Search Results: Diane Mary
There are two super important things to know about The Space Heater Drying Technique.
1. Yes, it will dry hair faster than air drying BUT it will dry hair slower than regular diffusing.
2. This is still considered drying hair “with heat” so it isn’t completely damage-free. You want to use a heat protector on top of regular styling products. My favorite is the Living Proof Restore Spray.
The technique is super simple.
Basically, I have a small space heater. It would probably work a bit faster if you own a bigger one. Anyway, I just hold the space heater about a foot away from my hair and let the heat dry it. If my arms get tired I will place it on a flat surface and sit in front of it. I don’t hold it on any section too long and I don’t want to keep it too close to my hair because again, it is heat and still damaging. Once it has been in the same spot a few seconds I move around to another spot. Sometimes after, I will take out my blowdryer and very quickly diffuse with cool air just to help close the hair cuticle. But when or if you decide to do this, be careful.
I always apply all of my after shower styling products directly after the shower on wet hair.
Then, plop with my Curly Tee towel. I don’t use the space heater drying technique on my hair when it is soaking wet from the shower. I usually will let it air dry at least a half hour to an hour to get some of the moisture out. I apply the heat protectant spray on my hair right before I use the space heater drying technique.
My results when using the space heater drying technique come out much better than when I diffuse.
I have nice wavy definition, minimal frizz, and my favorite part- my hair doesn’t expand or get too poofy the way it does when I diffuse regularly. I believe this is because whenever I use the space heater, it is not a strong force of air forced to move my hair all around as it is drying. Instead, my hair is staying still and drying in place.
Sometimes as I am drying my hair with the space heater, I may “scrunch” my hair a little bit to encourage curl definition and other times I just let it dry completely as is. When I do scrunch while space heater drying I hold the section of hair I am scrunching in my hand for a few seconds with the space heater over it.
If your space heater is big enough, it is great for heating up deep treatments too.
Adding heat to any deep treatment will help increase the absorption of the deep treatment’s ingredients into the hair. Whenever I do deep treatments with heat, my curly waves also are extra define, softer and shinier. One of my favorite deep treatments with heat is the Ouidad 12 Minute Deep Treatment– but make sure to follow it up with a moisturizing conditioner.
Have you tried this technique before?
This article was inspired by this chat amongst our CurlTalk members.
As curly girls, many of us are product junkies by nature. We like to try every product out there in hopes it will provide us with the best hair days of our lives. Whenever we find products that outperform all the others and give us our best hair days, they are known as our “Holy Grails” or “HG” for short, our Holy Grail products may not be the most inexpensive but they work so well that we feel the need to have them on hand. Here are some tips for making our Holy Grail products last longer.
Reminder: Most websites have sales. Sometimes once a month, sometimes only once or twice a year but make sure you are subscribed to e-mail newsletters for your favorite brands and hair websites (Curlmart? Wink, wink”> so you are alerted about their sales. The “friends and family” sales usually offer the highest discount- sometimes up to 40% off! Target, CVS and Walgreens sometimes put some very popular products on sale buy 1 get 1 free or half off! Sale time is the perfect time to hoard, I mean, stock up on your Holy Grails so you can save some money on them. So now back to the tips on using your actual products.
Whenever we find products that outperform all the others and give us our best hair days, they are known as our “Holy Grails” or “HG
1. Experiment with how much product you truly need.
Be it a co-wash, deep treatment or styler a little experimenting may reveal that you are actually using more product than you need to. Try cutting back a bit and see if you get the same results by using less product.
2. Take the water out!
When applying your HG masks, and deep conditioners make sure you gently squeeze the excess water from your hair first with a microfiber towel or t-shirt. Too much water on your hair before applying these products will only dilute the concentrated formulas and you may wind up applying more product than actually needed.
3. Consider the shelf life of your products.
Many curlies follow the CG method or prefer products with more natural ingredients–I don’t blame you. However, it is important to consider how quickly you go through your products, as natural products with few to no preservatives can expire and go bad quickly, so they get thrown out. That is literally money wasted. Try to not overbuy if you go through natural products more slowly so they do not expire on you. You can also store these products in the fridge for some extended shelf life.
More: This symbol tells you when your products expire4. Stretch your wash days.
The more days you go between washing your hair, the less often you will use your wash day product. Aside from the fact that washing your hair too often can strip it of natural oils and dry out the hair, this is an added benefit. Most curlies only use their after shower styling products such as gels and sealers, after they shower. Invest in a good dry shampoo and refresher spray to use on the days in between (and get them on sale”> A good hair primer such as the Living Proof Prime Style Extender and Ouidad Whipped Curl Recovery Primer worn under other stylers post shower can help your hairstyle last a few extra days. Sleeping with hair in a pineapple and on a satin pillowcase can preserve your style as well, thus using your Holy Grail stylers less frequently.
5. Invest in the Q-Redew.
This is a one time purchase that will last you years. Many times I thought I was going to need to wash and redo my hair because of wonky waves or a ponytail dent. But this handheld steamer is a game changer. I like to use it with Devacurl Set It Free but you can also use it all on its own. It helps droopy curls spring back and helps ponytail dents disappear.
6. Dilute your shampoo with coconut water.
I wouldn’t suggest this for deep treatments because we want them as concentrated as possible but you may want to try diluting your shampoo. You can mix 3 parts shampoo to one part water in a little bottle. You will go through a lot less product and it will help spread throughout your scalp even better. If you want to some added benefits for your hair and scalp, dilute it with coconut water instead.
Holy Grail products lead to good hair days and consistent good hair days are priceless. These are just some ideas to how to stretch your favorite products out a bit to make them last longer.
[prodmod]
Question
Why is my hair so frizzy?
Answer
Frizz. A five letter word that is evil for just about anyone who has hair. There are thousands upon thousands of serums and creams and oils and lotions available to try and help fix it. There are various methods of styling our hair to help temporarily mask it. Yet sometimes, despite our best efforts and intentions, frizz still happens to the best of us. “Frizz-free” is a curly’s dream. TheBeautyBrains attributes curly frizz to three main causes:
1. The natural shape of your hair.
Hair that grows out curly tends to be frizzier than straight hair. The shape of the shaft is primarily determined by the shape of the follicles, the little tubes under your scalp that your hair grows out of. If you have ever felt the strands of a straight haired friend, you can quickly tell that the structure is completely different to the touch.
2. How you cut and style your hair.
If you’ve got longer hair that’s experienced a lot of brushing and combing you’ve probably created your hair share of split ends and broken hairs. Once the hair breaks the shorter stub that remains tends to spring outward uncontrollably. That’s because the proteins in hair get “stretched” when the hair is pulled and they don’t go back to their original shape. The result: those frizzy pieces that stick out down the lengths of your hair.
How to fix this: Do not brush hair, especially when it is dry. And when your hair is wet, detangle with fingers or a wide tooth comb. Since wet hair is up to 70% weaker than dry hair, brushing it wet can lead to breakage and frizz as well.
3. The environment.
Humidity can affect your hair two ways: it can make fine, curly hair fall flat and it can make smooth, straight hair frizz out.
Because the inside of your hair, also known as the Cortex, is actually made out of two kinds of protein, the Orthocortex and the Paracortex. These two regions are sandwiched together inside your hair. When it’s humid, moisture penetrates into the hair and is absorbed by these ortho and para regions.
The problem is that these areas absorb water differently, so they do not swell the same. One part may absorb a lot of moisture and swell a lot, while the other stays relatively the same. This differential swelling causes the hair shaft to bend or twist to one side or the other. So, if your hair starts out looking frizz free in high humidity, the humidity can actually make the hair frizz more and even start to curl more. This is also why some of us may notice better curl definition is the hotter, humid months. To tackle humidity, investing in good quality conditioning and styling products to help with frizz can make a nice difference.
The bottom line: Some of us are born with genetically frizzy hair.If I washed my hair and didn’t put any product in it, the amount of frizz on my head is downright scary–thanks, mom and dad. Yet, I have friends who wet their hair, don’t use products and it somehow dries frizz free and shiny. Hair envy for sure. The reason my hair reacts the way it does is due to weak hydrogen bonds being responsible for how the strands of hair on our head interact with each other, resulting in how our hair looks. These hydrogen bonds are broken by water and reform as our hair dries. Whatever position or shape the hair is in during the drying process is how it will stay until moisture breaks the bonds again.
Just think: When wet hair is dried in rollers, your hair is curled. If hair is pulled straight while blow drying, it dries straight. What happens if we let our hair just dry naturally as it pleases? The swelled strands stick out, and that’s how they stay until a product is used to lay them down or styling tricks manipulate them into the desired positions. Water causes frizz, and it doesn’t take much. Just a little moisture in the air is enough to break the hydrogen bonds releasing the hair from the style that some of us spent over an hour trying to perfect!
Question
How can I get rid of my frizz?
