BeautySmack of the Day! Anna Richman
Hair by Tonya Kemly
Anna was a pleasure to meet, super bubbly and outgoing. She even took up my offer to do her hair after she told me she was blind as a bat! (laughing) Regardless of her eyesight she’s lucky to have such a kickass stylist like Tanya. This momma’s hot-to-trot!
Life as a Hairstylist’s Apprentice – curling hair
Marina is still practicing her braids, and is now looking for Models! I have volunteered my hair, and I’ll definitely post the results. Let’s see if she can get me a date tonight! Now Marina has moved onto hair curling. All this clicking and clacking of the curling iron is making me feel lucky that I’ve got natural curls. Lucky for you straight haired ladies out there Marina’s skills are gonna be up to par soon.
Today I learned how to curl spiral curls with a Marcel professional curling iron. It’s the kind with no spring. This kind of iron is completely different that one that you would buy in a store. A curling iron with a spring is one where you would use your thumb to control the clamp on the iron to hold the hair in place. With the Marcel curling iron I can set the hair in place and roll the iron so it will never move from the hair, but the hair will spin around it at the same time. The control of the clamp and iron are all done with your hand …you have to wrap and click back twice and wrap again…wrap click, click wrap…wraaap click, click wraaap.. And again and again. As tedious as it sounds, it’s actually fun. I was fortunate to have used these irons on my own hair before, which was extremely challenging, and my hands were wounded in the battle of curling my own hair. I picked up the technique quickly. When I started curling Suzy’s hair it was so much, much easier and safer. I still need a lot of practice but def moving along quickly.
Next I will learn to use the comb with the iron. The purpose of the comb is so I don’t accidentally set the iron too close to the scalp and burn someone. How you do this is by placing the comb between the scalp and the iron. I’m a little nervous, but I’m sure once I get the hang of it I’ll gain some confidence and be able to try this on a model. It’s difficult to judge heat sensitivity since my perfect client, Miss Suzy, is very tolerant of pain!;)
Above are the results of my Spiral curls. What do you think?
This curl actually looks more like a spiral than the spiral does but it’s not!! Haha, it’s a figure 8 ..they kind of do look like 8’s! Essentially, they are all curls in the end just with fancy names, and fancy ways to wrap them around the iron.. I’m still wrapping and clicking btw in case you were wondering;)
Until next time…
Much Love,
Marina
Click here to view the Previous post about Marina
Blow Dry your hair as well as you Stylist!!!
You’ve just left your Thursday evening appointment with your favorite hairstylist. You hair is shiny and bouncy; it has that professional clean smell to it. When the wind blows your hair follows it softly, and then perfectly falls back into place shaping your face. Your wearing your million dollar emotions across your face, and people on the street happen to notice that there is something particularly special about you at the moment. They may have no idea that your sporting a new look, or that you are just sporting a wash and blow-out, but your confidence is beaming. You feel like a starlet.
There are many reasons, other than laziness for why we chose to go to our stylist for a wash and blow-out. Sometimes we have a special event or party. Sometimes we’ve had a bad day. Sometimes some of us are just not capable of straightening our hair, especially us curly heads out there. There is no doubt that we pay the $20-$60 for a wash and dry for a reason. It’s because, well, we just cannot produce the same finished product as our stylist can. It makes absolute sense. Millionaires are few and far between, and most of us book our appointments with absolute reason and necessity. So what to do in between?
If your having trouble styling your hair as amazing as your stylist try this simple tip:
Blow dry your hair on a lower heat setting. This allows for extra drying time so you can perfect your movements with your brush or any styling tool you may be using.
Also, don’t be afraid to ask your stylist for a tutorial on how to blow dry or style your hair. This is especially useful if your rockin’ a new do! They will be more than happy to answer all your questions on how to obtain the same look as when you leave the salon.
Go on! Try it! And let me know how it turns out 
What is a Perm, and should I get one?
Big hair is in, but not necessarily permed hair, and especially not frizzy permed hair! You probably have even walked into your salon and witnessed a perm by only your nose, that rotten-eggy smell. You may be pining for some big, bouncy curls and eager to throw away the curling iron, but wondering which is the safest perm you could use on your hair. Here is some information about perms to help you make the right choice if your leaning towards one.
