Archive for February, 2006
Hair is actually dead material when it leaves its root - otherwise it would hurt very much when your hairdresser works with his scissors. Most people know that, but do you know about these facts:
A blonde head of hair has usually much more strands than red or dark haired heads.
Hair consists mainly of keratin, which is also responsible for the elasticity of fingernails.
A single hair has a thickness of 0.02 - 0.04mm, so that 20 - 50 hair strands next to each other make one millimetre.
Hair is strong as a wire of iron. It rips after applying a force equivalent to 60kg, only after it stretched itself for about 70%.
Even on a good hair day, everyone loses at least 40 to 100 strands.
The average scalp has 100,000 strands, or just fewer than 1000 per square inch.
We are born with all our hair follicles. Some are programmed to grow pigmented hair (as on our scalp) up to 3 feet in length.
In America in ‘96, 38 million men and 19 million women experience common hair loss determined by heredity.
The trait for baldness can be passed down through paternal or maternal genes.
Hormone imbalance and crash dieting can trigger temporary hair loss.
February 28th, 2006
North Korea has launched an intensive media assault on its latest arch enemy - the wrong haircut.
A campaign exhorting men to get a proper short-back-and-sides has been aired by state-run Pyongyang television.
The series is entitled Let us trim our hair in accordance with Socialist lifestyle.
While the campaign has been carried out primarily on television, reports have appeared in North Korean press and radio, urging tidy hairstyles and proper attire.
It is the strongest media campaign against men’s sloppy appearances mounted in the reclusive and impoverished Communist state in recent years.
The propaganda drive on grooming standards has gone a stage further than previous attempts. This time television identifies specific individuals deemed too shoddy.
Crew cut
Pyongyang television started the campaign last autumn with a five-part series in its regular TV Common Sense programme.
Stressing hygiene and health, it showed various state-approved short hairstyles including the “flat-top crew cut,” “middle hairstyle,” “low hairstyle,” and “high hairstyle” - variations from one to five centimetres in length.
The programme allowed men aged over 50 seven centimetres of upper hair to cover balding.
It stressed the “negative effects” of long hair on “human intelligence development”, noting that long hair “consumes a great deal of nutrition” and could thus rob the brain of energy.
Men should get a haircut every 15 days, it recommended.
Named and shamed
A second, and unprecedented, TV series this winter showed hidden-camera style video of “long-haired” men in various locations throughout Pyongyang.
Hair is a very important issue that shows the people’s cultural standards and mental and moral state
Minju Choson newspaper
In a break with North Korean TV’s usual approach, the programme gave their names and addresses, and challenged the fashion victims directly over their appearance.
The North Korean media normally reserves the reporting of names of its citizens to exemplary individuals who show high communist virtues.
The series was shot at various public locations - on the street, at a sports stadium, a barbershop, a bus stop, a restaurant, a department store.
Some unruly-haired pedestrians or customers captured on camera “meanly ran away”, the programme said, while others made excuses about being too busy to get a trim.
Television newsreels such as “Employees of Pyongyang Textile Plant keep their hairstyle and dressing neat and tidy” and “Hairdressers at Ch’anggwangwo’n manage men’s hair according to the demands of the military-first era” have also aired.
What not to wear
State radio programmes such as “Dressing in accordance with our people’s emotion and taste” link clothes and appearance with the wearer’s “ideological and mental state”.
People who wear other’s style of dress and live in other’s style will become fools and that nation will come to ruin
Nodong Sinmun newspaper
Tidy attire “is important in repelling the enemies’ manoeuvres to infiltrate corrupt capitalist ideas and lifestyle and establishing the socialist lifestyle of the military-first era,” the radio says.
Newspapers too highlight the civic advantages of short hair and smart shoes.
Hair is a “very important issue that shows the people’s cultural standards and mental and moral state”, argues Minju Choson, a government daily.
“No matter how good the clothes, if one does not wear tidy shoes, one’s personality will be downgraded.”
For party papers such as Nodong Sinmun, the struggle against foreign and anti-communist influence is being fought out in the arena of personal appearance.
“People who wear other’s style of dress and live in other’s style will become fools and that nation will come to ruin,” it says.
BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.
