisto Structura Spray to keep the wet look.
8/31/09
Create Curls Like Actress Lauren Storm
The Curly Cut:
Long lovelinessWho it Works Best for: People with wavy and looser curls.
How to Get the Look: Apply Curlisto Structura Lotion in sections to wet hair. Diffuse the hair one hundred percent. Blow the bangs out a little straighter. Finish with Curlisto Shaping Spray and Curlisto Glow & Shine.
8/17/09
Get Sweet Waves Like Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles
The Curly Cut: Long, angular layers with short bangs.
Who it Works Best for: People with wavy and looser curls.
How to Get the Look: Apply Curlisto Structura Lotion in sections to wet hair. Diffuse the hair one hundred percent. Blow the bangs out a little straighter. Finish with Curlisto Shaping Spray and Curlisto Glow & Shine.
8/3/09
Sexy Waves Like Matthew Mcconaughy
The Curly Cut: Longer layers
Who it works best for: Wavy to medium curls
How to get the look: I love this look on Matthew and think it’s one of his best looks. It is edgy and sexy at the same time. Less is more when it comes to product. Scrunch in a touch of Curlisto Bio-Gel Mousse and let the waves air dry.
7/20/09
Get Luscious Corkscrews Like Terri Seymour
The Curly Cut: Long layers
Who it works best for: Wavy to medium curls
How to get the look: This style accentuates Terry’s natural texture. For curlier hair, you can diffuse and then repurpose some curls with a curling iron. For wavy hair, you can use hot rollers and a fat curling iron — 2-inch barrel — to repurpose the curls. Rub some Curlisto Finishing Pomade between your palms and run your fingers through your hair for a tousled, natural look. Finish with a spritz of Curlisto Glow & Shine.
7/6/09
Catch a Wave Like Emma Roberts
The Curly Cut: Long Layers
Who it works best for: All hair types
How to get the look: Emma has loose waves, but she accentuates them with a curling iron. This technique can be used to make straight hair curly or to redefine naturally wavy or curly hair. To create a more natural look, try using curling irons with different-sized barrels to provide a variety of curls. Remember to use Curlisto Shaping Spray after forming each curl and to finish up with Curlisto Glow and Shine.
6/22/09
Get Sexy Curls Like Thandie Newton
The Curly Cut: Face-framing graduated bob
Who it works best for: All curl types
How to get the look: Depending on your curl type, use a hot rollers or a curling iron to make your curls look bigger. After curling, make sure to run your fingers through the hair with pomade, such as Curlisto Finishing Pomade, so you don’t get frizz.
6/8/09
Get a curly bob like songstress Kylie Minogue
The Curly Cut: Short Curly Layered Bob
Who it works best for: People with waves or loose curls
How to get the look: This is an easy style to achieve for anyone with naturally curly hair. To get the look, apply Curlisto Structura Lotion in sections. Then apply Curlisto Bio-Gel Mousse. Put some duckbill clips at the crown for volume. Diffuse or air dry. Then spritz on a little Curlisto Structura Spray. It should take no longer than 15 minutes, start to finish.
5/25/09
Get polished waves like Blythe Danner
The Curly Cut: Wavy bob with face-faming layers
Who it works best for: People with waves or loose curls
How to get the look: This is an easy style to achieve with the right cut. Apply Curlisto Bio-Gel Mousse on wet hair in sections. Diffuse and defrizz with Curlisto Finishing Pomade. It takes only 15 minutes from start to finish.
5/11/09
Get Luxurious Curls Like Annalynne McCord
The curly cut: Face-framing curls
Who it works best for: Those with loose to medium curls
How to get the look: To get definition and separation, apply a combination of Curlisto Structura Lotion and Curlisto Control II Gel in sections. Diffuse or let it dry naturally. Remember not to run your fingers through the hair until it is almost dry
4/27/09
Get Madonna’s Angelic Look
The curly cut: Face-framing layers
Who it works best for: These curls work well for everyone — from straight and wavy hair to curlier textures. These curls give Madonna a soft, youthful look.
