Hair Care Shampoo

Buying the right shampoo is easy. It’s when you take it home and find that what you thought it would do it doesn’t that makes it frustrating! Ph balance again is important but no shampoo is going to “fix” your hair. Read the label before you buy, is it for your hair type? When you do use shampoo use the amount that is right for your length. If you have really long hair I suggest using twice as much than you would for shoulder length hair (about a toonie for shoulder length).

When shampooing always massage into your scalp with your fingers, not nails and let the shampoo run through the rest of your hair while you are rinsing. This will prevent your hair from becoming to dry. Do not shampoo your hair everyday, your hair has natural occurring oils that are good it. I realize hair that is thin and fine needs to be washed more often, but this is the worst thing for this kind of hair. If you can, on the second day try to put your hair up instead of washing it. If you do not use too many styling products on day one of shampooing, your hair will not look as oily on day two. This Paul Mitchell Clarify product is a good choice to start the routine of washing every two days

Paul Mitchell’s Clarify Shampoo

Try to stay away from products that are a shampoo and conditioner in one. Do you notice that some people can go days without washing their hair and it still looks healthy and shiny? Well I know it is a little depressing for those who cannot, but after you shampoo every second day instead of everyday your hair will start to be “okay” with this. The first little while your hair may still look a little oily at the roots but this starts to diminish. Also to avoid excess damage make sure you use your styling tools, ie: hair straightener, curling irons and blow dryers at the correct setting for your hair. Too hot, more damage on thinner, finer hair types.

Till next time, Good Luck

Niki

Professional Hairstyling Tips

Here are some tips for various kinds of hair types:

For thin hair always use a volumizer, you should choose products that will specify that it wont weigh your hair down. Wait until your hair is almost dry and blow dry upside down. Do not use your hands to shake your hair while drying, this tends to make hair look frizzy once your done.

Pull your roots out with your fingers or a brush, firmly, hold the blow dryer to the roots for a few seconds, then take the blowdryer away and still holding onto your roots (almost pulling) let your hair cool down before letting go. Do this all over, tugging at your roots and holding hairdryer to them. This will give you volume from the root.

Try coloring your hair, this will give volume, manageability and body to fine thin hair. There are a ton of different colors to choose from and you could always just go with highlights or streaking. (your hair!)

For reviving a perm in between perms try using a curl enhancer.

This look can be achieved by using Aveda curl enhancer, a hair diffuser, ( which is used to blow dry curls that will not seperate them while drying) drying upside down and scrunching.

For thick frizzy, wiry type hair I would suggest using a defrizzer or shiner, a straight iron will also help to flatten, smooth and gives greater control. Bumble & Bumble is just one of many different brands for helping tame frizz.

Although I do not normally suggest buying products from a store I recommend only one if you do and that is Sunsilk. I have said it before and I will say it again, “I have had nothing but good come out of using their products.” They have a whole product line for this type of hair, shampoo, conditioner and defrizzers.

Most products from the store are watered down and contain wax. Next time you shampoo your hair put a little baking soda in with it and wash normally. You will feel a huge difference in your hair because you just stripped all of the store bought products out of your hair. But DO NOT USE if you have to go out, you will have what looks like dandruff but is in fact flakes of all the stuff that we call wax coming out of your hair. Do the baking soda method a few times until you do not see any flakes. Unbelievable isn’t it?

Salon products are concentrated and are PH balanced for your hair. A normal ph balance is around 5.5.

To keep your hair in the style that you like, you must see your hairdresser regularly. A good haircut must be maintained and I suggest not waiting any longer than 6 weeks between visits. Until next time…Good luck!

Niki

Hair Straightening - How to Keep Curly, Thick & Coarse Hair Straight

For those with curly, thick and/or coarse hair, straightening your hair is one thing, keeping it straight is another. By following a few professional hair style tips you can help manage curls and get straightness that lasts much longer.

1. Use a relaxing shampoo & conditioner.

2. Rinse hair with cool water to seal the hairs cuticle and fight frizz which is common with curly hair.

3. Choose a heat protectant styling aid that also works to relax the hair such as a straightening balm or relaxing cream.

4. Dry hair straight using a blow dryer with a concentrator nozzle, a paddle brush and do 2″ sections at a time, starting with the bottom layer of hair and working your way up to the top layers of hair.

5. Make sure hair is completely dry by going over your hair with your dryer on the cool air setting. If hair feels cold or damp to the touch then it is not completely dry. For the best results you want your hair to be completely dry.

6. Section hair into layers from bottom to top and starting with the bottom use a professional hair straightener to straighten 1-2″ sections at a time. Go slow and on the highest heat setting recommended for your hair type. Repeat until entire head of hair is straight.Touch up any sections that are not completely straight.

7. Once hair is straight, finish the style with a anti frizz shine serum, finishing spray or hair spray.

Products to consider;

Herbal Essences Dangerously Straight Shampoo, Conditioner

& Finishing Spray

TIGI Bed Head Control Freak Extra Extra Straight Hair Straightener

Jonathon Weightless Smoothing™ Products