February 28th, 2006
by Karen Marie Shelton
Dedicated To FFOS
All images & text in this article are strictly copyrighted and owned exclusively by HairBoutique.com & may not be copied, reproduced, or posted anywhere without the prior express written permission of HairBoutique.com. Please honor our copyrights.
Introduction
Every New Year’s I make a new hair product resolution. For 2006 I decided to expand my hair conditioning horizons and bond with some of the new HairBoutique.com product offerings.
In late 2005 we added the fabulous JF Lazartique hair care line. I have been testing and trying many of the products over the past year with great results. Not only do I enjoy the products immensely, I adore Bobby, our fabulous Lazartique sales rep.
Whenever I have any questions about JF Lazartique products I can call Bobby and be guaranteed a running monologue about everything I could possibly want to know about everything from the detailed ingredients to how to cocktail the products for the best results.
Because my own hair is extremely long, naturally wavy and has been highlighted for years, I walk on the shampoo wild side. I rarely use full strength shampoo on my chronically dry, but not damaged tresses.
I alternate between a diluted formulation of approximately 1 teaspoon of one of my favorite shampoos mixed in a very clean Evian quart sized bottle with lukewarm water and a Conditioner Only (CO) formula. Not only do I find that the quart bottle works best, I like the fact that it is easy to keep the bottles squeaky clean for my latest shampoo mixing experiments. And yes, of course, it is only fitting to use a French water bottle with a French hair care line.
Conditioner Only Wash
When I use a Conditioner Only mix, I literally wash my hair with only a rinse out conditioner. This means no shampoo of any kind. Just conditioner.
Whether I am using a diluted shampoo formula or conditioner only, I start by gently detangling my hair with my favorite Kent comb. Then I fill three empty Evian quart bottles with lukewarm water from the tap. I douse my hair (in the shower) with the three bottle of warm water. This guarantees that my hair gets very wet.
Once my hair is literally dripping, I apply either the diluted shampoo formula by drizzling from the roots down to the ends.
When I use the conditioner only formula, I gently squeeze some of the water from my strands. Then I start approximately 1 inch from my roots and lather my strands with the rinse out conditioner. I use my fingers to completely distribute the conditioner through my tresses.
After I have applied the rinse out conditioner to my hair, I play in the water using a variety of body scrubs or cool shower soaps while I allow the conditioner to penetrate for up to 5 minutes.
Once my timer goes off, I refill the 3 empty Evian quart bottles and then douse my head again with lukewarm water. I make sure to get all of the conditioner completely out of my hair.
For my final rinse, I douse my hair with cool/cold water. To avoid body freeze, I lean to one side and allow the cool water to completely drench my strands from roots to ends.
JF Lazartigue Moisturizing Rinse Out Conditioner
As part of my 2006 New Years Resolution to try new conditioners, I have been playing with the JF Lazartigue Moisturizing Conditioner for my CO treatments.
When I first inquired asked about the Moisturizing Conditioner Bobby advised me that since my hair is highlighted this rinse out style conditioner would be a great choice for my hair. He explained that it is very moisturizing, softening and detangling. It also is helpful in maintaining and reinforcing the color of my blonde highlights. He also noted that the Moisturizing Conditioner would provide unprecedented shine.
The reason? Oligosaccharides and Quillaja extracts in the JF Lazartigue Moisturizing Conditioner maintain the hydration of the hair, while peptide extracts of hazelnuts and sweet almonds, and amino acids of wheat restructure the hair shaft deeply.
The conditioner’s excellent affinity with the keratin of the hair and its strengthening property ensures the cohesion of the scales of the hair shaft.
Traditional After Shampoo Use
Whether you opt to use this rich and creamy rinse-out product as your shampoo substitute as I do, or use it in a traditional way, the product has a lot of great benefits for hair that is highlighted, colored, chemically treated or in need of hydration.
Remember that because this is a moisturizing product, it might be too hydrating for hair that is thin, fine or tends to get oily. While it can work well for hair that is not chemically treated or colored, it definitely is a great product for maintaining hair that is.
If you wish to use this product as it was originally intended, apply to damp hair immediately after you have rinsed out any shampoo product from your hair. While hair is damp, but not dripping, apply the appropriate amount of the product to your hair. Spread it even through with a light massage action. Leave it on your hair to work for a few minutes. Use a wide tooth comb and gently comb the rinse-out conditioner from your strands and then rinse hair very carefully.