How to get the look:If you have straighter hair like Madonna, get out the hot rollers. Each roller only needs to stay in for five minutes. Spray Curlisto Shaping Spray on each roller as you unwrap it. After removing the rollers, run your fingers through the hair gently. You can get the look in 15-20 minutes.
4/13/09
Get Sexy Waves like Jennifer Lopez
The Curly Cut: Long layers
Who it works best for: People with wavy hair or looser curls
How to get the look: Jennifer really pulls off these spontaneous curls. Spray dry hair with Curlisto Curl Reform. This will help protect your hair from the heat. Use a 1 1/2-inch curling iron and curl the outside perimeter of the hair. A larger iron is faster. Spray each curl with Curlisto Shaping Spray for a bouncy hold. It takes about 20 minutes to get this look.
3/23/09
Get Sexy Curls like Eric Benet
The Curly Cut:Longer and shaped
Who it works best for:Tighter, kinkier curls
How to get the look: It doesn’t take much to get this look. Use a coin-size dab of Curlisto Unruly Paste or Curlisto Control II Gel and apply in sections to add definition to curls.
3/9/09
Get superstar waves like Academy-winning actress Cate Blanchett
Who it works best for:Wavy hair or soft curls
How to get the look: You can achieve this retro Hollywood look two ways. First, you can blow dry your hair and set sections in pin curls for 5-10 minutes before running your fingers through them. The second option is to use Curlisto Bio-Gel Mousse on wet hair, scrunch the hair and let it air dry or blow dry with a diffuser. With both options, finish with Curlisto Glow & Shine. This look is easily achieved when you have looser curls.
2/23/09
Get sassy waves like “30 Rock’s” Jane Krakowski”
The Curly Cut:Long, face-framing layers
Who it works best for: All curl types can wear their hair in this wavy, sexy style
How to get the look: For women with wavy to medium tight curls, use Curlisto Repair Styling Cream (for heat protection”> and Curlisto Straight Time Glaze (which temporarily relaxes the curl”> on wet hair. Blow dry straight and make dry pin curls on the entire head, adding Curlisto Shaping Spray on each pin curl. Let the pin curls sit for 5-10 minutes and then remove. Spray Curlisto Glow & Shine and run your fingers throughout your hair, and then you’re finished. This style takes time, but it can last for a few days.
2/9/09
Get ringlets like curl icon Bernadette Peters
The Curly Cut: Face-framing layers, shorter around the face
Who it works best for:Tighter curls
How to get the look: Take time to section hair into five sections. Apply a mixture of Curlisto Control I Gel and Curlisto Structura Lotion to each section and diffuse. To keep frizz at bay, put a dab of Curlisto Finishing Pomade between your palms, rub together and pull hair back as if you’re making a ponyail. This will take care of flyaways and frizz. Finish with Curlisto Glow & Shine.
1/19/09
Get McDreamy curls like actor Patrick Dempsey
The Curly Cut: Longer layers
Who it works best for: Natural waves
How to get the look:Use Curlisto Control Gel II on wet hair and let it air dry. Once dry, you can play with it by using Curlisto Matte Stay to create a messier, sexy look.
1/5/09
Get Curlicious Kinks Like America’s Top Model Bre
The Curly Cut: Bre has long, shaped layers
Who it works best for: Tight coily curls and kinks
How to get the look: This style is easy to achieve if you have a full head of hair and spiral curl texture. If you want to get big hair, first prepare it with Curlisto Repair Styling Cream so it will look healthier and stronger. Then section it and apply Curlisto Structura Lotion to the sections, leaving the curls looking defined and thick. To finish this look, pin the curls on the crown of the head back so that the top layer is slicked back and the rest of the hair expands out. This will achieve the sexy, full look.
12/19/08
Get Model Waves Like Rachel Hunter
The Curly Cut: Long layers
Who it works best for: Naturally waves or loose curls
How to get the look: With this tousled wavy look, the fewer products you use on your hair, the better. Part your hair into three big sections, making sure to part your hair in the middle, off center where you want it to fall when it’s dry. Add Curlisto Bio-Gel Mousse. Scrunch and then diffuse your hair until it’s 100 percent dry. Scrunch in some Curlisto Finishing Pomade to finish the look.
