Your hair may be fighting the common hair cold right now- dryness, breakage, and dullness- due to the harsh weather. Despite taking your medication (i.e. wearing protective styles, moisture -sealing your ends, increasing your water intake), the state of your hair may still be less than stellar. Diagnosis? You may not be getting the right balance of protein and moisture in your hair. When the moisture and protein levels in your hair are in sync, you will notice less breakage, length retention, and an overall increase in the health of your hair.
Your hair needs a balance of protein and moisture to thrive. Like a woman walking a tightrope, balance is crucial. It can also be difficult to find what works best for you without taking a misstep. The protein and moisture balance in your hair can be affected by different factors including genetics, dietary intake, medication, hormones, and so on. Not all heads are created equal. The perfect balance for you will be based on the unique needs of your own hair.
Most people can determine their hair needs based on how it feels, looks, and responds to tension. If your hair is either gummy, mushy, or has a weak elasticity, then you may need more protein. Hair that has the right amount of protein level absorbs moisture more efficiently, and helps retain a healthy balance of moisture in your hair. Moisture is important to your hair for two reasons. It gives hair its softness and elasticity. Products with humectants, a substance that attracts moisture from the air, provide additional moisturizing benefits.
If your hair is hard, rough, or brittle you may need a deep conditioning treatment. This will help you restore softness to your hair and smooth your cuticle, the outermost layer of your hair strand. When applying a deep conditioning treatment, try to use a conditioner that is water-based and contains at least one humectant. Any product that lists humectants- propylene glycol, honey, glycerin- and water at the top of their ingredient list will work best to help your hair stay soft and moisturized.
The weather can be very dry in the winter. If there is no moisture in the air, humectants pull in moisture from the hair strand, leaving your hair feeling dry, negating your moisturizing efforts. In the winter, apply water and humectants-based products to your hair before you shower. The humectants will pull in the moisture from the shower steam. This will help keep your hair moisturized well into the end of the next day.
Protein provides a balance to the softness of your hair by giving it strength. Hair is made up of keratin, a type of protein that makes up most of your hair. Ladies who dye their hair or wear a relaxer require more protein in their hair than others. Due to the chemical nature of the relaxing and coloring process, bonds are broken down within the hair shaft. This makes the hair weaker and more prone to extreme breakage. Protein treatments help counteract this effect by restructuring the broken bonds in the hair and aiding in the retention of moisture.
If your hair is free of chemicals or processing treatments, you hair can still become weak from excessive brushing or daily heat styling. A protein treatment will strengthen your strands, but you must always balance a protein treatment with a deep conditioning treatment. There's a common misconception that any amount of protein will harden your hair and cause it to break off. This generally happens when you don't immediately follow a protein treatment with a deep conditioning treatment, or if you apply a protein treatment too often. Use your best judgment and assess your hair based on its condition, not on someone else's hair care routine.
Moisture and protein act as different agents in the health of your hair. While both provide the hair with excellent health benefits, an imbalance of the two can result in dry, lifeless hair. Determine what your hair is lacking by evaluating the look, feel, and elasticity of the hair, and treat your hair accordingly. When you evaluate your own hair, you can decide if it is moisture-starved or protein deprived, and learn what a balanced head of hair means to you. Once you find the right amount of protein and moisture balance that works for your hair, your hair will be in optimum shape just in time for spring!
Valentine's Day is approaching, and before you indulge yourself in chocolates, heart-shaped cards, and flowers sent to you (or from you), remember everything in your life that brings you love and gives you love. On that list should be all of your gorgeous features-including your hair. Winter can be particularly cruel on curly hair, making you feel frustrated and anxious for a flat iron. However, appreciating your curls is in full demand this Valentine's Day. Here are just a few reasons to remind you why each curl on your head deserves a love letter.
You Stand Out Curly hair is unique and garners attention and compliments from family, friends, and even strangers. Naturally straight hair is fabulous, but can seem like the staple style in everything from movies to magazines. Even if a curly-haired girl arrives on the scene, your curly hair is only part of spectrum of highly-textured hair types. Like vintage couture, your curls are one-of-a-kind.
Endless Styling Options Limitless styles and highly-textured hair will never be mutually exclusive. Your hair has the ability to transform into styles that aren't so easily achieved with straighter locks. You can wear braids, twists, locks, cornrows, modern and classic afros, and the list goes on. You can make your hair adaptable to your personality any day of the week. Whether you rock your hair in a bun or in braids, always be sure to keep those fabulous styles moisturized and tension-free on the scalp.