Finish with a cool/cold water rinse, if desired.
JF Lazartigue Disentangling Instant Silk Protein Spray
After I cleanse my hair with a Conditioning Only treatment and finish with a cool/cold water rinse, I use a thick water absorbent towel to remove excess water.
(Image of JF Lazartigue - Disentangling Instant Silk Protein Spray).
While my hair is still damp I use a variety of “leave-in conditioners” or a cocktail of various products depending on whether I wish to air-dry my hair into a natural wavy style or blow dry it stick straight.
Although I have used other leave-in products in the past, I have been experimenting with the JF Lazartigue - Disentangling Instant Silk Protein Spray with great results.
Packaging & Ingredients
I found over several uses that the conditioner has a light and very fresh fragrance. It reminds me of sheets that have been hung outside to dry in the sunshine and fresh air. The packaging is a convenient squeeze tube style that is crisp white with green lettering and butternut squash accent colors.
The conditioner is a light shade of creamy aquamarine blue/green. I have discovered that a little bit goes a very long way.
The product ingredients include:
Aqua (Water: Eau), Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Isoprophyl Palmitate, Cetrimonium chloride, Ceteareth-33, Amodimethicone, Trideceth-6, PEG-200 Castor Oil, Wheat Amino Acids, Cetyl Alcohol, Quillaja Saponaria (Quillaja Extract: Extrait De Quillaja), Parfum (Fragrance), Myristyl Lactate, Corylus Avellana (Hazelnut Extract: Extrait De Noisette), Lactic Acid, Phenyltrimethicone, Hydrolysed Sweet Almond Extract, Chlorphenesin, Methylparaben, CI 42090 (FDC Blue 1), C1 47005 (DC Yellow 10).
About J.F. Lazartigue
As a hairdresser in France, Jean-Francois Lazartigue was confronted with an overwhelming array of hair health problems. He discovered that most people’s hair and scalps suffer from stress, fatigue, anxiety, sickness, and pollution, resulting in dry and oily hair and/or hair loss.
Founding J.F. Lazartigue in 1977 with the development of an unprecedented pre-shampoo treatment formulated with bone marrow in his kitchen, he further developed products based on the best active ingredients and raw materials available.
Lazartigue’s product line is based on high concentrations of the most active and natural ingredients to effectively cure and combat everyday hair problems. These ingredients range from Mexican blue algae (to help fight the problem of combination hair - dry hair/oily scalp), propolis (a resinous substance collected by bees to tackle oily scalp) to Shea Butter (an extract from the nut of a rare African tropical tree to repair damaged hair).
J.F. Lazartigue products are found only in the best salons, spas and boutiques and is available at HairBoutique.com.
Summary
JF Lazartigue Moisturizing Conditioner
is a wonderful rinse-out conditioner for dry or damaged hair or for hair that is color treated. A little dab of this creamy conditioner goes a very long way. It never fails to leave my hair feeling soft and hydrated. Whether you use it in the traditional way, after a full shampoo or my unique Conditioning Only shampoo way, the product rocks.
February 27th, 2006
A word from Jonathon E. Phillips
The study of hair loss has been my life’s work spanning 25 years. The walls of my library are lined with so many research and hair health manuals that I had to put all but the best of them in storage.
I have studied just about everything related to hair health and hair loss that I can get my hands on. During this time I have seen more so called breakthroughs and medical procedures (costing people thousands of dollars for worthless ongoing treatments) than I could care to count.
What most people don’t realise is that the pathology of hair loss is related to numerous conditions that often have little or nothing to do with hair growth or hair loss. In short almost every system in the body can affect the health of your hair. Unfortunately many people today are lead to believe that drugs are the only available solution. Thats good for the Phamaceutical companies. Yet most of the hair loss products marketed today do not address the fundamental and physiological factors of the hair loss problem.
During all this time of exhaustive research I knew that the real answer to hair loss concerning the physiological chemistry of cause was being missed. Then almost by accident I came across unrelated but vital information, which when combined with my own years of research contained specific instruction necessary to balance the Internal/External and Cosmetic factors which cause hair loss and how to naturally regenerate hair growth and prevent further hair thinning and loss, while increasing overall health and well being.
Why diminish the quality of your health using hair loss drugs, when there is a safer, more effective alternative which requires no financial outlay, drugs, products or treatments.
