What does your hair need?

I have had a lot of separate posts to help your hair with certain things but if you don't already know what your hair needs then you don't know which article to look at which doesn't make them helpful at all. Today I want to help guide you to the right post for you. I don't have all the solutions yet but I have covered some of the most popular hair problems.

If your hair basically looks like someone rubbed a balloon all over your head and there are just tons of (or some) baby hairs just sticking up all over the place then you want to read  Miss Frizz. It goes over ways to get rid of that awful frizz and the best products to help with that.

If your hair is weak and always breaking off whenever you do anything with it then you will want to read the Steps to Happier Healthier Hair. I use the products talked about in this blog and I take the vitamins, they really help! My hair has dramatically changed, its so soft and hardly ever tangles, not to mention the strength has improved dramatically. If you follow these steps on a regular basis then in time you will see amazing improvements. I have a similar post that requires a lot of the same steps but has a few that are different, its called 7 Tips for Growing Out Your Hair and of course it helps you to grow out your hair.

When your hair gets healthier though, it gets a lot harder to create your own volume so I also created a blog to help you get that bigger hair that you want, it's called Redken Quick Tease 15 that is actually the product to help with that. Another thing that can help with volume is Dry Shampoo. Dry Shampoo also helps with greasy hair.

Last but not least if you have difficulty curling your hair like I used to then my blog, Stubborn Curls, is perfect or you.

I am her to help you if you have any questions so please Contact me if you have any questions!

Miss Frizz

Have you ever tried to get ready in the morning and all those little baby hairs are poking out everywhere and it’s just frizzy? You keep trying to hairspray it down or even lick it down until you end up with either really crispy hairs sticking straight up or you get very greasy looking crunchy hair that is at least laying down.  Either way it’s not looking real good and you probably would much rather have gone with the non-hair sprayed hairs sticking up everywhere rather than what you ended up with.

Lucky for you there has been the best products made for this, Redken’s Frizz Dismiss Line. I used this on a friend and it worked amazingly, I really was not too sure how well it would work especially since she had a ton of frizz that I could not get to lay down with anything! I put in oil and flat ironed it, I hair sprayed it a bit, nothing would work. Then I decided to grab the Frizz Dismiss Smooth Force and it worked… well, instantly!!! Ever since then, that is my go-to product with any sign of frizz. It is instant perfection. I am going to give you a how-to for each product and in what order you should use them. Now if you don't want to try out products there is a trick that sometimes works but not always; spray the flat side of the comb with hairspray and then slide it from the roots of your hair and down the hair shaft to flatten the hairs that are sticking up. Remember it doesn't always work though. 

1. Of course we always need to start with the shampoo and the conditioner; the frizz dismiss line does have its own shampoo and conditioner for frizz problems. Don’t be afraid to use different shampoos and conditioners if you have a frizz problem and a moisture problem then feel free to mix and match the Frizz Dismiss shampoo with the Hydrating conditioner, or the hydrating shampoo with the Frizz Dismissconditioner. The only thing with this is that you will only get a partial result from both of them; you won’t get the best result if you go with this route. Just make sure that you’re using professional products, none that you buy at a grocery store. Now for the application of the shampoo and conditioner, this may seem pretty obvious but it isn’t always. You need to shampoo twice and then condition your hair. If this is obvious to you then I’m glad, but for me I really had no idea until I went to beauty school. For those of you who do shampoo twice I’m sure that you have noticed that you get more suds the second time that you wash your hair, this is because when your hair is more dirty it is less able to create suds. It’s a great way for determining how dirty your hair got before washing it.

2. Next use the Frizz Dismiss mask while you’re still in the shower after you have rinsed the conditioner out of your hair. Leave the mask in for about 3 to 5 minutes. This is a more intense treatment of the Frizz Dismiss line. It is so worth it to do every couple of weeks. I hope you have all done a hair mask at least once; if you haven’t then please get one done the next time you see your stylist. Your hair literally feels like silk after putting a mask on your hair. I personally can’t stop playing with my hair after getting one done.

3.  This step goes by hair type but each need to be done after your shower and once the hair is at least towel dry. I prefer putting products in while the hair is towel dry because it helps spread the product evenly throughout your hair; however a few hairstylists argue that putting a product in while the hair is still damp just waters down the product. Do what feels most comfortable for you, if you put it in while dry rub the product in your hands for a bit and then wrap your hands around your hair while you apply it to make sure it spreads evenly and you don’t end up getting a big clump of product in one location.

