Search Results: Michelle Breyer

Diane Da Costa’s American Beauty Tour 2008, a nationwide makeover extravaganza celebrating all hair textures, complexions and body types, is making its way around the country this month. It already has hit Chicago and New York. It is headed to Atlanta on June 14-15 and will hit Austin, TX on June 22.

The American Beauty Tour is a one-of-a-kind tour dedicated to revamping and reviving the hairstyles, whether they be wavy, curly, coily or straight. Da Costa and her style team will demonstrate the myriad possibilities.”A total American Beauty is a woman who is mentally, physically and spiritually complete, fashion forward and loves beauty and style,” says Da Costa.The tour will feature the winners of the American Beauty Tour Sweepstakes.

Last fall, contestants submitted essays describing American Beauty for a chance to win a makeover — a makeover that celebrates natural beauty. Contestants submitted essays last fall about themselves and their hair. After the transformation, each American Beauty will strut herself down the catwalk. The tour features panel discussions with makeup and fashion expert. Celebrities also will be on hand at various stops, including Blair Underwood in Los Angeles and Cindy Blackman in New York. Sponsors include NaturallyCurly.com, PhytoSpecific, Jane Carter Solution, Becca Cosmetics Hueman Bookstore and the N Boutique.

Diane Da Costa will transform winners of the American Beauty Tour Sweepstakes. Da Costa has more than 20 years of experience in the beauty industry. Her hairstyles have been featured in such beauty publications as Elle, Essence, Ebony, Latino, In Style and O Magazine. She has been a personal stylist for such celebrities as Lauren Hill, Lenny Kravitz, Underwood, Blackman and L’Oreal model Janine Green. Da Costa is the author of Textured Tresses: The Ultimate Guide to Maintaining and Styling Natural Hair, and has been touring to sold-out audiences around the United States and the Caribbean, addressing beauty and style concerns. Da Costa’s philosophy is simple: textured hair is beautiful hair, whether that texture is straight, wavy, curly or tightly coiled. As part of the tour, Da Costa is committed to spread diabetes awareness, and has pledged to donate all net proceeds from a silent Art & Design auction at the kick-off event to the America Diabetes Association. In addition, she will provide makeovers to members of DIVAbetics, an outreach organization for women with diabetes. Da Costa, whose father and brother both have diabetes, is a member of the planning committee for the “Live the Good Life” gala, an annual fund-raiser for the American Diabetes Association. “I’ve linked myself to this cause in the hopes of alleviating the frustration and stress of individuals living with diabetes with life-changing hair and beauty transformations,” Da Costa says. Get more information here about the tour and the American Beauty winners.

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Upcoming American Beauty Tour Dates 2008

• Austin, TX – 6/22/08
• Los Angeles – rescheduling for a date in this summer

All dates subject to cancellation or changes. Further details and logistics will be provided closer to the event date.

When Mindy Lindner decided to turn her passion for hair and skin care into a business, she wanted to make her products impossible to resist.

“I really wanted to make products so visually appealing that you couldn’t help but reach out and pick them up,” says Lindner, who also works as a hair stylist specializing in curls.

The result is Skin Delicious Body So Fine, a line of products made from pure and wholesome ingredients, nourishing oils and premium extracts, without cheap fillers or additives. The skin-care products have names like Mango Mama!, Coconut Queen Sugar Rub and Pomegranate Crush. Moms-to-be have been big fans of the Bellylicious Sexy Belly Balm, which reduces stretch marks. Haircare offerings include Aloe Vera Wash Natural Hair Cleanser, Creamy Coconut Moisture Delight daily hair rescue and Moisture Mist leave-in conditioner.

“Over time, I have learned that beauty products involving the purest of ingredients really work best to moisturize the hair and skin,” Lindner says. “We strive to provide the finest quality products from all around the world for us and for you.”

In addition to its emphasis on fine ingredients, Lindner says her company has a cultural focus. Skin Delicious Body So Fine is a supporter of fair trade.

“We celebrate ecological and cultural diversity,” Lindner says.

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Summer Hair Tips from Mindy

1. Use products that contain SPF protection or high levels of shea butter, a natural sun shield.
2. Oil and wet your hair before swimming. Wet hair absorbs less salt or chlorine.
3. After swimming, use a clarifying shampoo. Chlorine can dry out hair if not washed out.
4. Leave conditioner in longer than usual. If possible, sleep with it in overnight.
5. Avoid washing your hair too often. Your can rinse away product with a double conditioning rinse in place of shampoo.
6. Limit your use of hot tools. Air dry, when possible.
7. Deep condition your hair on a weekly basis. Purchase a hooded dryer at a beauty supply store and some plastic shower caps, and spend 15 minutes a week under the dryer. Rotate between hot-oil treatments and deep conditioning treatments.

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When veteran hairdresser Anthony Dickey moved to New York to work in the fashion industry, textured hair was all but ignored, and myths abounded about wavy, curly and kinky hair.

“People focused on it as ‘problem hair’ rather than celebrating its unique texture,” Dickey says. “I figured I had something to say. Hairdressers hold the secret key weapon from their client, and often aren’t telling the truth about textured hair. I felt the consumer deserved to have the same type of information as the stylist.”

So five years ago, Dickey — who has worked with such curly celebs as Alicia Keys, Minnie Driver, Sarah Jessica Parker, Andie McDowell and Gloria Reuben — wrote “Hair Rules!: The Ultimate Hair-Care Guide for Women with Kinky, Curly or Wavy Hair.” The book was chock full of simple tips for all types of curly hair, covering everything from the best shampoos and conditioners to use to the safest ways to relax hair. It has sold more than 30,0000 copies and was featured on the “Today Show.”

“My mission is simple,” wrote Dickey, who has worked at such famed salons as Oribe, Louis Licari, and John Frieda.

“To advise and encourage all women with non-straight hair to strive to attain their beauty, whatever their ethnicity, and whatever their tastes. It’s more bout putting the hair-care industry in line with how to care for kinky and curly hair. You have stylists who have no idea how to work with curls so they just blow it out. Their clients never learn how to work with their natural texture.”

Now, with his new line of products — appropriately called Hair Rules — he wants to provide a set of tools to help women care for their curls and kinks.

