Helpful Hints By Giddles!

Reverse Frosting

2009-05-28T08:39:00.000-07:00

Reverse Frosting is fun! If you already have dark hair and started just slightly gray, this is an option for coloring.
I always prefer Redken color gels as they are so transparent and look so "born with it".

There will come a time when you have too much gray to do this option but it is less maintenance than coloring root to end each month. With Reverse Frosting you can color every 3 months and can still look good.

Teasing is Back!

2009-01-02T10:30:00.000-08:00

Have you noticed that lately when you go into a restaurant or in the mall that young women with the traditional "straight long hair" are teasing in one place on the hair?

Yes! They are teasing on top in the back of the hair. It looks like the 80's are sneaking their way back.

How can you do it?

Tease the top and back of the hair but not near the bang area and not in the lower back area of the head. Spray it with a working or shaping spray and then use a comb to smooth it out so that it does not look teased. Many people are gathering a small amount of hair to the center back in a crisscross manner to give a little extra "poof".

I think it is lovely!

Hair Products-So Many to Choose From.

2008-12-19T22:08:00.000-08:00

Products for the hair are designed to work with the way you care for your hair. For example, if you do not blow dry your hair, you would not need a product to protect it. But if you do blow dry everyday, you may want to consider using something.

Normally a good rule of thumb is this:
*Whatever the product does when you put it in the palm of your hand will be what it will do to your hair.

Mousse is best for a person who wants their hair to expand and have volume.

Thick gel will help the hair to stay put. Lighter gels do the same but with less intensity.

If you want bouncy curls, you will need something with "memory" that will keep the style. Try Bead Head by TIGI which defines curls and tends to have some "memory". And there are a number of "thermal protection" products available. Remember too, if you use the flat iron, you MUST use pressing oil or some protection or you will have a mess on your hands with brittle dry hair.

Pastes allow you to take a small piece of hair and move it around where you want it to go or to stick up in the air.

Rusk makes a styling cream called Wired Cream. This is such a great product. At first you might feel it is too greasy. But that simply means you are using way too much! Both men and women love this product. I like a dab before styling. And when I am done I use it to define some strands of hair.

Hairsprays are used to keep the hair where you want it. Some of my favorites are Sebastian Super Shaper Plus, Bain de Terre Shaping Spray and Rusk W8less Shaping Spray.

I recommend for Redken products that you visit this website: http://www.redken.com/products/styling
Redken separates the products into mild, medium, maximum and urban. I also love a wide range of other products like Paul Mitchell, KMS, Matrix, Rusk, and many others.

If you have a Trade Secret in your area, though I am not crazy about the Salon itself, they have the best prices on products and run some wonderful sales. They also have a very large selection and can educate you on which products work well.

So experiment with trying different products and find out what the return policy is for a product that you buy. You should not have to keep a product that doesn't do what it says it will do. So don't be too shy to ask how to use it. And when you find a great product, save your pennies, it is worth it! And next time you admire someone's beautiful hair, chances are that he or she is using good quality products that accomplishes so much!

Grey Hair Hints

2008-12-13T22:32:00.000-08:00

Grey hair can be beautiful especially when the following are involved:
(1) Shiny and healthy
(2) Bright but not yellow
(4) Not too long

In my opinion the best color for grey hair is "Redken Color Gels". These colors are what I call "see through colors" meaning that they look so natural and tend to take differently on different people and are somewhat transparent. This color looks like you were born with it.

My recommendation for perming is called Matrix Biolage Perm. It is strong enough for grey hair but gentle enough not to ruin the hair and has a great smell.

Using a brightening anti yellow shampoo can keep hair that has not been tinted nicely toned.

Hair Brushes-The Good. The Bad. The Ugly.

2008-12-11T19:42:00.000-08:00

Some people prefer round brushes. Other people straight brushes. No matter which you prefer, the important thing is to KEEP IT CLEAN. Why? Even if you do not share your brush with other people in your family, you will have dead cell matter on the brush. Sometimes this can include sebum. Sebum is an oily secretion of the sebaceous gland which helps to preserve the flexibility of the hair and healthy scalp.

If you can keep your brush clean, you will notice less dander. Dirty brushes if shared can "share the dirt" and it is best for each family member to have their own personal brush. We would never imagine sharing toothbrushes with even a family member. This same principle can apply to hair brushes.

Though Salon's have special procedures and chemicals for cleaning brushes, in your own home you can use dish soap or shampoo and warm water to clean your brush since it is not being shared with anyone else.

Curling Irons! What should I pay for a quality iron?

2008-12-07T21:15:00.001-08:00

Want a nice curling iron but not sure where to buy it or how much to pay?

