Category: Hair Tips

9/2/2017 0 Comments

Rollers aren't just for Granny anymore

Why Hair Rollers
Aren’t Just For Your Granny Anymore
by Kelsi Zimmerman

If you are a true Mane Addict, your curling iron has probably landed a spot as one of the most used hair tools in your beauty cabinet. Whether you want volume, loose curls, tight curls or waves somewhere in between, you most likely reach for your curling iron – and that’s fine. But what if we told you that there is an easier, more efficient alternative to curling section after section and strand after strand? Well, luckily there is.

Enter: hair rollers.

The most overlooked way to curl your locks. That’s right, we are here to make the case for hair rollers and to let you know that they’re not just for your grandma or cheer competitions anymore. To do so, we’ve rounded up the different kind of hair rollers that you can look to whether you want defined curls, big curls, long-lasting curls or just want to add a little oomph of volume to your ‘do. Each set will save you time and create fuss-free, uniformed styles.

FOR DEFINED CURLS:
Conair Curl Innovation HS32R

For a full head of defined tendrils, hair tool masters Conair have their set of 20 ceramic rollers that turn your mane from straight to spiral in just 20 minutes. Conair’s Curl Innovation has a set of 20 rollers and clips in sizes 1.25 inch, 1 inch and 0.75 inch making them perfect for people with thick hair. After plugging in Conair’s convenient case, the rods take about 10 minutes to heat up and once your hair is completely dry you can start from the back of the head to section the hair and wrap each section around a rod and clip the roller in place. After about 20 minutes you will remove each rod to find bouncy, defined curls. Set with a long lasting hair spray and viola!

FOR LONG LASTING CURLS:
Paul Mitchell Neuro V8 Compact Hot Rollers

Each of Paul Mitchell’s hair rollers have a mini heater within each rod for maximum heat retention and long lasting curls. The Neuro collection set has eight 1.25 inch velcro rollers that grip on to each section of the hair and unravel for sleek, uniformed locks.

FOR VOLUME:
Drybar High Tops Self Grip Rollers

Drybar’s super convenient velcro rollers come in packs of 6 and thanks to their velcro-like texture, they don’t require clips to keep them in place. The rollers should be applied to damp hair and once set, you lightly blow dry each section for best results. Once the hair is completely dry, you can take each roller out and find primed, voluminous hair ready to style.

FOR VOLUMINOUS CURLS:
T3 Volumizing Hot Rollers Lux

T3’s luxe hair rollers come with eight velvet rollers, a sleek heating tray and eight large clips to hold each section in place. The rollers should be used on dry hair and when taken out, shiny, voluminous curls are the result. Since you only need to section the hair into eight sections, T3’s hair rollers are an amazing alternative to big barrel curling irons to get the big, fluid old Hollywood vibe.

TRY IT YOURSELF
For reference, here’s how to create Blake’s look by Rod Ortega as told to Hollywood Life:

“I used the 1-inch rollers on Blake to create waves. The size depends on how much body and wave you want. If you prefer more body and less wave, use larger sizes like the 1.5- or 1.75-inch rollers. If you want more of a wave, use the smaller rollers.”

Hair Prep: With a round brush, blow dry freshly-washed hair with T3 Featherweight Luxe 2i Dryer.
Tease: Once hair is dried, take 1-inch sections and tease at the root.
Apply Rollers: Part hair to the side, separate into small sections and brush hair up, holding ends of hair straight up. Using T3’s Volumizing Hot Rollers Luxe place at the end and roll down in the direction of the part. Expert tip: Roll hair down, wrapping ends first, concentrating the heat there so ends get a bend (note: you don’t want limp ends).
Set the hair: Allow hair to cool with the rollers in – anywhere from 10 to 25 minutes depending on hair type.
Remove Rollers: After removing rollers, brush through hair and back tease for extra volume.
Finishing: Spray with L’Oréal Elnett and brush — hair will have elasticity and memory with the rollers, so don’t be afraid to brush through.