“It’s about finding solutions for all of women as it relates to the true classification of their hair,” Dickey says. “Hair rules is a collection of products that celebrates the unique differences and similarities of textured hair with an integrated collection of ultra-hydrating cleansers, conditioners and styling aids, geared to the special needs of kinky, curly and wavy hair.”

Typically, products geared to the kinkiest of textures have been relegated to their own special section in the drugstore aisle, and can be boiled down to two types: those that chemically alter the hair and those that try to tame it with greasy or waxy ingredients. Then there are the products marketed to non-kinky curly hair that he believes often “reflect a one-dimensional approach to kinky, curly and wavy hair.” Few, he says, address the multiple textures of an ethnically diverse world.

Too often, he says, women with curly and kinky hair spend their lives experimenting with a myriad of products and concoctions to enhance their natural texture.

“This is not always an exercise in simplicity, nor are the end results always to their liking,” Dickey says. “Some have given up the fight entirely, abandoning working with their natural texture and turning to chemical or thermal manipulation out of despair rather than choice.”

The Hair Rules collection includes two cleansers: Daily Cleansing Cream Moisturizing No-Suds Shampoo, Aloe Grapefruit Clarifying Shampoo; and two conditioners, Quench Ultra Rich Conditioner and Softening Treatment and Nourishment Leave-in Conditioner. Dickey says one of the myths about conditioners is that they repair damaged hair. He says damaged hair needs to be cut. What conditioners do, he says, is detangle and soften the hair.

Styling products in the Hair Rules line are geared for three different textures. Wavy Mousse is for wavy hair, Curly Whip is for curls and Kinky Curling Cream is for kinkier textures. All textures can use Hydrating Finishing Cream, a non-greasy finishing product that infuses hair with moisture. Products, which all are paraben-free and biodegradable, range in price from $16.50 to $30.

Fragrance is an important component of Hair Rules. He says people tend to view fragrance differently, with some people gravitating toward fruity scents while others favor floral scents. He says the products have different scents, with the fragrance getting lighter as the products get lighter. For example, the Kinky Curling Cream has a honey citrus scent, while the Wavy Mousse has a light, jasmine fragrance.

Dickey has been honing the Hair Rules line for several years, focusing on what clients really want for their hair — “not what my ideal for a line was.” He tested the products on hundreds of clients. What was missing, he says, was an easy way to determine a regimen for your particular hair type.

“We’ve tried our best to develop Hair Rules as it relates to the consumer,” Dickey says. “It’s really about listening. There’s no better focus group around than having your clientele tell you what works and what doesn’t work — whether it be about performance or fragrance.”

While testing the products on his clients, he had to tweak his original ideas. For example he wanted to create a glaze for wavies, but found out they preferred a mousse because it would adhere to fine hair well without weighing it down.

“You have to take yourself out of the equation of what you like,” Dickey says.

Like his book, Dickey says his inspiration for his product comes from his desire to help women learn to love their natural texture.

“I always believed that helping women love their hair the way it was meant to be was an essential first step toward getting them to love themselves just the way they are,” Dickey says.

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Hair Tips from Anthony Dickey

1. Product application is key. Products should always be applied to wet hair, and the hair should be touched as little as possible until it’s dry. “A lot of product gets a bad rap because the application is wrong. Good hair days and bad hair days depend on how it’s applied.”
2. A portable hood dryer is a girl’s best friend, says Dickey. He suggests sitting under a dryer for 5 to 10 minutes to get the wetness out.
3. To prevent shrinkage, find a product that’s one step up in terms of firmness, with a little more holding power. Sit under a hood dryer for 5 to 10 minutes. “If you set the hair before the wetness is out, it doesn’t have time to shrink,” Dickey says.
4. Don’t use a diffuser untile the hair is three quarters of the way dry. Otherwise, he says, you just blow around the cuticle and it gets frizzy.
5. For those transitioning, he suggests weaves. “The bottom line is you need to look good every day, and weaves are a great because they help you wean into the new texture. At the end of the day, you have options. The big chop is just one of the choices.”
6. Cut the hair to the person’s face. “If you’re not cutting the hair for the person’s face, there’s no sliver, slither or thinning that will give you a good curl pattern.”

Due to the overwhelming success of our Curly Cocktails™ , NaturallyCurly decided to expand the collection. We wanted to make sure that we listened to what you wanted. So we turned to our curly community to help us in our quest to create the perfect mixtures to complete our bar offerings.

Laura, did not want her last name used, won our contest last fall to create a new cocktail with her Pina Curlada for 3b hair. Newly natural Michelle Seabrooks helped us with our 3c offering.

Laura is a self-proclaimed product junkie who will try anything on her short, layered 3a/b ringlets. One day, she pulled together a bunch of products she had around her apartment and began experimenting. The result was the Piña Curlada: Quiet Calm Curl Control, Alagio Crazy Curl Curl Enhancer Balm, Devacurl Set it Free and a Curl-ease microfiber towel.

“I ended up having quite the hair day!” she says. “This combo gave me a unique look, with great, natural-looking definition.”

Many of our readers begged us to come up with a 3c cocktail for them, and Seabrooks was up to the task.

“Like so many women who have grown out their relaxers, I struggled with how to take care of my new kinky curls,” Seabrooks says. “I became a self-proclaimed product junkie, and through trial and error, I found products that work for me.”

Seabrooks relaxed her hair for 27 years before going natural.

“I grew up in the generation of ‘good hair/bad hair’,” recalls Seabrooks. “I finally understood that there’s no such thing as good or bad hair. It’s just hair, and it doesn’t have to be bone straight to be beautiful.”

In September 2006, she began her transition to natural hair, and she hasn’t looked back. She describes her hair as 3c, with 4a tendencies. She spent weeks selecting the perfect combination of products for the Curlarita, using her own experience as well as the those of other 3cs on CurlTalk.

“The one thing my hair craves is moisture, moisture and more moisture” she says.

