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12/2/2016 0 Comments

4 Things We Learned from Kate Middleton's Hairstylist

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Pro tip: if you're at a blowout bar and want a style that holds the perfect amount of bounce (who doesn't, right?) ask your stylist to use Kate Middleton as a reference. Widely considered the patron saint of good hair, behind every enviable look is her mane man Rossano Ferretti, who, fun fact, coined the term balayage all the way back in 1987, and revolutionized the industry with his "invisible cutting" technique. Unlike a blunt cut, the method hides any evidence you were even chopping your layers in the first place, and even if you go for a dramatically shorter length, there aren't any harsh ends to serve as an indicator.  
 
Here, Ferretti outlined four golden hair rules to follow for layers worthy of an actual tiara.

Keep It Timeless
Sure, trendy cuts and colors are fun to experiment with, but when establishing your trademark look, stick to a classic one that feels organically you. "Beauty is about harmony, and I can't cut your hair without taking your personal style and face shape into consideration, so when we do consultations with our clients, I need to know you and what you like, otherwise I won't know how to make you happy," says Ferretti, who notes that most of his clients don't bring in reference photos. "If you bring a picture, of course it makes your stylist's job quicker and easier, but someone else's haircut may not be the best option for you." Guidelines are fine, but Ferretti recommends not working against how your hair naturally is, and before committing to a cut, a thorough consultation with your stylist that touches on how your strands behave and the look you'd like to achieve is always important. "I never really talk about trends—the goal is to be beautiful in your own way, so it's about personalization," he adds.

Work With Your Natural Color and Texture
At Ferretti's salons, the pro veers away from any treatments that can be overly-damaging on the hair, and even when doing color, he takes a very organic approach. His "Aquarella" technique, which is similar to the "Babylights" effect in that it mimics a gradual lightening by the sun, uses your base color as a reference, and only veers one to two shades from it to add dimension. Rather than covering the first signs of greys with a darker tint on some clients, he'll enlist this method in an effort to avoid too dramatic of a change. "I've been suggesting to people my whole life to use the hair in the most organic way. If you already have a nice haircut, you can follow your natural hair movement when styling, or even air-drying," he says. "Use your hands to separate your hair while it's damp, then pin your curls, layers, or waves into place for a few minutes. Just follow what the hair does, and let it dry in the most organic way."

Wash Your Hair Less
You've likely heard whispers that washing your hair on the daily isn't necessary, and Ferretti is here to confirm your beliefs. "Shampoo two to three times a week. Really, two times a week would be the perfect balance," he says. "If you wash every day, it tends to create the opposite effect on your hair. If you're oily, the oil comes more often as you wash as the foam in shampoo can strip your hair." How often you deep condition depends on your hair type, but generally speaking, once a week is a good amount to indulge in a mask or treatment. Unless you go to the pool or gym every day, less is more in terms of the lather-rinse-repeat motions, and your blowout has more staying power as a result.

Develop a Hair Regime
Especially when getting your hair colored, a solid after-care routine is needed to maintain the pristine state of your strands. In addition to your shampoo and conditioner, Ferretti suggests making it a point to use a hair oil and serum prior to styling, especially if you live in an area with a lot of pollution. "You have to give your hair extra protection, especially considering the region, how the water is, and how polluted it is," he explains. "You can have a gorgeous haircut, but if you don't have the correct regime, it won't hold up. In the way a bad cream can ruin your skin, harsh products can impact your hair."

(source)
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11/15/2016 0 Comments

How To Fix Split Ends Without CuttingĀ Them

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By Lauren LeVine
​
There’s no hair enemy as fierce and unyielding as the much-dreaded split end. “Split ends occur when the protective outer layer of the hair cuticle wears away because of external stressors such as heat styling and salon chemical services,” explains Amy Abramite, creative director and stylist at Chicago’s Maxine Salon. “Once the internal structure of the hair is exposed, it becomes weakened, dehydrated and damaged, causing split ends.” Although the only true way to rid yourself of roughed ends is to have them snipped off, our friends at StyleList found several things you can do between salon appointments to improve the look of damage and prevent more splits from occurring.
 
Use a wide-tooth comb.
After you apply conditioner in the shower, slowly run a wide-tooth comb through hair until all the tangles are out. This prevents the snaps and breakage you can incur when you try to brush out hair that is roughed up from a towel-dry, advises Jessie James, stylist at New York’s Marie Robinson salon.
 
Mind your heat tools.
That bargain-bin blow-dryer may be a tempting purchase, but inexpensive tools tend to dangerously overheat over time and burn ends into splits, warns James. Instead, use a top-rated economical brand or invest in a professional-grade dryer.
 