Despite the come-back of big hair the only fashionistas taking advantage of the come-back are those with naturally full, curly hair. Currently perms are not in demand at most salons like they were in the 80’s and 90’s. Those chemicals are saved for little old ladies trying to poof up all the thinning hair they’ve got left on their heads. If controlling frizz is your concern, and you are considering perming your hair. You can achieve this by using a more gentle perm on your hair, like an acid wave perm. This type of perm is also the best for processed hair (coloured) or hair that has more natural body. It’s has a lower PH and creates a softer wave in your hair. If you have very porous hair you should consider an acid wave perm. You definitely don’t want to consider an alkaline perm or the results may be hair loss.
click here to learn about hair porosity
If your the type of person who has never added chemicals or colours to your hair we call this “virgin hair”. If you “virgins” out there are looking to finally try something new, and a perm is in your mind the best choice would be an alkaline perm. Technically an alkaline perm is a permanent wave with a pH from 7.5 to 9.5. and the result produces a tight curl. Since it’s much stronger than an acid wave perm this type creates a better hold for virgin hair.
Perms are not just for curls! Keeping in mind the actual texture of your hair effects the end result of the perm; people with fine or limp hair might want a gentle perm to give extra body and movement to their hair. An alkaline perm may be too strong for someone with fine hair, and a kinky curly perm might not hold to the strand. Ultimately it will fry your hair. Try hi-lighting your hair first, to see how the chemicals react to your hair. Sometimes all you need is a little chemical damage at the root to get that extra lift you couldn’t acquire. This saves you time and money.
Remember that the chemicals take time to adjust to your hair. Your end result is usually not visible until two weeks have passed. So, give your hair a rest. The perm also has to adjust to the weight of your hair. If you think the curls have come out too tight, remember that they will unwind in time.
Good luck ladies, and we’ll see what 2010 brings.. maybe perms??? After all bellasugar say’s Perms are Back in Britian!
credit
Photo:
What is Hair Porosity, and Why does it Matter?
Has your hairstylist ever mentioned that your hair is very porous? Did you just shrug your shoulder and pick up your people magazine ignoring the comment completely? Not because you didn’t care, but because you had no idea what your hairstylist was referring to. Let me explain what hair porosity is, and why understanding your hair’s porosity can help you make better decisions regarding hair product choices and hair care.
Hair porosity is simply describing the amount of moisture your hair can or can’t hold. Your porosity level can be rated as low, normal, or high, and this all depends on the condition of the hair’s cuticle layers. If you could view a hair strand under a microscope you would notice all kinds of ridges along the strand, kinda like a palm tree’s trunk. The smoother your cuticle layer is the lower your porosity level is. The more ridges you have the more porous your hair is.
So why does it matter if your hair is porous or not? It makes a big difference in the texture of your hair, how you style it, and colour it, and how your hair will react to this. For example, when you apply colour to your hair it opens up the pores on the strand of your hair to absorb the colour. If you are constantly colouring, perming, or using heavy chemicals on your hair then your hair is unable to hold moisture as well. The pores will eventually seal themselves back up, but if you are constantly over-processing your hair, they may never close up. The result is dry, weak, brittle hair. How can you tell if you’ve over-processed your hair? Feel the ends or your hair. Do they feel coarse and brittle? According to Audrey Sivasothy, a beauty blogger on associatedcontent.com, your hair can absorb up to 50% of its’ weight in water. How fast does your hair air dry? The longer your hair takes to air dry the less porous it is. Take notice, are the ends of your hair drying faster than the body of your hair? Having low porous hair is not favorable as well. The problems you may notice with this is your hair will not absorb colour processing as well, and perms may not react to the hair as strongly and effectively. This is all because it is not the cuticular layer is not open to retain styling.
Really what you should strive for is a balance between the two. Hair care is exactly just that. Use these tips above to listen to your hair. Understand and respect when you’ve crossed the line of over-processing it. Because once you reach that level there, and your hair strand is no longer able to restore itself there is no turning back.
Are you interested in learning how to care for your hair with nutrition?