Answer
The goal of every anti-frizz product on the market to is to keep moisture away from those bonds. Scientists at Pantene say the easiest way to do this is by applying a waterproof barrier around each hair strand to lock moisture out. However, the hard part is figuring out the difference between all of the ingredients touted to reduce frizz.
Frizz-fighting shampoos contain conditioning complexes formed by positively charged polymers to help protect hair from damage in its most vulnerable state—when it’s wet. These conditioning complexes help preserve the integrity of hair’s natural, outermost layer that controls the movement of moisture in and out of the hair fiber. With a protective outer layer, hair is better armed for frizz-fighting, according to You Beauty.
Positively-charged surfactants and silicones found in frizz-fighting conditioners can target the “leaks” on hair’s surface, which are spots that have lost the protective F-layer and can soak up moisture from the air like a sponge, thus causing hair to swell and create frizz. “Leaky” areas have negative charges, so the positive charges on these haircare ingredients attach to the areas on a hair fiber that need it most. Once the hair care ingredient is in the right place on the hair strand, its moisture-controlling ability slows down the frizz process.
- Anti-frizz styling creams will also help significantly with frizz. Applying them to damp hair right after the shower will result in tackling as much frizz as possible- whether you plan on blow drying or air drying after.
- Oils and serums are good options to use on hair once it is dry to make the hair more shiny and help fix any frizz that may have disappeared.
- Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper is one of my all time favorite products for battling frizz, especially in the humid months. I use a generous amount under any gel or styler and it reduces my frizz dramatically. The Ouidad Climate Control line is also excellent at helping keeping frizz to a minimum for curls.
Do you use a frizz-fighting product or ingredient in your curly hair routine?
Whenever we think of men’s regrowth, most often Rogaine is the first thing that comes to mind. But there are a whole bunch of new products out that claim to help men with thinning hair. Has your curly man tried one of these? (P.S.- These hair regrowth kits are intended for all hair types, not just curls!”>
” src=”https://d28mymtno8c5sd.cloudfront.net/Articles/provillus-for-men-650×400.png” alt=”provillus for hair growth” width=”650″ height=”400″ />Provillus For Men
A powerful formula that contains vitamins, minerals and herbs which leads to the growth and vitality of the hair, resulting in strong and healthy hair. It contains the only FDA approved ingredient which helps with hair growth, minoxidil. This is a supplement so no creams or chemicals are needed.
HAIR-DRx
Containing 5% minoxidil, this unscented topical formula helps reactive hair follicles to stimulate growth.
American Crew Patch
A shampoo that works with a concentrated patch to nourish and strengthen men’s hair.
NuHair Regrowth for Men
A supplement that provides nourishment for Receding Hairlines, Breakage around the hairline, excessively thinning hair, and poor (low”> density. It energizes the scalp and nourishes the hair shaft to help produce stronger, thicker hair.
Procerin
A supplement and topical formula combination which contains the necessary ingredients needed to block the root cause of hair loss. The natural ingredients in Procerin work together to promote healthy hair growth and fight hair loss.
Toppik
A topical, hands-free spray applicator that delivers a targeted dose of minoxidil to the scalp.
Apivita Propoline Men’s Tonic
A shampoo which features lupin, rosemary, ginseng, equisetum, vitamins, trace elements and honey that helps with thinning hair.
Viviscal for Men
The #1 selling male hair growth supplement in the US+. It contains the exclusive marine complex AminoMar®, as well as healthy hair nutrients including Vitamin C, Zinc, Horsetail (stem”> Extract and Flax Seed Extract. Viviscal Man hair loss pills have been scientifically proven to nourish hair from within and to promote existing hair growth.
Have you heard of any of these? Which men’s hair loss products have we missed? Let us know!
Consuming wheatgrass on a regular basis has been shown to reverse gray hair back to its natural color.
Fresh wheatgrass juice is super healthy and provides so many benefits for your body. In fact, consuming it on a regular basis has been shown to reverse gray hair back to its natural color.
A 2006 study from the Institute of Cytology and Genetics discovered that oxidative stress and DNA damage could be reduced by antioxidant enzymes such as catalase. This study also found that dietary supplements for increasing the activity of catalase in the liver mitochondria in rats led to reduced mitochondrial dysfunction and slowed the process of aging in these animals.
If you are curious about how this can happen, according to traditional Chinese medicine, hair pigmentation is influenced by the quality of blood and the strength of the kidneys. If your hair has gone gray, your kidneys and blood need to be strengthened. Foods that accomplish this include wheatgrass and any food with high chlorophyll content. (Note: Chlorophyll is a term used for several closely related green pigments found in cyanobacteria and the chloroplasts of algae and plants.”>
What exactly is wheatgrass?
Despite what you may think, it is quite different from the grass on your front lawn. Wheatgrass refers to the young grass of the common wheat plant, Triticum aestivum. Its leaves are juiced or dried into powder for human (or animal”> consumption. It is often available in juice bars and smoothie restaurants, and is taken alone or mixed in fruit and/or vegetable drinks. Having done “shots” of wheatgrass myself, I will say it does taste exactly like you would expect- very green and plant like, but the benefits are worth it. If you get the powder to mix in a smoothie, you don’t even taste it!
Wheatgrass contains significant amounts of Catalase and other beneficial antioxidants. Wheatgrass is able to reverse gray hair and slow the entire aging process. It aids in rejuvenating the cells, thereby slowing down the aging process.
Loaded with amino acids, vitamins, chlorophyll, nutrients, and live enzymes, wheatgrass is a superfood with tons of health benefits. It is made up of an impressive array of nutrients that reinforce and rejuvenate everything from our cells and tissues to our organs and bodily systems. The molecular structure of wheatgrass and our blood are very similar which allows our bodies to absorb these nutrients immediately.
Wheatgrass is a powerful cleansing and detoxifying agent. It is rich in protein, provides a significant boost in your energy level and has been known to cure many types of blood disorders. Overall, in addition to its 70% chlorophyll makeup, wheatgrass consists of 19 amino acids, 92 minerals, 13 vitamins and 80 enzymes that enable the body to function at its highest levels. Prominent research scientist Dr. Earp-Thomas says that,”15 pounds of wheatgrass is the equivalent of 350 pounds of carrots, lettuce, celery and so forth.”
What else does wheatgrass do for my health?
The benefits of wheatgrass go way beyond beautification and anti-aging such as reversing gray hair. The high chlorophyll content of wheatgrass, as well as the amino acids, minerals, vitamins and enzymes enable wheatgrass to provide a wide range of health benefits and curative benefits, such as the following:
- Fights tumors. Studies show that wheatgrass juice has a powerful ability to fight tumors without the usual toxicity of drugs.
- Detoxifier. Wheat grass protects the liver and the blood, and neutralizes toxic substances like cadmium, nicotine, strontium, mercury, and polyvinyl chloride.
- Helps fight cancer cells. It contains liquid oxygen. This is vital to many body processes. Wheat grass protects the body against cancer cells–these cells cannot exist in the presence of oxygen.
- Blood builder. An important aspect of the chlorophyll in wheatgrass is its remarkable similarity to hemoglobin, the compound that carries oxygen in the blood. When the chlorophyll is absorbed in the human body, it is transformed into blood, which transports nutrients to every cell of the body.
Some health practitioner’s claim that you can double your red blood cell count just by soaking in chlorophyll. Renowned nutritionist and author of Health Magic Through Chlorophyll From Living Plant Life, Dr. Bernard Jensen, found that wheatgrass and green juices are the most superior blood builders. Jensen cites several cases in which he was able to double the red blood cell count in a matter of days merely by having patients soak in a chlorophyll-water bath. Even more rapid blood building results occur whenever patients consume wheatgrass juice and other chlorophyll-rich juices regularly.
So back to wheatgrass and possibly reversing gray hair…
Wheatgrass delivers an impenetrable line of defense against disease. An all-natural and powerful detoxifier, wheatgrass protects the liver and purifies the blood by neutralizing toxic substances such as cadmium, nicotine, strontium, mercury and polyvinyl chloride.
Regular consumption of wheatgrass can turn your gray hair back to its natural color. Drink one glass of wheat grass juice daily. The average dosage is 1 to 2 fluid ounces of fresh-squeezed juice once a day (or 3 to 4 times a day for detoxification”>; or 1 tablespoon wheatgrass powder (1 to 3 times a day”>; or 7 to 10 wheatgrass tablets (500 mg”> a day. You can get some online or at your local health food store, like Swansons.
Monoi Oil is a gift from nature. Tahitian for “scented oil”, it has been a Polynesian beauty secret for centuries! In fact, Monoi Oil is only produced in Tahiti, French Polynesia. It is highly beneficial for both the skin and the hair containing moisturizing and soothing properties. The scent is very delicate and not overwhelming.
Monoi oil contains no sulfates, parabens, silicones, phthalates or anything synthetic whatsoever.