The Curlarita reflects that. A leave-in conditioner is a must for her, and that’s why she included Kinky-Curly Knot Today leave-in conditioner. For colder, drier months, she likes to use a moisturizing pomade, and included Wild Woozle Pomade in her cocktail. Curl Junkie Coffee-Coco Curl Creme, she says, is her “Holy Grail” product, providing curl definition and moisture as well as light hold without stiffness or stickiness. Long Lovely Locks Coco Light, which she describes as a “moisturizing dew,” smooths her hair and calms frizz. She uses Blended Beauty’s Kick for Curls for second-day hair and to boost her curls throughout the day while adding moisture.

“Natural hair is beautiful hair,” Seabrooks says. “With the right products and styling techniques, there’s no reason all natural curlies shouldn’t feel comfortable and content with the beautiful curls they were given.”

Each cocktail includes a recipe card, shower comb and a swizzle stick, all packaged in a chic box. Check out our other yummy assortments to complement your curl type: Cosmocurlitan, Curl & Tonic, Curlaccino, Curltini and Hot Buttered Curls as well as our kid cocktails, the Curly Temple and Curly Bubbly.

On most episodes of TLC’s popular show “What Not To Wear,” there is an emotional moment sometime during the week when the makeover subject is unhappy with the changes being made to her personal style.

It’s never easy to have people criticize the way you look, especially in front of millions of people.

For Addie Broyles, that moment didn’t come over her fashion choices – styles deemed too frumpy for her fiancee’s rock-and-roll lifestyle.

“When they gave me straight hair for one of my new looks, I couldn’t believe it!” Broyles recalls of her “What Not To Wear” experience, which aired in March. “It just felt so wrong. I couldn’t believe how strongly I reacted. I cried, I was so upset.”

Broyles’ short, sassy ringlets are a part of her unique style. And while she was open to most of the changes hosts Stacy London and Clinton Kelly suggested during her trip to New York, going from curly to straight was not one of them.

“For most curly haired women, it takes many years to accept being different,'” Broyles says. “Once you’ve accepted and embraced it, it felt like an insult when they tried to make my hair straight. It felt like I was betraying my curly sisters who have worked so hard to accept their own curly hair.”

Before coming up with the hairstyles for Broyles, “What Not To Wear” stylist Nick Arrojo consulted with her at his Soho hair studio.

“He played with my hair for about 30 seconds and that was it,” she says.

The next day, at the show’s studio, he put highlights in her hair and lightened the overall color. Then he cut it with both scissors and a razor. For the past few years, Broyles has cut her own hair, having tired of wasting her money on people who didn’t know how to cut curls.

“I’d had my hair short before so I was prepared for any length,” Broyles says.

Arrojo used a leave-in conditioner on her hair along with wax and a curl enhancer. He then diffused her hair until it was nearly dry and used a pick and his fingers to separate the curls. He then used a curling iron to add curls on top.

Although she loved her new color, she thought the curly ‘do looked a little like a bouffant.

“But here I was, in front of three cameras and the stylist himself, so I grinned and bore it, thinking the whole time, ‘Well it’ll be better when I can get my own hands on it. And at least he didn’t straighten it.”

Yet.

When it came time for her second look, Broyles knew she was in trouble.

“They broke out the hair dryer and a big round brush,” she recalls. “And away he goes. There wasn’t a mirror to see what he was doing, but I could tell he was straightening it. I didn’t like it one bit.”

She tried to be philosophical, telling herself one of the main points of the show is to try out new things and to be open to change.

“So I roughed it out,” Broyles says. “They didn’t let me look at myself, but I felt it on my head. They’d flattened my signature curls into something I wouldn’t even recognize. I peeked at my reflection in a glass window, and that’s when the tears came. I’d made it so far on the show without crying! But I couldn’t help it.”

“They’d taken two decades of being called horrible nicknames like “Mop ‘n Glo” and “Afro Sheen” and turned my hair into what I’d always thought I’d wanted – perfectly coifed, straight-as-a-board hair. But it looked like an awful wig on me. I felt like I’d been stripped of me – the me they were trying to help me get in touch with.”

The series producer pulled her aside and told her they would do whatever she wanted. If she wanted to go back curly, they would do it. But Broyles wanted to see what Stacy and Clinton had to say about it.

“What do you think?” she asked. “They knew. They saw right away what I was talking about. Stacy sat me down on the couch in her office and listened to my whole schpeal about the struggle to embrace my hair as it was. She was willing to let me do whatever I wanted, but she wanted me to at least think of doing a single outfit with straight hair and facing down this demon on camera. She wanted me to show that curly hair, mine or anybody else’s, doesn’t have to be as limiting as it may feel sometimes. She wanted to show that curly haired people have options, just like the straight-haired folks I envied as a younger person.”

So while she sported the straight style on camera for the second look – feeling like an imposter the entire time – she happily rocked her curls for the big reveal back in home in Austin, Texas – her engagement party.

Despite the tears, Broyles felt her “What Not To Wear” experience was overwhelmingly positive. In addition to the suitcase full of cute new outfits she brought home, she says she’s loving her curly cut and color.

“I’ve really enjoyed it now that I’m back and can actually style it myself,” she says. “My routine includes a leave-in conditioner and a wax-based product, but no blowdryer or curling iron. I don’t plan on it being straight ever again. I’m just not a straight-haired gal.”

You’ve got kids to dress, carpools to drive, babies to feed, not to mention your career. Keeping your curls in check may be the last thing on your mind.

So we checked in with some of the world’s top curl experts — many of them curly moms themselves — to get their top tips for moms on the go.

“It seems like all free time gets sucked into a black hole where it gets condensed into nothingness and disappears,” says Rosie daSilva, Senior Stylist at Devachan Salon and Departure Lounge . “Motherhood is therefore a wonderful time to re-evaluate the things a woman normally spends lots of time on, and to ‘downsize’ the less-than-necessary, time-intensive activities of life B.C. (Before Children”>.”

Get a great curly cut

“A cut that worked fantastically on long, blow-fried-straight hair will not necessarily translate into a wash-and-go cut for curly hair,” daSilva says. “Be sure that you get your hair cut by a curly expert.”

Find somebody who can create a low-maintenance cut that provides versatility — a cut that works with, rather than against your curls and kinks. Check out our listings of CurlSalons for a curl expert near you.

