Archive for June 1st, 2006
We all need a change every now and then. From our clothes to the music we listen to, a little bit of variety is great sometimes.
So, why should we have the same hairstyle day in and day out? With hair extensions, we can look and feel like a new person — any time we want to.
Regular hair extensions must be weaved, braided, sewed, or glued — that’s more of a commitment than some people are willing to make. What’s more, it can be quite expensive. If you want a little hair variety without the time or financial commitment, consider a clip-on hair extension.
Clip-on hair extensions are a temporary way to change your look, either for fun and style or as a test drive for “real” hair extensions. Some clip-on hair extensions are small sections of hair attached to metal clips, much like barrettes. This type of clip-on hair extension is not meant to be used alone and you will need at least three or four of them. You simply clip the extension wherever you need added volume or body. Then the hair can be styled as usual. These hair extensions can be either synthetic or natural.
Another type of clip-on hair extension is already pre-styled and used as created. A popular style for this type is the ponytail. These extensions are widely available at department stores, beauty supply stores and some grocery stores. They are generally synthetic and low-cost with a short lifespan.
Though experts say the clip-on hair extensions are easy to work with, you can have a hairdresser apply them if you prefer.
Hair Extensions Info provides detailed information about human, fusion, clip-on, and wholesale hair extensions, as well as hair extension sales, prices, and more. Hair Extensions Info is the sister site of Salon Equipment Web.
June 1st, 2006
Looking for a more natural approach to hair care? Here are some tips to help your hair look and feel its best.
1. Avoid shampoos that contain sodium laurel sulfate, or sodium laureth sulfate. These chemicals are synthetic detergents that are used in dishwashing liquid and other cleansers.
They are valued because they lather well, but they are very harsh, and can dry out your hair. Instead, look for shampoos made with decyl glucose, or decyl glucoside, which are much gentler.
2. Give yourself a hot oil treatment to deep condition your hair. Warm oil penetrates the hair shaft making the hair more flexible and giving it shine. This can also help to prevent split ends which result from dry hair.
3. Eat right and consider taking vitamin and mineral supplements to encourage healthy hair. Several vitamins and minerals have been shown to help hair growth and condition including biotin, vitamin E, vitamin B, vitamin C and MSM.
4. If you are an African American, or if you have extra curly hair, avoid brushing your hair. Use a wide toothed comb, or your fingers to work with your hair. Brushes can destroy African American or extra curly hair by shearing it out of the scalp.
5. Look for essential oils, herbs and vegetable oils in your hair care products. Essential oils such as rosemary, ylang-ylang and west indian bay help to stimulate hair growth. Lavender and tea tree and naturally antiseptic and help to fight dandruff. Vegetable oils such as soybean oil, safflower oil and corn oil are moisturizing and conditioning to the hair shaft.
6. Avoid sleeping in hair accessories such as barrettes, scrunchies, head bands, etc. This can lead to hair damage.
7. Massage your scalp to help stimulate hair growth. Massaging helps stimulate hair growth by increasing the blood flow to the scalp. This nourishes the hair roots and helps to stimulate the hair growth process.
8. If your hair ends are damaged, give yourself a trim every so often to remove damage.
Ololade Franklin publishes Making Good Scents(TM), a newsletter for people who make their own bath and body care products. For information about Making Good Scents(TM) visit http://www.MakingGoodScents.com
June 1st, 2006
By Allison Beck
For many women, remaining chaste for their regular hairstylist is virtually a religious experience.
I know scores of them who won’t let anyone but their steady, long-time hairstylist get near their hair; but not me. I am a hair-styling hussie. I consider myself a serial “new client” – I’m constantly going to new stylists.
Seeing someone different almost every time I get my hair cut. I can never make up my mind who I like best, who does the best job on my hair…I find myself wondering, “Is there someone better out there? Who’s the new hot person to go to?” I clearly have commitment issues when it comes to hairstylists. But like one of those guys with a roving eye, the moment I’ve found one I like, I am already trying to better deal them- and that has left me stylist-less, once again.
That all changed when I visited Sally Hershberger Downtown. This posh salon isn’t showy or over the top. The space is the epitome of “urban chic” minimalism, filled with natural light, simple, clean lines (inspired from a photo studio), and comfy chocolate brown leather seats lining the wall. For Sally, “it’s all about the talent,” and that is clearly evident in her carefully selected entourage of well-known editorial, runway, and celebrity hair gurus, many of whom tend the tresses of big-name starlets like Heather Graham, Hilary Swank, and Nicole Kidman.
Sally’s great reputation in the industry came about through a lot of hard work and devotion. “At age 18 I began doing hair, landing an apprenticeship with Arthur Johns while still in beauty school. It was at this Hollywood salon that I first began working with celebrities and establishing relationships which would help lead me to success (such as the one I share with Herb Ritts, whom I have worked steadily with on some of the biggest names in Hollywood). I got to where I am today one haircut at a time.”
After sitting my down in front of the mirror, stylist James Vitas inspected my hair, noting how it grows, where it lies, and its texture. He asked me what I do with it (and I didn’t have much to say, unfortunately!). But after telling him I wanted to cut it shorter, he quickly decided on a plan of action for my long blonde strands that would transform my blunt cut into something beautiful. I expected to feel apprehensive, yet something told me this cut would be different than all the rest – and boy, was I right.
