Blog Archives
Hair Snips: How Gray Magic Works
Have you ever heard of “Gray Magic”?
Well, I have, because we sell it at Sally Beauty Supply (My Second Job), but also because I have heard many of my clients talk about it over the years. If you don’t know what it is, it’s a color additive that makes the color adhere better to gray hair. Gray hair is super resistant, and can be very hard to color.
So now I want to briefly discuss how gray magic works.
Gray hair is the result of the loss of yellow and red tones in the hair. The resistance of gray hair is caused by the tightening of the cuticle. Gray magic, when mixed with peroxide, helps open the cuticle wider to allow better penetration of hair color, and also helps replenish the red and yellow tones back into the hair, to give a richer, more vibrant color.
It is also equipped with “wetting agents” to replenish moisture in the hair. These wetting agents also allow gray magic to be mixed into semi-permanent colors that are used without developer. However, it will have no effect when mixed into a rinse or other temporary color.
To use gray magic, mix 10 drops for every ounce of color.
To buy it, click here or check out your local Sally Beauty Supply.
Now you know…..
Hair Snips: Why Red Hair Color Won’t Hold…
Have you ever wondered why red hair color fades so much quicker than other colors? I’ll tell you why….
Let me give you a quick science lesson. All colors are made out of combinations of the three primary colors: red, blue and yellow.
Blue is the largest color molecule, followed by red, then yellow. Since blue and red are so large, they do not pack inside your hair as tightly as yellow. When your cuticle is opened (like from shampooing your hair), the color molecules escape from the hair shaft.
Beware: cool red colors contain both blue and red, which means they will fade even faster.
To protect your red color, invest in a red shampoo, that will deposit red pigments back in your hair, such as Quantum Riveting Reds Replenishing Shampoo.
Now you know…
French Braid Your HAIR For Sleep | hwh <3
So, one of my coworkers at Sally Beauty Supply told me a cool idea the other night: to wear your hair in a french braid while you are sleeping. It’s supposed to keep your hair really healthy and help it grow longer. It seemed a little weird at first but then when she explained it, it made sense to me. So I decided to write a post about why french braiding your hair for sleepy time is good for your hair.
1. Scalp Stimulation
When you braid your hair, you are gently pulling your hair tight. This stimulates your scalp. Stimulating your scalp circulates blood flow to your hair follicles, which, in turn, equates to a healthier scalp and supposed faster hair growth. While hair is in the Anagen phase (the growing phase), growth cells in the papilla rapidly divide and produce the hair shaft which becomes keratinized as it pushes up and out of the follicle into the pore. At the same time, the follicle grows down into the deeper levels of the dermis (skin) to get nourishment (hairlosshelp.com). It makes sense that increased blood flow would help speed this process up a little. I’m not saying that you are going to wake up the next morning with hair down to your butt, but it will add a little boost.
2. Hair Protection
I’m the type of person that moves around and tosses and turns all night long. As you can imagine, this wreaks havoc on my hair. When I wake up in the morning, I have the craziest hair; it sticks up everywhere, and the only way to salvage it is to take a shower. It’s really not ideal for me, because I wake up early to go to work and I am not a morning person. I would like to be able to shower at night and save myself some time in the morning. Keeping your hair in a tight braid prevents your hair from getting crazy while sleeping.
It also protects your hair from any damage that may be caused by moving around a lot. If you think about it, maybe you are sleeping on a section of your hair and try to move, which rips part of your hair. That is kind of a bad example, but it is feasible for me, as I share a bed with my boyfriend, 2 dogs and a cat. My space is pretty limited, so there’s always a chance that someone is sleeping on my hair. Not to mention, my kitten loves to attack my hair, which can’t be good. Keeping my hair in a braid will keep it safe from the possible damage.
3. Eliminate HAIR-tie Breakage
I really hate having my hair in my face while I sleep, so I usually put my hair up in a ponytail. The problem with ponytails, is that the hair-tie can cause breakage if placed in the same part of you hair every day. Therefore, if I wear my hair in the exact same ponytail every night, more than likely the hair-tie would break my hair over time. Braiding your hair will eliminate the breakage from the ponytail. Although, you do need to use a hair-tie to tie off your braid, you can vary where you wear it. Some nights you can braid your hair further down, and others you can tie it off at the nape of your neck.
The last thing I want to mention is that it is better to braid your hair when it is dry, because wet hair might be too tight, causing strain on your hair.