Prep is key

“Taking a few extra moments during the preparation stage to achieve your desired hairstyle will pay off throughout the day and night,” says Jonathan Torch of Toronto’s Curly Hair Institute.

“I recommend perfecting certain techniques that allow you to overcome long, drawn-out styling and drying sessions,” Torch says.

While we’d all love the luxury of air drying our curls, it’s not always possible for moms on the go. A dryer with a diffuser can significantly cut drying time without disturbing the natural curl pattern.

Keep product at the ready

A curl rejuvenator, pomade or gel can help keep those ringlets looking good as you shuttle between soccer games, board meetings and a girl’s night out.

Kelly Foreman and her daughters.

“I always travel with a travel size of Mop Top Refresher & Detangler and Mop Top Pomade,” says Mop Top’s Kelly Foreman, who has three young daughters.

She also carries a spray bottle mixed with one part gel to four parts water.

“On days I’m rushing and don’t have time to do the full routine, I just spray, scrunch and go,” she says.

Teresa Callen, a curl expert at ImageArts in Menlo Park, Calif., carries a small spray bottle of her favorite curl rejuvenator in her handbag, along with a small mirror.

“Practice spraying, then finger-arranging your hair in front of the mirror,” Callen says. “Watch what your hair does as time goes by and the rejuvenator dries. If you take the time to do this, you will memorize finger movements that make your hair look it’s best.”

Always have a Plan B

Some days, your curls just may not want to cooperate. But that doesn’t mean you can’t look good. Carry a pretty clip, headband or hair tie in your purse at all times.

“Most curlies have a fall-back style they can whip into place without a look in the mirror,” Callen says. “This favorite style is a life preserver on days when the children’s needs replace your grooming time.”

Pony up at night

Cozy Friedman and her sons.

Cozy Friedman of New York’s Cozy’s Cuts for Kids, mom to two sons, wears her hair in a loose ponytail at night to prevent her hair from getting knotty and frizzy.

“I can often skip a day of shampooing because my curls still look good.”

Massey sports a “Unicorn Ponytail” atop her head at night.

“When you wake up in the morning, simply undo your hair, spritz with Devacurl’s Mist-er Right to re-energize your curls, scrunch and go!”

Take time to pamper yourself

While you’re devoting your attention to everyone else, make sure you give a little to yourself. It may be going for a run with a friend or carving out time to read a book.

DaSilva suggests defrazzling as you defrizz. She uses Devacurl’s Mist-er Right, a lavender-infused curl revitalizer that helps you relax as it refreshes your curls.

“Breathe in the calming lavender and imagine yourself in a field of lavender blooms in Provence, even if you only have three seconds before the baby starts crying again,” she says.

Keep it real

We may see images of super moms in the media, perfectly coiffed as they rush from one activity to another, but that’s not necessarily reality. Most of us do not have a full-time stylist on the payroll to keep us looking perfect at all times.

“My best suggestion is for every mom to adjust her expectations,” Callen says.”If your expectations are healthy about your own image, then this way of thinking will trickle down to your children.”

One of the best tips, says daSilva, is to accept your curls, with all their quirks and unpredictability.

“Reveling in your naturally curly hair is a great way to reduce time-intensive activities,” she says. “Imagine the time you can save bynot blowing your hair out. Imagine not feeling the frustration of bad hair days brought on by a humid summer day, or a day with your child at the swimming pool.”

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Other Tips for Moms on the Go

1. Wear clear nail polish so you can go a few extra days in between manicures, suggests Friedman.
2. Buy 32-ounce sizes when available, and refill the smaller bottles as needed. This way, you don’t need to restock as often, and you also save money.
3. Shower at night to save you precious time in the morning.
4. Lay out your clothes the night before.
5. Buy a great bag and keep it organized. Look for one with outside pockets since they are fabulous to store cell phones and keys, two essential items that always seem to get buried in bags.
6. Wake up 30 minutes before your kids. You need time for yourself in the morning to start your day right.
7. Apply essential makeup – mascara, lip gloss, foundation with a sunscreen and blush.

Like many businesses, Softress got its start with a frustrated mom.

Nina Birnbaum was having a tough time finding a product to detangle and condition the hair of her multi-ethnic daughter, Yael.

“Finding products for her fine, dry, curly hair was a nightmare,” recalls Birnbaum, founder of Softress natural products. “I couldn’t find a conditioner that worked. Regular conditioners dried her hair, while ‘ethnic’ products were too heavy.”

Yael had extremely dry skin and suffered from eczema as well. “Her skin and hair were so dry they seemed to suck up every moisturizer, and still need more. I thought an oil might be the answer, but every product I tried was too heavy or the fragrance irritated her skin.”

In her quest to find viable solutions, she began researching natural oils and creating her own formulas. Four years ago, she developed an all-purpose skin and hair oil and a shea butter cream, and began testing them on her friends and family. Birnbaum took it to a few holiday fairs, and they sold well. She realized she had the makings of a business on her hands.

“Skin absorbs so much more than scientists realized a few years ago, so you really want to be as careful about what you put on your skin as you are about what you eat,” Nina says. “Even natural essential oils can cause skin to be more sensitive to sun and affect the hormonal system. Many doctors feel they’re too strong for babies, and that pregnant women should avoid them as well.”

She added Vitamin C and Vitamin E to stabilize the oils and nourish the skin and hair. The light, permeating products were effective and “so pure they’re actually edible,” Birnbaum says. Softress now includes five all-natural blends for the hair and skin, including a baby oil and two formulas for eczema.

And she’s finally solved the problem of her daughter’s hair.

Bringing Softress to market has been a slow process. She had a friend build her a web site, and began sending out samples for companies to try, including NaturallyCurly. But the products weren’t ready yet for the mass market.

“It amazes me how versatile the product is,” Nina says. “Parents tell me it’s the best detangler they’ve ever used. Athough I made it for Yael’s multi-ethnic hair, her dad, who is African-American and wears locks, says it’s great for moisturizing his scalp. A few drops condition my wavy hair beautifully. And it has a dramatic effect on frizzy, overprocessed hair. Even I’m surprised by how healthy and smooth really damaged hair can look after the first application. Dyeing and perms can destroy hair’s texture. Love Your Hair puts the life back in.”