12/8/08
Keep your curls in perfect harmony like chanteuse Corinne Bailey Rae.
The Curly Cut: A short curly bob with side-swept bangs
Who it works best for: Tight curls and kinks
How to get the look: To style, section your hair and add a mixture of Curlisto Structura Lotion and Curlisto Control I Gel to each of the sections, twisting the sections. Diffuse until 100 percent dry in order to get the full body out of this style. Finish with Curlisto Structura Spray and Curlisto Glow & Shine. This hairdo only look better as the day progresses.
11/24/08
Get wild kinks like Little Jackie’s Imani
The Curly Cut: Imani has the wild kinks that completely fits her persona.
Who it works best for: Tight curls and kinks
How to get the look: This style is easy to achieve if you have a full head of hair and spiral curl texture. I recommend applying Curlisto Repair Styling Cream in small sections. Then put Curlisto Structura Lotion on top of it. Since bigger is better, don’t be afraid to manipulate your hair to get more fullness. Put a little more Curlisto Structura Lotion on pieces you want more defined.
11/10/08
Gorgeous Waves Like Actress Miranda July
The Curly Cut: Layered waves
Who it works best for: Wavy to loose curls
How to get the look: To define your waves, spritz on some Curlisto Protein Boost and then apply Curlisto Bio-Gel Mousse in sections. Diffuse or air dry
10/27/08
Create Curls Like Director Sanaa Hamri’s
The Curly Cut: Long layers
Who it works best for:People with a natural spiral texture
How to get the look: In order to keep the curls in place, use a combination of Curlisto Control II Gel and Curlisto Structura Lotion. Apply in sections, being careful to coat every section. Some find it easier to use a fine-toothed comb when applying product. Diffuse for more definition. Finish with Curlisto Glow & Shine for added luster.
10/13/08
Get Divine Waves Like Evangeline Lilly
The Curly Cut: Long face-framing layers
Who it works best for:People with wavy to loose curls
How to get the look:Spritz on Curlisto Protein Boost as a leave-in conditioner, and then apply Curlisto Bio-Gel Mousse in sections. Diffuse or air dry. When hair is almost dry, bend over and diffuse upside down for a little more volume. To get more height at the crown, use duckbill clips. Spray on a little Curlisto Structura Spray.
9/30/08
Rock Your Curls Like Solange Knowles
The Curly Cut: Long layers
Who it works best for: Wavy to medium curls
How to get the look: Apply a combination of Curlisto Structura Lotion and Curlisto Control II to the hair to elongate the curls so they cascade around the face. Diffuse. Spritz on a little Curlisto Glow & Shine for added sheen.
9/15/08
Hit a High Note with Curls Like Leona Lewis
The Curly Cut: Face-framing layers with bangs
Who it works best for:loose to medium curls
How to get the look:In order to achieve this hairstyle, mix Curlisto Structura Lotion and Control II Gel. Diffuse. When hair is styled and dry, put a pea-size dab of Curlisto Unruly Paste between your palms, rub together and run through your hair to reduce frizz.
9/1/08
The Curly Cut: Long, face-framing layers
Who it works best for: Waves or loose curls
How to get the look: In this case, less is more. Apply a little Curlisto Structura Lotion, and air dry. For more volume at the crown, put in a few duckbill clips.
8/18/08
Get Curls like Tamara Tunie
The Curly Cut: Short face-framing layers that will stay in place the entire night when styled properly
Who it works best for:Medium to tight curls
How to get the look:Mix a Curlisto Structura Lotion with Curlisto Control I Gel and apply in sections. Diffuse or air dry. Finish with Curlisto Structura Spray. Spritz on Curlisto Glow & Shine for added sparkle.
