Monday, June 27, 2011

through thick and thin, everyone can win

Most of you probably know whether your hair is thin, medium, or thick. buut start off by giving you a simple way to determine what yours is just in case you're not quite sure.
get a new, average sized pony tail holder and pull your hair up into a plain n simple pony tail. if your hair tie only wraps around 1-2 times you have thick hair, if it goes around 3-4 times you have medium, and if its any more than that you have thin hair
anywho, i'm a firm believer that hair serums and leave in conditioners should be enjoyed by all three hair types. its mostly just a matter of how much and what kind.
for thicker hair you want to choose a product that focuses mostly on de-frizz and shine (because thicker hair often gets course and dull easier) and use a good quarter sized handful
for medium hair i recommend trying to find a hair serum to make your hair softer and smoother but doesnt contain any silicones because that will weigh down your hair and cause it to lose volume and appear greasier faster. when pouring the product into your hand get it to about the size of a nickel
for thinner hair pick products that specailize in volumizing, like root boosters. you'll also want to avoid any products that have silicones in them because your hair just can't handle it, at least not on a daily basis. and use only a penny/dime sized dollop to apply to your hair
and finally, when you're getting ready to apply any serums or conditioners of any kind--be sure and read the back of the bottle--most will advise you to add to damp hair, so add to clean, DAMP hair (not wet, this DOES make a difference. the wetter your hair is the less your hair is able to absorb the good oils and nutrients from the product). and squirt the product onto your finger tips to help with even distribution focused on your ends, then once you have it all over your hair use a wide tooth comb to brush through. your hair is at its most sensitive when its wet, so brushes can cause unnecessary breakage. which isn't fun. :p

Saturday, June 18, 2011

fun in the sun

Since it is summertime, I'm sure most of you are enjoying yourselves outdoors. I know I am. Summer is my prime season.

Anyways...I suggest y'all protect yourselves out there. What do I mean? Sun damage. Before exposing yourself to those UV rays, put on some sunscreen or lotion that is at least SPF 15. Even if you are tanning. A little protection goes a long way.

Another little idea that you might not have considered...the sun can damage your hair, too. My hair is pretty delicate (I'm a natural blonde, what can I say?), so it easily gets dried out in direct sunlight. How do you combat this problem? A little SPF, my dears. You can either spray a light mist of aerosol sunscreen on your locks, or you can mix up a solution yourself.

In a spray bottle, combine 2 Tbsp sunscreen lotion, 1 Tbsp conditioner, 1 Tbsp hairspray or gel, and 1 cup of water. Shake it up and spritz. These measurements are approximate, and you can, of course, alter this recipe to fit your taste/style. If you don't like hairspray/gel, don't add it. If there is another hair product you think you would like added, add it. You can also add a little bit of lemon juice to maximize the sun-bleaching effect. Ta-da! Sunshine-y, happy, healthy hair.

Another helpful hint: protect your locks in the pool by putting a little bit of conditioner on the ends of your hair before taking a dip.

Amazing, no?

Friday, June 17, 2011

Clean up your mascara

So I'm one of those people that has specific products I simply can't live without, and one is mascara. I'm a HUGE mascara dork. I love the stuff. But have you ever noticed that after you have a tube for a while it stops doin quite such a good job defining those lashes n it starts getting clumpy and thus making your eyelashes clump? well its actually really a simple problem to fix.
First you want to take the mascara wand out and wash it in warm soap and water.
When its completely dried get some hairspray-whatever kind you have handy will work-and spray it all over the applicator bristles.
Once again let dry, then BAM! It works like brand new all over again! No need to waste money on a whole new tube of mascara when you can just clean it up a little and be ready to go :]