Nina says Love Your Hair “plays nice” with all kinds of styling gels and mousses. She notes that under gel, it keeps hair soft while providing curl definition.

With her products ready to go, Birnbaum says she was ready to launch Softress in 2006 when, at 48, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Fortunately, it was caught early and hadn’t spread.

“I had no idea what to do after I got that awful diagnosis” Birnbaum says.

“I was overwhelmed by the amount of information available online, but I couldn’t find a simple guide to what my next steps should be. I thought I could use the web site to help other women find good information.

With the help of her breast surgeon, Nina wrote a breast cancer resources page for her web site. She plans to write an eczema resources page next, with the knowledge she’s gained over 10 years of researching her daughter’s condition.

As the company grows Nina looks forward to supporting the organizations in her breast cancer resource guide.

Check out other Spotlight stories here.

Throwing a plastic bottle in the trash? Using plastic bags instead of paper? If you work at Aveda’s New York corporate headquarters, you better watch out for the Green Team.

Aveda formed the 15-member Green Team in April at its New York headquarters in honor of Earth Month. Employees are fined for infractions throughout the month to encourage environmentally friendly business practices.

“They’re wandering the halls, looking for infractions,” says Aveda spokeswoman Ashley Bez. “I got fined because one of my employees put plastic in the garbage instead of the recycling bin.”

Aveda has been on the forefront an industry that has put more focus on the environment than ever in recent years. There is a growing awareness that their practices can have a direct impact on the earth, and their influence can affect change in their customers.

“We’re about spreading the word,” Bez says. “We really like to educate the consumer.”

While companies are doing things year round to become more green, their efforts become more visible in April when environmental awareness is front and center.

During the month of April, Aveda is selling the limited-edition Light the Way candle. All proceeds from the candle, which is made with Certified Organic lavender from Bulgaria, go to the Global Greengrants Fund to help protect clean water and air in communities around the world.

This Earth Day, employees at John Paul Mitchell Systems will work to clean up local parks and beaches.

“With Earth Day fast approaching April 22nd, It is a reminder that our everyday actions impact our planet – from the car we drive to the way we heat our homes,” says Juice Beauty CEO Karen Behnke.

Juice Beauty, creators of a juice-based organic skin-care line, announced this month that the company has moved to 100 percent recycled packaging.

“We are thrilled that we have taken one more step to being 100 percent green by moving to 100 percent recycled, post-consumer waste cartons, labels and paper,” Behnke says, who launched the entire company on a paper, glass and plastic recycling program.

The Northern California company supports farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic ingredients are produced without using most conventional pesticides or fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge, bioengineering or ionizing radiation.

In April, hair-care company Ojon is celebrating its commitment to environmental sustainability and preservation by donating 10 percent of sales through Ojon.com to the indigenous tribes in Honduras that harvest the rare wildcrafted ingredients used in Ojon products. In the past, Ojon’s contributions have helped build new housing and created scholarship initiatives for children of the tribes.This spring, Ojon plans to support a research expedition to the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve.

This month, professional makeup company Temptu announced it is offsetting its carbon emissions with Carbonfund.org, one of the country’s leading carbon offset organizations. Temptu has committed to zero-out its carbon footprint through the donation of a portion of sales from its airbrush kits to support carbon offsetting through renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects.

Many companies are adopting green practices on a daily basis — 365 days a year. Some companies, like Innersense Organic Beauty, have gone to the effort of being Certified Green Businesses — companies that comply with environmental regulations and take extra steps to conserve energy and water while reducing pollution and waste.

“Caring about yourself and caring about the earth don’t have to be mutually exclusive,” says John Masters of John Masters Organics. “John Masters Organics grew out of my desire to create a luxury beauty line that treats the earth with respect. We only get one body, and we only get one planet.”

Avalon Organics has made a commitment to reduce its carbon footprint. To this end, the company uses solar power at its office and warehouse and has an extensive recycling program. As a result, the company estimates in 2007 it saved 72 full-grown trees, 42,942 gallons of water, 51 million BTUs of energy and 9,140 pounds of greenhouse gases.

PurePact, a European hair-care company that sells natural and organic products, uses products that are all recycled and recyclable. The company also sells large containers so salons can refill bottles.

At John Paul Mitchell Systems’ corporate headquarters in Beverly Hills, Calif., employees get a free lunch if they bring their own utensils, and they get free gas if they carpool. Recycled plastic, unbleached recycled paper and soy-based ink are used in product packaging whenever possible.

Aveda’s efforts are broad, encompassing every aspect of its business practices. Aveda’s primary manufacturing plant is powered with 100 percent certified wind power — an industry first. The company uses renewable, sustainable or organic plant-based ingredients and non-petroleum mineral ingredients in its products. Stores and studios are built with environmentally friendly materials. And in an effort to celebrate Earth Day every day, the company supports the American Forests Global ReLeaf program, planting trees to offset the carbon emissions from the manufacture and distribution of the company’s Tea Tree brand.

In September, when Aveda relaunches its Vintage Clove Shampoo, the caps on every bottle will be made with recycled bottle caps the company has collected from offices and schools around the country. The company plans to do this with other products going forward.

Aveda even brought its efforts to Fashion Week in February. The company replaced bottled water with New York City tap water to eliminate the use of 300 plastic water bottles. It eliminated the use of fur in shows and served organic, locally sourced food to models, stylists and makeup artists. And it printed all programs and show invitations on recycled paper.

“The truth is, we can’t reverse the damage that we as a collective whole have already done to the Earth,” says Dominique Conseil, president of Aveda. “But what is important now is lessening our footprint and improving upon what we will leave for the future. We all have to do our part.”

Redken’s new Fresh Curls line includes products developed specifically for a variety of hair types, from the gentlest waves to the kinkiest kinks.

When it comes to curly hair, no two heads are alike.

Some people have loose waves. Others have coarse, kinky ringlets. And still others may have a combination of waves, curls and kinks – straight on the crown, tight curls at the nape and defined ringlets everywhere else.

“Some people have a very defined curl,” says Omar Sassin, a Redken artist with the Omar Sassin Salon in Tampa, Fla. “Then there is the type of hair that needs a little more help.”

