Archive for the ‘Hairstyles’ Category

How to Correctly Wash Your Hair

Published by on December 15th, 2011

Washing your hair is so basic right? But there are correct ways to do it and incorrect ways to do it. If you want to conserve hair health and reduce breakages or hair loss, you might want to make some adjustments to your usual shower routine. You can really make a difference!

One of the first things you should do is brush your hair before you get into the shower. This can do two things: prevent you from having to unclog your drain of hairs so often, and it also reduces breakage, stimulating circulation in your scalp.

Once you have stepped into the shower, wet your hair thoroughly and squirt a quarter sized dollop of shampoo on your palm. Begin lathering at the roots and work your way down to the ends. With longer locks you might have to use a bit more shampoo especially on the ends. Give yourself a nice, stimulating scalp massage before rinsing the shampoo away.

What does a scalp massage involve? Simply massage your hair in circular motions and lift your hair from the roots at regular intervals. Add water to your hands now and then to work it in to bring out the most in your shampoo and improve circulation in the scalp as you massage.

Now, it’s time to rinse. Along with the shampoo, you are washing away all of the residue that has accumulated in your hair and scalp. This residue isn’t just the natural oils in your locks, it’s also the debris that you gather all day, and the residue left over from hair products. Start with lukewarm water to rinse your hair until all the shampoo and build up is gone. Lastly, to close the cuticles and improve shine, finish off with cool water.

Not only will you enjoy clean hair, it will also be healthy and shiny!

 

 

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Choosing Your Perfect Hair Color

Published by on December 13th, 2011
If you’ve been dying to change your hair color for ages, or if you’ve suddenly felt the urge to go from one shade to another, there are a few things you have to think about first! Not every color looks good on everyone, for example, what looks amazing on your friend can look utterly drab on you. This is why you should analyse a few important things first, such as skin tones, eye color and natural hair color.
One thing that should come first is determining whether you belong to a warm or cool category. What does this mean? Here’s an example, have you ever bought clothes that looked so wrong on you because their color seemed to make your skin look less fab than usual? This happens when the color of the clothes fails to complement your natural skin tone. You can look super pale or too shiny with a certain color. Once you pick the perfect color for your skin tone, you just seem to glow with beauty, right? Well, the same thing happens with hair color.
When choosing an artificial hair color, you need it to look great on you, because it won’t exactly wash out easy. If your skin tone is on the cool side (pale) you should avoid hair color with yellow and bronze tones in it. This includes gold and red. Why? This can make you look sallow and not very fab. Use shades that are also cool, such as raven black, cool ash browns and cool blondes. If you want highlights, choose wheat, ash or honey shades. Neutral shades are the best thing, plus you can use brighter lipsticks this way without taking the whole thing overboard.
Those with warm skin tones should avoid blue, beige and violet based hair colors which can take away from your natural skin color. Choose warm browns, rich browns, auburn, warm gold, or any tone with a red-orange or gold base. Coppery highlights are a great idea too.

 

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How to Make Curly Hairstyles Last

Published by on December 8th, 2011

Sick of your curly hairstyles falling flat in seconds after all that effort? If you have natural curls or if you create them with a curling iron or traditional method, there are several tips to make sure your curly hairstyles stay soft, bouncy and beautiful for longer.

Keep your locks healthy

Healthy hair is super important for great results. Whether you’re naturally curly or like to flaunt created curls, you need healthy locks to look amazing. Curly hair should be washed once every other day or less. Washing too often will strip away the natural oils that keep the strands moisturized and soft. If you are going to style curly hair, wash it the night before to make sure the natural oils set in by the time you style. Trimming the ends will prevent them from splitting and a light conditioner is a good idea after washing to keep your locks hydrated.

Protecting your hair from damaging factors

Factors such as humidity, heat and the wrong hair products all contribute to ruining curly hairstyles. Humidity causes unsightly frizz, so try anti-frizz or anti-humidity products to control this issue. Excess heat is an enemy of healthy hair, causing dryness and general damage. Use thermal protectants if you plan to use heat styling tools and avoid alcohol-based products because these can make your hair brittle. Use conditioning products to ensure your curly hairstyles last longer and don’t forget to treat your hair gently. If you want to color your curls, be careful, dyes involve chemical processes that can damage your hair, so follow the instructions properly and keep your locks conditioned.