I want to know what you think! Leave feedback in the comments!
To learn more about HAIR, check out HAIR 101.
Aphogee | hwh<3
This week I am going to share some knowledge with you all that I recently ran into. I’m going to tell you all about a little miracle product called “Aphogee Two-Step Protein Treatment.”
How did I learn about it?
While I was working at Sally’s one night, a long-time hairstylist walked in. She overheard me giving coloring advice to a different customer and approached me to tell me that she thought I handled the situation well. I talked with her for a few minutes and she said to me “I’m going to let you in on a secret. This stuff right here (the aphogee) is the best thing in the world. I always keep it on stock in my salon.” She let me know that it works miracles on even the most damaged hair. I decided to give it a shot.
How does it work?
This protein treatment is different from a traditional treatment. You wash your hair, towel dry it, apply the treatment, comb it through, an let it dry and harden. You do not wrap your hair up or put a bag over your head. You just let your hair fall like it normally does and sit under the dryer. The product will turn very hard when it dries. Do not attempt to comb through your hair after the product has began to harden. When it is done processing, you simply rinse out the product with warm water.
The treatment, formulated with modified proteins and magnesium, fuses into the hair with the application of heat. This product will dramatically reduce breakage, regardless what condition your hair is in.
How is it different?
Most other deep conditioning treatments only strengthen your hair for a few washes, while the Aphogee Two-Step treatment lasts up to 6 weeks. It is recommended to only treat your hair with this product every 4-6 weeks.
What is my opinion?
I really do like it. It does make my hair a lot stronger. However, this product is recommended for use under a hooded dryer, which I do not have at home. The heat from the dyer completes the fusion of protein to your hair. So in other words, I didn’t get the full experience of the treatment.
Have you tried this treatment? I want to know what you think! Leave feedback in the comments!
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What’s Your Skin Tone? | hwh<3
You already know this, but skin is by far the largest organ in the human body. Everybody can see your skin and everyone has a different color and tone. The color of your skin comes mostly from your ethnic background, although sun exposure or dye can alter it. Everyone has either a warm or cool undertone. You’re probably thinking “that’s cool, but why does this matter on a hair blog?” Well, it matters because your hair color, make-up, or clothes can either accentuate it or degrade it.
Obviously, we want to accentuate it, which will make us look more flattering. But before we can play it up, we need to figure out what our skin tone is.
I made a chart of roughly some skin colors and tones that you can try to match up to your skin.
Naturally I am fair-skinned, since I am Irish/German descent (which is as white as they come). However, I tan pretty regularly in the sun or tanning beds (which is bad because my good friend just got stage 2 melanoma removed) but I can’t help it. I hate not being tan. It feels so nice to lay out in the sun during the summer. Just be careful not to burn. I also use self-tanning lotions and get spray tans done which can make me really dark. As of now, I fall into the tan category.
A good way to tell if your skin tone is warm or cool is to look at the veins in your forearm. If they are blueish, then you have cool tones. If they are greenish, your skin is a warm tone.
I have always thought that my skin tone is warm, because I naturally turn reddish colors when I am tan. However, I do believe, after writing this article, that my skin tone is cooler. My veins in my arm are blue. I also look better with cooler colors. Green, blue, purple, magenta and silver eye shadows are the most flattering to me. I can do okay with yellow, gold and orange but they are not as good. Red is a really hard color for me to wear. Red eye shadow works okay for me sometimes, but I look absolutely horrible with red lipstick. I don’t really ever wear lipstick. I usually just use chapstick or sometimes nude-colored lip gloss.
Anyways, the other thing you can try is to hold aluminum foil up to your face in regular light. Make sure your face is clean, with no make-up, lotions, etc on. If the silver foil accentuates your face, you are cool toned. If it looks bad, then you can try gold foil. If the gold foil looks better than the silver, you are warm toned. You can do the same thing with a plain white piece of paper.
Did you learn something new about skin tones? Leave your feedback in the comments! If you liked this article, check out What Shape is Your Face? How to Tell.
Read more about my research about HAIR in HAIR 101.
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The Busiest Time Of The Year | hwh<3
Me and my baby!
So I definitely haven’t posted anything recently and let me tell you why: Back-to-school season is the busiest time of year for a hairstylist. I have seen this phenomena occur at every salon I have ever worked at. Don’t worry, it is followed by the slowest time of the year. I have been slammed most of the time right now, and I am definitely not complaining. Since I am still new at running a business, times can get really rough sometimes. It is nice to have all this extra money flowing in. However, in this situation, I think it goes beyond the season….
