Archive for the ‘Hair Care’ Category:
I love the Herbal Essences shampoo and conditioner with the moisturizing formula, called Hello Hydration. My husband and I have been using this formula on and off for years, and the shampoo and conditioner really do make your hair look and feel great, and for a really reasonable price too. It’s actually probably my favorite line of hair care that is not found at a salon and doesn’t drain your wallet.
The Hello Hydration formula is infused with coconut milk and orchid. Coconut milk is a great additive to any hair care product for it’s hydrating qualities, and I’ve used several products with this additive that really help with moisturizing and preventing dryness and split ends and brittleness.
Since I really enjoyed the way Hello Hydration worked on my hair, I decided to try their anti frizz shampoo called None of Your Frizzness, another clever play on words, since my hair has been tending toward frizz in this humid Ohio summer we’re having.
This one is in a red bottle and has the same great pricing as the Hello Hydration formula. I only tried the shampoo so far, not the conditioner, but I will probably add the conditioner to my collection soon too.
The shampoo is great for giving you soft, shiny and less frizzy hair. It has a great consistency and a great smell, and lathers nicely, without feeling like it’s dried the heck out of your hair when you rinse it out, like some other shampoos do.
Your hair feels really clean, yet slicker when you’re done if that makes any sense. I’ve read that the conditioner and the smoothing balm work great together to further help control the frizzies all day long, so I’ll probably also try the smoothing balm.
I love the shampoo though, which is going to prompt me to try the other products in this particular line. Shampoo is just as important as conditioner, because it provides the foundation for how your hair is going to interact with conditioner and the styling products you use, so it’s not just conditioner that should be chosen carefully.
If you finish off your straight, sleek look with a Sedu flat iron or other high quality salon straightener and hair dryer (also very important for shiny, smooth hair in my opinion), you’re going to have minimal problems with frizz, flyaways and dryness all summer long – and all winter.
There are lots of ways to HELP fight the frizz on those muggy summer days. Lord knows that I’ve tried a plethora of frizz fighting hair products living here in Northeast Ohio where the summer days can sometimes be muggy, and because my hair is naturally frizz prone. I’ve never had that easily-gotten smooth hair – it’s just never been a reality for me. My hair is naturally BIG, and it definitely needs help in staying skinny and smaller.
As I discussed not too long ago, I really like the benefits my hair got from using a product called No Frizz by Living Proof. However, even that can’t keep out all humidity on those overbearingly hot ones where the air literally steams. Pretty much the only way your hair might look decent outdoors on days like that is if you’ve had the expensive japanese straightening done, because that really does lock out all humidity.
There are other ways to keep your hair shaft staying smooth and behaving itself though. One really good way to wake up with smooth hair is to sleep on a satin pillow case. This way your hair doesn’t snag and rough itself up on the pillow as you toss and turn at night, which is partially to blame when you wake up with bed head.
Another way to keep your hair smooth is to blast the A/C in your house. My mom and I were just talking about how when we sleep in really cool temps in A/C all night, our hair in the morning looks ten times better. That’s because A/C basically sucks moisture out of the air. Moisture is what makes your hair frizzy. When there is moisture in the air, that’s what creates humidity, and depending on how porous your hair is, it will suck it up and expand, hence creating that word you love “frizz”.
Blast your hair with a good rinse of cold water in the shower too, this helps not only boost shine but also helps to lock the shaft and protect it against humidity. Also, try using a great frizz reducing hair dryer. My dryer of choice now is the ionic FHI hair dryer. Sedu makes some great frizz fighting hair dryers too. It’s expensive, but it leaves your hair shinier and smoother and more humidity resistant than most other drug store brands of dryers.
I reviewed the anti frizz hair product No Frizz several months ago. At the time, I think it was fall or even winter. Now I wanted to update you with how this product holds up in the humidity of the summer. And here in Northeaster Ohio, it has been a sweltering, hot and sticky summer so far, so it’s the perfect time to try a powerful anti frizz hair product now.
I liked it when I tried it the first time, but I made the mistake of using this product only, and relinquishing the rest of my hair care products in favor of this one. Now, I am combining it with my other hair care product favorites, and getting better results.
My only complaint about using No Frizz by itself is that it does work on making your hair less frizzy, but it kind of makes it look dull and dry and reduces it’s “movement”. I think that movement is half the key to having really pretty hair. When it moves freely and also looks frizzless and glossy and healthy, this is what really makes it look healthy and beautiful.