No More Weather Hair Worries When rain arrives unexpectedly, you aren't running to find shelter or making a make-shift umbrella out of a newspaper or your purse. You can play in the rain without worrying about you kinky hair getting ruined. Even in humidity, you can tie your hair back and let the humidity amplify your curls and get unbelievable volume. Curly girls who don't enjoy frizz or undefined curls can still leave the house and venture into high-humidity weather. Just be sure to apply a silicone-free styling serum on dry hair to keep your curls in sync.
Your Facial Features Pop Some women with more traditional African features -full lips, broad nose, and high cheekbones- can appear more youthful with curly hair than straight hair. Flat hair can make these facial features seem larger than they actually are, and hide its true beauty. Shorter, tightly curled hair seems to defy gravity when worn out in an Afro style. It "lifts" the face and draws more attention to the eyes and cheekbones.
You Become Healthier How many times have you heard, "I know I need to go to the gym, but I don't want to mess up my hair"? When you wear your hair curly, you don't have to make the choice of having either a great head of hair or a great body. Let's be honest, your hair needs more than the perfect shampoo and conditioner. To give you hair optimum health, you have to eat right and exercise. When you have naturally curly hair, you no longer worry about your hair "reverting" when you sweat from a work-out. To freshen your curls after the gym, you can water-rinse or cleanse you hair with a sulfate-free shampoo.
You Can Experiment with Color When you let your natural tresses roam free and treat it with care, you can experiment with more color without worrying about double-processing your hair with chemicals or daily doses of heat. If you apply heat on a daily basis or wear a relaxer, adding another hair-altering chemical like color to the mix can be a recipe for dryness and breakage. Even with chemical-free hair, color can still be damaging. Look for alternative and gentler coloring options like Henna or semi-permanent glosses. Maintain a healthier head of hair with color by putting the relaxer away, and treating your hair with nourishing products formulated for color-treated hair.
You Save Money Running to the salon every few weeks to tame those "unruly roots" is no longer your concern. Salon chemical and hair straightening services can cost upwards of fifty dollars per visit. Now that you've embraced the beauty of your bouncy ringlets, your wallet is packed with extra cash. Indulge your hair with at-home nourishing treatments using deep conditioners and essential oils.
This Valentine's Day give and receive love. The next time you see a woman with an eye-catching hair style or lustrous curls, give her a compliment. Whether you have a spouse to give you roses or not, give yourself a love letter this month that highlights every feature you love to play up, make your hair one of your favorite features. Whether your hair is short or long, curly or straight, it is beautiful and deserves to feel loved.
The New Year is your time to shine. Your hair should be no exception. If you need more products just to fake a healthy appearance from split ends, dullness, or limp hair, January may be the perfect time to start over. A healthy hair goal can be achieved if you start with the right plan. Despite most New Year's resolutions being forgotten by the time you celebrate Martin Luther King Jr's Day, achieving healthier hair can be a realistic resolution you can keep.
Trim Your Ends Get rid of split, frayed, and heat-damaged ends with a professional trim. Your hair cannot look its best when damaged ends are getting all of the attention. A trim can be anywhere from one-fourth of an inch to two inches, depending on the amount of damage. If you are apprehensive about getting a trim, you can do minimal shaping each month. However, eventually all the damaged ends will need to be cut off. Once damaged ends are removed, your hair will instantly look fuller, smoother, and healthier.
Product Overhaul This is the perfect time to reevaluate your hair product arsenal. Which ones do you use most? Which ones encourage good hair days? Do you switch products according to the season? Categorize your products (shampoos, conditioners, styling crème, etc.) and select one from each that works the best for your hair. The products that you do not select can be given away to friends, thrown out, or saved for the summer time. With a simple selection of tried and true products, your hair can be pampered and nourished with the correct products that work best on your hair.
Increase Your Water Intake Did you know that most models drink water on a schedule? Water is the ultimate beauty product. Most of us, who strut the streets and not the runway, don't drink enough of it. Typically, to determine how much water your body needs each day, divide your body weight by two. Drink the resulting number in ounces. If your body is dehydrated, then your hair may become dry, brittle, and more prone to breakage. When you commit to drinking more water, your hair will become shinier, grow faster, and it will contribute to your overall health.