Not all curling irons are the same, just as not all flat irons are the same. The Marcel type of curling irons are really best left to professionals who use them everyday or for someone who doesn't mind training themselves to use it like the pros do. One benefit of this kind of iron is that you can curl really close to the scalp. But beware! If you are not used to it, you can really burn your hands, which may be used to holding the end of the curling iron when using it.

Here are some suggestions:

Sally's Beauty Supply is a great place to buy good irons for a great price.
Your hairdresser can order top quality irons for you also.
The price being high does not mean it is the best.
$20.00 is a good price to pay for an average curling iron.
A good Marcel Iron will cost more. Perhaps from $25.00 to $60.00 or more.
Beware of $5.00 irons from discount stores. One person I know caught the sofa on fire when the curling iron caught fire and fell on the sofa.
Some irons have dials with level of heat. For example 1-10. Most women do not need extreme heat to get a good curl. Moderate heat will keep the hair healthy. (Flat Irons are an exception. For that I recommend the true Chi Flat Irons and good quality pressing oil. The oil will help to keep the hair protected. And expect to pay over $100.00 for a good Flat Iron.

Money tight --but still want a good shampoo?

2008-12-03T21:19:00.000-08:00

There are great shampoos.
There are good shampoos.
There are bad shampoos.

My previous blog discussed the great shampoos that I recommend. But what if you have a tight budget or are a young person with limited funds or have frequent house guests? This is where the "good" shampoo comes into play.

Recently I tried Aura Verbena Ginger Shampoo and Conditioner. I was very impressed and recommend this shampoo and conditioner.

This is a product that you can find at a Sally's Beauty Supply Store which is open to the general public. These products left my color treated hair healthy and very shiny. This is a number one pick for the category of "good shampoo".

Bad Haircut! Help!

2008-12-02T23:52:00.000-08:00

We all want the best cut each time. But what happens when you get a really bad haircut?

Unfortunately a bad haircut does not improve much with time. As the hair grows out the bad cut will look uneven. The opposite also is true. A great haircut will last longer. Perhaps you go in to have your hair cut intending to return the following month. But something happens and you are out of town longer then expected. You finally return home and your style still exists.

Bad haircuts happen for various reasons:

*Lack of skill on the part of the person cutting the hair
*Poor explanation of desired style
*Misunderstanding each other during the conference
*Misuse of cutting tools

What to do when you get a bad haircut?

*Explain your displeasure to the Hairdresser who is responsible. If possible speak to a Manager.
*Make plans to visit a competent hairdresser who can make the needed adjustments to the cut.
*Learn from the experience and control the situation so that it does not happen again.
*Accentuate the positive and minimize the negative by accessorizing more jewelry and adjusting face makeup to match the cut

A great hairdresser is worth keeping and worth the money you pay.

Getting the cut YOU want!

2008-12-02T00:08:00.000-08:00

You have had it with your hair! So you decided to go to a new Salon and get a hair cut. You already have an idea what you would like for a cut. Upon arriving you inform the receptionist of your desire for a cut. He/She assigns you to a stylist. The Stylist calls your name and you follow them to their "station" or chair. Immediately you SHOULD expect to be asked some questions about what you like and don't like. If the stylist simply escorts you to the sink for a shampoo without first examining your hair and determining you want, then don't stay.

The best way to determine what needs to be done to the hair is by touching it and seeing how it feels.

Stylists love it when you bring them a picture and they can follow it. Also if you really LOVE the cut, why not see to it that the Stylist makes notes so you can have the same again!

Communication is foremost in this situation. Your feelings and desires need to be clear. So why not work hard to keep communication going, You deserve to get the cut you came to the shop for.

Great Shampoos for Permed and Color Treated Hair

2008-09-17T06:19:00.000-07:00

As promised in my last post, here are some suggestions for great professional shampoos for permed and color treated hair.

Permed hair has been chemically treated and needs a shampoo that will not strip the cuticle. My favorites are:

For PERMED hair:

KMS Curl Up Shampoo
Matrix Curl.Life Defining System Shampoo (keeps curls bouncy)

For COLOR TREATED hair:

Redken Color Extend Shampoo (great on fine limp or normal hair)
Redken Real Control Shampoo (especially for course, dry, hair)
KMS Color Vitality Shampoo (great for all colored and highlighted hair and also very gentle on scalp. Some users with dandruff noticed improvement)
KMS Color Vitality Blonde Shampoo (great for highlighted hair)

Are there some that are your favorites?

Perming-The Secret to a Naural Looking Curl

2008-09-12T19:49:00.000-07:00

A great permanent wave should look natural, so natural that people who meet you for the first time should think that you were born with waves. Then why do so many perms "look" like a perm?

The secret in great perming involves:
(1) Insist on a quality professional chemical. My number one pick is Matrix Biolage then Redken then ISO.