Using lasting products

Hair sprays are good for keeping curls in place, just make sure not to use too much. Also, avoid touching your curls too much because this can unsettle the style and cause frizz.

 



 

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Beautiful Braids for Short Hair

Published by on December 6th, 2011

When you have short hair, there’s not a lot you can do with it, right? Wrong! Even though short hair is super low maintenance and doesn’t seem to be able to offer much in terms of styling, you can still create amazing looks.

How about braids? Braiding short hair sounds virtually impossible, but there are a few ways to do it. Here are some types of braids you can try on your short, chic locks.

Crown braids

Like the name implies, these braids are constructed around your head and provide the illusion of longer locks. You can do this braid even with chin-length hair or hair that is long enough to be divided in two and braided into double plaits in order to complete the crown braid.

Zig-zag braids

If you have experience braiding hair, or if you want to try something different, you can create s-shaped or zig-zag braids that travel down the back of your head in curves or corners. You might have to practice for a while to accomplish this style of braid but the results are worth it.

Horizontal braids

This is a good style for shoulder length hair. Work the braid from one ear to the other instead of up to down. You can tuck the braid tale under the braid to make the style appear cleaner and more accomplished.

Double upside-down braids

This is a cute, quirky style that looks great on short hair. Make two braids on either side of a centre part from the bottom up and tuck the tails under the braid or curl them around on the top.

To smooth down those annoying little bits of hair that tend to stick out you can apply some gel or another holding product to keep the braid polished and glossy. Good luck!

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Casual Wavy Hairstyles

Published by on November 29th, 2011

Having wavy hair is a blessing for many, since there’s already lots of lovely natural texture to work with. But sometimes having the same hairstyle can be coring and you need to spruce things up a bit. If you don’t have to time to create a super-polished ‘do, there are lots of casual hair styles you can attempt, and it doesn’t matter if your hair is short, medium or long. Here are some pointers:

Short casual wavy hairstyles

The advantage of short hair is that it doesn’t take a lot to maintain and it usually falls into place quite easily. When you have wavy hair you can choose from a variety of styles including short, messy layers or one-length look, whichever adapts to your requirements and facial features the most. Short wavy hairstyles on naturally wavy hair lets your tresses take on its own growth patterns, creating more body since there’s no weight to pull the hair down. You can save a lot of time and money with a short wavy hairstyle.


Medium casual wavy hairstyles

These hairstyles are softer, fuller and casual looking, varying from one length looks, graduated layers or messy layer cuts. You can have an easy time with naturally wavy hair that’s medium length because it takes on a natural shape with natural volume. If you want to create a casual wavy hairstyle with products or heat styling tools, it can take a bit more time but there are simple methods such as scrunching, braiding and ruffling to gain more texture. With medium length wavy hair you can also pull it back into a ponytail or bun to keep it out of your eyes.


Long casual wavy hairstyles

These are a lot more flowing and lush looking, with the added weight of the hair pulling don on your hair to make it appear longer. You can choose from shoulder length graduated layers, one length styles or messy layers. Long hair has a lot of versatility, especiall when its wavy, and you can create more elaborate looks when the mood grips you.

 

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Great Hairstyles for Thin or Fine Hair

Published by on November 22nd, 2011

If you have thin or fine hair, don’t despair! Just because your locks are a little on the thin side, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the latest trends or try out new styles. You just need a few tips on how to choose a hairstyle that suits your hair type and personality the best. Here are a few hairstyles you can try:

Short

Fine hair can benefit a lot from short hair cuts, but you should consult with your stylist on the perfect short cut to suit your facial features. Short hair cuts are a great idea for adding volume, so if your hair is rather thin at the ends, try a short bob or short layered cut with a few flicks added to give more body. A sleek bob cut is a good idea for straight thin hair and you can add some side swept bangs for more volume in the front to distract attention from the fine quality of your locks.

