Preparing Your Hair For Summer Loving!

Summer is around the corner, and with it comes beautiful highlights and fun in the sun. So, now is the time to start preparing your hair and making sure it is in the best condition possible to be ready for its summer demands. Here are a couple of tips to get your hair on the road to recovery.

Invest in a good deep conditioning treatment. I think sometimes we forget what a difference a deep conditioning treatment once a week can make. They go in and help rejuvenate the hair shaft from the inside out. A couple I would recommend would be Kevin.Murphy's Born.Again Treatment and Masque or Bumble and bumble's Mending and Quenching Masques. Start your shower routine by washing your hair and then applying the deep conditioner. Let it sit on your hair for about 10 mins as you go through the rest of your routine. You will be sure to notice the difference, and so will your hair.

Try to cut down on flat iron use. Flat irons are very hard on the hair; two hot plates are directly touching the hair. Try getting your hair as straight as possible during the blow dry. With the right brush and product, you can get the hair very sleek and smooth. If you must go back and iron, make sure you have your flat iron set on the proper temperature for your hair type. I think people often have their flat iron set much higher than what is necessary to straighten their hair. For fine hair, you should have it set at about 180 degrees. Coarser hair should have it set somewhere around the mid 200's. Anything higher than 300 is really for ethnic hair or extremely resistant curly hair. Start your flat iron on a lower temperature and slowly raise it until you find the appropriate temperature for you hair, keeping these guidelines in mind. Having it set too hot will damage the hair and cause it to become weak and start having breakage.

Before bringing on the highlights and sun-filled activities, make sure you prepare your hair. Though these tips are great for any time of the year, they are especially important when getting your hair ready for everything summer brings for it. Start now, your hair will thank you later!

Styling Tips: Styling Curly Hair

I love curly hair! Probably since my hair is naturally straight, I always wanted naturally curly hair. Anytime I meet someone with beautiful, natural curl and they feel like their curl is more of a burden because they don't feel they are able to style it properly so they opt to straighten it, it makes me sad. Any opportunity I get to educate people on how to properly style their curly hair I take. So for all of you curly hair people out there who feel like they struggle getting good curl and style out of your hair, this post is for you.

I feel the two tools that are key in achieving your optimal amount of curl and control of your curl is the proper product and a diffuser. It is amazing what a little a product and a diffuser can do to enhance your curly style, as well as make you feel like you are in control of your curls rather than feeling like they are in control of you. So, let's talk product!

In my experience, most people who are scared of their hair tell me how when they were growing up their hair was so frizzy and out of control. My response: now there is product for that! It is amazing the product they have out there for curly hair. One of my favorites is Bumble and bumble's Defining Creme. This product is great for getting the most curl out of your hair. It has enzymes in it that makes your hair want to curl more, similar to what they put in mascaras that make your lashes curl. Another great product is Kevin Murphy's Motion.Lotion, which is similar to Bumble's curl creme. These products also help to eliminate frizz.

Apply your curl creme (talk to your stylist about which one they think may be right for you, or research the two I mentioned above) to damp hair. If you are in a hurry, scrunch it in a little and you can be on your way. Or, if you have a little time pull out your diffuser. Diffusers are great for getting a little more curl out of your hair. The curls wrap themselves around the prongs on the diffuser and dry into place. Place the diffuser into your curls and let it sit for a minute. I like to set my dryer's heat setting to cool so you don't burn your scalp while you are letting the diffuser sit in your hair. Remove the diffuser from that section of hair and place it in another.

Continue this, moving around your head. For more body, you can flip your head over when you are diffusing the top. This will dry your hair away from where it usually lives and give you more lift and body on top. For more defined curls, you can take sections of hair and twist them around your finger into more defined pieces prior to diffusing. Try not to touch your hair too much while you are drying it. Touching curly hair too much while it is drying will add more frizz.

After you have gotten your hair to your desired dryness, apply a finishing product. One of my favorites is a little  of Bumble and bumble's Styling Wax. Take a small amount, rub it into your hands, and scrunch it into the ends of your hair. Another great one is Bumble's Brilliantine. This will just help add some polish and shine to your curls.

Embrace your curls! Take some time to play around and practice styling them. If you need to, set up a wash and blowdry appointment with your stylist and ask them to walk you through the different steps of styling. I believe with the right tools and knowledge of how to properly use those tools, every curly haired person can love the hair they wear.

 

 

Little Products You Can't Live Without: Tonic Lotion

One of my absolute favorite products is Tonic Lotion. It is one of those all around great products to have in your product drawer because of it's range of benefits. Tonic is one of Bumble and bumble's foundation products, the first step in your product regimen.  

A light leave in conditioner, Tonic is great for lubricating the hair to help with detangling, while also adding moisture back into your hair (this is especially important for those of us who live in drier climates, such as in the state of Utah). Additionally, it's Tea Tree Oil is great for keeping your scalp healthy.

Another great feature of Tonic Lotion is that it acts as a primer for your hair, similar to how you would use an eyeshadow or foundation primer to enhance the performance of your face makeup. Tonic is your hair primer, to prepare the hair for any additional products you are going to put in it, as well as to enhance the performance of those products.

Tonic can also be used to reactivate any products you have in your hair. Need to freshen up your look for a night out? Or, in a hurry in the morning and don't have time to start your look from scratch? You can mist some Tonic on your hair, dry it a little, and you're good to go! As a hairstylist, if there is one product that I recommend for my clients, Tonic Lotion is it. Little product, big benefits.