Now you can follow these simple Natural Step-By-Step principals for both prevention of hair loss and over coming hair loss in both men and women.
It is safe to say, no one who has followed these simple step-by-step principals has done so in vain.
But that’s just not my opinion.
Recently I sent a copy of this information to one of the world’s top health and well being journals and they wrote a 2 page expose` that was read by over 2 million readers. It was an outstanding success and what followed were literally hundreds of requests for further information and interviews.
Critics called it a revelation
“The almost mystic properties of this simple exercise regimen simultaneously work to balance and centre Qi (the bodies energy system), and has a detoxifying effect on the entire bodily system. It increases strength and skeletal structure, enhances circulatory activity, enriches respiratory function and miraculously it seems, reduces the effects of age, hereditary predispositions and cellular breakdown while achieving vital balance necessary for optimum hair health and rejuvenation”.
February 24th, 2006
BY: freehairstyleadvice
Hair care for dry hair
Dry hair is characterised by dullness, a dry or rough feeling, split ends, frizziness, and it is often difficult to comb or brush. Dry hair is frequently caused by excessive or amateur coloring or perming, heat-assisted styling (using hair dryers, straightening tools, curling tongs, etc) and exposure to sun and chemicals. However, some people do have hair that is naturally dry.
Dry hair usually owes it’s texture and dullness to raised cuticles on the hair shaft. In healthy hair, these cuticles lie flat, lending the hair a healthy sheen and making it smooth and manageable. These flat cuticles also help to keep moisture inside the hair. When cuticles are raised, the hair is more porous and moisture escapes relatively easily.
Understanding the underlying cause of dry hair is the first step towards knowing how to care for it. Do you spend a lot of time in the strong sunlight? Try using a suitable hair sunscreen or protecting your hair with a headscarf or hat during the hottest parts of the day. Do you use your hairdryer on a high temperature often? Try allowing your hair to air dry wherever possible, and when it is necessary to use your hairdryer, use it on a cooler temperature and aim it down the hair shaft (pointing down from the top of your head). This is because your hair cuticles are naturally aligned away from the scalp. Make sure you move the hairdryer around when you’re using it rather than leaving it concentrated on just one section of your hair. Additionally you can use a conditioning treatment specifically designed for use with heated styling tools. A good conditioning treatment will limit the damage that they inflict.
In addition to locating and eliminating the causes of dry hair, there are many products available to sooth and care for dry hair. Your stylist will be able to recommend a suitable conditioner, mask or treatment.
Oily hair care
Oily hair needs thorough cleansing and clarifying to remove excess oil, dust and dirt which can make hair look dull, limp and lifeless.
A basic piece of oily hair care advice is valid nonetheless: you should be using a shampoo especially designed for oily hair in your hair care routine. Try to determine whether your hair is oily all over, or just at the roots, since it is entirely possible to have dry hair with an oily scalp, particularly if your hair is long. Some shampoos for oily hair might exacerbate the condition of your dry ends. If you’re not sure you should talk it over with your stylist.
Only apply conditioner to the ends of your hair, and use one tailored for oily hair. Avoid brushing your hair too often or too vigorously, since brushing helps to transport oil from your roots to the ends of your hair, leaving hair limp and greasy throughout its length. Also take care to avoid frequently touching or fussing with your hair. Frequently touching your hair not only helps to shift the oil from your roots to your tips, but it can add additional oil from your hands to already greasy hair.
Products: clarifying shampoo, a light conditioner for oily hair applied to the ends of hair (not near the scalp), sebum regulating leave-in treatment (ask your stylist), mousses, hairsprays.
Care for fine hair
Occasionally people with fine hair deliberately damage their hair through color or heat treatments in the hope that it will give more volume and “stylability” to their hair.
It’s true that the biggest problem for people with fine hair is the difficulty gaining volume and getting hair to hold a style, but fine hair is also much easier to damage than medium or coarse textured hair, and is twice as easy to break. Coloring and heat styling hair lifts the hair cuticles, giving the hair more volume and increasing the friction between hair follicles so that they hold a style easier, but similar effects can also be achieved through judicious use of hair product.
Volumizing products can help boost volume by coating the hair and making it appear thicker. Styling gels and mousses can be particularly helpful in styling fine hair because although they go onto the hair smooth, they then undergo a “sticky” phase, which increases hair friction and makes it easier to style, without the long lasting damage!
