Search Results for: best of the best

Keneesha Hudson, the CEO of Urbanbella (the curly, kinky, wavy hair apothecary – it is seriously amazing), has some great tips for keeping curls gorgeous throughout the winter.

HYDRATE

As the weather starts to cool down, curly hair (already prone to dryness) gets even drier due to the crisper hair. Counteract this by increasing hydration hair therapy! Pump up moisture by giving your hair deep treatments more frequently than you normally do. Extremely dry textures can even do daily treatments.  It’s also not a bad idea to head to the salon for a professional steam hydration therapy.

For an at-home recession friendly (but still spa-worthy) experience, towel wrap your deeply conditioned tresses for 20 minutes after at least every other shampoo before rinsing.

Moisture-Rich Product Favorites:

Ouidad 12 minute Deep Treatment
Phytokarite
Miss Jessie’s Rapid Recovery

UPDATE YOUR LOOK

Everyone loves to rock a new look as the season changes.  Try a new play on color by leaning toward the cinnamon and bronze hues.  Have 2 to 3 tones foiled in at the salon blending both highlights and low lights for a more natural look.  Don’t be afraid to throw a splash or two of honey blonde to pick-up the beautiful colors of the fall season!

LONGER LASTING STYLES

Cooler weather means that ladies rockin’ the curls, kinks and/or waves like to spend less time washing hair and airing dry. Some of the best ways to avoid this is to “preserve” your style at night and refresh your look each morning. For loose waves, twist hair in large (cigar size) or larger plaits/braids at night. For tighter curls and kinks use clips or bobby pins to secure hair close to the head or twist at night. Remove clips in the morning and fluff hair at the roots. Be sure to use a firm styling gel or styling cream on wash day to help preserve your look.

Is your hair prone to frizzies and fly-aways?  For dry, loose curls spray a light refresher spay that contains a balance of oil and water and twirl curls with finger to pull frizz together for a defined curl. Tighter curls and kinks need a heavier refresher blend of water and glycerin product to hydrate the ends and then simply finger comb curls to de-frizz.

Product Favorites for Refreshing Curls:

Kinky Curly Spiral Spritz – Create Hydration with minimum hold
DevaCurl Set It Free
Jane Carter Solution Revitalizing Leave-In Spray
CURLS Quenched Curls– Use daily or alone as a second day curl refresher

SCALP

The cool crispy winter air is a trigger for scalp problems for those who typically never have to worry about scalp issues, and it is torture season for ladies who battle with it all year long! Before the temperature dips from low to lower, start a regimen of regular scalp treatments. Treatments like these balance out the scalp flora preventing fungus and also provide excellent hydration. Use a good blend of essential oils such as Phytopolleine or Jane Carter Solution Scalp Renew prior to shampoo and your seasonal dry scalp with be a thing of the past. For the flaky, itchy dry scalp, pump up the treatment by using Phytosquame or Jane Carter Solution Scalp Nourishing Serum. These potions exfoliate the scalp and eliminate flakes associated with eczema, psoriasis, and cradle cap, all conditions aggravated by the dry fall and winter air.

Thanks to Kaneesha for all of these fantastic tips!

I have fallen in love with a hair dryer and must shout it from the rooftops.

The Sedu 4000i. This powerful bad boy is the king of smooth. Take a look for yourself!

OMG. Please don’t dwell on that first photo as it was VERY EARLY in the morning. (The things I will do to spread the word about hair products, I swear.)

Armed with a round brush, your favorite heat protectant and the Sedu, you can whip that crazy hair into shape in minutes!

Start by combing your hair with a wide-toothed comb. (Mine is from Sephora.)

Add you favorite smoothing/heat protectant. On this particular day, I used Redken Satinwear Ultimate Blow Dry Lotion.

(Others I like are Kerastase Chroma Riche Leave-In Treatment, Bumble and Bumble Styling Lotion, Matrix Sleek Look Sealing Serum, Sedu Moisturizing Heat Protecting Boost and my absolute very favorite on the entire planet, Kerastase Nectar Thermique. Which is an entire post in itself. Seriously, it is worth EVERY PENNY.)

Work the product through your hair.

Oh, wait. For those of you with sideswept bangs, go ahead and knock those out by drying them in the OPPOSITE direction of how you want them to lay. Seems counterintuitive, but it works! See?

Okay. Separate your hair into sections.

Start drying away!

Remember to keep the dryer nozzle pointed downwards towards the hair shaft as you pull your round brush slowly through the length of the hair.

Keep drying all of the sections until your face is dripping with sweat and you feel like dying.

When dry, add a dab of shine-enhancing product. (Favorites are Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream and Moroccan Oil. Be careful with the Moroccan Oil, as you might want to take a swig after smelling the heavenly scent.)

Work the product through the mid-length of your hair to the ends. Touch up with a flat iron if necessary, and voilá!

Smooth and straight, baby.

Are you ready for the best part? I’m giving away not one, but FIVE Sedu 4000i hair dryers courtesy of Folica.com. Say it out loud right now, FOLICA DOT COM IS THE BOMB. (No, they really are. They have EVERYTHING you could possibly need for your hair and more.)