We have been working on ways to get some new walk-in traffic to the salon and it seems to have worked. Our salon is located right on one of the busiest streets in Carson City, and pretty much everyone drives by it at some point during their week. However, it was not widely known that we do hair, since the main business is a tanning salon. The owner of the salon recently made a sign with our prices on it and set it out right on the street. It has been a great success. We are getting a lot of new walk-ins every day. It’s so great to see how the business has grown so much just in a few months.
Anyways, besides that, there has been some crazy personal stuff going on in my life. I decided after three years of taking my anxiety medication, Paxil, that it is time to get off it. If my anxiety and panic disorder comes back, I will definitely go back on it, but I figured I could try to see how it affects me. I’ve read so many people saying that they dropped quite a few pounds after getting off it, so that is one perk. The downfall is that Paxil is extremely addicting, and you have to go through horrific withdrawal stage, which is where I am at right now. My main problem is that I have a constant migraine and the only thing I want to do is sleep. When I’m awake, I feel kinda crazy or drunk even and it is hard to focus. I have been trying to get into a good sleep schedule, so I am forcing myself to stay awake as much as I can throughout the day. I have also gone on a strict diet (or lifestyle change) where I cut any sugars or bad carbs out completely. Last but not least, my neck has been really messed up for a few months causing me a lot of pain. So between all of that fun stuff and being busy, it has been hard to make time to post.
The good news is that I am starting to feel better more and more each day and I finally finished some behind the scenes stuff for the blog that I have been working on for a while. I have a few more projects to do (like finish my other blog, mychihuahuasblog.com along with a couple of videos) and then I should be back on my daily posting schedule.
I’m not sure anyone really cares, but I also recently read the book “Through the Storm” by Lynne Spears. It is AMAZING. I read the whole thing in a few hours. If you are any type of Britney fan, I recommend reading it. Most of the book is not about Britney, but about her mom’s life and the rest of her family. I really enjoyed it, because Lynne is an incredible woman. I love reading about how she turned to God for the hardest times she had to face and seeing how she got through some huge problems. With God, anything is possible :) Now, if only I could bring myself to finish the last book in the Hunger Games trilogy. I only have a few chapters left and then I’m DONE! It’s just been so hard to find the time to finish it, but the question of love is eating me alive. I wonder at least once a day, “does Katniss end up with Peeta or Gale??!??!” I really want her to pick Peeta but I definitely need to finish it soon. Please don’t tell me! So anyways, I just wanted to let you all know what I have been up to and that I am not dead. If you’re haven’t already, you should subscribe. This way you can know firsthand when my new posts start flowing in again. Thanks for being patient!
-Holleewood-
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Where Do HAIR Extensions Come From? | hwh<3
Hair extensions have become increasingly more popular in the last decade. They add length to your hair in a tiny fraction of the time that it takes to grow your hair long. Even if you already have long hair, but want more body, hair extensions can supply that too. But have you ever wondered where hair extensions came from? I will answer that very question in this article.
First off, there are two different types of hair used in extensions: real human hair, or synthetic hair.
Synthetic Hair:
Synthetic hair is basically Barbie doll hair. I would never recommend using synthetic hair, unless it is temporary. They don’t blend with your real hair and will look really fake. You also can’t style them with any heat. I bought a synthetic clip in zebra striped piece, and tried to flat-iron it. Now it is fried and looks horrible. I think they look best if you buy crazy punky colors and wear them sparingly. Synthetic hair is used a lot in runway fashion, for that reason.
Anyways, back to my main topic. Synthetic hair is made of fine thread that is made to resemble human hair. Acrylic and polyester are the most common fibers used to make synthetic hair. It is generally less expensive but won’t last nearly as long. Remember: you get what you pay for.
Human Hair:
Nobody really takes the time to wonder where human hair extensions generally come from. With hair extensions becoming so common these days, people care more about acquiring them than their origin. Don’t worry. They don’t come from dead people or hair salons, or anything along those lines. They come from people who specifically grow their hair out to sell it.
The three major regions that human hair extensions originate from are China, Russia and India. The Chinese and Russian women generally come from small villages and sell their hair to collectors for a lot of money. Sometimes the money they make can support them for a month or so. In India, the women only cut their hair after a life changing event like a wedding or funeral. They generally donate their hair to a temple, which sells their hair to collectors. After the hair is collected, it is cleaned, and most likely permed or colored. After the hair is arranged in bulk, it is packaged and sent to stores.