It is also important to use a good, lightweight conditioner as part of your hair care routine, particularly as fine hair is so prone to damage. Regular use of conditioners and styling products containing ingredients like polyquaternium, quaternium 18 and stearamidaproply dimethylamine will also help to reduce static build-up in fine, flyaway hair.
Caring for colored hair
There are commonly two major considerations for people with colored hair: Retaining the hair color and repairing damage caused during the coloring process. Fortunately many of the things you can do to keep your color vibrant also work to protect your hair from further damage, and can help to sooth some of the damage caused by the coloring process.
If possible, try to wash and rinse your hair in cool water, rather than hot. Cool water will help to close your hair cuticles, sealing in moisture and helping to retain your color.
If you wear your hair in a part, try alternating the side you wear it on so that you don’t get just one section of your hair exposed to the elements. Any fading that occurs due to sun exposure will then be less concentrated and less noticeable.
If you’re swimming in salt water or chlorinated pools, try to wear a swimming cap to protect your hair, otherwise rinse your hair thoroughly afterwards to remove chemical or salt water build up. The chemicals in pool water and even salt water can damage hair, strip color, and occasionally lend an unwanted tinge of color to light hair colors. Be sure to shampoo your hair as soon as possible afterwards to remove any traces of build-up.
Products: shampoo specifically formulated for coloured hair, nourishing conditioners and conditioning masks, hair sunscreen.
Damaged hair:
Hair is damaged once the cuticle of the hair (the flat scales that cover the core of the hair) are no longer flat or intact enough to provide structural integrity to the hair, leaving it vulnerable to splitting and breaking. Hair is fairly resilient but can be damaged through excessive processing, perming, coloring, heat exposure, back-combing and general roughness. The bad news is that once hair is significantly damaged, you can’t repair it. Hair is essentially dead once it leaves your scalp, and doesn’t have the capacity to heal itself once it has been damaged. The best course of action in most circumstances is to simply cut it off, although you may be able to soothe some of the damage with hair product until the hair is of acceptable length to cut without too much embarrassment. Intensive hair conditioners and masks may help by coating the hair follicle with ingredients to smooth over the cuticles and seal in some moisture. But remember — the last thing you should do is try to correct the damage through further coloring, perming or heat treatment!
Ultimately, the best (if not immediately helpful) advice for damaged hair is to prevent it through the use of a good conditioner and careful use of the more aggressive styling products and techniques.
February 24th, 2006
No matter your face shape, there will be cuts that look best on you. (Except for this style which looks great on almost everyone). Here’s a quick guide of what to look for and what to avoid for 5 different face shapes. Pick yours to determine what’s the most flattering haircut for your face shape.
• Oval This is the most versatile face. Many different styles will work for you, but no matter the length of your cut, you’ll look best with layers near your cheekbones, lips or chin — basically whatever feature you want to highlight.
Avoid: Short layers that add heighth on top of your head. This will make your face appear long. If your hair is thick or curly, avoid a blunt cut. You’ll look like a pyramid. For great haircuts for oval face shapes, check out this photo
Chin-length bobs and cuts are also ideal for you because they create the illusion of width. Curls & waves also add width, but avoid short layers that add volume on top. See, for example, Halle Berry’s hair cut on the right. The intense volume on top adds length to her already long face. For great haircuts for long face shapes, check out this photo gallery.
Avoid: Stay away from extremely long or short cuts. These elongate your face.
• Round Your best bet are styles that fall right below your chin. Also, layers from the top down remove bulk and weight from the sides. Go for wispy and tapered ends. These de-emphasize the roundness of your face.
Avoid: One-length, blunt cuts if you have short hair. These only emphasize your round face.
• Square What looks best on you: face-framing layers, but short, spiky cuts look great also, as do long, sleek styles with layers that start at the jawline & continue downward.
Avoid: One-length bobs (especially chin-length) and blunt-cut bangs. These will make your face look even more square.
• Heart Your eyes & cheekbones tend to be the focal points of your face so you’ll want to draw attention to these features by keeping your top layers soft & long if you have short hair. Side-swept bangs can have the same effect. If you have long hair, go for long, wavy layers that graze your cheekbones. This will downplay a pointed chin.
