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.

 

 

LOVE KEVIN.MURPHY

Curious to know more about Australian product line Kevin.Murphy I blogged a product review about? Check out their blog:   
LOVE KEVIN MURPHY - Official Blog of Kevin Murphy International

or Facebook page:
Love Kevin Murphy

Although I am still an avid Bumble and bumble lover, I feel that Kevin.Murphy is a comparable line. I am really excited to be learning and working with this product line. So far I have really liked all the products I have tried; the more I use them the more I like them. Stay tuned for more product reviews on this line as I continue to get my hands on and use the different Kevin.Murphy products.

Dimensionalizing Dark Hair

Feeling bored with your dark hair? Want to do something different, but don't want to lighten it? Adding darker dimensional pieces is a great way to change up your look without adding maintenance. Whether you are naturally dark, or artificial, this technique can be exactly what you need to make you feel like you have a whole new style.

When talking to your stylist about adding dimension, you can decide whether you want to add one or two different colors, as well as what levels and tones you want those colors to be. For example, I would recommend adding a color that is at least two levels darker than your current hair color. In order to ensure you can tell that you colored your hair, it is essential there is enough of a level difference between your existing color and the color you are adding. You can also add a color that is between your current color and darkest dimensional color but has different total qualities, such as something that has more of a red or gold tone to it.

Placement is also something you may want to talk with your stylist about. See what ideas they have about how you may want to place the colors in the hair to best compliment your current style. You can also find pictures before your appointment as examples of elements you like and would hope to be able to achieve as an end result. Remember, though, that pictures are just referrences and visuals to help you and your stylist be on the same page as to the direction you are wanting to go with your hair. Don't come with the expectation that you will be leaving looking exactly like a particular picture. Coming with this expectation may be setting yourself up for disappointment since there are many factors that could come in to play such as hair type, texture, current color, etc. which may need to be addressed when deciding on your final style. 

Don't think that dark hair has to be one boring color. Dark hair can be fun and eye-catching, too. Next time you are feeling you need a little change but don't want to cut, think color!

REVIEW: Kevin Murphy Angel.Wash and Rinse

I recently changed salons, and have started using the Kevin.Murphy product line. I had heard of the line before, but didn't know much about it. I knew if I was going to start using it on clients I was going to have to learn about it, and fast. So, I got on the Kevin.Murphy website and did some serious product studying and tutorial watching.

Now that I have been using the product for a few weeks, I feel I can give a good review about one pair of products that is becoming one of my favorites for those of you out there with fine locks: Angel.Wash and Angel.Rinse. This shampoo and conditioner is specifically for the fine haired, whether you color it or prefer to keep it natural. They are also good for those of you who have fragile or damaged hair due to chemical processes (yes, you blondes out there, this is for you!).

The Angel.Wash is a gentle, volumizing cleanser. It is safe for use on colored hair, and actually helps with color retention. Milk protiens in this wash help calm frizzy hair that has suffered from long term exposer to chemical processes. The Angel.Rinse is a light-weight, volumizing conditioner. It adds moisture to your dry, tired ends, as well as helps repair your fragile hair.

One client in particular I had this week who I could tell benefited from this has long, fine hair that has been dark, to light, and now is dark again. As a result, her hair is fragile and tangles easily. After using this, her hair was much easier to brush through. Additionally, I could feel that her dry, damaged ends were noticeably softer and not quite as angry.

Any of you fine haired ladies out there who are wanting body, but also something that will keep your hair feeling soft and moisturized, this is for you! As a stylist, I have used different volumizing shampoos and conditioners and this is definitely one of my favorites. And again, for any of you who love to color and can tell your hair is starting to show the results, this is great for you as well to help mend and repair the bonds to help get your hair back to a healthier state. The next time you are in need of your washing products, give these a try!

People Who Inspire Me: Ramon Ayala

There are many people who inspire me, but probably the most surprising would be Ramon Ayala, aka Daddy Yankee. So, how could a reggaeton singer possibly inspire someone in the hair industry? Well, it has nothing to do with his hair, although I will say he does have a great style.  