(2) Protect the hair with "sticks" during the chemical processing. (these sticks are made of plastic and resemble tooth picks. Sticks prevent the rubber band on the perm rod from putting pressure on the hair and causing breakage and a visible line.

(3) Rinse the full five minutes after each chemical application. Lack of proper rinsing is the culprit for smelling like a "perm" for weeks on end.

(4) Extract most of water out before neutralizing. The best way to describe the process of perming is this way. Picture a ladder. Your hair is like the rungs on the ladder. If you could roll the ladder up, that resembles rolling the hair on a perm rod. The first chemical breaks the bond or "ladder rung". The second chemical puts the rung back together in a curled manner. If the previous chemical is not removed and properly blotted after rinsing, the bonds cannot be put back the way they were intended.

(5) Do not wrap the hair too tightly on the rods. If the hair is wrapped too tightly breakage will occur and shine and manageability will be missing.

(6) Do not over process.

(7) Use one full perm paper under and one over the hair ends before wrapping instead of using one paper folded in half. Using one paper to protect the hair ends causes the hair to be rolled on the perm rod loosely at the root and really tightly at the end, therefore giving you a perm that is curlier on the ends-not natural looking. Best to use two full perm rod papers per section.

(8) Find a professional that enjoys perming. Those who are passionate about what they do put their heart in their work and their work shows their passion. You are paying for this service, expect quality work.

Insist on the above 8 suggestions and you will enjoy your perm more than ever!

My favorite chemical of choice to perm with is called Matrix Biolage. There is one formula for normal hair and one for tinted hair. Both are wonderful. This is a versatile product. The normal formula is great even on grey hair that is course or on fine or thick hair. The processing solution has the same ugly perm smell as other perms but the processing solution smells nice. And the processing solution is the smell you will keep with you for a while even with great rinsing. So it is not a bad smelling perm at all. The curls are true to rod shape and bouncy. Let's hope they never change this formula. It is too good to mess with.

My next blog will discuss which shampoo is best for permed hair.
What is the best perm you ever had? Let me know!

Thirsty Hair

2008-09-02T18:22:00.001-07:00

Is your hair "thirsty"? How will you know? First of all it is important to determine if your hair is in need of conditioning or strengthening. If it needs conditioning then that means moisture is lacking. If it needs strengthening, then what I call "medicine" is needed. Here are some ways to do this:

IS YOUR HAIR STRONG? Take one strand of your hair and wrap it around one of your fingers. Tug on the the hair and if it is healthy and has the normal strength of normal hair, then it will stretch like an elastic. If it not strong enough, it will break. This is called an elasticity test. If your hair fails this test-YOU NEED "MEDICINE". My number one recommendation is Redken Cat Reconstructive Treatment. This is a professional product and if it costs you $15.00 or $20.00 it is worth every penny. This one bottle will be good for many applications. Follow the directions and if your hair is really bad, leave on an additional 3 minutes. Then use once a month until the hair is strong and shiny again. The reason this product is number one with me is because it does not soften the hair and adds no weight. I used to use this in the Salon on what I called "scary hair" before I would attempt to do any form of chemical treatment.

IS YOUR HAIR IN NEED OF A DEEP CONDITIONER? Perhaps your hair is strong and passes the above test for elasticity. But you still have dry hair that is limp and lacks shine. You may need a deep conditioner. Don't do this before chemical services like perms as they can affect the effectiveness. My number one recommendation is the Paul Mitchell Hair Repair Treatment. Again it may cost $20.00 but it is worth every penny and you will have a 16.9 oz bottle and it lasts me a year! That's so worth it. Follow the directions on the back. I always follow the directions and add a little shower cap on my head during the processing time. You may not need it once a week if your hair improves. A family member of mine got a bad lightening service at a salon and I saw her hair looking dry and brittle. I gave her some of my Paul Mitchell Hair Repair Treatment to use. After two applications she saw and felt a big difference!

Hair that shines

2008-09-01T20:58:00.000-07:00

Yes it is true. Hair that shines is healthy hair. Some tips that really work:

Use a good shampoo. If your hair "squeaks" after using shampoo, then your shampoo is too strong. Most cheap shampoos are just too strong. If your hair is squeaking, you could probably degrease your engine with the shampoo you are using. EEKS!
Condition. Conditioner coats the cuticle. Don't forget to condition the scalp too.
Rinse with cool water when finished. It closes the cuticle and leave the hair shiny.
Towel dry but don't cause lots of friction with the towel and your hair. Those closed cuticles from the cool water won't help you if you rub your head back and forth with the towel.

If these suggestions have been tried and you still do not have shiny hair, that could mean that your hair is "thirsty" for a deeper conditioner.
That topic will be discussed in my next post.