Now you know where hair extensions come from!
If you liked this article, check out
8 Ways to Grow Your Hair Faster
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Miracle Styling Mousse | hwh<3
It’s a 10 Miracle Styling Mousse has to be the best mousse in the world. I have never been much of a mousse fan. I don’t know what it is, but when I use this Mousse, my hair just looks so much better.
Like any of the It’s a 10 products, it does 10 things miraculously:
1- Instant hold
2- Workable formula
3- Adds shine
4- Adds lift and volume
5- Nutrient filled
6- Strengthens hair
7- Alcohol free
8- Controls static
9- Adds texture
10-Never crunchy
It delivers weightless hold that improves the hair’s texture, strength and stylabilty with every use. It works with all hair styles including short styles, men’s hair, up-do’s and sculpted styles.
The key ingredients:
- Castor Oil: moisturizes scalp and hair, prevents and helps reduce damage, provides deep conditioning, reduces frizz and stimulates healthy hair growth
- Lanolin: moisturizes the hair shaft while providing light hold
- Hydrolyzed Silk: Restores natural moisture balance while adding strength and shine
To use, shake well. Dispense a small amount into hands and emulsify. Distribute evenly and style as desired.
Buy it here.
Have you ever tried this product? I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments. Check out more of my FAVE products!
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Urban Antidotes | hwh<3
Urban Antidotes by TIGI Bedhead has three different lines of products:
Re-energize for damage level 1.
Perfect for: normal hair that needs a daily pick-me-up
Urban Antidote #1: Work hard, play hard … That’s how you roll. Get yourself back to normal with a hydrating, strengthening & shine-enhancing shampoo.
The shampoo livens up moisture levels, boosts hair strength and promotes color retention.
Urban Antidote #1: Put some oomph back into your tired, over-stimulated hair. Supercharged hydrating conditioner helps strengthen weak, blah hair giving it a rush of shine and health.RE-ENERGIZE & GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!
The conditioner blasts weightless shine, detangles, unruly locks, and boosts hair strength.
Get them here.
Recovery for damage level 2.
Perfect for: Dry, Damaged tresses that need moisture hit.
Urban Antidote #2: You’ve dyed, you’ve fried, so take your dull hair to the bright side! Help moisture-deprived hair to the ultimate recovery.
The shampoo hydrates dried-out strands, protects color from fading, and prevents pesky split ends.
Urban Antidote #2: Drench moisture-deprived hair with a rush of hydration that gets stressed-out tresses back in action & on the road to recovery.
The conditioner moisturizes for major softness, protects from thermal and combing damage and prevents pesky split ends.
Get them here.
Resurrection for damage level 3.
Perfect for: Weak, brittle hair that needs an intervention.
Urban Antidote #3: Admitting is the first step! Face it . . . Your hair needs some rehab. Let the hydration therapy begin. Bring weak & brittle hair back to life with this powerful moisture packed shampoo.
The shampoo provides moisture overhaul, keeps color vibrant, and zeros in on dry, damaged hair.
Urban Antidote #3: Admitting is the first step! Bring dead-end hair back to life once and for all. Formula targets areas in the most need of repair, giving your whacked out hair the revival it has been waiting for!
The conditioner revives lifeless hair, provides thermal protection from harsh conditioners, and zeros in on dry, damaged hair.
Get them here.
**I got all of this information of the TIGI Haircare website.
Have you ever tried this product? I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments. Check out more of my FAVE products!
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Redken Cleansing Cream | hwh<3
Redken Cleansing Cream is by FAR the best clarifying shampoo I have ever tried!
It is recommended that you clarify your hair about twice a month. This is because all kinds of junk starts to build up in your hair. Especially when you use shampoo that is formulated to gently cleanse the hair, since these don’t remove the heavy product and mineral buildup from tap water. Also, a lot of styling products contain silicones that aren’t soluble in water.
Redken hair cleansing cream contains a high concentration of chelating agents that surround minerals, making them more soluble so they can be washed away.
It’s formulated with fruit acids to add shine, as it purifies and refreshes hair.
It clarifies and works to remove copper, iron, hard water minerals and styling product build-up.
It purifies, refreshes and leaves hair shiny.
To buy it, click here.
Have you ever tried this product? I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments. Check out more of my FAVE products!
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