Monoi oil contains no sulfates, parabens, silicones, phthalates or anything synthetic whatsoever. It is the pure combination of Coconut Oil and the nature essence of Tiare Flowers (Tahitian Gardenias”> Monoi oil is created by pure extra virgin coconut oil being pressed from the natural falling of coconuts from their palm tree. Then, the tiare flower is soaked in that coconut oil for approximately a month.
Heal past damage, prevent further damageMonoi oil will help heal past damage and also help to prevent new damage from mechanical, chemical or the elements from happening. Like coconut oil, Monoi can help stop protein loss in hair which has been shown to help stop breakage. This will help the hair grow longer, stronger and become healthier. It also contains coconut oil and because of this, Monoi oil helps to significantly reduce frizz.
Tahitian Monoi oil penetrates the hair shaft, helping the cuticles lay flat and stay smooth. Monoi oil helps add brilliance and shine to the hair. It has a high concentration of vitamin E which helps hair’s elasticity plus strength and contains anti-oxidants which can help prevent free radical damage. In clinical studies from the Monoi Institute, subjects saw fewer split ends, fewer dry ends and overall improvement in the general condition of their hair. Under the experimental conditions of the study, the Monoi de Tahiti “helped to improve the shine and overall look of the hair. Hair fibers were revitalized and keratin scales were more compact and presenting in a homogenous surface.” In another study from the Monoi Institute, it was recorded that the Monoi de Tahiti improved the general appearance of the hair by protecting, strengthening and beautifying the hair fibers. As in the evaluation of its moisturizing ability, the Monoi de Tahiti confirm its pervasive capillary action in comparison to jojoba oil and shea butter.Benefits of Monoi for the Skin
- It helps protect the skin against external elements.
- It helps the skin appear more supple and softer.
- It helps increase skin hydration both immediately and in the long term.
- It may be used to heal eczema or skin rashes.
- It can help heal skin quickly from sunburn.
- It can help relieve dry and itchy skin.
The many uses of Monoi Oil
- Pre-Poo
- Conditioner Enhancement (add some to your conditioner”>
- Wet Hair Sealer
- Frizz Fighter
- Body Moisturizer
- Cuticle Oil
- Bath Oil
If you are looking for some hair products featuring Monoi Oil, here are a few recommendations.
Carol’s Daughter Monoi Repairing Shampoo
A Coconut-derived, sulfate-free cleanser that is gentle enough for the most fragile and distressed hair that detangles and leaves hair stronger and healthier, instantly. 96% less breakage after one use.
$18 in CurlMart
Design Essentials Natural Coconut & Monoi Deep Moisture Oil Treatment
Instantly starts the repair process for damaged hair, renewing strength and elasticity while shielding the hair from damaging elements leaving the hair visibly softer, silkier and healthier.$12 at Sally Beauty
SheaMoisture Tahitian Noni & Monoi Scalp Therapy
This treatment will soothe, hydrate and provide antioxidant benefits to the scalp, which promote healthy hair renewal and growth. Hair looks thicker and fuller over time.
$9.99 at Target
Sojourn Monoi Oil Treatment
An ultra-light yet deep conditioning treatment specially formulated for chemically treated, dry, frizzy and environmentally damaged hair. Enriched with natural moisturizers, this botanically based hydrating oil absorbs instantly into the hair with no residue or buildup for a clean, healthy and fresh look that leaves hair soft and shimmering all day long.
$11.99 on Amazon
[prodmod]Have you tried Monoi oil on your hair yet? How do you feel it compares to coconut oil?
Initial thoughts
The Mirabelle Plum Collection is designed for fine, weak and very dry hair. This line is supposed to deeply fortify, intensely moisturize and promote fullness – promoting healthy hair growth and max hydration at the same time! Lately I’ve been on the road to recovery from severe hair breakage, unmanageability and extra dryness so I’ve been looking for something to hydrate and help grow my hair. I can’t believe a hair product line came out to address both concerns at once! Pure genius!This line features Mirabelle Plum, which is an intensely moisturizing fruit from France, as well as popular hair growth ingredient biotin (a personal favorite ingredient of mine”> as well as Pro-vitamin B5 and Olive Oil. The line contains No Sulfates, No Silicones, No Parabens, No Mineral Oil, No Artificial Colors, and No Petroleum.
The scent of this line is okay… But the effectiveness of these products for me is so worth it I don’t think I’d care if the line smelled like broccoli!
The scent of this line is okay. I don’t hate it but I also don’t love it the way I love the scents of the Marula Therapy or Black Vanilla lines from Carol’s Daughter. I would describe the smell being uniquely fruity with a minty or herbally twist to it. I don’t find the smell to be severely overbearing, though it does have that perfumey aspect to it. But the effectiveness of these products for me is so worth it I don’t think I’d care if the line smelled like broccoli!
Mirabelle Plum Sulfate Free Shampoo
What They Say: FOR FINE WEAK & VERY DRY HAIR. We want the best of both worlds: a shampoo that deeply fortifies and hydrates and encourages healthy hair growth. Spoil yourself with this sulfate-free shampoo that instantly replenishes hair’s natural moisture as well as revitalizes the hair follicles. Mirabelle Plums are at the heart of a nourishing fusion of oils that intensely rehydrates fine, weak and very dry hair so it’s more manageable and easily detangled, while keeping strands strong and durable. Finally, you can pamper your hair with a gentle cleanser that does it all.
- Powerful ingredients at work: Mirabelle Plums, Biotin, Grape Seed Oil, Aloe Leaf Juice, and Sweet Almond Oil.
What I Say: The consistency of the shampoo is thick and syrup-like to me. It does lather significantly for a sulfate free shampoo. A little goes a long way so my bottle will last forever. I make sure to really massage the ingredients into my scalp (hi hair growth”> and leave it on a minute or two.
When I rinse this, my wet hair in the shower does feel nice and clean but also kind of stiff. During my first use, this concerned me. Once I followed up with the conditioner however, all was right in my world again. Because of how it leaves my hair stiff, I try not to run this shampoo to the very (damaged”> ends”> of my hair more than once every other week.
Mirabelle Plum Conditioner
What They Say: FOR FINE WEAK & VERY DRY HAIR. Who doesn’t want the best of both worlds? Get it with this rich, creamy conditioner that deeply restores moisture and promotes hair growth. Its nourishing power instantly leaves hair softer and shiner. Mirabelle Plums are at the heart of a nourishing fusion of oils that intensely rehydrates fine, weak and very dry hair so it’s more manageable and easily detangled, while keeping hair strong and durable. Finally, you can pamper your hair with a conditioning cream that does it all.
- Powerful ingredients at work: Mirabelle Plums, Biotin, Grape Seed Oil, Aloe Leaf Juice, and Sweet Almond Oil.
This is one of the most richest, thickest, creamiest regular rinse out conditioners I ever tried in my life! WOW!!!!
What I say: This is one of the most richest, thickest, creamiest regular rinse out conditioners I ever tried in my life! WOW!!!! I already have back-ups of this and hope a bigger size comes out in the future. The one con is although this is incredibly rich and creamy, I feel as if I am going through it rather quickly. I use about 6 pumps each time I condition with it, versus only one pump of the shampoo. I will leave this in my hair anywhere from 2 minutes up to an hour depending on how much time I have. I can almost never use a regular rinse out conditioner as my deep conditioner, I always prefer masques, but I can use this conditioner on its own and feel confident my hair is getting the moisture and nourishment it so badly craves. I have been using this sometimes on its own and sometimes mixed with masques and it does play well with others. I had no problem detangling with this conditioner and it left my hair feeling so soft and moisturized. I massage it through the lengths of my hair for a few minutes while detangling. I also use 2 pumps on wet hair as a leave in conditioner, concentrating on the ends. I really believe this is actually helping to change the dryness of my hair for the better. I’m blown away with how much I adore this conditioner.
Mirabelle Plum Leave In Conditioner
What They Say: FOR FINE, WEAK & VERY DRY HAIR. We deserve the best of both worlds: a leave-in conditioner that restores hair’s natural moisture and encourages healthy hair growth. Go ahead, spoil yourself with this lightweight moisturizer that detangles, strengthens and revitalizes hair follicles. Mirabelle Plums are at the heart of a nourishing fusion of oils that intensely rehydrates fine, weak and very dry hair so it’s more manageable and easily detangled, while keeping hair strong and durable. Finally, you can pamper your hair every day without weighing it down with this refreshing spray that does it all. Powerful ingredients at work: Mirabelle Plums, Biotin, Grape Seed Oil, Aloe Leaf Juice, and Sweet Almond Oil.
What I Say: I don’t use this leave in on my wet hair. As mentioned because my hair is super dry and this winter has been miserably cold and dry, I prefer the regular conditioner for that purpose. HOWEVER this is my new favorite refresher spray! I use this on day 2 and 3 hair and it adds shine, helps frizz, and leaves my hair feeling soft and looking more manageable. Because it is lightweight, it is nourishing my hair without weighing it down or giving me a heavy product feel, especially after applying and reapplying every day. I like the idea too that I am infusing the ingredients of this line into my hair daily even without washing, so my hair will hopefully become stronger and healthier with consistent use (again, I only tried it a few weeks at the point of writing this review so I can’t speak of the long term results yet”> This is a rebuy and rebuy and rebuy for me.