Commit to a Hair Care Schedule Consistently bathe your hair in deep conditioning, hot oil, and protein treatments. Your hair type and needs will determine how often you should do each treatment. There should be a healthy balance of protein and moisture to promote softer and stronger strands. Have a trusted stylist evaluate your hair. He or she will be able to help you commit to a healthy hair care schedule and help decide what healthy hair practices would work best for you.
Handle Hair with Care Now that you are fully invested into your customized healthy hair journey, be gentle to your strands. Avoid styles that pull at the scalp and edges of your hair. The corners of your eyes should not meet at your scalp line. Instead, style your hair into loose, chic ponytails and buns. Keep hair manipulation low, only using proper combs and brushes sparingly and gently to detangle and style hair. Always moisturize and protect the ends of your hair to minimize split ends. Treat your hair with care, and it will flourish throughout the New Year.
Curly hair has been called many names: beautiful, unique, unkempt, trendy, unprofessional, rebellious, romantic, lustrous, and the list goes on. Within the past five years, major hair companies have realized that curly hair is also very "marketable". They have also found that curly-haired women tend to spend more money on hair products and how could they not? Many hair products marketed for curly hair tend to contain harsh and drying ingredients which leaves the hair thirsty, tangled, and unmanageable.
Curls need products with ingredients that work to achieve moisture, nourishment, cleanliness, and definition. No matter how a hair company markets their product they are legally bound to provide the consumer with a list of all ingredients used in that product. The list of ingredients are listed from greatest to smallest. As you learn to decipher ingredient lists, you can save money by selecting quality products free of some of the common curly hair culprits.
Sulfates Sulfates are harsh detergents, usually the second or third ingredient used in most shampoos. They effectively cleanse the scalp, but "squeaky clean" hair is not good for coils. Sulfates can strip the hair of it natural oils, drying and tangling hair. Instead of using a sulfate-based shampoo to cleanse your hair, you can use Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) and baking soda to clarify and remove product buildup. Not only does ACV gently cleanse and clarify, but it also leaves the hair soft and easy to detangle.
Silicones Silicones are used as a lubricant for the hair. They coat and smooth the hair shaft, making silicones excellent for detangling wet curly hair. Silicones can give the appearance of shiny, healthy curls. However, it can block moisture from reaching the hair shaft, resulting in moisture-starved hair. Instead of using silicones, try looking for products with emollient-heavy oils like avocado or olive. If you have a coarser hair texture and you feel you need silicones for easier detangling, make sure to use water-based silicones that can be washed out easily to avoid buildup.
Alcohol Any type of grain alcohol, like isopropyl and methanol, is drying for the hair. However, not all alcohols are created equally. Moisturizing alcohols like stearyl and cetyl alcohol should be found at the top hair product labels. They provide weight to curls, without making it greasy and add a nice amount of "slip" for detangling. If the "good" alcohols are not listed near the top of the ingredient list, look for glycerin as a more natural substitute.
Mineral Oil Mineral oil or petroleum is used as inexpensive filler in many products. It can add a luster to hair, but it acts like a plastic coating on strands. This results in suffocated curls. Also, mineral oil builds on the hair and scalp, attracting dirt and debris throughout the day. To avoid this, use products that list lighter, unrefined oils like jojoba oil to give you a natural shine that won't coat your curls.
Some curly heads suffer from dryness, breakage, or unruliness. As you begin to understand ingredients in the products you buy, you can learn what works best for your curls, and what does not. Of course, no product can substitute the intake of a healthy diet, daily multivitamin, and water. Even if a product is labeled all-natural, it still may not be right for your hair texture. When you listen to your hair and notice what it likes, your curly hair can become synonymous with another word - healthy.
You are mingling at a party and in walks a bombshell in a fitted jacket, the best pair of skinny jeans you have seen, a head full of luscious curls, and a confident laugh that fills the room. You immediately envy the stillettoed goddess. Don't let jealousy ruin your mood. You can learn a lot from this woman and use her tricks (we all know every woman has her own hat of tricks) to improve your look and overall confidence. With minor changes and implementing the following "secrets" you will have the tools to always feel confident and look and your best.
Plan in advance Making plans early will help you feel more confident in your choices. Allow yourself enough time to get ready. Pick out an outfit and hairstyle in advance. This will save you a lot of time the day or night of. If you are trying a new hairstyle be sure to practice before to assure that you will be happy with the results.