8/4/08
Get Curls like Anderson Varejao
The Curly Cut: Face-framing layers
Who it works best for: Tight, spiral curls
How to get the look:You don’t need to do much with this type of curl because it stays in place. Use a little Curlisto Protein Boost on your gym days for extra conditioning. Or you can spice it up with Curlisto Unruly Paste if you want to wear your hair out for an evening with friends.
7/21/08
Get Curls like Mya
The Curly Cut: Long layers
Who it works best for: Mya has long, soft to medium curl texture
How to get the look: You can style this type of curl by using some Curlisto Protein Boost as a leave-in conditioner to minimize frizz. Then apply Curlisto Bio-Gel Mouse. To add a more dramatic look to your hairstyle, add some clip-on extensions, and I guarantee you will turn heads.
7/7/08
Get Idol-worthy curls like Kristy Lee Cook
The Curly Cut: This haircut should have diagonal angles around the face, with long layers
Who it works best for:Long, loose curls
How to get the look: Section and apply Curlisto Structura Lotion and Bio-Gel Mousse to wet hair and diffuse. Remember to use duckbill clips to secure volume at the root area when you have long hair!
6/20/08
Get rockin’ ringlets like the curliest Jonas Brother
The Curly Cut: Nick has fat, beautiful medium curls cut longer and layered to frame his face in a look reminiscent of the ’70s
Who it works best for:Men with everything from loose to tight curls can wear this look
How to get the look: Section the hair from the bottom to the top and apply a quarter size of Curlisto Structura Lotion to wet hair. Then air dry or diffuse. You don’t need any finishing products because a little bit of frizz actually creates a more natural look.
6/10/08
Get Macy Gray’s amazing kinks
The Curly Cut: Funky twists
Who it works best for: Fine, tight, super kinky hair
How to get the look:To get her funky look, twist wet hair in big sections with Curlisto Unruly Paste. Dry naturally or diffuse.
5/27/08
Get luscious waves like Taylor Swift
The Curly Cut: Long, face-framing angles
Who it works best for: Wavy to medium curls
How to get the look: To style, prep the hair with Curlisto Repair Styling Creme. Then mix Curlisto Structura Lotion and Curlisto Control I gel and finger comb through the hair. Diffuse until dry and then blow out small pieces with a medium-size bristle brush. Finish with some Curlisto Matte Stay for that messy, bed-head look.
5/14/09
Sendhil Ramamurthy
Get Sendhil’s Ramamurthy’s loose luscious waves.
The Curly Cut: Medium length, without clean lines
Who it works best for: Wavy to medium curls
How to get the look: This cut is polished enough for the office, yet fun and fresh. When hair is wet, finger comb some Curlisto Control I and then mix with Curlisto Finishing Pomade for shine.
5/1/08
Get beautiful curls like Kerry Washington
The Curly Cut:A long bob, with long layers. It should be texturized to prevent the “pyramid” effect
Who it works best for: medium to tight curls
How to get the look: Finger comb Curlisto Structura Lotion and Curlisto Control II on wet hair. As it dries, the curls will bounce up into this soft style. After hair is dry, smooth on Curlisto Unruly Paste to tame flyaways.
Adrian Grenier
Get sexy curls like Adrian Grenier, star of “Entourage”
The Curly Cut: Long, shaggy cut
Who it works best for: Loose curls
How to get the look: Use your fingers to comb through Curlisto Control I gel and let it dry naturally for this soft, touchable look.
Madison Pettis
Get corkscrew curls like Madison Pettis, star of “Cory in the House”
The Curly Cut: Long layers
Who it works best for: Long medium to tight curls
How to get the look: The best way to style kids’ hair is to use Curlisto Structura Lotion only. The lotion is applied in sections, and the hair should be air dried in order to create the natural glow you see with Madison’s hair. For this type of hair, less is more. The simplicity makes it appear natural. A colorful headband is the finishing touch.
3/24/08
Get ringlets Like Julianna Margulies
The Curly Cut: Your cut should have some face-framing layers, left long on the sides and back.
Who it works best for: Medium to tight curls.