Mirabelle Plum Hair Oil Treatment
What I Say: FOR FINE, WEAK & VERY DRY HAIR. We want the best of both worlds: a deeply hydrating treatment that preps hair for a non-stripping cleansing and fortifies hair so it reaches its healthiest state. Treat yourself to both with this natural oil and butter fusion that restores and softens hair without weighing it down. Mirabelle Plums are at the heart of a nourishing fusion of oils that intensely rehydrates fine, weak and very dry hair so it’s more manageable and easily detangled, while keeping hair strong and durable. Finally, you can pamper your hair with this easy-to-use pre-poo that reduces detangling time and much more. Powerful ingredients at work: Mirabelle Plums, Biotin, Grapeseed Oil, Aloe Leaf Juice, and Sweet Almond Oil.
What I Say: If you are looking for a wonderful, new, silicone-free oil blend, you absolutely want to try this. I love oil blends because of their effectiveness and versatility for my wavy hair. I’ve used this as:
- a pre-shampoo treatment,
- an overnight leave-in
- a scalp oil to promote hair growth on the night before I wash my hair
- a sealer on wet hair
- a frizz fighter, applied in a small amount to dry hair to help manage my ends and give a little shine
Like the rest of this line, I really like knowing every time I use this I am combating my two biggest hair concerns: growth and dryness.
To conclude
At least for my hair (remember everyone’s hair is different”> I think Carol’s Daughter knocked it out of the park with this line. I’d love to see a super hydrating and strengthening Mirabelle Plum hair gel and or butter in the future.
[prodmod]Note: This article is not sponsored.
The simple up-and-down motion of hair-brushing is mostly instinctive. Once we begin doing it, we go about it without thinking intently about the action. Unfortunately, when you’re dealing with damaged, fragile, or curly locks, a regular brushing could be seriously detrimental to your hair goals.
Many of us curly girls figured out at a pretty early age that a brush and curls do not often mix well. But, if you’re a fan of the occasional blowout, wearing stretched styles, or smoothing your edges, you probably won’t be able to avoid the brush. Follow the tips ahead to make sure you’re getting the best results possible for your fragile hair. Make that brush work for you — not against you.
You brush from root to tip
Pulling a brush from your roots to your tips causes excessive stress on the hair, and when the brush meets a knot (as it undoubtedly will”> you will experience breakage at its weak or damaged points. You also run the risk of pulling your hair out of the follicle. Instead, begin brushing a few inches from the ends, slowly working your way up the shaft in sections and using your fingers to gently detangle knots as you reach them.
You brush your hair when wet
Wet hair is far more elastic than dry hair. According to NaturallyCurly’s Curl Chemist Tonya McKay, dry hair stretches 20% to 30% when force is applied, while hair that is saturated with water stretches up to 50%, so wet hair is more fragile and can easily snap. Your best bet is to use a spray bottle full of water to dampen the hair and detangle it before washing to avoid manipulating it when it’s weakest, which is when it’s soaking wet. When doing this, use a wide-tooth comb or, better yet, your fingers, and always detangle with conditioner for added protection and slip.
You use a paddle brush to detangle
Whether your hair is wet or dry, paddle brushes are not made to detangle. Paddle brushes can be great for smoothing your ‘do when blowdrying it straight, but all of those bristles wreak havoc on a head in need of detangling. Instead, reach for a wide-tooth comb and a detangling product.
If your hair is fine, use a detangling spray, and if it’s in between thick and thin, moisturize with a lotion. For thick or coarse locks, you’ll want to apply a detangling cream before you unsnarl your dry hair. For damp or wet tresses, apply a rich conditioner with plenty of slip and then start detangling from the ends.
Your brush is cheap
We know a lot of you are probably wondering how much the price of a brush could possibly matter. But, the fact is cheaper brushes have low-quality, plastic bristles that can snag and rip damaged hair at its weak points. If you are using a brush to blowdry your hair straight, you are already inflicting a great deal of stress by manipulating it and exposing it to heat, so don’t make matters worse with a low-quality brush. Denman, Mason Pearson, and the Tangle Teezer are all well reviewed in the curly community; the best option for you will depend on your hair type and personal preference. Watch this video by Elle of Quest for the Perfect Curl to see a side-by-side comparison of the three.
You don’t wash your brush
Just as you wash your makeup brushes regularly, you also need to be washing your hairbrush once a week. Over time the bristles can become clogged with stray hairs and product buildup. When you use your unwashed brush on freshly cleansed hair, you are actually depositing product residue onto your strands. A good clarifying shampoo like Kinky-Curly Come Clean will cleanse the bristles thoroughly.
To wash your brush, create a mini bubble bath using shampoo and water in a bowl, and soak the brush for a few minutes. Then, rinse it while raking out any excess hairs with a plastic fork. If you took our advice above and splurged on a Mason Pearson brush, then caring for it will help make your investment worthwhile.
You cause static when you brush
Running a brush through your hair can create static from friction. To avoid the pouf factor, spritz your brush with a hairspray like DevaCurl’s Flexible Hold Hairspray to control flyaways. You can also rub a few drops of hair oil between your fingertips and run them through the hair before brushing.
If frizz is thwarting your good hair days or you feel like your tresses just won’t grow past shoulder length, then your brushing habits may be causing breakage. That small plastic tool may not look dangerous to you, but when misused it can actually cause a lot of damage. Use it wisely and your curly hair will remain healthy and strong.
[prodmod]
A salon called X-Presion in Spain has been pixelating its clients since last spring, and Revlon Professional is featuring the look in a campaign for its Neon collection. The pixelated look involves coloring small, square chunks of hair in a range of similar colors to create a patterned effect. The goal is to mimic pixels on a computer or television screen. The resulting look can range from a bright statement to a more subtle accent. There are so many options for coloring the “pixels” in your hair such as going neon, or doing a natural color like , brown or red.
The goal is to mimic pixels on a computer or television screen.The largest cause for concern with this trend may be the awkward grow out phase. Of course, you can dye over the pixelated sections but that still does not guarantee even hair color and will most likely result in serious damage to that section of your hair. Take a quick scroll through the xpresioncreativos hashtag on Instagram and will notice a trend – so far this trend has only been carried out on straight hair. So naturally, I am curious to see pixels on curls and waves.
What do you think, are you team pixel? Or will you be sitting this one out?
A lot of these products also treat and nourish the hair thanks to the benefits of the oils and ingredients inside. Here are some great oil blends for wavy hair.
Briogeo Rosarco Oil
One of my favorite oil blends. This is a blend of rosehip, argan and coconut oils. It penetrates the hair shaft to deliver intensive hydration and nutrients while enhancing shine and vibrancy and smells delicious- very sweet and fresh. It is silicone and paraben free and concentrated- a little goes a very long way.
L’Oreal Mythic Oil: Rich
There are several customized versions of this oil, the one I am referring to here is “Rich Oil” which is designed to give “complete control over rebellious hair” My hair is the most unruly in the world and as soon as my hairdresser used some of this on my last blow out I was so impressed I bought it right then and there (I usually wait, go home and search online to buy it cheaper”> I was literally speechless seeing the puff and frizz on my ends magically decrease. This is made with Rice Bran and Argan oils to provides intense nourishment to make hair more manageable, create a smooth results for an easier blow-dry and quickly absorbs into the hair for intense yet lightweight control, allowing your hair body, if desired.
Ojon Rare Blend Oil
Ojon™ gathered several potent natural oils legendary for their “great healing powers” and infused them into 3 hair-reparative phases: Amber, Crystal and Red. It is important to mix the 3 together before applying. This oil protects and nourishes to repair and transform dull, dry or damaged hair to vibrant health. Hair instantly looks glossier, shinier; suddenly feels softer, silkier, more luxurious. Plus, it smells like coffee! We like that this oil is available in 3 different formulas: light, medium & thick textures. If you have fine hair or a very loose wave, then you’ll probably want to stick to the light.Watch our editor Devri’s full review of this blend here.
Bumble & Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil
Light-weight and quick-absorbing, this oil featuring a luxurious blend of six oils and two extracts that have a multitude of benefits including to soften, tame flyaways, and add shine immediately and over time. It also helps hair look and feel healthy, smooth, silky, and conditioned while controlling frizz and strengthening hair against breakage. It contains UVA/UVB filters that offer heat styling protection and is a clear formula- so it will not tint or alter any hair colors (yay for us blondes”>.
Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum
This is one of my favorite products for blow drying wavy hair straight. It provides a smoother surface and tighter diameter which significantly reduce drying time and speed up styling time. The Super Skinny Complex penetrates deep into the hair shaft where it displaces water and constricts the hair. Lightweight silicones smooth, condition and seal hair with added shine.