No Frizz by itself, without any added glossers. was making my hair less frizzy, but it just had no movement and no gloss. What I do now in the summer is I mix about a quarter size of No Frizz (it is true that the more generously you use it, the better it works, unfortunately because of the hefty price tag) with my Aveda Universal Styling creme, which I think helps add shine and movement.
I also spray some Bumble and Bumble hair spray on my roots to give it a bit more lift. And of course, I top it off by blowing it dry with my treasured new FHI anti frizz hair dryer. It all results in more body, more bounce, and less frizz, even in the humidity and heaviness of the air when you go outside.
I don’t wash my hair very often, so the effects last even longer. I try to go every two to three days, or until I can’t stand it any more, because my scalp tends to dry out if I wash it too often. Plus I think that it’s bad for your hair to wash it every single day.
So, when I was recently on a trip to South Carolina to visit family with my husband, I came across a brand that I’d seen in Target a couple times before, only it seemed like the Target out there had more types of products from this particular brand name, Organix.
Since I absolutely LOVE real, natural coconut scent, I went for it. I also went for it because it promised to hydrate dry, tired hair, and since my hair tends to be on the frizzier, drier side normally and I try to counteract that naturally tendency with the best products and appliances, like that FHI hair dryer I just reviewed, I thought this would be the perfect product trial for me.
So I ended up with the short, squat round bottle or Organix coconut milk leave in conditioner, which you spray in your hair after you’ve washed it, and the Organix coconut milk shampoo. The product uses organic coconut milk, a food product that is not only delicious to eat, but also has a lot of great qualities when added to skin and hair care products for moisturizing and protecting. It also uses egg white proteins to help strengthen the hair and help it to hold up to the every day ravages we put it through (aka styling, heat, product buildup, porosity, etc.)
It also uses “weightless coconut oils” to help moisturize and protect. I was sold. So, I tried the shampoo first. It lathered into a nice enough lather, but I did need to shampoo a second time because my hair was pretty dirty, not having been washed for three days.
It had an awesome coconut scent that was all natural, not one of those phony scents that doesn’t smell like the real deal at all. It did leave my hair feeling soft. I did not use the conditioner because I didn’t buy it, but I liked the shampoo because it didn’t dry my hair out. It’s also very reasonably priced, and I would say it performed similarly to Nexxus Therappe shampoo, which also has a similar texture and coconut-y smell.
The leave in conditioner I really loved. It left my hair lightly scented, and feeling more weightless and bouncy than before. Plus, I feel like I’m moisturizing my hair by using this product as well, an extra step outside of conditioning in the shower, which is probably good for those of us that don’t wash our hair every day, giving it extra protection.
The spray also contains panthonol and a silk protein complex, which are both well known to increase hair’s elasticity and strength. Also a good buy at just over five bucks. You can find these products at Target.
Ok, so my old Sedu Hair Dryer sort of bit the dust finally after a few years of use, so I was on the hunt for a new, salon quality hair dryer that I could use that had the same type of ionic technology which helps to smooth out the hair cuticle and help protect it from damage, as well as to help it dry much faster, saving it from being exposed to long periods of heat exposure and of course, saving me from spending a long time doing something that I can’t stand. Yes, I can’t stand blowing dry my hair, it drives me nuts.
So, I plunged and bought the small appliance, paying just shy over a hundred bucks for it on Amazon. Not bad for a professional dryer, but I thought it better really live up to the great reviews it gets or I’d be returning it as quickly as I got it. I have now used it twice, and I can tell you, it’s getting a very good review from me personally.
The FHI Nano Ionic hair dryer has a few settings. It has cold, warm and dry, and it has a high and low setting. Some may want more settings, but I get a little too confused when there are too many settings to pick from, so I like the fact that there are only a few. It comes with too attachments as well, one diffuser which is something I never use, and one concentrated attachment which helps the air to be more concentrated in certain areas, and some swear by it. I personally almost never use attachments. I feel like I get a faster result when I don’t.
There is also a cold blast button located under the front nozzle of the dryer which I have used both times that seems to impart a nice shine and also seems to help tame the hair and make it look even smoother and more manageable, so I really like that feature as well because unlike other cool shot buttons on cheap models, it actually seems to do something.
Here’s what I love about the FHI Nano ionic hair dryer :
1.) Fast drying time. I got my long hair done, and I mean completely done, in less than ten minutes. This is awesome, since my hair usually takes fifteen or more minutes, and looks like a dried out brillo pad after even a few minutes under a regular dryer.
2.) My hair was genuinely more manageable and even seemed to be rid of a lot of weird cowlicks I tend to get and the unruly parts of my bangs were more smoothed down and manageable.