How to get the look: This is an example of beautiful tight curls styled beautifully. Combine Curlisto Structura Lotion and Curlisto Control II, finger comb onto wet hair and then diffuse. If your curls are looser than Julianna’s, you can use a small curling iron to add definition. To finish, apply Curlisto Unruly Paste and Curlisto Structura Spray for hold and shine.
3/12/08
Rock your curls like Kina Grannis/h2>
The curly cut: Long, curly layers
Who it works best for: Kina has beautiful, fine curls that you can easily achieve if you have similar texture. If your hair is tighter, you may want to consider a chemical services that softens the curl, like Curlisto Bio-Softening.
How to get the look: You will need to use Curlisto Protein Boost as a leave-in conditioner. Curlisto Structura Lotion should be applied in big sections. Use your fingers or a finger comb to part the hair on the side. The best way to get the flatness of this style is to let the hair air dry. When dry, spray on a little Curlisto Glow and Shine to finish the look.
Check out Christo’s Celebrity Corner each week. Coming next… Juliana Margulies.
2/26/08
Style your waves like actress Vanessa Hudgens’
Who it works best for: This look can be easily achieved if you have loose curls or waves.
How to get the look: Finger comb onto wet hair Curlisto Bio-Gel Mousse in sections. Then dry with a diffuser. If you want added length or volume, clip in some pre-styled extensions to add length when the hair is dry.
2/11/08
Rock your long lovely curls into a look like Joss Stone’s
The curly cut: To get this look, you need a cut with very long layers
Who it works best for: Any type of curl — wavy to tight.
How to get the look: Combine Curlisto Structura Lotion and Control II gel and apply to wet hair, section by section. To optimize the style, dry with a diffuser. Then flip your head upside down to create more volume. Create spirals in the front with a small curling iron. Use a bit of Curlisto Unruly Paste and some Curlisto Structura Spray as your finishing tools. This will calm any last-minute flyaways and to keep the curls in place.
1/28/08
Melina Kanakaredes
Get Melina Kanakaredes’ beautiful curly look
The curly cut: Melina has fabulous curls that are cut to shoulder length, with framing angles. This cut helps broaden her smaller face.
Who it works best for: Any type of curl — wavy to tight.
How to get the look: Apply Curlisto Structura Lotion and Curlisto Control I to style, combing it through wet hair section by section. Apply duckbill clips at the crown for volume. Dry with a diffuser. Then take a dab of Curlisto Finishing Pomade, rub it between your palms and pull your hair back and twist it. That will help set the curls. Finish with Curlisto Structura Spray to complete the look.
1/17/08
HGTV has a show and David Letterman has his list, so why shouldn’t I have a top ten of my own to celebrate my 10th year as a member at NaturallyCurly.com?
10. Perfume
All my favourite scents have one major thing in common – bergamot (which is the scent of Earl Grey Tea”>. For day, I love Perry Woman from Perry Ellis and for night, Nu from Yves St. Laurent.
9. Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum
The only non-prescription commercially-available skin care product that has been proven to actually reduce wrinkles – and not just the “appearance” of them. This product is relatively inexpensive and leaves your skin feeling soft and refreshed.
8. Eye Shadow
I’m going to try to keep this from sounding like an advertisement for MAC Cosmetics, but I do have three filled 15-pan palettes, two of their large pots, a 6-pan eye shadow palette, a dozen pigment samples and two full-face palettes with different colours. Mulch, Naked Lunch and Mystery are the colours I reach for most often. When I’m not wearing MAC, my favourite colours are NARS Cairo, Stila Kitten, and Carol Baker Visage African Violet.
7. Brow powder
Powder brow fillers are so much easier to use than pencils – Smashbox Brow Tech in Auburn sits in my stash. I use a tiny flat square brush to apply it in small strokes.
6. Eyeliner
I think I look naked without it. While I will line my upper lids with an angled brush and a powder most of the time, I smudge pencils on the lower lids. My go-to colours are MAC eye kohl in Teddy, Prunella, and Blooz or Bonne Bell in Midnight Bark, Slate or Aubergine.