Ouidad Climate Control Frizz & Flyaway Fighter
Lightweight and non-greasy, humidity-resistant actives coat the hair eliminating frizz and unruly flyaways instantly. Flash dry fruit oils of olive, avocado and grape give hair a noticeable luster. This spray is nice to add shine and help frizz on second and third day hair.
Carol’s Daughter Marula Oil Softening Serum
This glossy curl enhancer rejuvenates hair’s natural moisture so any style is easy to perfect. It helps make dry unruly hair more moisturized and manageable. Packed with Marula- a rich oil harvested for 12,000 years in Madagascar that instantly restores and softens your curls. It leaves the hair flowy and lightweight and has an intoxicating smell of powdery roses.
Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Miracle Dry Oil
This contains nourishing olive, avocado and almond oils, which help to transform dryness for healthy-looking hair and soft skin. The multi-use oil rapidly absorbs to treat hair and skin without oiliness. It is extremely lightweight and perfect if your hair gets weighed down easily by all other oils.
Jane Carter Solution Scalp Nourishing Serum Scalp Fortifier
This is a maintenance product for anyone plagued with dry scalp. It is suggested that you use it as a “leave in” scalp nourisher. It is a hybrid safflower oil base, so you only need a small amount. The ylang ylang and cedar extracts reduce fungus and bacteria. The safflower oil sooths the scalp and restores it back to health. This product is 100% natural.
L`Oreal Paris Advanced Hair care Total Repair 5 Multi-Restorative Dry Oil
This is a luxurious daily leave-in treatment that revitalizes hair from root to tip. This multi-tasking dry oil is so potent that it tames flyaways and infuses lasting, luminous shine. It’s weightless and non-greasy, so the formula is instantly absorbed.
Kerastase Elixir Ultime Oil
This is another one of my personal favorite oils to use. Super potent, it provides ultimate shine, softness and nourishment, strength and smoothness for all hair types. It contains Kerastase’s “Oleo Complex” of Maize, Pracaxi, Camellia and Argan Oils which also helps to promote cellular renewal with its anti-oxidant active ingredients. This makes a tremendous difference in the amount of frizz I have.
What oil blends have you used on your type 2/3 wavy-curly hair before? Let me know if I missed something in the comment section below.
The T3 Source Hand-Held Shower Filter
I have read time and time again that using a shower filter will do great things for the hair and skin. It makes sense–they sell filtered water to drink so why not use it externally too? On my never ending quest to get my best hair possible, in October I finally caved in and bought one. I gave myself ample time to use it so I could provide this thorough review.I decided to purchase the T3 Source Hand-Held Shower Filter during Sephora’s 20% off sale. It retails for $130-150. What really intrigued me about this specific model was that aside from the filter it has 8 different setting speeds and pressures like my old showerhead did. It is also hand held so if I was just washing my hair and not my whole body I can do so rather easily.
T3’s Product Claims
Discover the Pure Water Difference. Chlorine is one of the real culprits behind dry, damaged hair and skin. A survey of public water shows that regular household water can contain nearly as much chlorine as that recommended for swimming pools. By using a patented formula of Tourmaline, precious metals and minerals, T3 Source Shower Filters can remove up to 95% of chlorine from shower water which:
- Improves hair health and beauty
- Enhances the color retention and vibrancy of processed hair
- Helps skin to be less dry, retain more moisture and look healthier
- Makes skin noticeably softer and smoother
Through a filtration process called “Redox”, T3 Source Shower Filters transform chlorine into harmless elements that are too large to be absorbed by hair and skin. The patented technology is tested and certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF”> who is a US water supply auditor and world health organization member.
T3 Source Shower Filters transform chlorine into harmless elements that are too large to be absorbed by hair and skin.
Average hair health and skin benefits (when compared to tap water”>
- 49% Reduction in Frizz
- 22% Increase in Body
- 36% Increase in Comb-ability
- 31% Increase in Shine
- By filtering the chlorine from your shower water, your skin may be less dry, may retain more moisture and may look healthier.
Features and benefits
- Copper, Zinc, Calcium work together to convert and remove chlorine
- Tourmaline produces negative ions that reduce water cluster size which improves filtration as well as help PH balance the water
- Anti-scaling, low maintenance spray nozzles resist scale buildup
- Filter Life 3,000 gallons or 3-4 months (whichever comes first”>
My Review
More than anything else, I wanted the filtered shower head to help preserve my hair color. As a blonde who is majorly prone to brassiness, my hair stylist suggested that the shower water may be a culprit! I have also read that using the shower filter can help preserve the life of my color and after spending the money to get my color looking all nice and pretty, I absolutely want to preserve it!
How much softer and smoother my skin felt! Even with this cold winter I find myself needed less body lotion as usual which is great. Everyone in my house even agreed that their skin has been feeling nicer lately.Seeing the effects on my hair took a bit longer. I only wash my hair twice a week and I was not expecting miraculous results. It took about a month worth of washing to notice that my hair felt softer and more manageable. After that I began noticing a little more shine too.
I wasn’t paying attention to my hair color right away, as my hair desperately needed a touch up and was a bit of a mess. About a month and a half in, I went for my color touch up. Since getting my color done and only showering with the T3, my color still looks vibrant weeks later and my blonde does not seem as brassy as it usually is. I still use purple conditioner once a week for good measure but there is still a noticeable difference from pre filtered showerhead.
Frizz wise, so far I haven’t seen a major difference.
Frizz wise, so far I haven’t seen a major difference. However, I notice that my 60+ year old mom, who has genetically dry, frizzy, very slightly wavy hair, has been having her hair look a bit more smoother, shinier and less frizzy lately! I asked her if she was doing anything else different and she hasn’t, so it has to be the shower head.
My final thoughts
Assembly of the shower head was very easy and instructions came with it so that helped tons. Overall, I am very happy with the T3 Source Shower Filter and because of the nice difference in my hair color, softness and shine, I don’t want to shower without it!
Where you can get it
Sephora, Nordstrom, or online at Overstock
[prodmod]This post is not sponsored.
Last month I reviewed some Kerastase products, you can read all about them here. Being that I am still on a nice Kerastase kick since I have been loving the results and I did buy other products during my Black Friday Haul. I have more product reviews to share!
Résistance Force Architecte
This line is made supposed to give strength back to damaged hair. Ideal for those with brittle, damaged hair and split ends. My hair is super damaged, dry and prone to breakage split ends so this line really did appeal to me. Sometimes I mix these with the products from the Discipline line (from my last review”> to get the benefits of repairing the hair as well as anti-frizz!The Key Technology: Complexe Ciment-Cylane
- Intra-Cylane: recreates a holding structure around each breakage point
- Pro-Keratin: fills in the gaps in the cortex
- Ceramides: build external cohesion and smooth the surface cuticle
Bain Force Architecte (Shampoo”>
What They Say: Daily, reconstructing shampoo for weakened to very damaged hair. Rebuilds and strengthens the hair fiber at all levels of hair erosion. Reconstructs hair, intensifying strength from roots to ends. Helps prevent breakage and split ends with patented Intra-Cylane. Smoothes and protects surface of the hair fiber.
What I Say: I wish this shampoo did not have sulfates. Before starting use of Kerastase products a couple months ago, my hair was experiencing some major damage and just not looking up to par despite obsessing over it and using other great products.
I kind of threw my old CG method rules out the window, at least temporarily–and tried this shampoo, sulfates and all. It smells light and for a shampoo that is not sulfate-free, and I was surprised how soft and conditioned, clean but not stripped it left my hair! I’ve used sulfate-free shampoos that left my hair feeling more dry and rough compared to this. That being said, I am still too much of a “sulfate-phobe” and when I use this now, I usually use a sulfate free cleansing on the lengths of my hair for caution.I am still too much of a “sulfate-phobe
Masque Force Architecte
What They Say: Reconstructing masque that instantly replenishes weakened to very damaged hair. Intensely replenishes while rebuilding holding structure of hair fiber. Smoothes, heals and protects hair. Helps prevent breakage and split ends with patented Intra-Cylane. Fortifies every strand from within for maximum effectiveness.
What I Say: This is on my Holy Grail Masque list now. The jar is expensive, but if a product will work for my hair I’ll make room in my budget for it! Our hair is our best accessory and we wear it every day. I am all about anything that helps prevent breakage and split ends. My hair drinks it in and I like the idea that it is making my hair stronger with each use. Detangling was easy with this mask and I feel my hair is coming back to life with it.
Ciment Thermique
What They Say: 85% less breakage from Blow-dry, Strengthens and fortifies the hair fiber, Smoothes away cracks and split ends while adding shine, Excellent leave-in care. Vita-Ciment strengthens fiber from inside. Vita-Topseal recreates external protective layer.