3.) My hair looked great when I was done rather than fried and dried like it does with other dryers.
I’d recommend this dryer to anyone. I’m hoping it will last a long time and I haven’t really read reports that it’s one of those dreaded dryer that dies quickly, so I think this may be a beauty essential of mine for years to come!
Summer is upon us, and you know what that means? Not just fun in the sun and lazy summer days, but it also means that if you have hair like mine or 3/4 of the other women out there, you’re almost assuredly going to experience quite a few “bad hair days” thanks to the humidity and what it does to your hair. Humidity actually makes your hair frizzy and unmanageable because it penetrates the cortex, and expands the hairs individually, making them larger and unruly looking. I can’t tell you how many mornings I’ve woken up with huge hair thanks to a humidity soaked slumber.
But there are some things you can do to help your hair stay calm and smaller in the summer on those nasty high humidity days, it just takes a little practice, and the right hair care products. Let’s talk first about your environment. Ever notice how when you’re in air conditioning, your hair seems to instantly calm down, but when you step outside to the moisture soaked air, your hair again becomes a haystack?
That’s because air conditioning takes some of that humidity and heat out of the air. I notice that when we have the a/c on in our house at night, my hair is much smoother and calmer in the morning vs. when we just have a fan in the window without the a/c on.
I’m not saying you have to constantly be in the a/c, but if you have an important event to attend the next morning and it’s hot and humid, you may want to consider it so you don’t wake up with nightmare hair. You may also want to consider using a high end salon quality hair dryer that uses ionic technology to smooth the hair cuticle. Many women who use these (myself included) swear by their humidity resistant powers. Will they make your hair smooth all day long? Not necessarily, but they definitely give your hair the smooth staying power edge over a normal hair dryer. Definitely worth looking into.
Some of the best brands are FHI and Sedu if you’re looking for a good one. Using a good ceramic ionic flat iron or curling iron will also help to safely seal your hair’s cuticle so that it is more resistant to the humidity. Finally, you want to make sure you are using the right haircare products to help control the frizz by making your hair humidity proof. Living Proof Zero Frizz is one that I’ve tried that I like, but I don’t use it alone, I use it with Universal Styling Creme by Aveda.
It’s summer time again, and although that means all kinds of fun in the sun, chlorinated pools, and UV exposure that gives us that added zip, it also means that we must protect our hair from the damage UV rays and chlorine can inflict, plus the humidity aspect which makes our hair look frizzy.
During the preparations for season change you can help yourself and prevent big damage. Did you know that just like the skin, your hair can suffer from the sun by exposing it on high temperature? However, you should definitely think of sun protection, but we often forget that we need to extend the use of sunscreens to our hair as well.
There are everyday activities and situations that can expose your hair to damage like gel, hair dryers, curling irons, hair spray, and more. Also UV rays can dry out your hair and fade your hair color. This summer, select a proper shampoo and conditioner formulated to protect your hair against UV rays. You can also use some great hair care products on your hair that block UV rays from frying it.
It won’t be a summer vacation if you don’t expose your body to the sun. Have you ever thought how does the sun affect your hair? The main thing that most of us don’t notice is the damage from the sunlight. Sun’s rays can be particularly damaging to your hair. All you need to do is follow some tips and advice from your stylist. Least you can do is to put a hat. Cover up with style.
You’ll do your hair a big favor and save yourself some headache. It may also be necessary to add a moisturizing treatment to your hair care routine. Try some masque once or twice a week in place of your conditioner. Moisture may be the key during the summer.
When it comes to swimming pay attention to the benefits of swimming for your body and think what it might be doing to your hair. The best way to protect your hair from the effects of chlorine is to wear a swim cap. Chlorine draws moisture from the hair, so a shower cap offers the best protection if you swim very often. Always protect your hair when you expose in the sun, use some UV protection product or cover your hair with a hat or scarf, it will be enough for the hair to feel protected.
If you decide to color your hair, you must remember that chemically treated hair is more sensitive to environmental conditions such as sun, water and humidity, which have a big influence upon your hair.
Some useful information that offers you great body and hair during this summer is never washing your hair with warm water, and try avoiding washing with freezing cold water. Comb your hair whenever possible to remove the dust in your hair as well as to keep it gentle. Nobody wants to spend an hour perfecting the hair while the others around you enjoy on the sun. Follow some of these tips, your hair will thank you for it.