When James had finished working his magic, he whirled me around to show off his work, and all I could do was smile. I had gone from a look that screamed plain-Jane, recent-college grad to a hip, hot, and decidedly more mature-looking New York woman (yes, three friends noted that!), and I felt that way, too. This is the happiest I have ever been with a haircut, and even two months later, my hair still cooperates. I can’t recommend James or Sally Hershberger Downtown enough, so go see it all for yourself and spend the afternoon feeling like a celeb.
June 1st, 2006
By Michelle Ridgely
I have a confession to make. I hate going to the salon. I get fidgety after an hour or so, and to lessen the time spent in my stylist’s chair, I will do anything to keep my hair in tip-top shape between visits.
When BN asked me to test Luster Products’ new hair care line, YOU, I enthusiastically accepted the opportunity.
YOU, the first line to be launched by Luster Products in over 15 years, is a unisex styling and maintenance line for both African-American and Latino hair that took three years to research and develop. With consumers desirous of hair care products that are affordable, natural, and readily available, Luster’s “Party Kids,” the branded name for the seven products that make up the YOU line, is a pleasant surprise with its $4.99–$6.99 price point and availability at such retail outlets as Walgreen’s and Rite Aid.
Because I have thick hair, I tend to use a shampoo with a separate conditioner. I just feel that it makes my hair easier to comb out. When I tried YOU 2-N-1 Shampoo and Conditioner, which is enriched with collagen, panthenol, and keratin protein, I noticed its wonderful, light coconut scent and how it made my hair and scalp feel truly clean. However, although my hair felt soft, I still wanted extra protection. (Can we say old habits die hard?) So I used YOU Control, a quick-dry control mousse made from a water-based formula that detangles, conditions, and protects hair from heat. It also serves as a setting agent before you roll, blow-dry, or wrap your hair. The end result was soft, flowing hair that looked so good I kept getting compliments about my luxe locks from colleagues at work the next day.
If you’re like me, you thought this past winter would NEVER end. My hair and scalp became so dry and listless from wearing a hat religiously for the past six months that I couldn’t wait to try YOU Repair, a deep therapy repair treatment. Infused with cholesterol, carrot oil, olive oil, Indian hemp, rosemary extract, rose hips, nettle and vitamin E. My hair and scalp absorbed this treatment instantly and felt so much better. Now, after several uses, I’ve noticed the luster has returned to my hair. I also learned that whenever I need some extra deep conditioning, I can slather on some YOU Repair, cover my hair with a plastic cap, and sit under a hot dryer for maximum benefit.
Other excellent additions to the line include YOU Grow, which I use daily. It’s made of a blend of henna, nettle, burdock, echinacea, and Irish moss that helps to stimulate hair growth. It also contains melanin, aloe, and chamomile to protect hair from sun damage and other abuses. Depending on how you want to style your hair, YOU Smooth is the perfect solution for those days that you want to wear a ponytail or pull your hair back. It tames fly-aways, controls frizz, and keeps hair soft and shiny. When the weather is on your side (sunny, warm, and humidity-free), YOU Straight, a non-chemical thermal straightening crème, will keep your hair looking smooth and J-Lo fabulous. And last but not least, to give your hair a healthy shine that will stay, YOU Gloss, a weightless spray made of natural ingredients such as shea butter, jojoba, and wheat germ, can be used to add a sleek sheen to your tresses.
What I enjoyed the most about the You hair care line is that all of the products are lightweight. Because too many times products made for ethnic hair types are both heavy in weight and fragrance. It’s refreshing at last to find a line that balances both. For more information on YOU log on to www.lusterproducts.com.
June 1st, 2006
By Stefanie Schwalb
Want the shine of your hair color to revival the rays of sun this summer? Then check out Redken’s in-salon color treatment called Shimmer One.
It’s great for NYC gals on the go for several reasons: the process only takes 20 minutes (so you can slip away from the office with a dull ‘do and quickly rev up some fab strands just in time for a slinky supper date); it’s ammonia-free (which saves a lot of stress for your strands by helping to maintain healthy hair);
and it’s a 1 level color cream (that means locks are lightened just a shade above your normal hair color so the difference is noticeable in a natural-looking way).
Shimmer One is a great option for people who have never colored their hair before (but really crave to), girls and guys looking to eliminate grays, and for people who love products and services (like me) but don’t want to do anything too dramatic. It comes in 21 sultry shades, plus Clear, for every strand color imaginable. And because it contains Redken’s exclusive Tri-Light Technology (I’ll break down what this means in just a second), hair appears more radiant and softer with color that locks in moisture and shields the strands from dryness and damage.
The Tri-Light Technology I mentioned is made up of three shine-enhancing ingredients to know: luminizing dye molecules, which produce the long-lasting shiny color; mango butter, which helps smooth and moisturize; and rice protein, which helps protects and strengthen. Additionally, since Shimmer One is 1 level color cream, no strong demarcation shows up in your strands so you have the option of growing your hair out (without the appearance of ugly roots) or just getting another touch up for additional shine at any time within four to six weeks after your first treatment.
I took my tresses toward the red zone with a Shimmer One treatment at Cutler Salon Soho. Gabriel Garay created the look by combining two colors of dark brown and red to get the radiant and red hot results I hoping for. He did an excellent job, and the result has been super shiny strands and a summer shade of red highlights that rock. For more information on Shimmer One, log on to www.redken.com or call 1-800-423-5280. To check out the service at Cutler Soho, call 212-308-3838. The price for the service there is $95.
June 1st, 2006