What I Say: I contacted Kerastase direct about this one (the contact us feature on their site is very helpful”>, since I don’t always blow dry my hair I wanted to make sure it was okay to be used while air drying. They said it is heat activated and doesn’t offer much without heat. The couple of times I did use it while diffusing, my hair was not as puffy or frizzy and the diffuse came out better than usual.Resistance Fibre Architecte
What They Say: The first reparative dual-serum that targets the highest level of hair erosion and fill the gaps in the fiber. Reconstructs hair intensifying strength from roots to ends. Use in conjunction with any Kérastase Thermique for long lasting results. Repairs and seals split ends. Delivers long lasting styling results. Gives a non-greasy, fresh haircut feel. Smoothes the surface and adds shine.
What I Say: Nothing can repair split ends except a trim. I do like the idea of temporarily sealing them and binding them together so the split doesn’t continue up the hair shaft. I use a little on wet or dry hair, really focusing on my ends. I notice shine right away and again, I like the idea that with continued use my hair will become stronger and healthier. I use this prior to blow-drying as well for added protection, it’s awesome!
Overall, I do really like the Resistance Force Architecte line. I plan on keeping it in my rotation for a while so my hair becomes stronger and healthier. I actually do feel I have been getting less breakage since adding these to my routine, and that is wonderful. And I’m still surprised how much I like the shampoo even though it contains sulfates.
I actually do feel I have been getting less breakage since adding these to my routine
Elixir Ultime
What They Say: Versatile nourishing oil that provides ultimate shine, softness and nourishment for all hair types. Multi-use oil that can be used pre and post styling. Delivers ultimate shine, deep conditioning and nourishment. Add softness, strength, and smoothness. Promotes cellular renewal with its anti-oxidant active ingredients. Helps restore strength to the hair and protects it from external aggressors. A blend of four precious scented oils that works for all hair types. Includes the OLEO-COMPLEXE of Maize Oil: Delivers emollient and anti-oxidant active ingredients for ultimate shine, Pracaxi Oil: Brings shine, nourishment and deep conditioning to the hair, Camellia Oil: Helps smooth the hair fiber, resulting in incredible shine and Argan Oil: Helps restore strength to the hair and protects it from external aggressors.
What I say: This is a new Holy Grail oil blend for me. Though a lot of Kerastase products aren’t, this one is silicone free. Be warned it is on the heavier side and may weigh down finer hair. But if your hair is unruly, unmanageable and out of control line mine, I think it will adore this stuff! It smells so good- like a musky vanilla. I like to use this oil to seal my wet hair or to add shine and help with frizz on days old hair too. It may also be used as a pre poo treatment. A little goes a long way.
*Update* Kerastaste Initialiste
I originally reviewed this in my last Kerastase article but while I am here I figured I would give an update. I am continuing to use this product after every wash and truly believe my hair is behaving a bit better and growing a little bit quicker because of this. There is also less shedding. I am also STILL on my first bottle from November, which is awesome because usually hair products do not last super long for me.
[prodmod]
Leave In Conditioners
Rinse Out Conditioners
Deep Conditioners/Masques
- Jessicurl Deep Treatment
- Curl Junkie Curl Rehab
- SheaMoisture Intense Hydration Deep Conditioner
- Devacurl Heaven in Hair
- Kerastase Discipline Masque
My favorite deep conditioners with protein:
Cleansing Conditioners
Have you ever noticed how children’s hair gets beautiful, natural highlights when they are out in the sun?
Ombre hair and balayage are two popular hair coloring techniques that help achieve a similar result through coloring. Though they are similar, there are distinct differences that will help you determine whether you’re an ombre or a balayage kind of girl. Search YouTube and you will find tons of videos and personal tutorials on how to achieve ombre hair or balayage by both hairdressers and DIYers alike. I personally suggest going to a salon to get color done, but if done carefully, you can also do them at home. Ombre and balayage are often confused due to their similarities, but there are some important differences to note.
Ombre
Ombre hair is the gradual lightening of the hair strand, usually fading from a darker color near the roots to a lighter one at the ends. The word ombre is a French word meaning “as two-toned”. Ombre can be very subtle or very striking. The look you want to achieve will depend on the technique and level of lightness.
Balayage
Balayage is French meaning “to sweep.” The balayage technique was developed in France in 1970’s and is called a freehand technique as the colorist applies color with hands rather than foiling. When the color is being applied, the majority of the brush strokes are horizontal in nature to coat the front and back of the hair strands. In balayage, the colorist “sweeps” vertically with the tip of the brush and only to the front of the hair. This creating natural, sun kissed highlights. Balayage is currently the most requested coloring technique in salons today with lots of celebrities doing their hair in this fashion.
Ask yourself these questions to determine which look is for you:
- Am I okay with the “grown-out roots” look?
- Do I want something low maintenance?
- How much lighter than my natural shade do I want to go?
- How do I usually style my hair? Unaltered texture, or straightened?
- Am I okay with bleaching my hair?
If You’re Not About the Touch-Up Life
Both ombre and balayage look beautiful on all different hair types and textures. If you’re okay with roots, and bleach, then ombre is great for you. Ombre hair is dark at the top gradually going lighter towards the bottom so it will almost look like you’ve skipped a few hair appointments. This is good for those who do not want to go to the salon as often since touch ups do not need to be frequent.
A plus about wavy and curly hair wearing ombre is that because the line of demarcation (the “line” separating natural color from artificial color”> being prominent, it will blend in with your texture and not be as noticeable. If you straighten your hair, you will see more of a contrast. Waves and curls hide that line much better. Because ombre hair can have very light ends, there is a high chance bleach will be used. The ends of our hair are already the most damaged, so proceed with caution.
If You Don’t Do Bleach
Balayage is low maintenance and gives off more of a subtle color. Balayage may not require bleach depending on how light you want to go. The classic balayage look is supposed to look natural, so you will probably only go 2-3 shades lighter than your natural color.
Because the color is painted on the hair vertically, you will not get that demarcation line mentioned with ombre. This makes balayage an excellent choice for those with straighter hair. As the color grows out, it will be less noticeable, making time between salon appointments longer, just like with ombre.
Both of these coloring options are on trend and can be worn in various ways. As with any color service, especially those that involve lightening parts of the hair, remember to deep condition regularly to maintain the hair’s health and integrity. Also, if you are going to be doing ombre and lightening up your ends significantly, you might want to consider a split end mender to help with damage. Alterna Split End Mends and Carol’s Daughter Monoi Repairing Split End Sealer are two good options.Thanks to The Love Hanger for the imperative information on these two coloring techniques. And for more ombre and balayage color inspiration, check out the Curl Dr, Shai Amiel.
In 2013 you could not escape the pixie cut. Women of all hairtypes were marching into salons armed with pixie cut inspiration (including our own editor Cristina”>. As the pixie brigade began to the grow out process, a new trend emerged: the “Wob,” which is short for the “Wavy Bob.” Celebrities like Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Rita Ora, and Jennifer Lawrence have all been rocking notable wobs, making it an undeniable It Girl haircut.
Wob? What’s That?
Taking the place of the “Lob” (long bob“> this style has been seen all over celebrities and common folks alike. This cut manages to be both sophisticated and playful, and the good news is that it is universally flattering and work for nearly every face shape!
The wob has a lot of bounce and body and can make the women wearing it appear more youthful and younger. It is a wavy chin or shoulder sweeping cut and is carefree, flowing and by all accounts very easy to style. Though this may be shorter than you’ve ever gone before, you still have the safety net of being able to pull it back into a little ponytail if desired.
A lot of people who fear going all the way with a pixie cut are opting to test out the waters with a wob, because the grow out process is shorter and less harrowing. If you have a lot of damaged, your ends are stressed beyond repair, now may be a nice time to cut them loose so you can rock the wob or lob style and then grow out healthy, undamaged hair.
How to get a wob
The first step is to get the right cut. If you have wavy or curly hair then it is best to work closely with a stylist you trust who has plenty of experience with wavy and curly hair. Your hair isn’t going to behave the same way as straight, fine hair so your stylist needs to account for your curl pattern, width and density. For example, if you want your hair to be Jennifer’s length, then you will likely need the hair to be cut longer to allow for shrinkage. If you’re in need of a trust-worthy stylist, use our Salon Finder to find a curly stylist in your area and read reviews before you make your decision. If your stylist is skilled and honest, then they will let you know how your individual curls will behave in this cut and shape during your consultation, and you can decide if you’d like to move forward with it.
When it comes to styling the wob, there are a huge variety of options available, from tousled, choppy waves to a more sleek and polished curl. All can be easily achieved with just a handful of tools and products.
For straight hair
If you are looking to enhance the texture of straighter hair you can try a texture spray such as Living Proof Texture Mist or Ouidad Wave Create Sea Spray. If you still need need help creating the wave through your hair, use a heat protectant spray and a big barrel curling wand, at least 1″ in diameter. Wrap the hair loosely around it starting at eye level and leave the ends out so that they do not curl.