Click here to learn how, and try some yummy recipes to benefit the health of your hair
Credit:
Sivasothy, Audrey. “Hair Porosity: Help for Dry, Damaged Hair (part 1).” Beauty. 2007. associatedcontent. 26 Sep. 2007 <http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/367189/hair_porosity_help_for_dry_damaged.html?cat=69
AnnaLynne McCord is Rocking 80’s Curly Hair
AnnaLynne McCord may not be a ‘A’ list actress, but she has an ‘A’ list style. Here we see another celebrity absorbing 80’s big, curly hair. All those curly headed ladies out there… are these trends making you jump out of your seat like me?I have spent years fighting my curls, and finally I am embracing them. Acceptance of what you have is more empowering and transmits confidence abroad. ALTHOUGH, I have to be a little bit smug when people are telling me they are jealous of my curls 
Regardless, get out those old pictures of your cousins, mothers, brothers, or sisters from the 80’s, and indulge yourself in their big curly hair. Next up PERMS!!
People.com has a great pic of AnnaLynne McCord rocking her 80’s style hair:
Davines No. 10 Universal Polishing Coat For Wizards
Establishing sleek, shiny straight hair is not something you need to hire a celebrity stylist for. Sometimes even using the most high-end Flat Iron will still leave your ends looking dull and lifeless, especially if your natural texture is course or wavy. Why is this? Because you need to add a lil’ bit of product. Do you want to know a secret trick to smooth out the dry ends? Want a sleek, sexy look?
Davines No. 10 Universal Polishing Coat For Wizards is one of my favorite products to finish off my look after using my Flat Iron. My hair is naturally fine, dry, and curly. It’s got a mind of it’s own, and it can be as spontaneous as my personality. So, when I need to control it a little bit, or if I feel like I want to change my look for a day I always finish off my flat ironing with Davines No. 10. It’s best to use the product very sparingly as it can have the opposite effect of sleek and leave your hair lifeless and heavey. I like to distribute a dime sized amount throughout the ends of my hair, especially the pieces framing my face. Play with the amount that you find works well for you. The great thing is that one tin of product is bound to last you months. After you distribute the Davines polish I run the flatiron over it the ends of my hair. The heat melts the polish and smoothes your ends to get the sheen and edgy look. If your hair is naturally curly use the flat iron sparingly. You don’t want to fry out your ends either.
How to Tame your Curly Mane
Ladies, don’t fear your beautiful curly hair! Many women spend hours a day trying to make their frizzy curls into smooth shiny strands. Instead of wasting countless frustrating hours damaging your hair with flat irons, rock your curly hair! The first step to becoming confident with your curls is a good haircut. A good stylist will know that cutting curls is not the same as cutting straight. Curls need room to move and bounce, so make sure you find a stylist that works with you. The next step is knowing how to control your curls. Start by scrunch drying the hair with papertowels, they absorb more moisture than a regular towel. Next use a curl enhancing product, either a spray or a gel, for a harder hold. My favorite is a spray, Esuchen NPPE Curl Energizer. Blow dry with a diffuser, blow drying can add a lot of frizz if not done properly, always use high heat with a low setting. You will want to face the dryer upside down to scrunch the curls up towards your crown to create more volume and accentuate the curls. If you don’t have a diffuser, pin curls up all around the crown of your head and blow dry with a high heat and low setting. Scrunch your curls up and mold them with your fingers while evenly dispursing heat from all directions. If blow drying is not your thing or your pressed for time just skip straight to a frizz serum or a smoothing pomade and on to a curly new you! My favorite is Sudzz FX Lemonade Dreamz, this product is great because it doubles as a frizz eliminator when used wet and then use dry to add some shine and soft hold. You may have to play around with products until you find the right formula to work with you. Your hair is as unique as your finger prints.
Hair Fashion – Short Curly Hair I love
Short cropped curls are springing up this fall 2009!!!!
How to Use a Flat Iron on Wet – to – Dry Hair
Wet to dry with a flat iron is never a good idea… you can burn your scalp with the steam from the iron and more importantly your beautiful locks!! It literally fries your hair and increases split ends. your best bet is to spend the extra time drying your hair completely and try ironing smaller sections of hair for better results.
