Get Your Hair Ready For Summer

I don't know about you but summer to me means endless days of sun, pool or beach parties plus road trips and relaxing vacations.  To look your best as you make your way through one sun soaked day to the next you need your hair to look great.  And late winter, think March, is the time to start to prep your hair to insure it looks it's best and can withstand all the fun in the sun to come without flinching.

Okay so your goal is to get your hair in prime shape.  And to start to adjust your styling routine to a more casual more relaxed approach to hair care.  There are at least seven things to do to get ready.  Let's quickly look at each.

Summer Hair Care Routine

This video makes many of the same points only via video for those who prefer to watch rather than read. 

 

 

 

Turn Down The Heat
Hot styling tools are murder on our hair any time and just that much worse when the mercury rises.  The time to step away from these hot stylers is before you start exposing your strands to UV rays galore.  Besides when it is warmer out it is easier to just let your hair air dry.  If you still feel you must air dry, move the temp down a notch or two and dig out your nozzle.  That will give some space between your mane and the business end of the heater.  No sense in scorching your hair now.   As always use a better than average heat protectant to help minimize the heat damage.

 

Supplemental
All of us could eat better.  Putting hair healthy items on the menu like more fish or seeds or nuts.  But sometimes we just don't have time.  To try to compensate maybe a bit by stopping by the vitamin section of your local health food store and stocking up on biotin, fish oil and a good multi-vitamin. The result can be stronger hair that isn't as apt to break off no matter how much time you spend poolside. 

 

If You Color
It's all the more important to treat colored locks with kid gloves.  That's because the color can oxidize under relentless heat and sunshine.  The look would remind you more of dried and fried than sleek and silky.  Moisture is the key.  Some recommend keratin treatments to get a jump on brittle dry hair.  These work by coating the follicle with a naturally occurring protein that you hair has plenty of.  Keratin strengthens and smoothes the cuticle creating a protective barrier of sorts.  Some rave such treatments seal the deal leaving their hair silky soft less vulnerable to heat and sun. 

 

Detangle Much?
Knots in your hair may account for the fact your hair seems to have stopped growing longer.  If you can't seem to put on any length maybe that's because you have too many knots which can lead to excessive split ends and breakage both of which can stop your progress to longer hair dead in its tracks.  If this sounds like you, maybe you might want to consider putting your hair into pigtails or a loose messy bun at bedtime.  This will help to keep your hair from knotting up and may just result in longer, healthier tresses too.

 

Bottoms Up
Going into the season marked by long days of late sunsets you want to hydrate your mane.  In fact you want to insure it is ready by conditioning your hair to insure it has enough moisture to remain its healthiest.  You almost can't have too much moisture.  Get into the habit of using a leave in conditioner at least twice a month. 

 

Mask Away
To help with that invest in a good coconut or macadamia nut mask.  You could almost say these are like lotion for your hair.  Typically they won't build up on your hair to weigh it down.  Or if you prefer you can simply mix one of these oils in with your favorite conditioner, leave it on for a couple of minutes, then rinse.  The biggest mistake too many make when conditioning is being in a hurry to rinse the product out before it has had time to penetrate the shafts to help rehydrate them.  Leaving you with softer, shiner, hair that feels luscious. 

 

Tiny Trims
Now's also the time to also attend to the ends.  Make sure you are hitting them with conditioner daily.  In fact now's the time to trim any damage left over from winter because sometimes the only solution is a bit of a trim.  Given your ends have been around the longest they will have the most accumulated damage from hot styling, brushing and such.  It's a good idea to clean things to prevent split that can run up the shaft creating more damage.  So indirectly you are strengthening the hair shaft. 

 

Always a good idea.

 

As the song says, summer time and the living is easy.  Make it easy on your hair by prepping those strands now for what is to come during July and August.

Stopping Frizzy Hair In Its Tracks

Does another frizzy hair day leave you still looking for the secret to great hair days?
 
Does your search for help continue because you know your hair is more than just a sexy accessory even if yours isn't - exactly sexy that is? 

Does a forecast of bad hair day weather just make your heart sink? 

All reasons why if your hair is normally frizzy when you want it to look smooth and perfectly put together you'll probably find what follows to be quite useful. 

Wash your hair often?  Like every day often?  You do know that you're just putting out the welcome mat for frizzy hair, dry hair or both.  That's because overzealous shampooing tends to strip away the natural oils you hair needs to smooth away the frizz.  Oh and on days your locks look greasy reach for your dry shampoo to sop up the excess oils. 

Fight frizz by deep conditioning your hair each time you wash it.  It's simple to do.  Just leave your conditioner on for five minutes while shaving or washing the rest of you.  Just be sure to spread the conditioner evenly using a wide tooth comb.  This intensive use of everyday conditioner works because you are giving it all the time it needs to coat the shaft so it is less likely to frizz up so easily. 

Perhaps it is time to sharpen your hair drying skills?  Hair drying skills?  Yes, there are things you can do when drying your hair that can make a big difference and I'm not talking how you aim your blow dryer or stuff like that.  For one you can ease up on rigorous hair drying selecting micro fiber towels instead of the more common terry cloth.  For one micro fiber is more absorbent.  And two it won't agitate your cuticles nearly as much.  And smooth cuticles are less apt to frizz out on you later when the humidity rises.