Because of the unique nature of curly hair, there is no such thing as one product that works for all curl types. While some frizzier, coarser curls may need heavier, more moisturizing products, those same products will weigh down finer, looser waves.

“In the past, there used to be a one-size-fits-all approach to curls,” says Noah Hatton, a freelance hair stylist and Redken session artist. “We now have a greater understanding about curly hair, and there are now products that help people understand their own hair.”

That’s why the new Redken Fresh Curls line has a range of products that work on lazy curls as well as those that are more frizzy and unruly.

The new line consists of a shampoo, conditioner, Curl Boost (to wake up curls”>, Anti-Frizz Shiner (to add conditioning shine and block humidity”>, Curl Refiner (a leave-in, anti-frizz detangler for coarse, unruly tresses”> and Spring Mousse (for fine to medium textures, available in April”>. In addition, Redken introduced the new Crystal Curls 06 defining shine gel (for medium to coarse hair”>.

Redken’s new elasto-shield complex includes elastopol to block out humidity and fight frizz; coconut oil to lock in moisture and shine; and oleo-amido and protein for their reparative benefits.

Redken artist Vanessa Arce of Beauty Box Salon in Los Angeles, who has curly hair herself, is thrilled with Redken’s new approach to curls.

She says she has one client who uses the Curl Refiner and Curl Boost on her thick, coarse curls. She follows it up with a little Crystal Curls.

“Her hair is left feeling very soft and defined,” she says.

For finer curls, Arce uses the Curl Boost, and then diffuses the hair. Heavier products tend to weigh down fine curls, making them look flat. “The more Curl Boost you use, the curlier it becomes,” she says.

For clients with the most frizzy, unruly curls, Sassin uses a technique he calls “spinning.” He puts Redken Crystal Curls on the hair, and he divides the hair into sections – the bigger the section, the softer the curl. Then he spins the section around his finger and lets it fall. He diffuses it, finishing off the look with some Fresh Curls Anti-Frizz Shiner.

“People with curly hair understand their hair more than we give them credit for,” Hatton says. “They know what kind of hair they have. They just may be confused about what it needs. These products can help enhance curl, cut frizz down and add shine without weighing it down. It’s just about finding out how strong the curl pattern is, and adapting your products to work with it.”

When Innersense Organic Beauty was developing a product for curly hair, the company turned to nature.

“We looked at ingredients that would provide performance and value and be functional without having to use other ingredients such as resins, silicone and plastics to produce the results we wanted,” said Greg Starkman, founder of the company.

Innersense Quiet Calm Curl Control uses ingredients such as shea butter, orange flower oil, wheatgrass and sunflower seed oil – nearly all of them from a Certified Organic source.

The California company considers organic beauty and wellness much more than marketing spin — something Starkman knows plenty about having been in the beauty industry for more than three decades.

“There are a plethora of companies that claim to be organic,” Starkman says. “When we say organic, we mean organic.”

Innersense was started two and a half years ago on the principles of organic beauty and wellness.

The name Innersense came from a wise psychologist who was counseling the company’s founders. As parents of a special needs child, they were worried that they wouldn’t always know what to do. So she told them, “trust your inner sense.” And they did.

Innersense is based on organic lifestyle choices that encourage health, vitality and balance. The company’s focus has been to provide consumers with gentle, yet effective products for their hair and body while sharing organic philosophies and practices to live healthier lives.

The company currently has 12 products for the body and hair, with plans to introduce three new hair styling products this spring: a hair spray, a volumizing lotion and a styling gel. Like all of its products, these products will meet the needs of organic-savvy consumers.

Starkman says Innersense doesn’t use any synthetic ingredients, instead bumping up the level of natural and organic ingredients — something that is much more costly for the company.

“Consumers aren’t buying the product because of the package,” Starkman says. “They’re buying it because they’re confident in the quality of the product they buy.”

While helping people look good naturally is important to Innersense, environmental sustainability is one of the company’s core beliefs.

Innersense is a Certified Green Business. Green Businesses are certified for complying with environmental regulations and taking extra steps to conserve energy and water, reduce waste and prevent pollution.

“We’re committed to making environmentally sound choices in our products, packaging and working environment,” Starkman says. “That’s something dear to our hearts because we recognize the environmental impact of personal-care products. It’s even more important today since there’s more evidence then ever.”

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Innersense formulas are free of chemicals, including:

Artificial color and fragrance

Sulfates such as sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate”>, and sulfate derivatives such

as sodium lauryl sulfinates

Petroleum compounds (resins, silicones or plasticizers”>

DEA, MEA, TEA, or MIPA compounds

Lanolin or parafin waxes

Formaldehydes

Quaternary ammonium compounds

PEG compounds

Petrochemicals

Propylene glycol

Hydrolyzed animal protein

Phalates (tha-lates”>

Imidazolidinyl and diazolidinyl ureas

Methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone

Karl Kim scours the world for the most beautiful, most unique hair accessories.

“We are always looking for products our customers won’t find elsewhere,” says Kim, founder of the Austin-based company. “Cubitas.com buyers seek the very latest in hair accessory styles — from large glittery barrettes to refined hair pins.”

Cubitas was founded in September 2007, and currently carries 250 products. It is adding new products monthly, and Kim expects to have more than 400 items in stock by summer.

Curly customers have been an especially good market for Cubitas, which sells a number of claw clips, barrettes and hair pins that work well with curls and kinks.

“Curly haired customers are looking for versatility,” Kim says. “They want to be able to create a number of hair styles quick and easily, whether their hair is long or short, whether they’re running out to do errands or attending a formal event.”

By using accessories, you can get a different stylish look quick and easy.”

Kim says the hottest curly accessory for spring is the claw clip, which comes in a variety of sizes. He says these clips can hold the thickest curls and kinks.

“You can open the claw clips enough to hold a large volume of curly hair off your face,” Kim says.

Kim comes from a jewelry family, and grew up helping his parents with their business. When he had the opportunity to build an e-commerce site, hair accessories seemed like a good choice because they are small and easy to ship.

“I was able to learn the types of products customers wanted and continued to purchase,” Kim says.