5. Maxine’s Mop
Don’t buy makeup brushes from makeup companies; go to the art supply store. The brushes are the same and cost a fraction of what the makeup-specific one does. My indispensable eye shadow brush is Maxine’s Mop from Loew-Cornell. Series 270, made from goat hair, the ¼” and 3/8” are a necessity to me – I have 6 of each and 4 of the ½” size.
4. Benefit Lemon Aid
For me, this has proven to be the ultimate eye makeup primer. It goes on drier than a liquid and makes my eye shadow last through the day; even during a Great-Lakes-humid summer day!
3. Liquid foundation
I’m just not convinced that mineral makeup is the right way to go; especially as I approach my 50th birthday. Liquid foundation, applied with my fingers, gives me the polished, not overly-made-up look I like for every day – and it doesn’t settle in my wrinkles!
2. MAC Viva Glam V lipstick and lipglass
In the makeup world, the acronym YLBB describes the perfect lip colour for you – Your Lips But Better. Five years ago, my favourite makeup company produced the perfect neutral brown-pink shade that matches my own lip colour. And they came out with a matching lipglass, too.
1. Sunscreen!
You knew I was going to say that, didn’t you?
UV radiation is the most aging thing in existence. Not only does sunscreen help me look 15 years younger, it also helps protect me from the skin cancer that runs on my father’s side of the family.
Q: I have a precious 5-year-old daughter. She is biracial (black/white”> and she has very soft curly hair. I need help with which products I should be using in her hair.
Mom needs help with selecting products for her 5-year-old daughter.
It’s hard to make a product recommendation without understanding what the problem is and what you feel you need help with. I suspect that her hair is on the dry side and that she would benefit greatly from moisturizing. She would certainly benefit from a thick and creamy conditioner (So Cozy Sweet Strawberry Conditioner“>, as well as a spray leave- in conditioner. Try So Cozy Fruity Delight Leave-In Conditoner & Detangler. This will keep her hair detangled as well as deliver the hydration her hair needs. Her hair is gorgeous!!
Q:My daughter is almost 8 with 3c hair. I have been trying to get rid of the frizz, I have been frustrated for some time. She is a a stage where she wants to comb her hair and play with it several times a day. I feel that if I keep telling her to stop playing with her hair that she is going to start to hate it. I just do not know what to do.
Cozy: Typically I receive questions about what to do with their kids who won’t comb their hair, so this is a welcome change! It’s wonderful that your daughter has taken such an interest in her grooming, but like anything else, all things are best in moderation! I suspect that this is just a phase, and the intensity of it will pass when she moves on to the next phase.
As for the frizz, combing and brushing curly hair will make it frizzy because it ruffles the cuticles, which is what makes it look fuzzy. Perhaps you can teach her how to work with her hair in a way that will look better and not make it frizzy. Also, if she is experimenting with styles like braids and ponies, that can help make it look better and keep frizz at bay.
Q: My youngest daughter has curly hair — little ringlets. It is starting to get a little frizzy around the top of her head. I need to know what products to get for her hair and how to use them. Please tell me more about how to care for her hair. I’m very new to curls. I have hair that is only curly underneath and have never been able to do anything with it. So I wear a ponytail every day! Thanks for helping a newbie!
Cozy: I’d recommend a light styling cream for her fine hair. You don’t want to use anything heavy or thick because that will weigh her fine hair down and will end up taking away the gorgeous curls. Try So Cozy Kooky Kiwi Styling Cream after bathing. Just “scrunch” in a quarter size amount, distributing evenly around the hair. You can also use on dry hair in between baths as a touch up. Use a little less on dry hair.
Q: I have an 11-year-old daughter with hair that has been giving me a headache for the past five years. It’s super thick and looks like she stuck her finger in a light socket! When she gets out of the shower, she has very pretty ringlets. But once it dries, it pops up into a frizz nest. I am clueless about what to put in her hair and how to style it. She just puts it in a ponytail. The ends are really dry and I have tried everything I can think of. I have straight hair so I don’t know what to do to help her.