A. For Course hair use Frizz Dismiss Rebel Tame this product works the same as a leave in conditioner, it is cream based so you will want to use a little (maybe more than little if you have a lot of hair), rub it into your hands then apply. Do not just smack it onto your hair, it will be too much in one spot and will not spread evenly. This product helps smooth down the hair as well as protect your hair from a humid climate. Please put this product in your hair before styling as it is also a heat protector but only up to 446 degrees. You can add more after styling if needed.

B. For medium/ coarse hair use Frizz dismiss instant deflate this product is an oil based product that reduces frizz. It will protect your hair in humid climates and protects your hair from heat styling tools so make sure to put it in before styling your hair. Don’t use a styling tool that goes beyond 446 degrees because it won’t protect you beyond that. You can add more after styling if needed.

C. For fine to medium hair use Frizz Dismiss Smooth Force. This is the one that I used on my friend and I absolutely love it and it works just like the products above just in spray form and it has all the same benefits and heat protecting limits. The only difference is that it is meant for finer hair. If you get hair that looks like someone just rubbed a balloon all over your head then please use this… it honestly helps. I have never had a product work so perfectly before in my life! The other products are great but you still have to work them a little, this one just does all the work for you, it’s the ultimate WOW factor. Just make sure you get the right one for your hair type.

4. If you still have fly aways in your final look then use the Frizz Dismiss Fly Away Fix Finishing. This one is meant to only be used in the final phase and it’s almost like rubbing a dryer sheet on your head I found an article that shows you how to do a French pull through braid ponytail and they had this photo in it that shows you how to use this product, just simply rub it in the direction that you want it to lay down. 

I have had products amaze me in the past but none that literally made me say “WOW”. I even said it right in front of my client which totally gave it away that I have never used the product before then…not really what you want. It was worth it though to get that amazing finished look that I was going for.

Steps to happier healthier hair

Hair is one of the most important features on our body in my opinion. It tells everyone who we are and what our personality is like. It tells them what we are doing that day, if we’re working out, just woke up, going to work or a dance. It gives us an identity. So why don’t we always treat it that way? We bleach it and color it and forget to apply a heat protector before applying heat, and the list goes on. I want to tell you a few things that you can do to help your hair feel better and be healthier. These steps are extremely similar to my earlier blog 7 tips for growing out your hair Out. Having healthier hair causes hair growth, however it is not completely similar because there are some things that you don’t need to do to keep it healthy if you’re not worried about hair growth.

1. Biotin Vitamin: Take this everyday! It really does help This provides supplements that you hair needs to keep it strong and healthy. This is not a quick fix, you won’t see the results for a couple of years but it is worth the wait.

2. Avoid washing your hair too much: over washing your hair can cause it to dry up and get damaged. I go into detail about hair types and tips to help avoid washing your hair too soon on my post about Dry Shampoo. Most people wash their hair too much and you can use Dry Shampoo to help reduce the amount of oil build up, but please read my post about how to use it. The curlier your hair is the less you should wash it. There are oils that are produced in your scalp that need to reach your ends and they can overproduce if you wash your hair too much. My hair is stick straight and I should only wash it every couple days or so. If your hair is long then it can make it difficult for the oils to reach the ends of your hair which leads me to my next step.

3. Oil: Add oil to the ends of your hair after every wash. As I said before the oil produced by your scalp needs to reach your ends to help with moisture, if your hair is long or if you wash it too soon then the oil cannot reach the ends of your hair. I would suggest using Redken Diamond oil or Moroccan oil, they will also help with shine, heat protection, reduce split ends and moisture. Only use a small dab of it and only apply it to your ends.

4. Shampoo and Conditioner: Choose wisely because they can either help or hurt your hair. There are many options out there but professional products are the best way to go since store bought products use waxes to give you a temporary feeling of softness and moisture when in reality it is not helping your hair at all. I personally use Pureology strength cure shampoo and conditioner and I can really feel the difference. They also have a mask and fabulous lengths that work great if you use it all together. This can definitely help your hair but the most important thing is to know your hair well, know its problems and its strengths. Redken has a great list here to help guide you to what shampoos and conditioners would work best with your hair type/problems.