Cubitas company specializes in accessories decorated with Swarovski crystals. They all are made with high-quality metal hinges and springs as well as resilient acrylic and plastic. The hand-painted accessories are all free of lead paint.

“Our business is about integrity, trust, reliability and a commitment to superior customer satisfaction,” Kim says.

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Check out other Spotlight stories here.



Girls don’t have the monopoly on great curls. With March Madness in full swing, we’ve noticed a few NCAA basketball players sporting some winning curls and kinks. Our favorites include Stanford’s Robin and Brook Lopez and West Virginia’s Joe Alexander. Even if they don’t win it all, their hair is a slam dunk!

When Nathan Ferraro’s stick-straight hair turned curly as a teen, he hated it. He worried that girls wouldn’t like him because of his ringlets, and his sister would help him flat iron it straight.

Now the lead singer of Midway State considers those curls one of his biggest assets.

“I thought it would be a complete chick deterrent,” says the 21-year-old singer/songwriter. “But the No. 1 opening line I get from girls is ‘I love your hair!’ “

Ferraro says his wild curls definitely help him stand out. And he also considers them perfect for his lifestyle.

“It’s actually great when I’m touring because it’s 100 percent wash and wear,” Ferraro says. “It’s super easy. I wake up, shower it and it does its own thing.”

Crisscrossing the country with bands such as Mika, Lifehouse and Daughtry, he doesn’t have a lot of time to mess with his hair.

Ferraro started the band with friends while he was in high school. When he was 16, his dad bought his band a van and they toured across Canada for the summer, playing everywhere from Cape Breton to Vancouver – in bars and living rooms. The band will release its first full-length album this May.

Ferraro has been writing songs since he was 14.

“All through high school, I felt like ‘You’ve got to write a song,’ just to get that feeling that I’d done something good for the day,” says Ferraro, who estimates he’s written more than 500 songs.

Ferraro says he tries to write on a human level that everyone can relate to. He hasn’t written a song about his hair yet.

“Maybe that will come into play down the road,” he says.

At well over 6 feet tall and built like a Mack truck, Big Bad D attracted plenty of attention as he sauntered into Chicago’s McCormick Place.

The hair stylist/chef/clothing designer/musician was attending America’s Beauty Show the first weekend in March to promote his new A&E reality show “D’s House.”

Then again, almost everything at the annual beauty trade show was over the top, from the hairstyles that seemed to defy gravity to the provocative dance routines at the booths.

The annual show is a chance for the world’s top hairstylists to show off the latest trends, and for manufacturers to show off the latest products. Although many of the hairstyles and hair colors on display will probably never make their way into most salons, they provide a taste of what’s to come.

Key trends included:

Texture: Unlike past shows, where stick-straight hair dominated, there was plenty of curls and kinks on display. African-American Hair2008! showcased natural hairs as well as chemically relaxed styles. Many manufacturers introduced new curly products

Extensions: Almost every other company seemed to be selling extensions. There were extensions in every color, texture and length – synthetic and 100 percent human hair. There were permanent and removable extensions.

Men: Companies have woken up to the fact that men care about their hair as much as women. One of the biggest events of the weekend was a party hosted by American Crew, featuring a runway show of 85 male models. Several companies showed off their men’s lines, including Redken for Men and Tigi, , which recently launched Bedhead for Men.

Although curl specialists have perfected their own unique techniques for highlighting curls, on one thing they agree: Highlighting curls and kinks is much different than highlighting straight hair.

When done poorly, highlights can make the hair look dull and frizzy. But when done well, highlights can add drama and definition to curls, making those ringlets pop. It is an art as well as a science.

Highlights have a reason and must be placed according to the style and texture of the hair,” says Shai Amiel, a curly hair expert at Capella Salon in Studio City, Calif. “When highlighting curly hair, you have to consider the way the curl falls. You must place the highlights just like your curls grow out of your head.

For Amiel, the technique that works best with curls is by hand painting each curl that needs accent. He feels that the basic foil pattern may not look as natural with curls.

When you hand paint the desired curls, you can pick and choose where you want the color,” he says. “You can also see how the whole thing looks and add or deduct certain pieces. Curly hair looks better with highlights that mimic what the sun would do to your hair.

Amiel’s technique is similar to the technique created by Devachan Salon — Pintura.

Pintura captures, defines and highlights the movement and dynamism of each curl,” says Shari Harbinger, color director for Devachan. “It gives the stylist the technical know-how and the opportunity to trust their own artistic eye to create the perfect harmony and balance between tone, shape, light and shadow.

”Using a painted comb brush, highlights are painted onto the hair. While foiling is horizontal, Harbinger says Pintura is vertical. “This automatically gives more contrast to the melody of tones in the hair,” she says.

She says Pintura also is more predictable than foiling. “What you paint is what you get with Pintura,” she says.

Pintura was the brainchild of Devachan co-founder Denis DaSilva, who came up with it 11 years ago when he became frustrated with the effects of conventional foiling on curly hair.

“He felt it looked like on solid color, and this drove him to find a solution,” Harbinger says. “The whole purpose of highlighting curly hair is to define the curls rather than change it. Highlighting should be about texture and contrast.”

Last fall, Da Silva created a unique at-home highlighting system, HC Color Fantasies, that clients can use at home to achieve these same results. It features a unique application tool that’s designed with space to insert color and precisely apply it to sections of hair.

“If you’re going to do highlights at home, you actually have to be able to do it,” Da Silva says.

New York Curl expert Ouidad has created a technique she calls “Sparkle Highlights,” which uses up to four different shades of pigment and color.

“This way I’m able to pick up the exact curl and place the color of my choice on each strand,” Ouidad says. “This generates a full palette of colors that makes curls sparkle and jump out.”

The delicate coloring of the seashell was the inspiration for Jonathan Torch of Toronto’s Curly Hair Institute.

“When you add bands of color to hair, you add dimension and definition,” Torch says. “By breaking the mass with different colors and highlights, you start to see the ringlets individually throughout the curls.

When highlighting, Torch likes to use three tones to create richness, brightness and depth. “It’s almost like shadowing to break out the solid look of the curly hair,” Torch says.