Cozy: The goal is to lock in those gorgeous ringlets that you see after she showers. Try an alcohol-free gel like So Cozy Groovy Grape Styling Gel. This will help to keep the cuticle smooth, which is what prevents frizz. You can experiment with how much to use, starting with a quarter-size “scrunched” in evenly throughout her hair. My secret tip for dried-out ends is to use a thick and creamy conditioner (try So Cozy Sweet Strawberry Conditioner“> and not completely rinse out of the ends of the hair. This will help to lock in extra moisture that is needed to hydrate the dried-out hair.
Q: I have straight hair, but my kids have very curly hair, courtesy of their dad. A “friend” of mine told me that every picture she sees of my children, they look wild! I do admit I don’t brush their hair a lot, as its always such a battle, gets very tuggy and I feel awful doing it. So normally it’s only been shampooed and conditioned. Their dad is no use because he doesn’t do anything to his! It’s always frizzy, too. How do I tame the curls? Should I brush daily? What products could I use?
Cozy: This brings back memories! My hair was the same crazy hair you are describing. Good news—there is a way to deal with this that won’t be a battle and will solve your problems!
Don’t try to comb or brush their hair when it’s dry. Instead, get a wide-toothed detangling comb and keep it in the tub. Get So Cozy Lucky Lime Pre-Detangler, which was created to be used in the tub after shampooing. You can use this instead of your regular conditioner or in addition to it (extra moisturizer is always great for curly kids”>. Apply a generous amount and comb through hair and tangles. After bathing, “scrunch” in a light styling cream to avoid frizz. Let hair dry naturally (or if you need to blow dry hair, always use a diffuser”>.
Q: I’m Irish with straight, very thin, naturally red hair—but my daughter seems to have inherited my grandfather’s semi-curly hair! So, blondish curls on top (wispy—kind of poodle like”>, easy-to-see-layers that I think will be wavy on the sides. I’m kinda
at a loss as to how to care for it. My questions are:
- Shampoo suggestions? Mommy blogs have recommended The Original Little Sprout – Moisturizing Baby Shampoo. I have to wash it every night because she’s a messy eater.
- What kind of hair brush? (And where to buy”>
- Is brushing curly different than brushing straight hair? I feel like I’m flattening her curls, which I don’t want to do… I just want to remove any tangles.
Cozy: You are right, brushing her curls isn’t the way to go. Instead, use a wide-toothed comb in the tub when you condition. This will remove the tangles and neaten things up. If you let her hair dry naturally, her natural curl will develop. The wavy hair on the sides will likely start to shape up a little. As for shampoo, I recommend So Cozy Very Berry Tear Free Shampoo; it was formulated specifically for children with 11 herbal extracts, including comfrey (soothes and protects”> and horsetail (critical to hair growth”>. Plus, it smells so good that kids love to use it!
Learn more about and ask questions of Cozy and our other columnists.
I’ve always gone back and forth on how much time to devote to my appearance. On one hand, I like to look attractive and put together. On the other, I try to resist the somewhat ridiculous beauty standards that advertising and beauty magazines set. For example, one magazine I borrowed for a friend recommended seven different types of makeup to help you “Be a Natural Beauty.” Personally, I feel naturally beautiful when I eat nutritious food, sleep well and get enough exercise. In contrast, this magazine suggested (among other things”> Dolce and Gabbana mascara and something called “airbrush spray” as the ticket to natural beauty.
For many women, the majority of their beauty routine is spent on their hair. A CBS article from July 10 says that women spend, on average, 23 minutes a day “drying and styling” their hair, almost ten minutes more than they spend on their makeup. I feel like this study may be overstating the numbers a little bit; for example, they claim that the average women spends seven minutes a day “moisturizing” (I barely spend seven minutes eating my morning bowl of Cheerios”>.
