To Bang Or Not To Bang
Thinking of taking the plunge and going for a style with bangs? Here are some things to consider before taking the leap…
(1) It will take awhile to get your bangs to look right. If you have, say, center-parted hair, your hair is likely used to growing that way. So when you cut bangs and suddenly tell these shorter bits of your hair to grow forward, it’s going to take them a minute to adjust. Most people who give up on their new bangs make that call while their hair is adjusting to the new pattern–they complain that they “can’t do” bangs, but really all their hair needs is training! We’ve found that the best way to train your hair into beautiful bangs is to blow-dry it every morning. This will give it the correct shape.
(2) Bangs are high maintenance. You have to style them. You have to hold them in position. And most importantly, you have to keep them at their optimum length. Take this into consideration when you’re deciding To Bang Or Not To Bang–if you are a wash-and-go kind of girl, you may not be happy with the time commitment a fringe requires.
(3) The bangs you want may not be the bangs you get. There are a lot of ways to wear a fringe, and what works best on you will depend on your hair type, thickness, how much time you want to spend styling it, face shape and your personal style. It is a tragedy of our times that occasionally, we may want bangs that won’t work with one or all of those things. Thin, fine hair may not accommodate a thick, full fringe. Curly hair and short, feathery bangs may never meet. Bettie bangs and a woman who has two minutes to do her hair in the morning could be a very poor match.
(4) You may need to alter your makeup style. No matter what style of fringe you’re rocking, bangs definitely change your face. They provide a frame, which can be lovely and dramatic when paired with the right makeup. Makeup should complement–not compete–with your hair.
How To Properly Use A Diffuser
Curly hair and we don’t care!
It’s the comeback of the curl and women everywhere are embracing it. If you have natural wiggles, could, loops, twists, bends or curves you hair can look amazing! Chances are your hair has way more potential than you realize. Don’t think so? Bet we can prove you wrong with one simple tool … a diffuser. Now, if your hair is truly straight, a diffuser is not going to magically curl your hair, but so many of us have unknown and untapped potential in our hair. The problem is that we are stuck in the habit of blasting the moisture out of our hair. The magic to healthy, bouncy curls is all in the diffuser and proper technique. Below are some helpful tips on how to properly use a diffuser to achieve perfect curls.
Do Not Brush Your Hair
Fight the urge! Your best results will come if you brush your hair well before you shampoo, or use a wide tooth comb before rinsing out your conditioner. After the shower, hang your head from side to side and gently scrunch with a towel to remove excess water. Make sure to towel dry it well, but never wait until parts of your hair have already dried. Those dry pieces will become fly aways and result in a frizzy looking finished hairstyle.
Don’t Stop At The Roots
Drying just the roots is pointless. Leaving all that water weight on the ends will just pull the curls flat again as they dry. this will cause saggy and lifeless curls. Once you have gently pressed the excess water out with a towel, use a similar scrunching technique with your curl definer/styling product, this will avoid the need to brush. Always start the diffusing process at the ends and work upwards s the hair dries. This allows the curls to spring up without the weight of the water pulling them down. To avoid fly-aways, make sure to always keep the nozzle of the dryer horizontal and not aiming up. If your hair is medium to long in length, it is best to start upside-down, then switch from side to side as you get closer to the roots. Be sure to NEVER comb through with your fingers while you are drying! Only use your hands to lift the ends of the hair and take weight off of the curls as they are drying.
As you get closer to the roots, use your hands to make a “claw” then make small circles on your scalp with your fingertips. This will encourage curl volume all the way to the roots. If you are using the SA Diffuser then it has “fingers” you can actually press directly against the scalp and use to do circles as you hang your head to one side and then the other. Once your hair is dry, grab an old fashioned plastic pick or wide tooth comb and loosely work through your hair. This will gently separate and soften the curls, giving them a modern finish.