February 23rd, 2006
Hair restoration has two basic forms - medical restoration and surgical restoration. In this instance, the term medical refers to the use of medications to restore lost hair and prevent further hair loss. The most common medications in use today are minoxidil and finasteride.
Minoxidil is a topical medication that is applied to the scalp multiple times in a day, and is often used in conjunction with a specially-formulated shampoo to increase its effectiveness. The regimen must be maintained on a daily basis and it usually takes 6 to 12 weeks to see any results. The treatment program must also be continued indefinitely, because once the treatments are stopped, the hair recovered will be lost once more. Minoxidil has been proven equally effective for both men and women with hair loss. The cost of minoxidil ranges from U.S. $35 to U.S. $50 per month depending on the brand name under which it is manufactured.
Finasteride is a prescription drug taken orally which has been demonstrated to treat male pattern hair loss. It must be prescribed by a physician and taken only as directed. It can also take from 6 to 12 weeks to show results and must be continued to maintain the reclaimed hair. Finasteride is not usable by women, and is so hazardous for women who are or may become pregnant that they are warned not to even touch a broken pill and avoid exposure to whole pills for the sake of safety. Finasteride costs from U.S. $50 to U.S. $75 per month depending on the brand name under which it has been manufactured.
Surgical hair restoration covers a couple of types of procedures - altering the scalp, or transplanting the hair.
In procedures that alter the scalp, for example, a man who has a receding hairline might have his hairline pulled forward in a process similar to that of a face lift. The result is that the hairline appears to be in a more normal position, and the incision is generally kept close to the hairline for the purpose of camouflaging it.
Hair transplanting consists of surgically transplanting follicles of hair from areas where the growth is denser, into areas where thinning has occurred, creating the effect of thicker (or at least more even) hair coverage. The techniques in this field are constantly being refined (and often renamed) but are effectively the same basic principles. The key differences in the advances made are the number of follicles being moved at a given time and how natural the results appear to be afterward.
Surgical hair restoration is quite expensive and can run into the thousands depending on the amount of hair being moved. It is also a process that will likely have to be repeated later in some cases.
February 23rd, 2006
Great for a bad hair day or an instant change of image, wigs are this season’s must-have accessory.
Wigs are fun, and as the weather slips towards autumn, it’s a great way of changing your image without taking the plunge of having a drastic hair cut or colour change. Li’L Kim’s white hot look has been very influential, as have the natural ‘fros of Macy Grey and Angie Stone. Wigs allow you to change your mood and personality instantly. They are brilliant for bad hair days And there are designs for every type of style. We’ve even seen dreadlock hair pieces with a ready made hair band that you just pull on your head and looks just like the real thing.
Begin by choosing the right wig material. Synthetic wigs are cheaper and have in-built ‘design memory’ which allows the wigs, texture and style to snap back into place after washing and styling. Human hair wigs create the most realistic impression, allowing you to heat style for a variety of effects (synthetic wigs should never be touched by heated implements since the heat will melt the fibres).
The type of wig you choose depends on the effect that you want. They can be divided into three different types. A hairpiece - great for adding length and filling in); a ponytail - (usually attached to your hair); a full wig - (which covers your entire head).
Old fashioned wigs used to be hot and itchy to wear, modern wigs are softer and lighter due to the materials like Kanekalon hair fibres used.
We asked Frank Van Laarhoven of La Coupe Futur to create these fantastic looks using wigs.
Wig Tips
New wigs can be softened by washing in a mild shampoo. Or try soaking in water mixed with fabric softener for about 30 minutes. Shampoo and air dry.
A styrofoam head helps keep your wig in shape. If you’re travelling or space is at a premium, turn wigs inside out and put into a plastic bag or net wig bag. Rolling up the wig won’t harm the design and the plastic helps to keep the dust off.
When shampooing remember to use downwards strokes while working in a mild shampoo. In order to allow a synthetic wig’s curls to re-form, avoid brushing it while wet. Instead air dry the wig then finger style the locks into position.
A plastic brush is essential for detangling and combing out the hair (use downward strokes to avoid tangling). Do not use a regular nylon brush on a wig since the brush may pull the hair out of the wig cap.
For a quick style lift, use a wig piece to create a French roll or another type of updo. Position the piece where you need the length and style into the high hair design of your choice.