This article first appeared on Mane Addicts

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8/25/2017 1 Comment

GUYS: HOW TO MATCH YOUR OUTFIT WITH YOUR HAIRSTYLE

ACCOMPLISH YOUR DAILY GROOMING GOALS IN STYLE

Your hair makes a bold, eye-catching statement about who you are, and you understandably need this statement to be positive and appealing. Regardless of whether you have a high-powered corporate meeting with a room full of business executives or you are heading to a nearby park to have a weekend lunch with your kids, you need to look your best everywhere you go. Matching your hairstyle with your outfit can go a long way toward helping you to achieve the desired results, but how can you accomplish this goal? Our friend and Barber Jeffrey Arvel from ShavingSolution advises you to focus your attention on these points to enjoy great results every day.

Think About Functionality
Whether you have casual, relaxed plans with friends or professional plans at work, you do not want to be messing around with your hair all day or stressing about how it looks. The best hairstyle is one that is purely functional. In most cases, your hairstyle, outfit and plans will coincide perfectly. For example, if you plan to exercise at the gym, a top knot looks great with workout attire.

Focus on the Look You Are Projecting
Your hairstyle will project a specific look to others you come in contact with. For example, a man with shoulder-length hair who sports a ponytail has a clean, well-maintained yet younger look. A man with a man-bun may appear to be more chic or sophisticated, and a man with long hair down over his shoulders gives off a casual, laidback feel. Take a close look at the outfit that you have selected for the day. What does the outfit say about who you are? Tailor your hairstyle specifically to your look of the day.

Pay Attention to Hair Colour
Many people of all ages are choosing to sport bolder hair colours rather than natural hues. This is often suitable for casual lifestyles, creative personalities and even for a few weeks while you are on vacation. However, if you are getting ready to head to a professional office environment a natural hair colour that looks great with your skin tone is a better option. Ensure that the hair colour you choose is suitable for your outfit and for your plans or lifestyle.

Remember the Weather
There may be times when a down hairstyle is preferable for the outfit that you have chosen, but Mother Nature may have other plans. Down hairdos can look amazing in many situations for men, but high winds, hot temperatures or high humidity levels can make these undesirable. Such conditions can affect your health and well-being, your comfort level and the look of your hair throughout the day. Choose a style that you can easily maintain with weather conditions in mind if you want to look your best.

Choose a Modern Trend
When the time comes to head to the Barber for a trim or a new haircut, choose a modern trend. Read style stories to learn which looks are no longer trendy. When you choose a modern look that has several functional ways to wear it, you can rest assured that you can always look your best regardless of what you are wearing. Avoid a haircut that only gives you one style option every day. Most people will benefit from changing up their hairstyle based on their outfit or plans for the day.

Maintain Facial Hair
Facial hair for men can look attractive, but it can also be unappealing at times. For example, if a beard or goatee is not properly maintained, it can give off the impression that the man does not care about his hygiene or appearance. If the hair is riddled with grey while the top of the head is a darker colour, this can make the man look older than he is. Keep your facial hair well-groomed each day. If you do not have time to groom your facial hair, simply shave it off. In addition to maintaining its colour and style, also choose an attractive type of facial hair. A handlebar mustache for example, is a way to make a bold statement, but you may not like the statement that it is making about you.

Your hairstyle and hair colour may be some of the first few things people notice about you when they see you, and these may be features that stand out in their minds or that they use to describe you to others. They form an opinion about who you are based on your hairstyle, colour, maintenance and more. You understandably want to make a great impression on everyone you meet, and this means that you need your hair to look amazing regardless of what you are wearing each day of the week. By putting these helpful styling tips into action now, you can enjoy looking your best for every occasion and for every outfit you wear.

This article first appeared on Menswear Style

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8/18/2017 1 Comment

Coolest Ways To Pull Off Slicked Back Hairstyles

Slick back hair has done the rounds as the finishing touch of a corporate uniform. It’s simple, clean, and says you’re here to get shit done.