Leave a comment on this post before Friday, August 28th at 6 p.m. PST and I’ll randomly choose 5 winners to receive a Sedu 4000 hair dryer!

In addition to the giveaway, Folica is offering 10% off and free shipping on all orders of $75 or more (excluding Chi Appliances) from now until September 4, 2009. Just use the code THURSDAY at checkout!

GIVEAWAY/COMMENTS IS ARE NOW CLOSED.

One of the most popular posts on this website is my no-clamp curling iron tutorial, which leads to one of the most frequently asked questions: how can I curl shorter hair with a curling iron?

Obviously I’m not an expert due to my loooong hair, but boy have I found one for you!

Meet Kristen.

I recently met Kristen in Chicago and let’s face it, her hair rocks. Luckily for us, she graciously accepted my request to film a video tutorial of how she achieves this look.

Before watching, take note of these important tips.

1. For this hair length, you need to use a 1/2-inch curling iron. The shorter the hair, the smaller the barrel…the longer the hair, the larger the barrel. (Hot Tools Curling Irons are my favorites, and I actually prefer the less expensive gold ones over the ceramic ones.)

2. Don’t pull the last 1/2-inch of your ends through the clamp to prevent the dreaded “clamp crimp”.

3. You should curl the hair right up to the scalp for best hold and volume.

4. This style, with a couple of touch ups, works great the next day. Just add hairspray and a bobby pin and you’re good to go.

Short Hair from Kristen Seymour on Vimeo.

Products used in this video:

1. Aussie Opposites Attract Strong Hold Mousse on wet hair, dried upside down with a large round brush
2. Bed Head Superstar Volumizing Hairspray before curling and after for any curls losing hold
3. Bed Head Hard Head Hard Hold Hairspray for final spray
4. Profound Beauty Hair Matte Hold to define ends and give bangs extra hold

Thanks for this great tutorial, Kristen!

Sure, we’re just hitting the hottest part of the year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t talk fall trends right now.

As temperatures begin to cool down in the upcoming months, so will haircolor with more sophisticated cooler brunettes and blondes.  Tracey Cunningham, Redken Creative Consultant for Color, and David Stanko, Haircolor Consultant for Redken, have the latest in fall haircolor trends, professional haircolor products to achieve these trends, and consumer tips to communicate with their colorist and to adjust to the “coolest” looks of the season.

“Small adjustments can help consumers update their look from season to season,” explains Cunningham.  “When summer comes to a close, I plan to cool my clients’ shades down this fall/winter season with Redken’s new Color Gels Ash Blue creating sophisticated, cool shades.  A color is said to have “cool tones” if it tends toward blue or violet, such as platinum blondes, ash browns, and plum reds.”

Trend #1:  Brunettes

“Brunettes will go to a whole new level this fall/winter with an overall cooler base.  Think Fergie’s shade; her lighter highlights really show through her dark, chestnut base making her haircolor look so flawless and effortless.” – Tracey Cunningham

Trend #2:  Blondes

“Blondes will be blonde this fall – think Drew Barrymore’s cool, nearly platinum blonde shade for this inspiration.  Client’s can often be concerned with the cost to achieve and keep the perfect shade of blonde, but I find that women cut back in other areas rather than haircolor as it’s one of a consumers’ most prominent and most seen everyday accessory!” – Tracey Cunningham

Trend #3:  Redheads

“I brought Lindsay back to her original roots as a true redhead.  This fall/winter, redheads will be more sophisticated, and playful with their beautiful shade, with deep red tones and a few cool, blonde highlights throughout to enhance the red even more.” – Tracey Cunningham

Things to know before you visit your salon this fall:

* Try to walk into the salon with your everyday “look,” so your colorist can get a feel for what you’re comfortable with.

* If you have the time, do a little research into color science.  Knowing the difference between terms like demi-permanent and permanent color can help you and your colorist communicate more efficiently.  Study up with Redken’s glossary.

* Your colorist is there to work with you to achieve beautiful color.  The more you can explain what you want, the better the collaboration will be.

* If you are going in for “corrective color” – to correct color results you are unhappy with from a prior coloring experience – be prepared for a longer visit, as your colorist may need to remove old color and then recolor your hair.

Salon Prep Check List:

* Bring your inspiration: Photographs and examples of haircolor you love will help you and your colorist explore your color options – and ensure that you both mean the same thing when you say, “honey blonde” or “scarlet red.”

* Know your history: Be prepared to tell your colorist about any prior color services, whether it was highlights last year or a color gloss last month.

* Trust your colorist: Listen to your colorist’s expert opinion. During your color consultation, he or she will consider your desired result, then evaluate your hair’s condition and look at your skin tone and coloring in order to create your custom color formulation.

*Ask questions: If you hear a color term you don’t understand, don’t hesitate to ask your colorist for an explanation. Remember to inquire about maintenance – how often you’ll need to return to the salon for touchups, and how to best maintain your color at home between visits with Redken haircare products.