I just received an email from a L’Oreal representative telling me about a new professional grade haircolor that they will have available for professional stylists soon called INOA. What does the INOA stand for? Well I wondered that myself when I read about it at first. It stands for Innovation No Ammonia. What is so significant about this? Well, ammonia is extremely damaging to the hair, and this product does not contain ammonia, and yet is supposed to give 100% grey coverage and professional results.
It uses what is called an ODS (Oil Delivery System), which delivers the color to the hair shaft, and provides more lipid protection to your hair (which means that the chemicals do not penetrate and therefore your hair doesn’t receive as much of the damaging results, drying out, etc.) Be sure to check out more info on this product if you are a professional hair stylist in the upcoming issues of Modern Salon and American Salon magazines.
A lot of people, including myself sometimes, tend to treat our hair the same way in the summer as we do in the winter time. While it is true that your hair needs TLC, especially during certain times, in the summer and the winter, it may need special attention for drying and sun damage prevention in the summer that may not be needed when the temperatures are cold outside.
The one thing that a lot of people don’t protect their hair against in the summer time is the sunlight. Sun’s rays can be particularly damaging to your hair. Not only can they dry your hair out, but they can also quickly fade that nice dye job you just got, or they can also make your highlights look too light or too drab and dried out. So, to protect your hair from the damaging UV rays, I recommend you use either a protective spray, or a special color protectant conditioner.
Most color extending or protecting conditioners and leave in products contain a sunscreen that helps screen out those damaging UV rays. One of my favorites in this category is the L’Oreal line of Color Vive products that contains UV in a lot of the line, including the conditioner. It coats your hair in protection so that the light cannot fade your hair too much. There are also a few protective sprays that not only protect against the heat of styling tools for you hair like curling irons and flat irons (see our Sedu page), but they also contain tiny microspheres of UV protectant as well.
You should really be mindful of protecting your hair against chlorine damage as well. Remember, chlorine is a chemical that is very similar to bleach, and we all know how harsh and drying bleach is on the hair, so if you take a dip in that chlorine saturated pool, then make sure you do a deep conditioning later on, and make sure you rinse your hair with nonchlorinated water soon after it is exposed so that you can avoid much of the damage and discoloration it can cause.
Humidity is another huge factor that we have to be mindful of in the summer. Humidity basically gets into our hair, and expands it, making it appear large and bushy. Mine really reacts to humidity this way, while some people’s hair actually gets flatter. Mine gets fatter – way fatter, and I have to use good anti humidity hair care products to keep the humidity from turning my hair into a huge spectacle.
Remedies for Porous Hair
My hair has really been dealt a damaging blow after I unwittingly colored the base color myself, and then only days later went and got it highlighted. I think the stylist also over highlighted my hair and let it develop to too light a color as well, but at any rate, my hair isn’t looking too good these days. In fact, it’s looking downright porous and fried on most days when I blow it dry. Especially on my wash days.
I have to use a ton of hair product just to cover up the damage, so that’s when I started doing some internet searches on good remedies for extremely porous, dried out hair. I came up with some really good natural ones actually that I hadn’t heard of before to help treat this condition. I already have a million conditioners in my collection, but what I need was an intense treatment or remedy directed at porosity, which was my problem.
So I found a few that I’ll share with you today. Obviously, the first one is to use an extremely emollient, thick conditioner. Try using a conditioner that is “deep conditioning” or is for damaged or dry hair specifically. This helps to fill in he porosity and make your hair “whole” again.
Porous hair also responds horribly to moisture in the air (humidity). Because it is so porous and “holy”, it soaks up moisture, and expands rapidly, making your hair look big and frizzy – not a good combo.
Ok, here goes the remedies I found for porous hair then. The first one is apple cider vinegar, or ACV. If you spritz this in your hair as a rinse, and can stand the bitter smell (beware not to get it in your eyes), then you will notice a difference in the shine and reduced porosity in your hair. It’s got a great natural acid in it that helps seal and coat the hair shaft to reduce porosity. It’s cheap, and it’s all natural.
Another natural remedy for porous hair is coconut oil. I know, you’re afraid it might weigh your hair down, right? Just use it sparingly, or use it as a night treatment and then be sure to rinse it out in the morning if you like. Coconut oil is a great beauty remedy to have around for a plethora of other problems as well. Some even use it as a natural sunscreen and moisturizer for their skin. If you don’t like oil, you can try cocoa butter, just be sure to get the real stuff.
In addition to an apple cider vinegar rinse, you can also try a beer rinse. The hops and natural acids in the beer do the same thing as apple cider vinegar, they help to nourish and coat and protect the hair.
Older Posts »