An asymmetrical bob is another option since it creates the illusion of width and fullness at the bottom. If you have bangs, you can tuck them behind your ear to create added fulness. If you have an oval shaped face, you can try a crop hair cut, since they draw more attention to your face instead of to your thin hair. If the style is tapered, even better, it will make the ‘do look bouncier.

Medium

If your locks are at medium length then you can try giving the edges a smart shape to divert the attention from your fine strands. You can give it a diagonal forward moving line at the side and a few light layers behind to encourage movement and volume. The layers will also draw attention to your features. If your hair is fine and curly, you can also opt for a medium length style.

Long hairstyles aren’t recommended for fine hair since it will only make the hair look thinner as it grows out. Try not to use too many layers because it also creates a thinner look.


 

 

 

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How to Accessorize Your Short Hair

Published by on November 17th, 2011

Short hair means less maintenance and less hassle, but there’s not a lot you can do with cropped locks…or is there? Just because it’s short doesn’t mean you can spruce it up and make it interesting! The secret lies in accessories. Want to know how to accessorize your short hair? Have a good look at these tips:

Headband

Headbands are a versatile and simple way to boost your short hair styles. You can use a variety of things to create a snazzy style like material, a silk scarf or even a funky necklace. Ribbons are a good idea too.

Clips

Funky clips are a great way to accentuate your hairstyle. You can find these at any beauty supply store or if you want, you can decorate a bobby pin or barrette with small pieces of jewelry to personalize your accessories. With clips you can pick sections, twist them up and fasten them randomly for a spontaneous style.

Ribbons

Ribbons are a super versatile accessory and they’re very economic. You can do a lot of things with ribbons, use thick ones as headbands, tie them into your hair in knots with thinner ones etc. You can match up your headband with a choker or wrist band using the same color ribbon!

Bangs

If you have bangs, you can play around with them to make a difference to your normal, everyday style. Use small bobby pins to make a side sweep or place butterfly clips. Gel is a good product to help with keeping bangs in place. Even if you don’t have bangs you can still create the illusion of them by sweeping a top section of hair across your forehead and securing the ends with bobby pins.

 

If you still are unsatisfied with your short hair, don’t worry! You can also use hair extensions to create long hair styles that are versatile and fashionable.

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Perfect Prom Hairstyle Ideas

Published by on November 15th, 2011

Getting ready for prom but you still haven’t chosen the perfect hairstyle yet? Well, we can help! There are hundreds of hairstyle ideas specially designed for proms, you just need to take into account your hair length, texture and type. Prom hairstyles change each season but there are always a few classics to use that are timeless and elegant. Just remember to keep in mind your dress and accessories so that everything matches up on the special day.

Here are a few hairstyle options for you to get started:

Updos


These are classic choices for proms but just because it’s traditional, it doesn’t mean it’s boring. you can add little details to modernize the style an dmake it yours. A popular favorite is a french twist which is neat and classy, or loosely pinned curls piled on the top of your head for a softer, more youthful look. You can leave loose tendrils to fram your face or use accessories to accentuate the style, like flowers, faux pearls, clips or rhinestones.

Princess Style

Another very popular prom style is the princess style which is characterized by mounds of soft spiral curls. The hair from the sides is loosely pulled back, allowing some tendrils lookse near the hairline and ears. You can curl these tendrils for a softer look. The hair that is pulled back is fastened in place with a clip or ribbon, and the rest of the hair is curled and left to cascade over your shoulders. You can also accessorize to complete the princess look by using a tiara or diamond clips.

Short hair


Prom hairstyles aren’t exclusive to long locks, those with short hair have options too. You can curl the hair or create flips to soften the look and accessorize with decorative clips, faux diamond comb clips or faux pearls.

 

Match the dress

To make sure you match up, consider the style of your dress before choosing that perfect prom ‘do. Curls and tiaras look amazing with typical ballgown dresses with strapless bodices, while updos are great for ankle-length cocktail dresses, classy sheathes or a slip dress. If you’re going to use intricate jewelry or necklines, choose a simpler hairstyle like a classic updo or sleek locks. For more modern outfits, select a modern hairstyle to match.