For wavy hair
This haircut is perfect for wavy hair, as you can get away with minimal styling. When you wash your hair, be sure to dry it with a t-shirt or microfiber towel and then simply keep your hands off your hair while it air dries. If your waves are looser or tighter than Jennifer Lawrence’s, you may want to shape a few of the face framing waves with a curling wand. A heatless way to achieve a similar look is by braiding or creating a loose pin curl with a bobby pin and a little bit of styling product while your hair is drying. Just be sure to leave the ends out when you curl or pin curl your hair if you’re going for the straight and piecey look that Jennifer Lawrence has. For naturally wavy and curly hair it will be more practical to let your waves and curls do their thing and curl at the ends as they normally would. Balms like AG Beach Bomb and TIGI Curlesque Amplifier give the perfect amount of hold for this look.
For curly hair
If you want to elongate tighter curls into waves try Original Moxie Shape Shifter Reforming Creme or Curly Hair Solutions Extenzz. Depending on your curl pattern, this cut may require you to stretch your curls with a stretching style, here are a few of our favorites. If your hair is naturally much curlier than Jennifer Lawrence’s, then this is going to be a high maintenance look for you to style, so think about your current daily routine and decide if this cut fits in with your lifestyle.
A wob looks nice with or without bangs and you can play up your part- side or center to add even more versatility to the look.
Have you recently gotten a wob or have thought about it? Share pics in Style Nook!
Of course you’ve heard about platinum–but what about Ecaille? These are the two hot hair color trends to be on the lookout for in 2015.
Ecaille is the new ombre.
Ecaille is a French word that means tortoiseshell and is also referred to as “The Tortoiseshell Technique” It was created by colorant specialist Jo Hansford, right after London Fashion Week, and fellow Senior Colorist Jaclyn Smith says: “Ecaille is a healthy and glossy update for ombre fans of those who felt it was too stark for their style. Ecaille gives hair a soft, multi-tonal look without any harsh lines to compliment your natural tones.” For example- golden highlights paired with darker, rich caramel tones. celebrity colorist and Clairol Color Director James Corbett told Instyle magazine “It’s warm browns, honeys, and ambers just like a tortoiseshell comb. Blondes are more golden, with a few “babylights” worked into these tones to create the sublet dimension.”
Ecaille can leave your hair looking radiant and sun kissed. It helps warm up and add dimension to the hair while enhancing your natural appearance by softening your facial features. This look compliments all hair colors and skin tones. A lot of celebrities such as Blake Lively, Sarah Jessica Parker and Jessica Alba are rocking this new color trend.
How to Ask for the Ecaille Look
This trend is more popular in Europe and is still relatively new here in the states. You want to find a salon that is already familiar with the look. Bring pictures too so your colorist knows exactly what you are looking for. Ask for various tones, roots with lighter ends. But keep in mind if you go too light with your hair, it will just look like and ombre. Also, make sure there is no noticeable separation between the light and dark pieces or any harsh contrast. If you don’t clarify it will just look like highlights.
To achieve the look, have your colorist focus on a few bolder, face-framing pieces in the front, complemented by softer, lighter painted pieces all around.
A major difference between ombre and Ecaille is that Ecaille is much more subtle and natural looking. Ombre is very prominent in two different tones where Ecaille appears more natural and healthier.
Platinum blonde hair will not only make a statement, it will change your entire look.
Another big hair color trend that probably can’t be any further from Ecaille is platinum! Men and women alike are lightening their locks (Hi Justin Bieber, Pete Wentz and Adam Levine”> Platinum hair is currently one of the top hair searches on YouTube! The key to keeping the platinum bright and on trend is to stay cool toned like Gwen Stefani.
This color is not for the meek or the shy.
This color is also not advisable to try if your hair is already severely damaged. Going platinum will damage your hair, sadly there is no way around it. Luckily, with the new technology of Olaplex, thousands of hair stylists are achieving blonder and brighter hair with minimal damage, but damage will still be there. It is STRONGLY suggested to go to the salon if you want platinum hair, trying it at home can lead to disaster.
There are several things to consider when going platinum: It is expensive and it is high maintenance. Root touch ups are practically required every four weeks, so keep that in mind before taking the plunge. This can be time consuming and the dollars can add up quickly.
If you do go platinum you will want to deep condition every time you wash because going platinum really does take a toll and dry out your hair. You want to lay off hot tools more than ever with platinum hair because the hair can become so very fragile. You also will want to invest in a purple shampoo and/or conditioner to help fight brassiness- your hair can turn yellow really quickly if not properly taken care of.
I am not trying to scare anyone away from going platinum. I personally find platinum hair to be GORGEOUS. My hair would be platinum if it was healthier and I wasn’t prone to so much breakage. Dare I say, it is my favorite hair color out there. I just want you to know exactly what you are getting into before diving in.
Any curly-wavy girl can tell you in order to get our hair to look its absolute best, there is a lot of trial and error–for me It was mostly error–however, once you practice styling and play around enough, you learn what products, tricks and techniques you hair loves, and what they don’t love as much.
Remember, every head of hair is different so what I love, you might not love, and vice versa. But here are some current products and tools my hair cannot live without!
1. Satin pillowcase
Whenever I sleep on a cotton pillowcase, my waves will often be wonky and resemble a bird’s nest the next morning–not cute! If you don’t want to buy satin pillowcases, a satin bonnet works nice too but recently I read that the edges of the bonnet rubbing against my hairline may have contributed to some breakage–precautionary warning.
2. Original Curly Tee Towel
Any cotton towel or microfiber towel will work- as long as it is isn’t terry. Using this after the shower to soak up extra water has helped my hair air dry faster and with less frizz, more definition. The Original Curly Tee Towel always is awesome and uniquely shaped to make plopping super easy!
3. Tangle Teezer
My hair gets knotty pretty quickly–especially the ends–as my hair grows longer. The Tangle Teezer helps me detangle quickly and effortlessly without pain and breakage. I always use it when there is conditioner in my hair every shower and whenever I do wear my hair straighter or in a softer “2a” type of look, I will also use this through my hair dry.
4. Claw hair clips
Truth be told, I don’t know the actual name of these clips, but I know I can’t be without them. Because the front of my hair is a lot curlier than the rest, I always clip it back in these to help elongate them to match the rest of my hair better. These are also used to keep my hair out my face when I get stressed.
5. Ponytail holders, headbands & bobby pins
I have curly wavy hair. Do I really need to give an explanation why I cannot live without them?
6. Deep treatments
Between genetics and the fact I do color my hair, my locks are super, super dry. Using regular conditioner on my hair is a joke– I deep treat every time I wash. It makes a huge difference in how my hair feels and looks. The longer I leave the treatment on, the better but I never leave it on less than 10 minutes (I always shut the water off of course!”>
Some of my favorites
- Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair
- Living Proof Restore Masque
- Kerastase Resistance Masque Force Architecte
- SheaMoisture Strengthen, Grow & Restore Masque
7. Clairol Shimmer Lights Conditioner
I cannot use this on it’s own because it isn’t moisturizing enough, but being a blonde who is prone to brassiness, this deep purple-pigmented conditioner helps fight the copper tones. I only leave this on for 3 minutes max–if you leave it on too long, your hair can (and mine has”> turned shades of purple.
8. Styling Product
Without styling product, my hair would just be super frizzy, uncontrollable and look worse than a lion. Different styling products have different purposed for me, but these are my favorites and how I use them.
Leave In Conditioner
This is always applied after shower. ALWAYS. I sometimes use regular conditioner for this purpose because, as mentioned earlier, my hair loves moisture.- Favorites: Briogeo Curl Charisma, Jessicurl TooShea!, DevaCare One Condition, Ouidad Moisture Lock Leave In.
Repair Cream
You probably do not need to use this and a leave-in, but it works for my hair, so I do it. I have been using the Living Proof Restore Cream for years. It is supposed to help with damaged length and split ends and my hair is so ridiculous split end prone I need the extra protection. This always gets applied on wet hair before other stylers, and then on dry hair for days 2 and 3.Gel
Oh, gel. It defined and holds my curls, makes them look shiny and frizz free. The best technique for applying gel for me is Ouidad Rake & Shake.
- Favorites: Jessicurl Spiralicious, Devacare Arc Angel, Ouidad Curl Quencher, Raw Curls Strong Hold Gel
Oil sealant
I like using an oil on wet hair at the end of my styling to seal everything in and give extra shine.- Favorites: pure argan oil and the SheaMoisture Intense Hydration Oil Serum
Refresher Sprays
An absolute must for days 2 and 3 hair. I spray section by section and watch limp waves return to life!
Second Day Hair Products
Usually on day 2 and 3 I use a lotion or hydrating gel of some sort after the spray just to help add moisture back in.
- Favorites: Living Proof Restore Cream, SheaMoisture Castor Oil Lotion, Raw Gels Medium Hold Gel, Devacurl Styling Cream, Briogeo Curl Charisma Leave In
Serum
This is a product I added to my routine recently but my hair has been transforming from it.