5. less heat: heat causes a lot of damage whether it’s a flat iron, curling iron, or a blow dryer. It can be really hard not to use heat styling products especially when you need your hair to do what you need it to now, not in a couple of hours. It pays off to wait though, If you let your hair dry while you do make up and/or eat you may be surprised how quickly it dries. You can let your hair air dry or wrap it in a Turbie Twist Microfiber Hair Towel, I love them! To make my hair dry more quickly I will put my hair in the turbie twist and then after some time I will pull some hair out of the turbie twist (if your hair is long you may need to completely undo the turbie twist, take some hair down, then re-do the turbie twist with the rest of the hair). Once the hair Itook out is dry then I will take some more hair out…I do this because it takes longer to dry when it is clumped together with so much wet hair, doing it piece by piece saves time. I know not styling your hair can be difficult, but even putting it into a ponytail can be bad. If you do decide to put it up use a softer band that doesn't grab your hair, I have heard that plastic coil hair bands work great and they don't leave a dent! If you decide to use heating tools then take the time to section your hair out that way the heat won’t need to be on your hair as long. Also please use a heat protector! I personally love Pureology's Colour Fanatic and Redken's United One. They both provide so many other benefits such as conditions, de-tangles, adds shine, prevents split ends, smooths, etc; on top of all of that they smell awesome!

6. no ratting, backcombing, or poofing: This isn’t always the kind of damage you see right away but it will bite you in the butt eventually. This is hard for me because I love big hair but doing this ruffles your hair shafts and the layers are damaged which creates breakage later on. If you love doing this as much as I do then I would suggest looking into using Pureologys’ Strength Cure line. It helps prevent the split ends and strengthen your hair.

This may be a lot of work but if you want your hair to look like those girls in the Pantene commercials then you better get to it. 

Redken Quick Tease 15

If you have read a couple of my older posts then you know that I love to poof my hair. I love big hair! However my hair is so flat that it is difficult to get any volume at all. I was so happy once I finally learned about Redken's Quick Tease 15. It's so simple to use and it really helps to make your hair BIG!

To use it you will want to work with sections. take a skinny rectangular section and spray the Quick Tease 15 on the bottom where you will back comb, only use a little. Then get a back-combing comb and tease it up. Do this again, section by section until you tease every part that you wanted teased. Leave it up and messy while it dries standing up. Then start with the last section you teased and bring it down and clean it up, shape it to the form you want it take take. Once it is formed take down the next section. Continue this until you have finished cleaned and forming all the sections.

I have never had a product work this well for me before. The only thing that has come close is Big Sexy Hair's What a Tease. but that product doesn't allow a lot of working time and it sticks in whatever shape it was formed into even if it was a mistake. Quick tease is flexible while also keeping its hold. I use this product pretty much every day.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Pureology Strength Cure line review

Today I will be reviewing Pureology's Strength Cure line, I briefly mentioned it before in my 7 tips for growing out your hair post. I personally use this product and will not use anything else. The thing to keep in mind is that it takes time for the results to show and it's best to use them simultaneously for best results.

If you don't want to use them all together then I would suggest choosing the shampoo and conditioner. You're guaranteed to use them regularly, the other things may be neglected and to get best results you need something you can commit to using regularly. I started out just using the shampoo and conditioner. It made my hair feel better right away, it was soft and silky and stayed that way for a longer period of time. It also helped with the tangles. I have bleached my hair in the past and I also back comb it (I know its not good for the hair), so needless to say I get split ends easily. It obviously didn't fix the split ends right away but after time I could feel that my hair was much stronger and the ends of my hair became less straggly and more thick. Every month my hair gets stronger and stronger. I was travelling for two weeks and went without the shampoo and conditioner during that time and I was having non stop bad hair days, I don't plan on ever using any other shampoo or conditioner.