Let's rewind a little to my college days, before I even went to hair school. I enrolled in a semester of Spanish, which I didn't really see coming because I had never had the desire to learn Spanish. But, I needed it for my degree and I told myself it would be a good thing to know in the long run. Oddly enough, something changed and I really became excited about learning Spanish.

After I moved home to go to hairschool, one of my friends introduced me to an artist from the world of reggaeton. Instantly I became hooked, and I asked him about more artists.  He told me I might like a guy named Daddy Yankee. I YouTubed him and at first wasn't that impressed, but on a second listen I fell in love with his music. The beat was addicting and even though I barely knew what he was saying, the music really spoke to me. The more I listened, the more I picked up on. One thing in particular was a phrase he sang at the end of a number of his songs, "El cielo es el limite" - "The sky is the limit". As I have begun to grow my career, this phrase has stuck with me.

Daddy Yankee built himself up from the bottom and now has a music career, owns his own record label, has his own non-profit organization to give back to his community, and is continuing to build and add to his empire. But it wasn't easy for him. He started at the bottom and has worked to the top. The sky is the limit for him; anything he wants to achieve he finds a way of doing so. He is an example to his fans of achieving your dreams. He is an example to me of not giving up, seeing what I want to achieve and finding a way of making it happen.

Everytime I feel stuck, frustrated, or that where I want to go with my career (or my life) seems impossible, I think to myself "El cielo es el limite". I have adopted Daddy Yankee's motto, if you will, as my own. I have realized that I can accomplish what I want to if I go for it and find a way of making it happen. Thank you Ramon Ayala, Daddy Yankee, for inspiring me to push myself to make it to the top of wherever I am wanting to be.

Professional Products at Walmart Prices..... What's the Catch?

You are walking down the shampoo aisle of your local Walmart, Target, etc. and you see professional products for sale, such as Bumble and Bumble, Matrix, Tigi, and more. You think, "Perfect, I can get professional quality shampoo and conditioner for less than what I would pay for it at my salon." What you really should be thinking is, "Salon quality product at Walmart? What's the catch?"

Everytime I see these products in stores like this, it makes me so angry. I always want to make a little sign that says "Don't buy these products!" Why? Because I don't think they should be allowed to sell these products to people under the pretense that they are the same as what you would buy at the salon. THIS IS NOT TRUE!!!

When you buy these products from your salon, they are quality guaranteed by the company. Additionally, they are picked specifically for you by your stylist to meet your unique hair needs. This is not the case when they are sold in stores. The quality of the product is not guaranteed by the company. In truth, most of these products are expired; they have been sitting on a shelf for who knows how long. Some have actually been watered down, so the performance of the product has been compromised. Others may be counterfeit. However, they are still being sold at close to salon prices in many cases. Some of these products have also been discontinued, again going back to the fact that have been sitting on a shelf somewhere for a long period of time.

If you are truly wanting the benefits of professional products, do not buy them from anywhere but a salon or directly from the company website. This is the only way to ensure you are getting the real product and that it's quality and performance are guaranteed. Also, support your stylist by purchasing product from them. They know your hair, so trust they know which products would be best for you.

Got Gloss?

Today's color class at the salon was on glossing, which we brought in models for. As we were going through class, it got me thinking about the benefits of glossing and why more clients would enjoy getting this service. So, let's talk gloss!

A gloss is used to refresh color that has faded, which is great for keeping your color looking fresh between color services. Additionally, it adds shine and conditions your hair to help it look and feel healthier, sealing the outside layer of the hair to give life back to your tired ends. A gloss can also just be clear, so no color is being deposited but you are still getting the same conditioning benefits.

Another great thing about a gloss is that it is only about an hour service, including the blowdry. Done at the shampoo bowl, a gloss only sits on the hair for 20 minutes; you could think of it as an express color service. This is great because you don't always have 2 to 2 and a half hours to spend at the salon, but you feel like you need something to boost your look.

Want shiny, soft, healthier looking hair? Need to bring your faded color back to life? Ask your stylist about getting a gloss and see why this service is for you!