Considering a colour change and can’t make your mind up? Before you commit, slip on a wig in the same colour you’re considering. That way you get a preview of how the colour looks on you before you even step.
February 22nd, 2006
By: Black Beauty And Hair
Raising children is one thing, but looking after their hair is a different ball game. Prisca McGuire looks into haircare products for little darlings.
Raising children is one thing, but looking after their hair is a different ball game. Prisca McGuire looks into haircare products for little darlings
L’Oreal’s Kids ‘no tears’ range
It’s never a good time when you suggest that your kid’s hair needs a good wash, and they immediately start screwing up their face at the very suggestion. However, exasperated parents can take some comfort in the fact that manufacturers and salons are now more aware of the ‘difficulties’, and are trying to make life easy with a range of products specially formulated for little ones.
What’s available?
If your child has fine or mixed-race hair, you can try L’Oreal Kids ‘no tears’ range. The fun looking range is suitable for children with fine, normal and curly or wavy hair. The colour coded, fish shaped and fruity fragranced products, are designed to make children enjoy having their hair washed. The range also includes a Two-in-One Shampoo & Conditioner, an Extra Gentle detangling Conditioner, and a Styling Gel. All just £2.29 each.
Children with afro hair, and some children of mixed-race parentage, may be better off using products specifically designed for their hair type. For instance, Luster Products do a PCJ range for children, which includes No-Lye Children’s Relaxer (£3.75), Conditioning Hair Relaxer (£3.75), Cream Oil (£1.99), and a Detangling Spray (£1.99).
Dark and Lovely offers the Beautiful Beginnings range, also targeted at kids. The range includes Kids Cholesterol (£2.25), a conditioning treatment with a bubble gum fragrance, an Oil Moisturiser (£2.69), and a Scalp Conditioner (£2.19), which is light and non-greasy.
If you’ve decided to relax your child’s hair, then Dark & Lovely do two types of relaxers suitable for kids, one for normal and thick hair, and the other for fine hair (£4.29 each).
For babies and young children Phytologie’s Phytopure Baby Almond Oil Shampoo (£8.50/200ml), is a natural shampoo, which cleans hair without tears. The shampoo has been tested for safe ingestion, meaning that if it’s accidentally swallowed, it won’t make them ill. The range is available from Space NK and leading salons.
Alternatively, Softn’free offer a kiddies range called Whispers, which uses aloe vera in its ingredients to help with deep conditioning. The range includes a No-Lye Creme Relaxer (£3.49); Shampoo (£1.99); Conditioner (£1.99); Conditioning and Detangling Sheen Spray (£1.99); Hair Food (£2.29) and Hair Pomade (£2.29). The range is available from all good afro retailers.
Johnson’s baby range has almost achieved cult status amongst new mothers, who use the products both for their children and themselves. For young children with coarse hair the Detangling ‘no more tears’ Shampoo (£1.89) is worth checking out, but if you fancy giving your child a bath and washing their hair at the same time, then the soap-free Top-to-Toe Wash (£2.99) is what you need.
How often should you wash your child’s hair?
Tough as it sounds, you should wash, dry and condition your children’s hair regularly, with top salon stylist Errol Douglas suggesting every five days or so. Go easy on the grease though! Manufacturers nowadays tend to use lighter products, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find a hair and scalp conditioner that won’t clog up your child’s hair. Choose one that’s suitable for your child’s hair type - the finer the hair, the lighter the conditioner needed
If your children go swimming as part of their regular school timetable, then you’ll need to get into the habit of washing their hair after each swimming session. Chlorine in pool water is damaging to any hair type, and needs to be washed out at the earliest opportunity, as left in for too long, it weakens hair.
Is it safe to relax a young child’s hair?
Most stylists will recommend that you don’t relax your child’s hair until they are at least 14. However, stylist Marjorie Bellanfonte from Dominoes in Huddersfield regularly treats young clients. ‘We offer a full advisory and consultation service before treating any young children. The parents are invited to come along with their children, especially if they find it difficult to manage their child’s hair. Although we don’t promote relaxers for young children, we do suggest texturising if a mother of a mixed-race child comes in and wants the hair to be manageable, but not necessarily chemically treated. We use texturising on boys and girls because it softens the hair.’ To contact Dominoes call: 01484 531944.
Can head lice live in afro hair?