The last three products that I would pair with the shampoo and conditioner is the mask, fabulous lengths and split end salve. I would only use the mask once every two weeks or once a month depending on how dry your hair is. You would want to use it after the conditioner and only use a small amount and apply it to your ends, you can choose to use a wet brush to comb it through your hair, many stylists choose to do that. leave it in for 3 to 5 minutes and then wash it out. This is a more intense conditioner and has higher levels of protein. One person put it perfectly that it "makes your hair feel like butter without weighing it down." (found in the reviews on the site above). The next product is the fabulous lengths. Once your hair is towel dry then add a little (pea size) of this to the ends of your hair then add the split end salve. The fabulous lengths not only helps the split ends but is also a heat protector. The split end salve works to fix and reduce breakage and split ends.

I honestly would give the Pureology strength cure line 5 stars. My hair went through a lot and I waited three years for it to get better but it was still very damaged, then I got my hands on these products and my hair was better within 6 months. My hair still needs more time to heal but I can tell I am close to having my own fabulous lengths!

What makes my site different from all the rest?

While analysing my own blog, I would like to refer you to My Purpose page. It can give you more information about why I chose to blog about this subject. I don't provide helpful tips OR products, I provide them both simultaneously. My tips come in the perfect package of ideas, how-to's and product suggestions and usage. I personally haven't found that on any other site; usually it's just how-to's. If they do offer a product suggestion then they don't tell you how to use it.. It's extremely important to put these things together because if you only know how to do something half way then you won't get the best results and no one would visit my blog again. The most important thing is that I don't suggest anything that I don't truly believe in.

Right now I am mainly focusing on hair but I plan to open that up to more options such as make-up tips and nail tips/styles in the future. I'm definitely at a beginner level with my posts and hope to improve that this semester. I haven't had any posts with comments so I am honestly not sure which ones are/could be most popular. I believe the content is solid and the tips are some you can't find anywhere else.

I am pretty new to this though so I don't have any other sites linked with this one, although I do hope to do that in the future. I do want to improve the layout and categorize my posts better to make it more user friendly. In the end I think I have a great thing here I just need to market myself.

Sexy Man Bun

We have all seen the new fad of Man Buns. Everyone wants one, even if they're too embarrassed to admit it. They're sexy and here's a list for more reasons why they're awesome....if they're worn right, if not then they can look pretty gross. I found a list of the top 25 Greatest Man Buns In The History Of Hair. I personally only think that like 5 are good. A lot of them are small and unappealing. I prefer the really long and thick curly ones similar to the ones in this list.

It can be very difficult to grow a Man Bun though. There are a lot of awkward phases including the Justin Bieber phase. I found the perfect guide to help you with the Man Bun, it's called How to Get a Man Bun Hairstyle Guide. Please check this out if you're trying to grow a Man Bun. It teaches you everything from what a Man Bun is to how to tie the Man Bun once it is grown out. This blog also talks about the types of Man Bun hairstyles that there are. You can choose a hipster man bun that typically also has a bread, or you can choose a semi bun (topknot). Sometimes it can be hard to do the straight line cut and you may prefer a fade.

I remember when Man Buns were just starting and I hadn't quite learned about them yet or ven seen them. A man sat down in my chair and he wanted a Man Bun Undercut. It was hard to know what he wanted without any photos to show and a language barrier, not too mention being taught that leaving lines without a perfect fade is terrible. Eventually we got on the same page and I gave him what he wanted, poor guy for having to go through that with me though. Now the fad is out and about though and my suggestion to you would be that if you're planning on getting your hair done based on a really new fad then bring photos.

Either way I hope that the man bun is here to stay for longer than a fad.

Hair Romance Blog Review

Hair Romance Blog is a successful blog in my niche and as I searched through it, I can tell that there are many photos which I love; it makes it very easy to follow. Below are some questions that my teacher asked me to consider while analyzing their blog. If you’re interested in blogging then I would definitely encourage you to ask the same questions t other bloggers in your niche area.

Content:

What topics are they covering?

·         Friendship knot

·         Providing more uses for everyday products such as shampoo.

·         Glow in the dark hair trend

·         Manbraids

What topics are they ignoring?

·         Hair care

·         Hair cut styles

What voice/style do they post in?

·         Fun

·         Personal (Childhood memories)

 How often are they posting?

·         Every 2 to 3 days

What level are they pitching their posts at (beginners, advanced etc)

·         I assume advanced

Reader Engagement:

What topics generate most conversation?

·         All of them have some form of conversation, many people are regulars and they simply state that they love the post or they add more valuable information.

What questions are readers asking in comments?

