New Year’s Hair Resolutions
New Year’s hair resolutions are a good use for your pencil! We just wanted to share some of the general hair-related decisions we think all of us should be making in the New Year! Please take a look even if you’ve already done your New Year’s hair resolutions, you might decide to update them a little bit.
I WILL BE BRAVE
Some of us are dying for a new hair color, others are considering a different cut and yet we’re too scared to act on it and really and truly make it happen! Promise yourself this one will be different than all new year’s hair resolutions you’ve made so far! You’ll be braver this year and you will do what you feel is right. You go girl! Dye your hair even if it means some clothes (or colors, to be precise) will be off limits for you due to a new color or cut it short even if you’ve worn it long for the last 5 years!
I WILL SPEND MORE TIME STYLING MY HAIR
Having a low maintenance cut doesn’t mean you’re off the hook when it comes to styling! Sure, you’re free to enjoy it, spend more time doing other things and still look good although you should promise yourself to do something nice with your hair every once in a while. You can curl it, braid it, put it up, experiment with tons of different styles and you don’t even have to have a really special reason to do it! A walk or dinner with your hubby, a boring Monday – it doesn’t really matter! You can be the busiest woman in the world and still have time to do it at least once a month. Because every woman deserves to get her hair done, put some make up and clothes to match and enjoy being and feeling flawless like a movie star at least once even 30 days! And that, my ladies, is something you should put in your resolution for new year!
I WILL RESTOCK
Throw away products with expired dates, pass along or swap the ones that are not doing it for you, don’t wait for your brushes to fall apart before you decide to get new ones and, trust me, not having a pair of decent hair clips is not something to brag about! Restock, woman! Invest in good quality brushes but opt for cheap accessories so you could get more. As for the products – either use them or pass them along but definitely ask for samples before you invest your hard-earned cash in something that may not work as good as it sounds!
I WILL SPEND A BIT MORE
But only on the right products! If you love a certain product or you’ve managed to get some samples and decided it’s truly fabulous, don’t let the price stand in your way. You would spend the same (or roughly the same) amount of money randomly purchasing cheaper products in hopes you’ll find a budget-friendly replacement. “Every expensive product has its cheaper dupe” rule does work but you have to be really lucky to find it on the first try! Wanna talk statistics? Well, you actually have better chances of finding the first, pricier product with reduced price!
I WILL DISREGARD ALL AGE/HAIRSTYLE STEREOTYPES
Take a good look at your new year’s hair resolution and cross everything that sounds like a stereotype! “I will cut my hair because I’m not 30 anymore” has to go and the same can be said for “I will streak my hair or go blond because my grays are showing” and “I will stop wearing my hair this way because it looks age-inappropriate”. Don’t let the society tell you who you should to be! Enjoy your thick, long hair as long as you want and if you decide to cut it, do it because you needed a change, not because some stupid rule says you should. Don’t cover your grays if you like them simply because someone out there may hate it – a beautiful woman is a beautiful woman with or without grays!
I WILL DEEP CONDITION
One way to get those compliments is to make a commitment to deep conditioning. It only takes a few minutes, but you’ll notice the difference and so will everyone else! There’s no time like the present to get started. A regular deep conditioning treatment will help lock in your hair’s moisture and keep it looking fabulous now and all year long.
I WILL GET NEW TOOLS
Curling irons, flat irons and hot rollers aren’t designed to last forever. I know – why not? But, if you’ve had the same styling tools since your college days, it’s time to toss them in the garbage and shop for new ones. Not only is that fun, but it means you can style your hair with less damage and your new ‘do might even come together more quickly and better looking than ever before. A girl couldn’t ask for more! A good rule of thumb is to shop for new styling tools if you notice a smell emanating from your current ones or if you simply can’t remember how long you’ve had them.
I WILL EMBRACE PERFECT HAIR WITH PRIDE
Some of the sexiest and coolest hairstyles are the undone and “careless” ones. You know, random waves or curls or straight styles that don’t have a razor straight edge. Rocking an imperfect top knot or not having a perfect part in your hair can be alluring and best of all-easy! Just because you can’t achieve a perfect, no-hair-out-of-place style doesn’t mean you’re in for a bad hair day. Embrace it and rock it with pride!