Go gentle.
“Imagine wearing a silk blouse every single day. It would get pretty beat up. Treat your hair like an expensive fabric, and it will last longer and look better,” says Natasha Sunshine, owner of Santa Monica’s Byu-Ti salon. Use only covered elastics with no metal piece, like those made by Goody to tie hair into a ponytail.
 
Take folic acid and biotin.
There’s a reason they say you are what you eat: Nutrients literally build the proteins that make up your hair strands. Two B vitamins in particular—folic acid and biotin—have been shown to supplement hair health, length, and thickness, says Sunshine.
 
Folic acid helps the production of red blood cells, which powers the growth of hair. Foods rich in folic acid include green leafy veggies, oranges, soybeans, and wheat. Biotin strengthens both hair and nails through its metabolism of fats, carbs, and proteins. Brown rice, lentils, peas, sunflower seeds, walnuts, and soybeans are all rich in biotin.
 
Use leave-in conditioner.
Conditioners that you rinse out in the shower will do little to nothing for split ends, but a leave-in conditioner will add extra protection that stays on strands as you heat-style and go about your day.
 
Blow-dry the right way.
Always use a nozzle on your dryer to control and direct the flow of air, and dry hair in a downward direction before sectioning off and drying completely with a round brush. This way, you spend far less time with intense heat straight on the hair. “If possible, air drying 90 percent before picking up the blow-dryer is even better,” says Sunshine. And of course, if you can naturally dry all the way, that’s always your best option.
 
Limit damaging services.
There’s unfortunately no way around it—treatments like hair color, highlights, straightening, and perms all cause trauma that can result in a bevy of split ends, says Abramite. Try to limit service to just one major hair concern and refrain from washing strands for at least 48 hours afterward, when they’re most porous and likely to break and split. Not only will hair health improve after you go on a chemical-service diet, but your wallet will thank you.
 
Get regular cuts.
Although a haircut is the only way to get rid of split ends, regular trims are your best protection against them. The longer you wait to trim, the greater the chance you have of split ends worsening and traveling up the shaft. It may sound counter-intuitive, but this is why it’s actually best to get frequent trims if you’re trying to grow longer, healthier hair. Whatever your hair type or style, our experts recommend you get a cut or trim at least every six to eight weeks.
 
(source)
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11/5/2016 0 Comments

Untangling where your hair extensions really come from

"People don't want to be haunted by the ghosts of the people from whom the hair has come. There is still a 'yuk' factor to the whole idea of buying and wearing other people's body parts," she says. The whole supply chain is shrouded in secrecy from beginning to end."
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From wigs to weaves and hair extensions, the market for human hair is enormous. But few know where these lustrous locks come from and the journey they take across the globe.

Read More >
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11/1/2016 0 Comments

As the Chair Turns - November 2016

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What's Inside This Month

7 Deadly Sins You're Committing with Your Hair
Guys: Hot or Cold Wash?
Easy & Clever Ways to Organize Your Hair Styling Tools
How to Fix Split Ends Without Cutting Them
Tutorial: Fishtail Braid Updo
The Truth About Salon Shampoos
Guys: Growing Your Hair Long
Movies Opening This Month
Next Generation Hot Tools
Coconut Oil Hair Treatment
Coming Soon on DVD / Streaming
November Dates for Your Calendar
soundbreaking - PBS, November 14th
Hair Care Tips for Autumn and Winter
Do You Have a Sense of Humor?
Recipe: It's Turkey Time
Gone Too Soon
In the News: Hair and Beauty


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10/29/2016 0 Comments

Frizzy Hair Fixes

8 rules to live by if you suffer from Frizzy Hair Syndrome

If you have curly hair and live in a humid environment, you likely suffer from frizzy hair. Curly hair tends to be dry and is particularly susceptible to humidity. It simply wants to soak up the moisture in the air, which causes the hair's cuticles to expand, which therefore causes frizz.

So how to control the frizz?
It's possible to control frizz, but you need to arm yourself with the right products and proper styling.

Here are a few rules to live by:

Careful With That Shampoo
Embrace Conditioners and Oil Treatments
Never Rub Hair Dry With a Towel
Comb in a Silicone Serum
The Right Kind of Blow Dryer
The Correct Way to Blow Hair Dry
Watch That Hairspray, Try a Gloss Spray Instead
Try Palming a Heavy Cream Over Your Hair

Get all the details here
Frizzy and Curly Hair Taming Fixes and Tips
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