You might associate it with alpha male corporate warriors and sleazy sales guys in purple suits, but slick back hair can be the perfect antidote to a stale haircut that leaves you wanting something with a bit more punch.

Slick back hair projects a mature, business-first quality, and is sufficiently timeless that it won’t be consigned to the trash heap of out-of-fashion looks anytime soon. There’s room for this beyond the office, too. By playing with different products to suit the environment, you can also adapt it for weekend adventures when the suit and tie stays in the wardrobe.

This guide will give you a follicular roadmap to achieving a no-grease, no-sleaze slick back. You’ll discover whether your hair is up to the job, what products to use, and inspiring examples of the style to digest. Then, you can go back to watching Wall Street and studying stockbroking 101.

Is Your Hair Right For The Job?

Slick back hair is ubiquitous in western culture like bad dancing and guys called James, but that’s not to say it works for everyone. The texture, density, and growing pattern of your hair can make a huge difference in determining if you can pull the style off.

For starters, you probably know already that straight hair lends itself to a slicked back style. Straight hair follows a simple pattern, which is crucial for the overall shape of the cut. Hair growth direction is important, too. For some guys, hair naturally grows forward, making it resistant to the comb-and-pomade two punch routine.

If this sounds like you, then you need to think about getting cosy with a blow dryer and investing a bit more time in ‘training’ its shape. This won’t change the natural growing pattern, but it will make it slightly more co-operative to your styling attempts.

Thick hair can be an obstacle to getting this style right. A slicked back haircut generally necessitates low to medium density hair. Anything thicker, and you’ll find it’s difficult to both slick the hair back and maintain its shape. If you’ve found that your hair doesn’t stay in place, or requires handfuls of product, then ask the barber to use thinning shears. This alleviates some of the density in your hair, making it easier to pull back with a comb. Think of it as an inconvenient blessing. It’s better to have thick hair than none at all.

For curly haired gents, you might need to tap out early. It’s unlikely you’ll achieve Draper-esque slick style without investing your house mortgage in Olympic-pool quantities of pomade. That’s not to say the show can’t go on – you will just need to adapt the style to one that suits curly hair. These styles are messy off duty looks; think curly variations of David Beckham’s or a textured quiff.

Slick Back Hair Products

You’ve been to the local salon, and the product shelf seems to go on forever. There’s endless options for product out there – clay, paste, cream, pomade, gel, wax – and you might be feeling a bit of an information overload from all the choice. You’ll have the most success, however, if you keep it simple and stick to a pomade or clay – depending on the image you want to project.

Pomade is a definitive classic. It offers old-school, vintage appeal and is also a lifesaver for windy days. Pomade can subdue unruly hair, and keep everything where you need it for sustained periods of time, due to its weight. On the other hand, too much pomade – particularly high-shine, oil based products – can lead you into Wall Street bank shark territory.

Oil based pomades don’t wash out easily, either. As a result, water-based products are the best compromise for sufficient hold that won’t overstay its welcome after a solid washing. You will also find that pomade lends itself to a more formal, buttoned-up look that looks out of place in a casual environment.

So if you want to incorporate a schmick 1950’s corporate look, pomade is the man for the job. Remember, less is more with pomade – start with a little bit, evenly through the hair, and work your way up. Handfuls of product are for lounge lizards and clueless teenagers.

Clay is a more contemporary, versatile option. Clays come in a variety of options: heavy-duty concrete stuff for thick and unruly hair, or featherweight creams for something similar-but-not-quite pomade. Unlike oil or alcohol based products, clays are usually made with natural minerals (no nasty stuff). This adds texture and volume to your hair, which is ideal for casual effortlessness.