Exercise Is Part Of Confidence You know you will be going to parties or at least be seen in public at some point. Start preparing now instead of the week before. Shoot for 30 minutes of exercise daily. Chose something you enjoy, a nice walk outside, a run, aerobics with Jane Fonda, but commit to do this every day. Exercise is the easiest way to increase your endorphins (those feel good chemicals your body produces) and feel better about your body which in turn increases your confidence.
Wear Your Favorite Outfit When you like what you are wearing your confidence level rises. However, there are a few fashion tips you want to keep in mind. Tailored waistlines on dresses or jackets create slimming effects and pencil skirts hide upper leg blemishes and highlight calves. Black is always slimming but spice it up with red accents (scarf, shoes, jewelry). Highlight your best feature to feel extra sexy.
Hair Is Important Many women overlook the importance of a well coiffed do. This year, to the benefit of all women, volume and curls are in. Try using hot rollers because they are easy to use, quick, and will not damage your hair. They create a loose curl that softens any look. Leave your hair down. If this drives you crazy, use a decorative clip to sweep up a side. If you don't have rollers, use a curling iron to add volume and curls to your tresses.
Confidence With Good Posture Sometimes your posture will tell others if you are confident or uncomfortable. Folding your arms across your mid section lets everyone know that you are uncomfortable and insecure. To achieve the best posture, tilt your hips forward so your spine is straight, tighten your abs and stretch your torso up. Pull your shoulders back and down. Pull your neck back so it follows the straight line of your back. Let your arms hang at your side, put a hand on one hip or into a pocket. Good posture is the best way to visually drop 10 pounds and appear self-possessed and confident.
The Arsenal Of Beauty Secrets These are wonderful beauty weapons used by many Hollywood stars. Most women are so good at these "tricks" that the result appears to be natural.
- Slimming Tea & Epsom Salt If you are in a slam a few days before, drink a diuretic tea after every meal to lose water weight and bathe in 1 - 2 cups of Epsom salt to pull out excess water as well.
- Sunless Tanner Unless you have Nicole Kidman's brilliantly porcelain skin, a tinted moisturizer or sunless tanner mixed with your favorite moisturizing lotion to dilute it will give you an added glow.
- Bronzer Although it is not summer, you can still use a bit of bronzer to freshen your look. Chose a lighter shade and lightly dust the area above your cheekbone, and your forehead. If you want to create more cleavage, dust in between your breasts and in a half circle around the tops (be sure to blend well).
- Non Make-up Wearers You are blessed to have a fresh clean look naturally. For a special event, it is nice to wear a minimal amount of make-up for a more formal look. If you don't wear make-up, mascara and lip-gloss will enhance your look.
- Fake Eyelashes
Fake eyelashes are a great way to widen the eye and create a come-hither look. The packs with sections or individual lashes rather than the full strip are easier to apply and look more natural. Apply them to the outer corner of your eye following the natural lash line. It will add a little length and enhance the look of the eye.
Keep Things In Perspective Everyone at the party is thinking about themselves. They all have the same concerns. Nobody is scrutinizing you, they are wondering how they look, so relax. Truly engage in the conversation you are having, listen attentively and mingle. When you feel confident, you will look better. Confidence esteems you. Keep your head high and optimism high and you can't fail. If you begin to implement even some of these tips, you are sure to become the "envied" not the envier.
Note:Contact your doctor before trying any recommendations to avoid possible allergies.
Curly hair is a commitment, a long-term relationship. It is more prone to splitting up, as in split ends. It is constantly changing its mood, one day it's a poof, then it's a tangled nightmare. It is hard to keep satisfied, even the most expensive deep conditioners can leave the hair starved for…something. And like a relationship, you have got to invest time and effort into it. Otherwise, you end up resenting your hair, wishing it was something else, and never wanting to deal with it again.
There are somethings we can do to help our hair. Whether your hair is as deceivingly delicate as the tightly coiled or has the loosest curl, there are simple tips to make
your tresses healthier and more manageable. These tips will keep your curly
commitment more romantic than frantic. Even straight-haired ladies can use the tips for a little extra TLC.