·         No one really asks questions, it’s more comments about loving her posts

What complaints do you see readers making in comments?

·         I’m not sure If she is filtering them out but I haven’t seen any complaints at all. I mean who would complain about hairstyling tips anyway?

What tools/mediums is the site using (eg: are they using Twitter, forums etc)

·         She is using a html site with Google plus, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, etc.

Design:

What first impression does their design give?

·         It is simple and not too crowded or overwhelming and it’s very simple to follow.

What have they done well?

·         I think she nailed it on the head with the photos that already tell you what the blog is about before reading the description.

What have they done poorly?

·         I think the layout is maybe a little too simple.

What Options do they give readers to subscribe?

 The site primarily offers a RSS feed for subscription she also allows various social media sites like the ones I listed above.

I hope you enjoyed this and can use it in your future.

Another blog to your liking

This girl not only looks great but she knows her stuff, her blog is full of how-to’s and it’s really easy to follow. She can show you how to make Taylor Swift curls to how to help tame your naturally curly hair. Not only that, but she helps navigate you through hat hairstyle you should have for which face shapes. Your face shape can tell you everything you need to know from the perfect hairstyle to the perfect way to contour your make-up.

 I was actually sad to find out that I have the perfect ideal oval face shape. It’s the shape that everyone contours their make-up and styles their hair to create a similar look. I always wanted to have one of those amazing make-over’s where I go in all lame and come out looking like a supermodel but you cant really work with my face shape in that way.

I love her hair product section, it is perfect for simply clicking on the condition you have and getting the exact products you need to fix it. However, I don’t always agree with her choices but most we see eye to eye on.

The last thing I would like to point out is her hair color chart section. It provides great ways on how to choose your hair color. My personal favorite part is her section on how to match hair color to your skin tone. I absolutely love it when people’s hair matches their skin tone perfectly. There is just something so beautiful about it.

Please check her out at http://hairstyle-blog.com/

7 tips for growing out your hair

Growing out your hair can be tricky and its hard to know where to start and not everyone gives the best tips. You can rely on my tips because I went to school for it and it helped me.

1. Biotin Vitamin: This provides supplements that you hair needs to keep it strong and healthy. This is not a quick fix, you wont see the results for a couple of years but it is worth the wait.

2. Avoid washing your hair too much: over washing your hair can cause it to dry up and get damaged. I go into detail about hair types and tips to help avoid washing your hair too soon on my post about Dry Shampoo.

3. Oil: The oil produced by your scalp needs to reach your ends to help with moisture, if your hair is long or if you wash it to soon then the oil cannot reach the ends of your hair. I would suggest using Redken Diamond oil or Moroccan oil, they will also help with shine and heat protection. Only use a small dab of it and only apply it to your ends.

4. Shampoo and Conditioner: Choose wisely because they can either help or hurt your hair. Professional products are the best way to go since store bought products use waxes to give you a temporary feeling of softness and moisture when in reality it is not helping your hair at all. I personally use Pureology strength cure shampoo and conditioner and I can really feel the difference. They also have a mask and fabulous lengths that work great if you use it all together.

5. less heat: heat causes a lot of damage whether its a flat iron, curling iron, or a blowdryer. Let your hair air dry or wrap it in a Turbie Twist Microfiber Hair Towel, I love them! I know not styling your hair can be difficult, but even putting it into a ponytail can be bad. If you do decide to put it up use a softer band that doesn't grab your hair, I have heard that plastic coil hair bands work great and they don't leave a dent! If you decide to use heating tools then take the time to section your hair out that way the heat wont need to be on your hair as long. Also please use a heat protector! I personally love Pureology's Colour Fanatic and Redken's United One. They both provide so many other benefits such as conditions, de-tangles, adds shine, prevents split ends, smooths, etc.

6. no ratting, backcombing, or poofing: This is hard for me because I love big hair but doing this ruffles your hair shafts and the layers are damaged which creates breakage later on.

7. Trim your hair every 3 months: This may seem counter productive but it helps get rid of split ends before they get to large. Please, please do this! It's a very important step, your hairstylists aren't just trying to get your money, it really helps.

I hope this helps you!

Stubborn Curls

For some, they wouldn't think twice about how to curl or how to make it last longer but for others (mainly people with stick straight hair like me or wavy hair that only wants to do its own thing) that's all you think about when you want to curl it for a girls night out.