You will need to test a few different options to find which clay suits you – thick hair needs extreme hold clays, while thin, straight hair is usually happy with a lightweight option. Clays are the natural option for the guy who doesn’t spend too much time in the corporate rat race, and doesn’t feel at home with shiny hair.

No matter how desperate you find yourself, gel should stay on the shelf. Favoured by adolescents and early 2000’s revivalists, gel is usually alcohol-based, which will dehydrate your hair. Plus, it’s flammable. It’s unlikely that you will impress the girl at the bar if your head goes up in red-hot sparks.

For a finishing touch, remember that hairspray can lock your hair into place. But please, use it sparingly. Most hairsprays add a glossy finish (too much of which will make your hair look like a helmet). They’re also about as flammable as a remix of Stayin Alive. A spray or two at key points, and nothing more.

Tools & Equipment

As for the tools of the trade, don’t be a sissy and tell yourself that blow-drying is for the fairer sex. Blow drying adds volume to your hair and is infinitely quicker than brutalising your scalp with a towel. However, don’t try to tough it out on the hottest setting possible.

This will dry out your hair, and can even burn your scalp. Use it after some light towel drying, and don’t use it to completely dry your hair. Lastly, a good acetate or wooden comb is a proper investment. Plastic chemist combs are fragile and have weak teeth, which means you won’t achieve a strong, polished look. Spend a bit more at a legit barbershop and you’ll thank me later.

Handy Tips

Slick back hair (that doesn’t look like an 80’s Vegas loanshark) requires lots of love in the barber’s chair. You should opt for visits every three weeks. It sounds like a lot, but most have complimentary beers these days. This will allow the barber to maintain the ends of the fringe, and proportionate length everywhere else.

If your hair is as dense as the slow kid in class, the barber can thin out your dome to keep things manageable. If you have a razor-sharp high fade, regular maintenance is doubly important. Fades can look sloppy without regular touch ups, which defeats the purpose of your barber’s precision handiwork in the first place.

Hair care doesn’t end when you leave the salon. Don’t forget to wash your hair regularly. Using lots of pomade without a suitable interval (even if its water based) can make your hair as greasy as a late-night Big Mac. Products that don’t easily wash out, furthermore, can stay in your hair overnight and make it more difficult for you to style the next day.

Extreme-hold clays can also leave flakes in your hair, making a good wash every now and then an absolute necessity. Washing will also stop your scalp from drying out, so it’s an essential pit stop on the road to a healthy haircut. Don’t wash too much, though – otherwise you’ll starve your follicles of their natural oils, which are there for a reason.

The slick back doesn’t belong in the scrap heap of history, and the examples below demonstrate how the contemporary gent can make the most of the style.

The Draper
The classic executive needs no introduction. Businessmen have included this in their corporate armour for decades. It’s polished, tidy, and professional. Ask your barber to keep the top longer than the sides, with one edge of the fringe longer than the other.

This’ll enable you to rakishly part it on one side. For a classic interpretation, maintain length on the sides of the head. This is a distinct 9-5 look, so opt for a textured, messier variant on the weekends. High-shine pomade will bring the look home but as I said earlier, less is more. This is suited to men with compliant, straight hair that isn’t too thick.

The Wall Street
The sleazy uncle of the executive slick back. Worn by hustlers, crooked finance guys, and corporate raiders. Where the classic style has shorter sides and a curved side part, this bad boy maintains even length through the entire cut and is swept back in a single direction.

It’s a severe look, and not entirely common – but that’s not to say you shouldn’t release your inner Gordon Gekko. The best way to achieve this style is spend some time growing out the fringe and crown, while maintaining shorter sides. This will carry you through the awkward midpoint of growth, by allowing you to style it like a quiff in the interim.

Steadily lengthen the sides and continue to brush them back as they get longer, until you can slick the crown and sides back in a unified fashion. Make sure the length is pretty well even-steven across the entirety of your head. And whatever you do, finish it cleanly just below your ears. A slicked mullet, unless you run a used car lot, is never a clever idea.