Invest In Wide-tooth Combs Curly hair is exceptionally delicate and easier to snag on almost anything, including grooming tools. The seams on the teeth of plastic combs can cause micro-splits in the hair, making your ends weaker and easier to break off. Stay away from plastic combs. Stick to wooden, wide-tooth combs for easier, snag-free detangling. These combs are inexpensive, found in most drugstores, and a great investment for you curls.
Wear Your Hair Up Now that winter is almost here and you're pulling out winter fabrics be aware that certain fabrics can damage the ends of your hair. Hair can get caught on cotton and wool coats, causing the ends to break off. When you wear your hair tucked into a chic bun, you keep your hair protected from the winter fabrics and cold weather. To make you and your curly ends happy, wear your hair up. Not only will you avoid damaging hair but you will also have a sophisticated look.
Moisture & Seal The ends of curly hair are naturally drier than straight hair. It takes longer for the natural oils in our scalp to travel down the entire strand because of the loops it has to follow. Wet the ends of tips at night, applying a moisture-rich product, and "sealing" it with natural oil: jojoba, avocado, or almond. When you "moisture-seal" the hair your curls stay smoother, shinier, and retains growth.
Style Wet Curly Hair Curly hair is much more pliable and easier to mold into smooth curls when it is wet. Apply product to hair when it at least a little damp. Wait a few minutes to let the product absorb into the hair. Wet styling the hair and letting it dry completely will also help your hairstyle last longer. Consider braiding or twisting your hair. The number or braids and twists you do will depend on how big or small you want your curls. Let your hair air-dry overnight or use low heat on the roots.
Avoid Detangling Disasters Gently separate the hair into sections, finger-comb the bigger tangles, and then wide-tooth comb, working from the bottom-up. When you practice gentle combing techniques you should notice less hair in the sink and more on your head. This is effective because you will detect fewer knots in your mane and detangling your hair will take less time. This is important because when your curly hair is more manageable, you will have more positive feelings about your curls.
Learning how to treat your curly hair and appreciating its beautiful strands, will remind you of why you fell in love with your curly hair in the first place. Curly hair is unique, like snowflakes, no two curls are the same. Curly hair invites curiosity, "How do you get your hair so big?" Curly hair makes you interesting. One day you're a rock star, the next you're Shirley Temple.
The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting crisp so that can only mean one thing. Fall Fashion is here! Now is the time to get your wardrobe ready. With any season you want to remember that your wardrobe should consist of 3 things: style, comfort and confidence! These are the 3 main ingredients to stunning fashion.
Style & Class Let's face it baggy jeans, baggy t-shirts, and over-sized flannels are not stylish. Anything that may fall into that category needs to be removed from your closet now! Also remove anything that is too tight. Clothes that are too tight are never in style however, don't confuse fitted with too tight.
Comfort is the New Black I know its often said that pain is beauty but if you are wearing an outfit that you are not comfortable wearing whether its stilettos that are too high and kill your feet or that little black dress that your girlfriends swear makes your shape amazing, you are not going to be comfortable.
Confidence is Fashion There is nothing more sexy to a man than a woman that walks into the room with confidence. Make sure that whatever it is your wearing you feel great in it. Whether you are running errands or going out you should always feel confident in what you are wearing.
The 4 Must-Haves
A fitted jacket is essential this fall. Whether you are wearing it with your dress slacks to work or with your trendy worn jeans, a fitted jacket is a must have!
Fitted Jacket For the tall and slim- Military jacket
For the athletic build- tattered Levi jacket
For the curvy- lightweight trench
Tall Boots Tall boots make heads turn. You will want to splurge on this buy and ensure that you are getting good quality. They are great for the office or for a night out on the town. For the office put on a pair of tights with a skirt and for the night out leave the tights at home.
The Perfect Pair of Jeans Every woman should have a pair of jeans that shape her figure, gives her comfort and builds her confidence. For this fall go for a fitted boot cut with embellishment on the back pockets or for the tall and slim woman go with the skinny jean and tuck them in your tall boots.
Large Leather Hobo Handbag With the chill in the air a large hobo is needed. It will carry all your normal hand bag items like your wallet, phone, water bottle, ect. You can put a scarf and gloves in there too. To keep it stylish go with something that has a rock star edge to it. Just remember to control the amount of rock star. Shop around for the perfect hobo for you.
Remember that every woman has a unique body shape. Take the fashion forecast and make it your own. Put your own unique spin on everything that you wear and remember to just be you!