These numbers, however, are just an average. Each woman’s routine is going to be a little different. I know my routine even varies from one day to the next. While I generally scrunch product through my hair and let it air dry, in the winter I may take the extra fifteen minutes to diffuse it. Straightening my hair, however, is an hour-long process involving at least three styling tools, at least that many products and another person. I generally just “scrunch and go” because it’s quick and easy, and it works well with my hair type. There’s always the curly girl’s mainstay—the messy bun—to fall back on if I hit snooze one to many times.
Spending a lot of time on your hair (or spending no time at all”> isn’t inherently good or bad. Context is important too; heading to the library may not require a careful coif but a Friday night date generally encourages me to whip out the hairspray. Whether I’m headed to favorite study spot or out for a night on the town, I try to maintain a routine that makes me feel beautiful while not letting the beauty standards I’m exposed to every day hold too much sway. I’ve discovered that beauty isn’t defined by the amount of time it takes or the number of products I employ, but by what gives me the most confidence as I go through my day!
Stay Curly,
Julia
Earlier this year, a member posted the following comment about sunscreen usage:
“…I’m extremely concerned about ongoing research being done on sunscreen. It seems that at times you may be better off not using it at all; since it has been stated that it causes free radicals…”
At the time this thread was posted on the Non-Hair Discussion Board, I refrained from making any comment, even though other “old-timers” here know how passionate I am in advocating sunscreen usage. However, there are a couple of facts about the research that the member referenced that I feel need to be addressed.
Here’s some background to put this in context for you: when UV rays hit your skin, something called “reactive oxygen species” or “free radicals” are created. Free radicals are molecules that cause damage at a cellular level and are responsible for degenerative diseases and aging.
Researchers at the University of California at Riverside tested three of the most common UV-filtering products on the market. Their findings showed that when these products penetrate the skin, the level of free radicals present increases above the level caused by UV radiation alone. (“Sunscreen enhancement of UV-induced reactive oxygen species in the skin,” Free Radical Biology and Medicine, Volume 41, Issue 8, 15 October 2006, Pages 1205-1212″>
The first thing you need to know about this is that it was ONE study only; versus hundreds and hundreds of studies that prove that sunscreen works—when used as directed—to protect us from the harmful effects of UVA/UVB radiation. This single study is getting one heck of a lot of press for something that has not been duplicated or vetted through a double-blind, peer-reviewed, generally accepted scientific method.
The second essential fact about this study is that it was conducted on ARTIFICIAL skin! Artificial skin has been increasingly used in testing cosmetics and skin care products due to the European Union ban on animal-testing. It is made in a Petri dish using skin tissue collected during plastic surgery. One major US producer of artificial skin has sent their product back to the drawing board as tests conducted on it were producing too many false positive results. In all my reading, I discovered that “quirky” results that can’t be replicated on actual people are a common occurrence in such tests.
For those two reasons alone, I’m going to take the results of that one study with a HUGE grain of salt!
However, if you feel it’s prudent to forgo sunscreen, here’s what you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones:
Staying out of the sun when it’s at its strongest (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.”> is your best defense. Use umbrellas, and pop-up tents at the beach, and wear sunglasses and lightweight long-sleeved/legged clothing in shades of blue (which absorbs sunlight better than white”>.
Choose stable versions of sunscreen. Look for products containing zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or Mexoryl. Make sure it says “broad spectrum” on the label.
Use sunscreen properly—put enough on and reapply often. For an adult, the proper amount for the body is a shot glass full (1.5 ounces”>, plus a teaspoon for the face.
Higher SPF is not necessarily better; SPF 30 blocks 96% of the sun’s rays, SPF 50 blocks 98% and SPF 100 blocks 99%. You’ll still have to reapply every few hours and the SPF 100 is going to cost WAY more than the SPF 30!
Antioxidants improve the efficacy of sunscreen; so apply your own antioxidants before putting it on, or buy sunscreen that has antioxidants in it already—like Coppertone Nutrashield.
The jury is still out on that one study—while we wait for more information, don’t give up your sunscreen!
(Visit Coppertone.com for a coupon for Nutrashield.”>