I WILL NOT BE AFRAID OF OILS
Oils have taken the beauty world by storm and for good reason. Some versatile oils can be used on the hair, body, and face and offer tons of moisturizing and nourishing benefits. If you have dry or damaged hair, resolve to try a hair oil this year. Our Renewing Argon Oil Hair Serum is perfect for anyone in need of some deep hydration in the scalp and hair. The most important tip I can give oil newbies is to stay away from the roots. Always concentrate on the tips for the best results!
Ref: allwomenstalk.com
How To Use A Flat Iron
Straight Ahead Flat iron | How to use Flat iron | Flat iron reviews
To get perfect, pin-straight hair, you need more than a blow dryer. You also need a flat iron. It also helps to know how to use a flat iron properly. It may seem obvious: you clamp down a bit of hair into the iron and pull it through. But there’s actually an art to correctly straightening hair with a flat iron.
BLOW DRY YOUR HAIR
You want your hair to be as dry as possible when straightening. Not only will this allow your flat iron to work better, it will also prevent your hair from being shocked by the heat and breaking off.
Point the hair dryer downward with the flow of your hair while blow-drying. This downward motion away from your roots encourages your hair to dry straight. Also, set your hair dryer on the lowest heat setting. If you have particularly frizzy hair, drying your hair on a lower heat setting for a longer period of time will prevent your hair from puffing up as you dry it.
USING THE FLAT IRON
It’s very important to work in layers when straightening hair and to start with the bottom layer of hair. To do this, clip away the top 3/4ths of your hair, or the top half if you have fine, thin hair.
It’s up to you to determine how many layers you want to work through. Keep in mind the goal is to run your iron over hair as little as possible. If hair feels at the end as if you need to do another run-through, you were ironing sections that were too thick.
Once hair is clipped, you’ll work your way around the bottom layer. Iron 1-inch or smaller sections of hair at a time. Clamp the iron down as close to the scalp as possible. Then slowly pull iron down the length of hair. If a second pass is needed be sure to wait until the hair has cooled before applying more heat.
Once you complete the bottom layer, create a layer above it by pulling up hair again. You want to work your way up through the sections of your hair, layer by layer.
If you have typically, dry, frizzy hair, rub a serum like our Rejuvenating Argon Oil Hair Serum between your hands and palm over hair for extra shine and to keep hair in place. To keep frizzies along the hairline at bay, spritz hairspray on an old toothbrush and ‘brush’ them down.
Set your blow dryer to cold on the lowest air flow setting. Carefully blow-dry your hair for another minute to help set your straightened hair. You can also use a thick brush to guide your hair in a straight motion if you prefer.
Straight Ahead Flat iron | How to use Flat iron | Flat iron reviews
How To Perfectly Curl Your Hair With A Flat Iron
You don’t need a curling iron to get perfect curls you’ll love! Next time you are looking for a new, fun hairstyle, pull out your Straight Ahead Beauty flat iron and get these amazing results!
STEP ONE: COMB OUT AND PIN UP HAIR
Take a half inch section from the nape of your neck and smooth with our Rejuvenating Argon Oil Hair Serum. The Rejuvenating Argon Oil Hair Serum will help with the glide of the flat iron over the hair. Go ahead and smooth the oil throughout the body of the hair.
Some Tips To Remember:
- Wrap hair as if you were using a curling iron (don’t close the flatiron completely).
- Use less heat for blonde hair and scale up as hair darkens.
- You can tell if you’re putting enough heat in with the flatiron by feeling the hair. It should feel warm, which lets you know that the heat is reaching all of the hair.
- DO not do large sections, work with smaller sections.
- Don’t do the tips of your hair until the end, as they require the least amount of heat to retain the curl.
Here is the motion you will be using as you twirl your wrist to turn the flat iron.
STEP TWO: BASICS OF THE CURL
Take flat iron and start at the base of your head. You will be twirling your wrist around while holding the hair with your other hand when making the turn. Note: you are turning the flat iron, not the hair around the flat iron.
As you can see in these gifs, you aren’t wrapping all of your hair around the flat iron like you would with a curling iron. Instead you wrap just part of the hair and slowly and carefully pull it down the length of the hair.
