Archive for June 6th, 2006
Your Holiday Hairstyle
The number one hair mistake women make during the holiday season is that they often think like bridesmaids – the bigger and bolder the better! But most often this type thinking leads to regret and exclamations of “what was I thinking?!”
The holidays - and all the sparkle and shimmer of the season - can inspire any woman to have fun with her hairstyle. Below is essential advice from the Regis Salons experts to help women select, create and maintain their holiday hairstyles.
According to Gordon Nelson, senior vice president of fashion, education and marketing of Regis Salons, when going for knockout holiday looks - remember less is more!
Choose a style that fits your personality and gives you versatile styling options. Ask your stylist for fun styling alternatives to take your look from work to play.
If you want to make a change, start subtly at first. You may not want to completely break out of your comfort zone with holiday get-togethers just around the corner.
Choose hair color and highlights in shades that work well with your skin tone and look natural on you. Hair color should complement a haircut, not distract from it.
If you change your hair color, consider updating or changing your makeup and lip color as well.
Select a style that will last. Your hair shouldn’t look good for just one night – it should look good all season long!
Before doing anything, get a consultation with your stylist.
Talk to Your Stylist
When preparing for the glitz and glamour of holiday parties, take your time. See your stylist before your holiday party schedule gets too hectic to make sure your hair is ready for the season ahead. The experts at Regis Salons suggest the following tips for getting the style you want:
The holidays can be hectic, so be sure to book your appointment well in advance.
Photo:©Regis Corporation
Think of where you are progressing with your hair before you make a change. Do you want to grow it long or go short? Your stylist can help you get the look you eventually want.
Don’t consider a hairstyle you wouldn’t be able to re-create at home. Watch your stylist at work. Take note of the steps she takes and the products she uses.
Write down questions and what you want before you go to the stylist, since you might forget something while in the salon. Tell your stylist what your lifestyle is like and the “feeling” you want to convey with your hair. These are important factors your stylist will want to know when creating the right cut for you.
Bring magazine images or photos that show the feel you want.
Clarify! Sometimes what is long to you might not be long to your stylist.
Be flexible and let your stylist interpret the images you select. Work with your stylist to find a look that works with your features and lifestyle.
Maintain that Holiday Magic
Now that you’ve left the salon and you have a great look, what next? Holidays are frantic and it’s easy to forget the basics of maintaining a good hairstyle.
Keep your holiday locks in style by following these simple guidelines:
Conditioner: Use an adequate amount. Hair can dry out from the excessive styling necessary to meet the holiday pampering demand, as well as from the cool, dry air. It’s also a great idea to use an intense conditioning treatment at least once a week during the winter.
Blow-drying: Dry hair as much as possible before you actually style it. Put most of your styling effort into the last two minutes of the drying. This is when the magic happens.
Product: Always apply product when your hair is almost dry. Product serves as an accent to a good cut. If you put it in when it’s wet, you’re just combing or brushing it to the ends where it does no good. Each hair product serves a different purpose. Make sure you learn from your stylist what works best for your style. Your stylist knows what products work best for your hair type. Buy what they use and recommend!
Summer fun can really do a number on your hair. Aside from exposing hair to the damage of everyday styling like hair spray, gel, hair dryers, curling irons and more, you’re also exposing your hair to sun, heat, humidity, wind and chlorine. Learn How to Protect Hair In The Hot Summer Sun.
The holidays and all the sparkle and shimmer of the season can inspire any woman to have fun with her hairstyle. A little black dress, sexy heels, accessories that glimmer and a stylish handbag are just what a woman needs to shine at the next holiday bash. Top it all off with the perfect hairstyle and you’ve got a look that’s simply stunning!
June 6th, 2006
Every year, many of the 12,000 children who are diagnosed with cancer will lose their hair as a result of medical treatments.
Other children are diagnosed with alopecia areata, a hereditary condition that results in total hair loss over the entire body.
Some children lose their hair as a result of burns. And some children develop a psychological condition that drives them to pull out their own hair uncontrollably.
Whatever the cause, the results are the same: At a time when children find themselves struggling with painful and difficult medical conditions, they must also deal with the potentially crippling blow to their self-esteem that results from the loss of their hair. Wigs for Kids was created to help these children feel like themselves again.
Established in 1993 in Rocky River, Ohio by Jeffrey and Zina Paul, internationally acclaimed hair designers who made their first wig for their own young niece when she was undergoing chemotherapy treatments for leukemia, Wigs for Kids now creates at least 60 full hairpieces a year for children whose parents cannot afford to pay. The charity never turns down a request for assistance.
So, if you’re a longhair who’s ready to cut loose and change your image, give it up for a worthy cause — and help change the life of a child.
For more information and list of hair salons supporting Wigs for Kids visit www.wigsforkids.org
June 6th, 2006
Hair Braids And Cornrows
by Marquetta Breslin
Braids and cornrows are quite popular among those fascinating fancy hairstyles. Weaving of three strands of hair together in intricate designs is nothing less than an artwork.
Braids offer endless styles and patterns, which look wonderful on children.
They last long and there is no need of using chemicals. It is necessary to wash the braids regularly. A biweekly shampooing is necessary to save the scalp or the hair from damage.
You can choose a particular braiding style depending on your preference and hair type. For example, it is advisable to stay away from mini-micro braids if you have brittle hair.
It is necessary to be careful while twisting and turning the braids into different styles, especially if you have a delicate scalp. Remember that braiding tightly can cause damage to the scalp and hair. Use a good quality synthetic fiber for braiding. Make sure that you do not leave braids in for more than 2 ½ months. Otherwise, it may cause severe breakage by locking up. Avoid heavy and thick shampoos, conditioners and pomades while washing. Use light hair oil for your scalp.