Styling is just a case of grabbing a comb, industrially graded pomade, and getting in there. Blow dry your hair back to create the necessary shape and volume, without completely drying it. Heavy, oil based pomades usually do the trick. You may want to consider low-shine variants if you aren’t a stockbroker.

The Beckham
After he got bored of bleached tips and mullets, David Beckham grabbed the slickback by the throat and brought it into the 21st century.

This is a trendy marriage between the pompadour and the classic slick back. You will need to achieve a few inches of growth on the top, while tapering the back short enough so you can slick back the front. Beckham prefers a slightly messy shape, and seems to use a combination of products.

You can use a pomade for a glossy, formal interpretation, or rough it up with clay for messy texture. This is a style that is both safe and contemporary – it looks good on pretty much everyone, but resonates as an up-to-date interpretation of a traditional style.

The Curly Quiff
We haven’t forgotten those of you who don’t have straight, medium-density hair. For curly haired gents who can’t catch a break, this style is the light at the end of the tunnel.

Growing this style is essentially the same as the Beckham, but adapted for curly hair. Keep the sides short, with a 2 or 3 fade. Taper the front so the back is an inch or so shorter, depending on the thickness of your hair. To style, make friends with clay.

Curly hair doesn’t respond to pomade, generally, so a strong-hold clay will bring enough firepower to keep the look in place throughout the day.Input caption text here. Use the block's Settings tab to change the caption position and set other styles.

The Undercut
Arguably the most popular short hairstyle of the last five years. Thanks to Boardwalk Empire and just about every other show with a stylish leading man, the undercut has done the rounds among the young and trying-to-stay-young as the haircut of the moment.

To achieve this, you will need to spend a chunk of time growing out the front with a tapered crown. Maintain blended sides and a medium fade, until you can slick the top over to the back of your head. Otherwise, the cut will look tropical-fruit disproportionate. Afterwards, it’s a case of choosing a low or high fade. We recommend sitting somewhere in the middle.

A super low fade can lead you into 80’s finance territory, while a high fade can unfortunately exaggerate the shape of your head. That being said, the undercut is doing the rounds for a reason. It’s as versatile as.

You can slick it back with pomade, or use clays for a more natural approach. Works well for the 9-5 and off duty fun. Straight, medium-density hair is the ticket here, but it can work with curly hair if you’re not chasing the Jimmy Darmody look.

This article first appeared on D'MARGE

1 Comment

8/13/2017 0 Comments

HAIR DAMAGE: WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR THIS SUMMER

Summer is here. As the days become longer it’s time for lazy after work drinks, trips to the beach, and generally being out and about. And we all want to look good for it. But summer takes its toll on our locks, causing hair damage that can have long lasting impacts.

So while you get yourself prepped for the fine weather make sure you know where the hot spots will be when it comes to your hair. Try and minimise exposure to these summer hair killers and you’ll avoid that ‘Tom Hanks in Cast Away’ look.

SUN DAMAGED HAIR
Everybody loves a bit of sun, and a tan looks great. But we also know that too much sun exposure isn’t good for your skin. It’s the same for your hair. Some of us catch the sun and it gives our hair a natural highlight, but letting your hair bake in the sun is bad news.

Sun damaged hair has a dry and dull look. That’s because the intense UV light begins to break down the proteins in the hair that give it sheen and strength. The extra heat also plays havoc with your hair.

So over the summer months, if you’re out and about a lot, your hair can become weak and brittle. Bad news for anybody but if you have thinning hair this can lead to increased breakage and shedding of hair, which isn’t what you want.

You’re more at risk of getting sun-damaged hair if you have lighter locks or fine hair.

CHLORINE DAMAGED HAIR
Summer time means holidays in the sun, which means plenty of diving into the pool to cool off, which also means your hair gets a pretty regular soaking in chlorine.