STEP THREE: FLAT IRON UP
This method is to get “beach body wave curls,” a looser curl that falls down your back. Unlike the other curl, you wrap all the hair around the flat iron and then carefully unwrap it. Also, instead of pointing the tip of the flatiron down, point it up. Keep hair centered in the flatiron to avoid snags. Once you have it all wound around the flat iron, carefully unwind. If the curl comes out too tight, you can run your fingers through it to loosen it up.
Ref: Instructables.com
Preventing Winter Hair Damage
Winter has already set in! While it is time to thank the stars for putting an end to all the sun damage that your hair was being put through, it is also time to start planning a haircare routine that is fit for winter. Summer might be gone, taking its troubles with it, but winter means a whole new set of problems that you need to deal with.
While the season is perfect to get comfortable with a cup of hot cocoa, you can’t ignore the fact that the dry and dreary weather can wreak havoc on your hair if the right precautions aren’t taken. Your hair starts to find it harder to retain moisture, making it brittle and prone to breaking and damage, not to mention the frizz and static that often comes with your winter wardrobe. However, these are all problems that can be avoided with ease as long as you have the right hair care routine for winter.
FIGHT THE FLAKES
Your scalp is drier and itchier than ever during the winter months because of the lack of moisture in the air. This leads to issues like dandruff and aggravated scalp irritation, which can lead to hair fall. What most people don’t realize is that the dandruff problem can be super manageable with the right care. All you will need is a couple of tablespoons of olive or coconut oil and a teaspoon of lemon juice. Heat the oil for a couple of seconds until it is warm and then mix it with the lemon juice. Massage the oil into your scalp and leave it in for 20-30 minutes. Rinse it out with shampoo and condition.
CONTROL FRIZZ
One of the most annoying things about winter is all of the static. The hoodies, sweater, scarves, gloves, and beanies all seem to gang up on your hair, making it a static, frizzy mess. To tackle this, use a vented hair brush that has a combination of plastic and boar bristles while combing your hair. Wash your hair only with lukewarm water, not hot water, as the latter will strip away the natural oils that protect and nourish your hair. Apply a leave-in conditioner to keep your hair smooth.
SHINE AND BOUNCE
The lack of moisture in winter not only dries out your scalp and makes your hair frizzy, but also leaves your hair looking dull and lifeless. Brush or comb out your hair with a wide-toothed wooden comb to remove tangles and apply raw honey to the length of your hair from the roots to the tips. Cover up your hair with a shower cap or towel and leave it on for about 30 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water. Honey is a humectant that seals in the moisture and helps restore shine and bounce to dull and damaged hair.
OLIVE OIL FOR MAINTAINING HAIR HEALTH
Warm up two teaspoons of olive oil and massage it slowly on your scalp. This slow massaging helps the oil penetrate deep into the roots. This will help to keep your scalp moisturized and improve blood circulation, ensuring that your follicles get enough nourishment. It will also prevent hair fall. Optionally, you can use a few tablespoons of the oil to coat the entire length of your hair as a deep conditioning treatment.
DRYING YOUR HAIR
Drying your hair out completely can be a pain, especially if you have long hair. But you should never, I repeat, never put your hair up while it is still damp. Damn hair and scalps attract a lot of problems like dandruff, breakage, and split ends. You must also never rub your hair dry with a towel as the friction will cause damage. The best way to dry your hair would be to gently squeeze the excess moisture out with a towel and then use a blow dryer on the cool setting. If you are using hot air to speed things up, ensure that you are holding the dryer at least 15 centimeters away from your hair.
CONDITIONING
Your hair needs all the moisture it can get during winter, and this makes conditioning a vital part of your hair care routine. Using hair oils and deep conditioning packs at least once a week becomes vital for maintaining the health of your hair. It is important that you end every wash with a conditioner. Shampoo your hair and then rinse it thoroughly. Once all the lather has been rinsed out, start applying the conditioner from the mid-lengths to the ends of your hair. Concentrate on the ends as they are the oldest and most damaged parts of your hair. Leave the conditioner in for a few minutes and then rinse it out with cool or lukewarm water. It is advised to end a wash with cool water as this will seal in the moisture and leave your hair feeling smooth and looking lustrous.
Make these tips a part of your hair care routine and your hair won’t even notice that winter is here. A little extra care can go a long way when it comes to ensuring hair health.