 

 

 

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How to Style African American Hair

Published by on November 10th, 2011

Want to make the most out of your styles without harming a single strand? African American hair needs extra care when styling since it’s nature requires plenty moisture to look its best, so check out these easy tips to take care of your locks and make them look pretty:

• Always condition your hair! Try deep conditioning at least three times a week to combat frizz and brittle strands. Try a rich leavi-in conditioner and strong hold gel to get control as well as hydration. As your locks dry, try not to touch them too much to stop frizz from popping up and ruining the look.

• Try using a small barrel curling iron and curl small sections of hair with the curling iron held parallel to your head to create a trendy 40′s style. Curl your hair on one side and leave a few smooth tresses on the other, then spritz some setting spray or shine spray to finish.

• Apply some texture cream to the ends of your hair, then use a flat iron to straighten out the roots a bit. Use a curling iron on the ends to create sexy flips, then run a shine serum through for more polish and gloss.

• Add some leave-in conditioner and strong hold gel to damp hair and distribute it evenly with a wide-toothed comb. Scrunch the hair to create more volume and texture, then let everything air-dry. TOuch up the style with some serum to keep frizz or flyaways at bay.

• When washing your hair, apply a hair mask for extra hydration. Detangle your locks with a wide-toothed comb while still in the shower and rinse about 3/4 of it out, leaving enough in to continually moisturize. Add a mixture of shine glaze and leave-in conditioner to your damp hair and let it air dry.

• If your hair is naturally curly, it will suck up moisture, so use a good emollient leave-in conditioner on wet hair. Towel dry lightly and use a wide-tooth comb to detangle from ends to roots, then use a diffuser on a low setting to partially dry your hair, leaving it to air dry the rest of the way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Top Foods for Naturally Healthy Hairstyles

Published by on November 8th, 2011

Did you know that what you eat reflects on how your locks look? It’s not just specific hair care products that will help boos your hair’s appearance, there are certain foods that you can include in your diet to provide better nourishment for your tresses. Let’s have a look at the top 10 foods you can try to improve the health of your hair:

10. Carrots

These are a great source of vitamin A which other than promote a healthy scalp, help conserve your vision. Remember, a healthy scalp means healthy hair!

9. Low-fat dairy products

Consuming dairy products that are low-fat, such as yogurt and skimmed milk can provide you with calcium which is important for stimulating hair growth. Your bones will benefit too!

8. Oysters

Did you know that that this shellfish contains zince, which is a powerful antioxidant, that leads to a boost in hair health? If oysters aren’t on your weekly grocery list, don’t worry, you can get zinc from beef and lamb too, as well as from whole grains and nuts.

7. Whole grains

Whole wheat breat and whole-grain breakfast cereals are excellent sources of zinc and B vitamins, which are essential in promoting hair health. Keep a whole-grain snack with you for healthy locks and also to boost energy levels!

6. Eggs

Eggs are a good source of protein to keep your locks in great condition, and can be cooked up in any number of ways. They also provide you with other beauty nutrients like vitamin B-12 and biotin.

5. Poultry

Another great source of protein, you can prevent brittle strands if you consume chicken, turkey or other poultry.

4. Nuts

Each type of nut provides a different set of nutrients for your hair and scalp. Walnuts, cashews, pecans and almonds are great sources of zinc to prevent hair shedding. Brazil nuts contain selenium which is a mineral that benefits your scalp.

3. Beans

Kidney beans and lentils should be included in your diet, as they contain plenty protein to promote hair growth as well as provide iron, zinc and biotin.

2. Dark green vegetables

Spinach and broccoli are great sources of vitamins A and C to help your scalp produce sebum, which is your hair’s natural conditioner.

1. Salmon

This fish is number one for giving you the healthiest hair. It contains omega-3 fatty acids, lots of protein, vitamin B-12 and iron. You can support your scalp’s health and boost hair shine by eating salmon. If you’re not too fond of salmon, or you’re a vegetarian, you can have one or two tablespoons or ground flaxseed in your diet instead.


 

 

 

 

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