Christo of Christo Fifth Avenue wants highlights to be low maintenance for his clients. That’s why he created Smart Lights. “I don’t go to the outer line, so my clients don’t get bad roots,” Christo says.

Highlight shades should be selected based on the base color and the skin tone.

“If you’re a brunette, you want to stay a brunette,” he says. “So we just spice up your color. We might throw in some cappuccino, caramel or chestnut tones — shades two to three tones lighter. This spices up your style and accentuates the curls.”

An absolute no-no, say curl experts, is using strong bleach on curly hair. It can dehydrate and damage the hair.

“I prefer the more delicate approach,” says Amiel. “I prefer to use color if I can avoid bleach. Strong bleach will blast open the cuticle and create damage and more frizz.”

Amiel uses a glossing treatment after he highlights because it adds shine and seals the cuticle, reducing frizz.

Highlighted tresses also should be deep-conditioned. Curly hair tends to be dry, and color services can make it drier.

“I believe healthy hair just looks better, especially the ever-so-delicate curl,” Amiel says.

It kills more women than breast cancer and lung cancer. It affects one out of three women.

That’s why Clairol Professional is supporting Go Red For Women, a national campaign founded by the American Heart Association to raise awareness about heart disease. Go Red for Women’s short-term goal is a 25 percent reduction in coronary heart disease and stroke risk by the year 2010.

Seven Clairol Professional products with the Go Red For Women logo will be sold between February and June contributing toward a total donation of $100,000.

Many people show support by wearing red for the cause. But Clairol Professional has taken it step further by enlisting professional colorists to demonstrate a new way to go red – with hair color. Clairol has called upon a select group of today’s most talented colorists to create their own red hair color technique. In return for donating their time and talent, Clairol Professional will make a donation to Go Red For Women on the artists’ behalf. All of the techniques will be featured with before and after pictures, along with step-by-steps, on Clairolpro.com. The product selection includes Miss Clairol, Clairol Professional Premium Creme, Basic White and BW2, Kaleidocolors, Clairoxide Liquid Developer and Pure White Creme Developer.

For Clairol Professional lead color master Anita Gutierrez, the Go Red for Women campaign hits close to home.

“My mom had a complete, unexpected heart attack,” Gutierrez said during a special Clairol event at America’s Beauty Show, March 2.

After her mother endured several days of what she thought was indigestion, Gutierrez took her mother to the doctor, where an EKG showed she was in the midst of a heart attack. Research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH”> indicates that women often experience new or different physical symptoms as long as a month or more before experiencing heart attacks. While men might experience pain or tightness in the chest, women might experience intense fatigue, shortness of breath or an aching jaw. Surprisingly, fewer than 30 percent of women reported having chest pain or discomfort prior to their heart attacks, and 43 percent reported had no chest pain during any phase of the attack. Recognition of these symptoms can mean the difference between life and death.

“We developed this to be inspirational to our customers, and we encourage stylists to participate to enable them to contribute by using Clairol Brands and encouraging others in the community to join in,” said Martin Kaufmann, managing director of P&G Professional Care Openline. “This helps build awareness about heart disease that grows organically through our network of salons, which are powerful hubs of support and networking for those with heart disease –and those who want to prevent it.”

Clairol Professional also is hosting a contest for hair-care professionals to submit red techniques using participating Clairol Professional products. The winner will receive a free coloring class with two nights of hotel accommodation at either The Studio, Chicago or The Studio, Los Angeles. For more information, go to Clairolpro.com.

To learn more about Go Red For Women, go to GoRedFor Women.org..

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About Go Red For Women: Since 2004, Go Red for Women has captured the energy, passion and intelligence of women to work collectively to wipe out heart disease – the No. 1 killer of women. Go Red for Women engages women and the men who love them to embrace the cause. Health care providers, celebrities and politicians also elevate the cause and spread the word about women and heart disease. For more information about Go Red For Women, go visit GoRedForWomen.org.

This last weekend, I attended the America’s Beauty Show in Chicago, one of the largest hair shows in the world.

As I was perusing the wide variety of booths with every conceivable type of hair product, I was pulled into a booth by a man who promised to change my life.

“I can fix your hair, honey,” he said, referring to my head full of 3b curls.

“Fix my hair?” I asked, horrified.

His answer to all my problems was his new Brazilian Keratin Treatment that would take every kink and curl out of my hair. I looked at him and told him he could change somebody else’s life. But I was quite happy with my curls, thank you very much! Then I turned around to show him the message on the back of my hot pink hoodie.

“Curl Power!”

In the Middle

Whether your sport is tennis, skating, or softball, one not-so-fun result of getting into the game is the mess of frizzy curls that often comes soon after. Luckily, there are some ways to avoid this.

I’ve been dancing since I was three, I’ve played soccer, and now take I yoga and pilates. Needless to say, I know what to do when it comes to curls and sports!

A simple ponytail is always a must, no matter what sport you play. If you can, pull your hair back right after you get out of the shower. It will look smoother and you’ll have less frizzies later on. Use lots of extra gel in your hair, but not so much that you get the dreaded “helmet-hair”. This is one of the few times when I find it okay to use a brush or a comb so your hair will have less bumps on the top. Once you have your basic ponytail, use bobby pins or clips to keep back any extra pieces of hair (especially bangs!”>. This is my favorite, tried-and-true solution for my hair for dance. !

Want other options? Depending on your sport, pigtail-braids can work well, as long as you braid your hair a little tighter than usual so they don’t fall apart during your game. Again, just remember to pin back any bangs so that they don’t flop in your face! If your hair is too short for any of these styles, half-ponytails, clipping back sections, or just using a headband can work well too. !

Although messy buns always look cute, I know from experience that these can get extra tangly when playing a sport. Also, some headbands tend to slide back, so these may not be your best choice, either, unless you have short hair. Test out your headband before wearing it to practice! Leaving your hair down is probably not the best idea, either. All it will do is poof, poof, poof, which is probably not the look you’re going for!

One more thing: gym class. There is no possible way to style your hair before and after gym. My solution is just to smooth my hair down with water after gym, and it goes back to normal.

With a little practice, it is totally possible to have a great game and a great hair day!