You need to be careful in using a conditioner after you wash your braided styles. Better to avoid leave-in conditioners. They soften the hair and loosen braids. Creamy conditioners are also harmful, as they are hard to wash out. You can use cotton, silk or satin scarf to cover braids. A cotton scarf would be the best choice if you have oily hair. Cotton absorbs the excess oil in the hair and allows the hair to breathe.
Cornrows or track braids lay against the scalp without any tension. It is one of the healthiest of all braiding styles. You can make cornrows by a process of braiding and picking up hair along a row. You can use your own hair or artificial hair extensions to design it. The hair to make cornrows should be approximately 5 cm in for springy African hair and 7 to 8 cm for straight hair. However, you can manage with shorter hair if you use extensions.
With proper maintenance, cornrows can last from four to six weeks. The hair may lock or matt if you leave them for too long. Keep your hair moisturized and protect it from harmful elements. Cover your hair with a silk or satin scarf while sleeping at night. It is better if you can sleep on an African headrest. Unbraid the cornrows immediately if you find them tight and uncomfortable.
June 6th, 2006
By Susan M. Keenan ©2006
Time for something new and appealing! One of the easiest and quickest changes to your personal appearance that you can make is a new hair color.
Why not take advantage of a prominent feature and revitalize your hair with new coloring that provides a new and dashing look to set you apart from the rest of the crowd?
A new shade of hair color can provide a bold and fresh look that has everyone doing a double take, and saying, “Who is that beautiful woman?”
Remember that in order to look beautiful, a little bit of effort is required. Otherwise, the beast will emerge. No one, or at least no one in the mainstream of things, wants to parade around with orange hair.
Several strategies may help you with your selection of hair color. A natural look means a natural beauty and beauty is in the eye of the beholder; so be sure to do your homework before opening the bottle with the magical potion.
Know what color hair you truly have. Be aware of your own skin coloring as well. Select a shade that will compliment what you already have to offer.
Don’t dare travel down the path of greatest resistance- otherwise known as the totally contrasting horror story. Indeed, nothing will turn a day into a bad hair day quicker than a totally random and poorly chosen hair color.
Two shades darker or two shades lighter will create the desired effect without too much of a change. If you want to make a drastic change in your hair color, it is probably best to visit a professional rather than do it yourself.
If you are unsure about coloring your hair:
Look for a temporary product that provides an easy wash out in order to sample what that color would be like.
Test a small section of your hair and allow it to dry completely before deciding if that’s the right color.
Pick up tips by talking to other women who have colored their hair.
Try a few highlights instead.
Once you have decided what color would both compliment and add a new sense of flavor to your life, investigate which brand and color will achieve the desired results. Read the box directions.
Remember that longer hair may require more than one box. Treated hair, such as hair that is already permed, will process the color more quickly, as will hair that is closer to the scalp, so you do not want to leave it on too long.
Keep contact brief unless you want everyone doing a double take and saying, “Who is that girl with green hair?”
Now that your hair is colored, here are some tips to keep it beautiful.
Be sure and buy specifically formulated shampoo and conditioner that will help rather than harm your color treated hair.
Remember that daily conditioning is not simply to make your hair more manageable, but also to revitalize the shine and beauty of your hair.
Avoid chlorine by avoiding pools.
Keep exposure to the sun to a minimum, since it can cause the coloring to become dull and less vibrant.
Nothing lasts forever, so enjoy what you have. Play a little and have fun.
June 6th, 2006
Are you looking for a blonde hairstyle, color or maybe a fresh new hairstyle for the summer?
No matter how dark or light your natural base color or what your skin tone is, there is a blonde shade to suit you. And blonde just happens to be the most popular hair color for the mild weather seasons.
So here are some tips for summery hair color ideas to bring out your inner goddess!
For Brunettes Going Blonde
If you have wavy, shoulder-length hair in a brunette tone, don’t go for all-over color. Instead, add texture to your style plus some caramel highlights scattered throughout the crown and part areas.
The textured waves combined with the highlights will reflect the sunlight and create a dazzling effect.
Long Hair Color Tip
If you have long hair that’s damaged or dull, invest in a good color safe and natural hair conditioner like Revitalizing Conditioner from n-fruizon™ BODY THERAPY before coloring and make it a regular part of your hair regime. After all, your hair has been subjected to years of styling and brushing so the mid lengths and ends are more damaged than the roots.
Consider opting for the soft, natural look, wavy hair styles that are so hot this year matched with a vanilla blonde color. The new S Wave Thermal Set™ is soft and gentle, even on long, colored hair.
Find The Right Blonde For You
Before choosing a new hair color, consider your skin tone and eye color. You may find that warmer colors suit you better and lift your overall appearance. For example, if your hair has already been bleached or colored a very light blond hue and your darker roots are starting to show, change your color to a warmer tone of blonde with deep honey highlights. And forget the bleach… your hair needs time to recuperate. A new hair color can create an extraordinary impact when combined with a fresh new hair style.
Layer Your Colors For an Exciting Look
If you naturally have a light brown base color, try going for highlights with a multi-coloring technique. Applying the highlights in several tones on the part area and keeping the layers underneath darker will give you a striking and unique look. This type of coloring looks especially good on straight, medium-length hair with side bangs.
I hope these blonde hair color ideas have inspired you to do something refreshingly different with your hair this season. It will not only update your appearance but will also help lift your mood and get you into a summery state of mind.
June 6th, 2006