If your hair isn't exactly all rainbows and unicorns all the time maybe it's because you are neglecting to use heat protectant despite your ongoing love affair with hot styling tools.  Think that could be the root of your frizz?  Might be since the heat from those tools, even hot weather, don't do your hair any favors.  Which is why you want to be super religious about using something to protect your locks if you want to avoid ending up with a petulant mane. 

As you already know, moisture is the underlying villain causing your frizz.  That's why you want to do what you can to keep the cuticles calmed down.  Turns out you can even get an assist on that from your blow dryer - if it's one of the ionic variety.  These apparently work to compress those all-important cuticles effectively denying moisture in the air strand access.  When that happens frizz is denied access to. 

Of course you always want to let your hair air dry some before firing up the blow dryer.

If all else fails you can sometimes settle down frizz with your curling iron.  Simply wrap sections around the iron and viola, the heat helps to smooth them own.

Okay, maybe I'm going out on a limb and bet that if frizz is a problem you have an ongoing love affair with alcohol based hair care products.  Fact is most hair sprays amd mousses rate high on the alcohol meter. That alone can puff up your cuticles all but guaranteeing frizz. 

Finally there are two things you can try when you're desperate for a solution. 

To tackle any outlaw strands that absolutely refuse to fall in line, spray a bit of finishing spray directly on an old tooth brush.  Run that over the trouble spots.  See if that doesn't finish them off.

 

Then there's smoothing serum.  Ever used it?  Most are silicone based which, yes, I know can weigh down fine hair like an anvil.  Still during a particularly bad frizz outbreak an application can also bring a sense of order to an otherwise disorderly hair style.

A great hair day can change your entire mood.  The way to keep frizz from producing a string of bad hair days it to follow tips like these.  They can moisturize your strands which we all know is the key to frizz freedom. Failing that you can beat back the frizz when even more moisture isn't enough.

Excellent Coloring Tips for a Cuter You

Hey!  There are few things more satisfying in life than new hair color.  The effect on your look can be nothing short of amazing.  The effect on your self-confidence is even better. You're suddenly funnier, more confident, and feel more sexy especially around members of the opposite sex.  Am I right?

Besides you deserve this.  It's not often such a simple change can make such a big difference.  And before I forget for more simple changes you might want to check out sites like TerrificTresses.com (http://www.terrifictresses.com/) or TotalBeauty.com but I'm getting off topic.

Okay, simple may be overstating things a bit.  It's simple if you know what you're doing.  But back when your knowledge of hair coloring processes was shakier, DIY coloring wasn't all that simple.  Back then you could have only dreamed of the assurance you display now when you coolly open the kit and start coloring.

Color Selection Tips

Problem is there are literally oceans of hair colors you can choose from. So how do you pick from all the choices?  A quick stop in the hair care aisle at your local Walmart will prove there are just so many hair color ideas to choose from.

Some may go with the hottest trend going at the moment that they've picked up from some fashion magazine or TV talk show.  While others, the less fortunate, just cannot seem to keep up with modern times. Whatever you do just make sure to choose your hair color carefully so you won't regret your choice in the end.

To that end here are quick tips to help you find that perfect color for the perfect look that doesn't have 1973 written all over it.

First you want to consider the texture and density of your hair. Also, consider your skin tone and eye color when choosing a hair color. Going blonde may not go perfectly if you're dark-skinned. Brunette, however, is much more versatile shade as it can go with any skin tone.

Coloring Tip: Deep condition your hair a few days before coloring it. This will give you healthy locks to work with which will increase the odds you'll be happy with the outcome.

Beyond that there are three words you need to remember when caring for color treated hair.  Know what they are?  Simple.  Condition. Condition. Condition. 

Okay so that was a bit of a trick question. Still the fact is coloring can be drying.  Dry hair can split, frizz up, and act like it has a mind of its own and who wants that?  While if your mane is well hydrated, those annoyances and beauty hindrances are MUCH less likely to happen.  Which is why you want to bend over backwards to maintain or restore the moisture your strands need to look their best.  Even on days you are not going to lather up, you'd be smart to run a bit of conditioner through your tresses. 

Oh and on those days you do shampoo use a formulation designed for your color treated hair.  Sulfate free would be good too.  Either way you want to keep any harsh detergents far away from your gloriously colored hair.  To preserve that color for as long as you can.

If you changed your hair color into blonde, be careful since chemicals present in ample supply in swimming pools may cause blonde hair to develop a greenish tint.

Video: Hair Coloring for Beginners

Of course some prefer highlighting to going with an entirely different hue.  If you want to add a highlighting effect take care.  Which is to say what you may have heard about how it's not wise to not try highlights at home especially if you're not great at hair sectioning is kinda true.  Yet if you insist on doing highlights yourself, ask a friend to help you out since your bathroom mirror and available lighting only give you part of what you need to see to do this well.

Also keep in mind that when it comes to color streaks like these less is more.  Otherwise before you know it you're suddenly blonde.  To avoid that suddenly stuff apply a small amount of yellow or gold hair color only to specific sections of your hair.

Still if you aren't good at highlighting but have your heart set on them it might be better to leave this job to an experienced colorist or salon stylist who does this kind of thing every day. All the more if you don't want to end up with a botched coloring job despite your best efforts.

Coloring Tip: Be sure to pick up a shampoo formulated for color treated hair. The gentler ingredients found inside the bottle are less likely to strip the color out of your hair before it's time.

So if you are looking for a way to transform yourself into a better, more exciting and more cuter you changing the color of your mane is a surefire way to accomplish that. But never forget that our locks are said to be our crowning glory. You don't want to mess that up when it comes to coloring them.