The type of iron you use can make a difference but mainly it the technique and the products you use. Before you even sit down to curl your hair, a good tip is to damage it a little. Throw in some highlights or lowlights so that it ruffles up your hair shafts a bit.

I would suggest a smaller iron, preferably a 1" or smaller, but I wouldn't go much smaller than  3/4". The thing with smaller rods is you may need smaller sections which can take longer...there are exceptions to this rule however. I had a friend who had really long hair, and somewhat thick, and she would put her hair in a ponytail right on top of her head which made me think of The Grinch or the 80's and then she would curl the pony tail all at once. When she took the hair out of the pony tail her hair would look gorgeous. Her hair curls easily though. But it proves that curling is more in the technique that you use and not the rod size, however you do need a rod that can reach higher temperatures if your hair has a difficult time curling.

Once you get started it is a good idea to section it out in 1 inch x 1 inch sections. keep the sections smaller for tighter (more spiral like) curls, My suggestion is to keep them tight and then brush them out an hour later for looser curls that last, unless you're already going for the tight spiral look, then don't brush them out. Before curling spray the section with Redken Fashion Work 12 or any other kind of professional working spray (meaning not a spray from a grocery store like wal-mart), then curl the section. Now here is the most important part to making them last, after curling a section re-wrap the curl and pin it in place with Double prong clips, like this...


https://www.pinterest.com/pin/289004501057526991/

Cooling the hair in the form you want it in is the best way to make it last longer. Think of concrete, if you set it in a square form and then left it to dry without support it would lose its shape, but if you keep wood barriers around it to help it keep its shape until it is fully dry then it will stay in that form for pretty much ever. Plus its a great time to do your make-up.

After the hair is set (cool) take the pins out then spray it with Redken Control addict 28 or any other professional finishing spray. You can choose to do this all at once or section by section which helps get a more even finish.

As a person who personally has trouble getting curls to stick this has proven to not only last but I can wake up the next day and still have beautiful curls to work with. Although if you're still having trouble making it last add a step at the end. Once you get your finished look (like literally going to walk out the door) Then spray it once more with Redken Forceful 23 although I would caution you to be careful with this. It really makes your hair stick so you really need to make sure your hair is good to go before spraying this. It can also make it a little crispy and you will really want to make sure to spray this at about a foot lengths away from your head (you should really do that with any professional product but you really need to do that with this one) Also make sure to spray each part of your hair evenly with this, otherwise parts of your hair will hold while other parts fall out and its incredibly hard to fix after that without showering and starting all over.

I hope this helps you with your future girls night out. Feel free to contact me with questions or photos of how this worked out for you.

Braids

I found the perfect site to get you started braiding.If you have already started braiding there are more types of braids to look at on this website.

 For starters, work on the first two. They are the basics, one will become very natural to you and the other will be uncomfortable for awhile because you're doing it backwards. Most people find the inverted braid to be the uncomfortable one but for me it was the opposite. Do what is comfortable for you.

For braiding, I always find gel to be very helpful. For one, it holds the hair in place while I grab more. It also holds the fly-away's down to make a more clean and finished look. My personal favorite is from Redken, its called Redken Rewind 06. With this product you will only want to use a little bit. Just dab one finger in by barely touching the surface, it will be a little stringy but that's good. Take that finger and dab it together with the other fingers you braid with. Again, it will be stringy, it's supposed to do that. It can be fun to get distracted and just start playing with it. After that just braid normally, you may need to get more product while in the middle of braiding but that's to be expected. If it's easier, then you can put some product directly onto the hair that you're about to braid, place it midway through the strand that way you wont need to stop braiding for more product. You can also use this product for short hair styles if you wanted to spike up the hair a bit or use it to curl your hair. Put just a pea sized amount of product onto the strand right before curling it and then curl. It makes great texture and provides great hold.

They recently came out with a new product specifically for braiding that is called Redken Braid aid 03. Now to be perfectly honest, I haven't used this product too much but it works the same as the redken rewind. You will only want to use a small amount of product. It is also meant to help twist the hair while braiding and I have heard great things about it.

Feel free to send me pictures of your braids and please don't hesitate to ask me questions by emailing me.