Chlorine is great for killing bugs and bacteria, but it’s a nightmare for hair health as anybody who swims regularly can tell you. Firstly, chlorine acts much like a bleach and reacts with the pigmentation in your hair, gradually altering its colour.

Of more concern to anybody with thinning hair is the fact that chlorine strips your hair of its natural oils and damages hair proteins, which in turn weakens your hair.

Chlorine damaged hair will be dull and dry looking and begin to feel very coarse. Failing to condition your hair and take care when brushing or combing can result in it breaking easily. And when you think that soaking in the pool is probably sandwiched between long sessions of lounging in the sun, it’s double trouble for your hair.

SALT WATER HAIR
There’s no doubt that hair can look great when you come striding fresh out of the ocean, especially if you have a little length in your style. That’s why salt sprays are so popular. But there’s a big difference between a spritz of salt spray and drenching your hair in the ocean day in and day out. Frequently soaking your hair in the salt water for extended periods of time can weaken it and result in breakage.

Salt water hair is that rough and ratty look and you get it because the salinity of the sea sucks all the moisture out of your hair. As the hair loses its natural oils and water content it dries, begins to split and if you have longer hair it can tangle up.

So while a quick splash in the sea is fine don’t stay in too long.

This article appeared on MR

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8/13/2017

The Best Hair Vitamins for Longer, Healthier Strands

Want longer, thicker hair overnight? Well, that's not going to happen. Sorry, but there's no such thing as a quick fix when it comes to achieving your hair goals. However, if you're willing to be patient (and consistent), there are a couple of vitamins that can improve the overall health of your hair over time.

How much time? Well, the results will vary from person to person. At tip-top speeds, the average growth of hair on the scalp could reach half an inch per month. Combine those results with a nutrient-filled tablet—think vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants—and you could witness a boost in length retention, a decrease in thinning, and a surge in shine.

That's why celebrities like Kim Kardashian are always raving about their favorite hair vitamins. But just because it works for them, doesn't mean you'll see the same results. That's why you should always check with your doctor before taking supplements, especially if you have allergens, are pregnant, or breast feeding.

Not sure where to start? We've gathered our favorite supplements ahead. So keep reading to discover one that fits your needs.

1. PHYTO PHYTOPHANÈRE Hair and Nails Dietary Supplement
Kill three birds with one stone thanks to this French nutritional supplement, which claims to promote fuller hair, stronger nails, and radiant skin. Some users even say that they noticed substantial eyelash growth while taking the biotin-filled formula.

2. SugarBearHair Vitamins
Those who aren't a fan of taking massive pills will appreciate this gummy option. The chewy tablets include a host of vitamins and minerals—like vitamin A and zinc—that will nourish strands.

3. Nutrafol Women Advanced Thinning Hair & Hair Loss Supplement
Here's a formula that works to minimize shedding caused by stress and tension. Even women who suffer from alopecia have praised the collagen-infused supplements.

4. Brock Beauty Hairfinity
This supplement has thousands of five-star reviews, and even Kim Kardashian is a fan of the collagen and biotin-rich tablets, which are known to strengthen nails too.

5. Viviscal Extra Strength Hair Nutrient Tablets
Viviscal is designed to extend the growth phrase of each hair's cycle. The creators added a patented marine complex in the supplements, which isolates the nutrients in a fish and protein-rich diet.

6. Nouráge Nurishment for Healthier Hair
The Nouráge tablets combine biotin, antioxidants, and a patented protein nutrient to boost hair's strength and shine. Customers have noted that you must be patient with this one. So—like anything worth having—it's going to take time. But for thicker shinier hair, it's definitely worth the wait.

This article first appeared on InStyle

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Rollers aren't just for Granny anymore

GUYS: HOW TO MATCH YOUR OUTFIT WITH YOUR HAIRSTYLE

Coolest Ways To Pull Off Slicked Back Hairstyles

HAIR DAMAGE: WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR THIS SUMMER

The Best Hair Vitamins for Longer, Healthier Strands

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