One very popular myth is that afro hair is a no-go area for head lice and nits. Unfortunately, this is not true. Head lice may find it more difficult to move around in thicker coarser hair, but as long as the head remains warm, they’ll survive in it.
Nits are the eggs of lice, which stick to the hairs closest to the scalp. They can vary in colour from greyish white to brown, and produce eggs, which hatch after just seven days.
Lice are the actual insects that lay the eggs, and pierce the scalp for blood to feed. Each lice is capable of laying around eight eggs a night, within a seven to ten day period.
If you find head lice in your child’s hair, it isn’t anything to be ashamed of - head lice are attracted to both clean and dirty hair. Research also shows that the occurrence of head lice cuts across all social-economic groups, rich and poor.
Another myth that needs to be dispelled is that lice can jump around classrooms. Quite simply, they don’t. They’re quite content to stay on one warm head until that head comes into close contact with another head, and they are transferred to new pastures.
How can I prevent my children getting lice?
The only thing you can do is to be alert, and carry out a weekly check of your child’s hair. The best way to check is by using a special “nit comb” or a fine toothed comb, and its easier to see and find nits and lice when the hair is wet. If you do find lice one of the safest and most effective treatments is daily wet combing for three weeks, followed by washing and conditioning the hair using a chemical or insecticide based lotion.
For further information contact your local community health centre, your local community health centre, or call Community Hygiene Concern Tel: 020 8341 7167.
February 22nd, 2006
The Different Types of Haircolor
BY: Stacy McCurdy - Stylist
We’ve all wondered what it would be like to have a different hair color, but maybe
you’re not ready for the commitment to make a drastic change. And maybe you aren’t
sure if you can achieve the color you want without doing something permanent. Here’s
some information to help you understand the types of haircolor available to you.
Temporary Color:
These products are truly temporary, and are usually sold as color rinses. They’reused most often to cover or mask gray hair, or to add a subtle (or even a bold) tone toyour natural color. Temporary color sits on the outside of the cuticle and adds color tothe surface of the hair. Temporary haircolor won’t take you from a darker shade to alighter shade, but it can add some depth and richness to lighter hair. Temporary colorsrarely last beyond your next shampoo. Temporary haircolor can be found in a variety ofproducts: rinses which add color to the hair and are styled dry, color mousses which add subtle color tones, hair mascara for dramatic effects, spray on colors for controlled application, and even color-tinted shampoos and conditioners to add depth and longevity to colored hair.
Semi-Permanent and Demi-Permanent Color:
Semi-permanent and demi-permanent haircolors are similar in the way they work,but slightly different in their formulation. Semi-permanent color is designed to deposit color onto the hair only and has no lightening effect. The formula includes an activator that develops the color and helps to raise the cuticle of the hair shaft so that the color can be deposited there. Semi-permanent color doesn’t penetrate into the cortex of the hair, but it will usually last from six to eight weeks, gradually washing out with each shampoo.
Demi-permanent color is also a deposit-only color with no lightening effect. The difference between the Semi- and Demi-permanent colors is that with demi-permanent color the color molecules are smaller and therefore penetrate into the cortex of the hair, as well as being deposited on and in the cuticle. This makes demi-permanent color abetter choice for covering gray hair. The color achieved also lasts longer, but will fade due to the formulation of smaller color molecules being able to come back through the cuticle with each shampoo.
Permanent Color:
Permanent colors are designed to penetrate the hair shaft and deposit their color directly into the cortex of the hair. The formula contains a developer to raise the cuticle and allow the color molecules to penetrate into the cortex, and also contain aniline derivatives which combine with hydrogen peroxide to produce larger tint molecules which are then trapped inside the cortex. By virtue of their formulation, permanent haircolors are able to deposit color, but can also be used to lighten the color of the hair, depending upon the strength of the hydrogen peroxide used as a developer. If the desired result is simply the addition of color with no lightening in level, then your colorist will typically use a 10-volume peroxide developer. To lighten the hair one-to-two levels and add a color, 20-volume peroxide will be good. 30 and 40-volume peroxides are available to lighten the base level even more, but remember that the stronger the peroxide the harsher the effect on your hair. It is best that you never use anything stronger than 20-volume peroxide developer without the assistance of a professional to closely monitor the results.
February 21st, 2006
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