- Favorites: The Kerastase Fibre Architecte Dual Action Serum has 2 chambers with 2 different purposes. It is said to help repair and rebuild damaged hair inside and out. My hair has been looking better since incorporating it into my routine. I use it on dry hair.
Dry Shampoo
Because I only wash my hair 2x a week but workout 5-6. Sweaty scalps are not pretty! My favorites are the Klorane Dry Shampoo with oat milk and Tigi Rockaholic Dry Shampoo.
9. Viviscal Hair Growth Vitamins
I am a big believer on nourishing your hair from the inside out and hair vitamins can help. I’ve tried many different kinds over the years and always go back to these.
10. Coconut oil
Though it is not moisturizing as I recently learned, pre-pooing with coconut oil makes my hair shinier, and helps to repair my overly damaged hair. I use a little bit on dry hair to help frizz.
11. T3 Lux 2i Blowdryer
Yes, I prefer to air-dry my hair, but in the winter I can’t go outside with my hair wet and I don’t have hours sitting around waiting so I have to diffuse. This blowdryer has tourmaline and ion technology and dries my hair faster than any other blow drier I ever used!
12. Filtered Showerhead
I kept reading how using a filtered shower head helps frizz, manageability, shine, color retention and the moisture of your hair. About 3 months ago I finally caved and got one (I got the T3 source hand-held shower head“> and my hair has been less frizzy and softer. I can’t really comment on color retention yet because I am overdo to get my roots done, but I can’t wait to see what it does. It also made a huge different in how my skin feels too so I find it to be a worthy investment.
13. Sarah Potempa Wrap Up
Some days my hair just does not look good. This genius invention helps make my hair look work appropriate in less than 5 minutes! It turned what would be a messy bun and bad hair day into something a bit more elegant and work appropriate!
14. Huetiful Hair Steamer
I love deep treating my hair. Usually twice a month I take my deep treatments to the next level by using them under a hair steamer. Especially when my hair is really misbehaving, I know it is craving a dose of steam. My waves are always defined after using a Huetiful Hair Steamer and I believe steaming regularly made a healthy impact on my hair.
[prodmod]
I am a self proclaimed product junkie and I have some favorite products.
Recently, my hair has been looking a bit lifeless, and feeling extra dry and unmanageable despite frequent deep conditioning treatments, air drying and thinking I was doing the right thing by following the Curly Girl Method. I decided to give the Curly Girl Method a break, and not to obsess over using silicone-free products. Remember, what works for one head of hair may not work for all, hair can change over time and there is also a myth that our hair might even get used to certain products.I decided to invest in some Kerastase products…to see if they live up to all of the hype
I decided to invest in some Kerastase products I have heard so much about over the years to see if they live up to all of the hype about being some of the best products out there. Pricy? Yes, very. But my hair is starting to behave better again so that is worth every penny. Here are my thoughts on a few of their products.
Kerastase Initialiste
What Kerastase Says:
Transform your hair in 7 days with Initialiste. Our 1st skincare-inspired super serum that acts on the four attributes of total hair beauty: 1. Strength 2. Shine 3. Softness 4. Substance
9 out of 10 women* saw a visible difference in their hair texture after one week. With continued usage, your hair stays healthier from root to tip allowing it to grow longer† with 93% less breakage. The new Must-Have for all hair types. Maximize the potential length of your hair. Keep it longer and stronger as it grows.
What I Say
After I wash my hair (twice a week”> on clean hair I follow the instructions and apply it on my clean scalp and then massage. I think it is making my hair softer and I definitely notice more shine. I also seem to be shedding less which is huge for me. I will continue to use it to see if it helps fight breakage and aid hair growth. I have only been using this about a month, so I look forward to seeing more long term results.
Metamorph’Oil
What They Say
Oil-infused gel-to-milk purifying pre-cleanse prepares the fiber for optimal shampoo and conditioner performance. Optimal Hair Fiber Preperation, Boosts performance of any Kérastase Shampoo & Conditioner, Leaves hair feeling soft & purified. Ideal blend of 6 precious oils to boost protection, resistance, shine and nutrition: coriander, coco, rice, argan, cranberry and grape seed oils.
What I Say
One of my favorite Kerastase products! The formula is so unique, it feels like jelly. I like to use this like a pre-poo, so I usually apply this to my whole head the day I am going to wash later on, then wear my hair in a ponytail. It helps with frizz and provides shine for the day. When I wash my hair at night, there are no tangles and I can run my hands through my hair! Seriously, my hands glide down my hair like butter, it is crazy!! This has become my favorite pre-poo treatment.
Discipline Range
What They Say
According to Kerastase, “L’Oréal Advanced Research decided to focus on women’s dissatisfaction with their unmanageable, frizzy or undisciplined hair. The researchers took to heart women’s desire for ‘obedient’ hair that does exactly what they want it to do. This new approach has enabled them to create Discipline, a sophisticated range to tame even the most unruly hair while also restoring harmony and the beauty of perfect motion. If the promise made by Discipline is a promise that breaks with the past, it’s thanks to the combined action of Morpho-Keratine™, a unique blend of shape enhancing ingredients to consolidate hair fiber and Surface-morphing polymers to smooth surface roughness.”
What I Say
This line sounds like it was created for my hair, seriously you should see it when I don’t take the time to style it properly, it’s scary. I have been really enjoying these products. I’ve been using them as a system and overall I notice my hair does feel softer with less frizz and is more manageable. So I believe the line is living up to its claims.
Ingredients
Some of the ingredients used throughout the line include:
- MORPHO-KERATINE: technology restores inner flexibility and weightlessly disciplines the outer fiber for perfect hair movement, taming frizz and protecting against humidity
- CONDITIONING AGENTS: to reduce static and frizz
- SHINE AMPLIFIER: to add shine to the hair
- XYLOSE: for heat styling protection
DISCIPLINE Bain Fluidealiste Sulfate-Free (shampoo”>
What They Say
Smooth-in-motion sulfate free shampoo provides discipline and fluidity. Optimal nourishment without weight. For sensitized or chemically-treated hair.
What I say
This sulfate free shampoo leaves my hair feeling clean and not stripped at all. A little goes a long way and it has a pleasant, fresh fragrance. I still need to follow up with conditioner to properly moisturize my hair, but I really like this as step one for frizz free locks.
DISCIPLINE Fondant Fluidealiste (conditioner”>
What They Say
Smooth-in-motion conditioner makes hair extremely soft to the touch. Daily conditioner. Instantly transforms hair to be softer, smoother and fluid-like. Provides suppleness and shine with a lightweight finish. For fine to normal, unmanageable hair
What I Say
Because my hair is so super dry and unmanageable, whenever I shampoo I always follow up with a deep conditioning mask, so imstead I use this conditioner as a leave in after and my hair feels extremely soft.
DISCIPLINE Maskeratine (deep conditioner masque”>
What They Say
Smooth-in-motion mask provides maximum frizz control and extreme softness. Provides maximum frizz control, extreme softness and suppleness. Seals ends to help prevent future blowdry damage. For Fine to Coarse, Unmanageable Hair.What I say
This masque is SUPER concentrated and a little really does go a long way. The price is high so that’s a sigh of relief for me. This is now on my Holy Grail Masque list as I agree it does help control my frizz and make my usually brittle feeling hair feel EXTREMELY soft. Makes detangling easier too. I don’t blow dry every single wash, but whether I do blow dry or air dry, it just makes my hair look better in every possible way and gives me a better sense of control over the frizz beast on my head. I like to leave it on at least 10 minutes at a time, but usually I try to do 30. Sometimes I do cocktail it with other Kerastase and non Kerastase masques as well.
DISCIPLINE Spray Fluidissime
What They Say
Thermal anti-frizz protection spray provides shine and control. Instantly eases blowdry with heat protection up to 450°F. Provides shine and control with 72 hours of frizz protection. For fine to coarse, unmanageable hair.
What I Say
As I mentioned, I don’t blow-dry my hair all that often but when I do, I will spray this after using leave in conditioner to protect my hair from the heat. Not only does my hair look shinier when I use this, but there is also a dramatic cut in frizz and volume which I LOVE!
I am happy to report that based on what I have tried from Kerastase so far, I understand why hairdressers, celebrities and people all over the world love this line and constantly talk about it! There is some good stuff right here. I also was reading that the Kerastase Discipline line has an In Salon treatment to even further help frizz and not disrupt curl pattern…I am SUPER intrigued!
Also worth noting
I recently went to the salon for a trim and to get my hair color redone. I enjoy getting my hair blown out straight at the salon in the cooler months (she uses heat protectant spray and I always get a treatment right after color”> and my hairdresser commented my hair felt softer and more manageable to blow out than the last time I went to see her, which was before I started using Kerastase products.Have you tried any Kerastase products? Let me know if there are any other products you’d like me to review.
Note: this post is not sponsored by Kerastase.
