Hair tip of the day: Inspect your hair brushes!

When was the last time that you inspected your hair brushes? Are any of the bristles bent or broken? If they are they could be causing breakage by tearing at your hair. Just like a toothbrush needs to be frequentely replaced to be effective, so do your hair brushes. The more you use them, the more often they should be replaced. It's one of the best things you can do for your hair! Now go inspect! Toss ratty brushes & replace them with shiny new ones. Your hair will love you for it!:)

Hair tip of the day: Up-do's and Party Hair!

It's always fun to do something different with our hair before a big night out. Whether it's a work function, a play or musical, a wedding, or a friends party, it's so fun to have a style. Some women really work the up-do. I have a friend that can wear her hair a million different ways and always look chic. She picks out the dress and then I design her up-do. It works on her. She wears every look with ease. Now, for myself if my hair is "done" I feel like a drag-queen. We are talking To Wong Foo With Love (ya, Patrick Swayze!!!). So for those of us that feel like when we dress up, we are wearing our Mom's too big heels, here is my advice: Let fancy hair be you but just a little more polished. If you always wear your hair down, keep it down but add a little wave or smooth it with a flat-iron. Maybe sport a pretty clip. Short hair? By using different products your stylist can create a fun look that again has just a little more "zing" than your everyday hair. Or if you are a daring sort of artsy person, wear a hair piece, a hat, or a hair accessory. The point is, that you should feel comfortable in the style that you are wearing. If you feel like you can't move or that you look like your Great Aunt Bessie, the look is way too overdone! Tone it down a bit and remember that it should be you, just a little more polished!:)

Hair tip of the day: Are your shampoo and conditioner working for you?

As the seasons change and as our bodies change we need different things. Sometimes our skin is more dry than others. Have we had surgery? Have we had a baby? Are we going through the life change? The shampoo that worked for us last year or even last season may not be working any more. If you hair was long last month, the moisture shampoo and conditioner were perfect. Now your hair is short, the volumizing shampoo and conditioner might be better. The moisture shampoo may be leaving you too flat. It's winter time and you are experiencing some flakes. The daily shampoo and conditioner that usually work so well won't help that. It's time to get the scalp therapy shampoo and conditioner designed for dry scalp. There is no need to throw out the other shampoos and conditioners. Just set them aside for when needed again. Don't be afraid to switch products for the different needs of your hair throughout your life. And don't think that you have to have the moisture conditioner just because you have the moisture shampoo. If you have and oily scalp but long hair that needs more moisture, you can get the volumizing shampoo and the moisturizing conditioner. Change your products as your skin changes and you will always have super looking hair!:)

Hair tip of the day: Try a new style on the weekend!

The weekend is a perfect time to experiment with new looks! You have more time to play and you don't have to feel self conscious around your co-workers. Do you always wear your hair up at work? Wear it down and curl it, or use that flat iron that is gathering dust. Try a french braid, slick your bangs back with gel, put in two pony-tails. Go wild! It's the weekend. You may find a look at you'll want to wear to work or your friends big birthday bash next month. There are plenty of videos on-line that can help you with technique. Google video of how to french braid for example. After you get that hair looking fab, call a friend or grab your honey for a night out! Remember to take photos to remind yourself how fabulous you looked!:)

Hair tip of the day: switch your part!

Clients tell me all the time "my hair only parts this way". It's true that hair does have a natural parting but it doesn't have to be parted there. By going against the natural parting the hair can have more body or a "non-part" (meaning no defined part). To break the natural part, blowdry the crown of hair by brushing hair side to side, back and forth & then make the part that you want when dry. Use a little spray if you are worried about it staying. Really, go try it now! I think you'll be surprised by the results!:)

Hair tip of the day: Don't set limitations on yourself!

I hear clients setting limits on what they can and can't do with their hair all the time. They say things like "I can't have bags", "I can never be a red-head" & "next year we have to go short because I'll be to old for long hair". Okay, these are ideas that were put in our heads by well meaning parents, hairstylists, friends & magazines. Anyone can have bangs. Yes, really! It just depends on amount, length, etc. The point is that they be personalized for the face shape & hair texture. Also, anyone can be a red-head. There are cool reds & warm reds. Reds can be dark or light. Once again it's about customizing the shade to the individual. And lastly, if one has beautiful long hair it will be beautiful at any age. Long hair can be sexy at any age if cut correctly. Turning 60 is not a good reason to go short. Some people aren't short hair people and they won't be even if a magical birthday arrives. This idea is as out-dated as not wearing white after Labor Day! Winter whites are fabulous & so is well cared for long hair on an older woman! So please, stop limiting youself based on someone elses principles & sport the look that you want! Make a change!:)

Hair tip of the day: growing out hair

Most peoples idea of growing out their hair is to let it go for a year. Yep that's the idea but it doesn't turn out well. It ends up looking unkempt the entire year and you end up with what I call "nature's haircut". Nature's haircut is when your hair gets so damaged and skinny that it breaks off. Kinda holds one back from obtaining full growth potential. Hair grows on average 1/2 an inch a month. I recommend getting the hair shaped every 2 months. By trimming 1/4 inch every 2 months, you still end up with 3/4 of an inch of growth. Trust me, it's less then nature's haircut takes off and it'll look fantastic as it grows out! And P.S., remember to deep condition weekly! Happy growing!:)