Author Archives: Jennie C

An important part of coloring your hair yourself is figuring out what volume developer you should use. Developer, also known as activator or even peroxide for short, is mixed with bleach or dye to lighten or color hair. It’s a creamy product that contains hydrogen peroxide, and the amount of hydrogen peroxide is what determines developer volume.

When you buy box dye, there is usually two bottles one of them being hair dye and the other developer. Alternatively, you can buy hair dye (or bleach) and developer separately, and choose what volume developer you should use based on your hair condition, hair history and desired result. Guess which option will give you the best results when dying or bleaching your hair?

What Does Hair Developer Do?

In order to figure out what volume developer to use you need to first understand what hair developer does. Developers are called activators, and without them hair dye would have absolutely no effect. Developer helps the color penetrate the hair shaft and become permanent. Hydrogen peroxide developer lifts the cuticle layer of the hair and depending on the strength of the activator the cuticle will lift more or less.

Hair developer levels refer to their oxidizing potential, or how much hydrogen peroxide they have. Most bleach and hair color formulas use developer at either 10, 20, 30 or in some cases 40.

Depending on the strength of the developer it can also lift the hair color level a bit. This is why even after removing permanent hair color using color removal products the hair underneath will be lighter than your original virgin hair color.

What Volume Developer Should I Use

The volume developer that you should use depends on the results you want to achieve.

With hair dye low volume developer is enough to lift the hair cuticle just enough for pigment to slip inside, but when bleaching your hair, you’ll need a higher volume developer. This is because you need to open the cuticle enough to allow for the natural color pigment to be removed from your hair.

Hair developer damages hair, as it opens the cuticle. So always use as low volume a developer as you can get away with provided it gives you the desired results.

Use 10 Volume Developer

If you are applying permanent, no-lift hair color. It won’t lift your base hair color significantly, so you should use it when you want to add a tone or tint to the hair, but keeping it at the same color level. Many toners work with 10 volume developer as it’s the least damaging to the hair and all you want is to deposit a tone to cancel unwanted color in your hair. 10 volume developer is only used to open the hair cuticle layer so the color molecules can deposit in the cortex for long term results.

Use 20 Volume Developer

When you want to achieve a lift of one or two levels of hair color or if you have more than 50% grey hair you will need to use 20 volume developer for 100% gray coverage with permanent hair dye. Less than that and you may be able to get away with 10 volume developer, and your grey hair will look like highlights.

You can use 20 volume developer with bleach to lighten hair that is naturally blonde in a gentler fashion.

Use 30 Volume Developer

30 volume developer allows you to lighten the hair while coloring by two or three levels, and allows more pigment to embed into the hair shaft. If your hair is not very damaged and you want a lighter and more long-lasting color, 30 volume developer can be a great option. If your hair is low porosity hair you may find that 30 volume developer works better as your hair is naturally more resistant to color.

30 volume developer can be used with bleach to lighten light to medium brown hair.

Use 40 Volume Developer

When you are looking to create highlights without bleach using high-lift hair color. This is because it will lift your hair up to four shades. If you are bleaching dark brown or black hair you may also need to use 40 volume developer, but keep in mind that this will be the most damaging for hair. It has 12% peroxide, and that can cause burns on sensitive scalps.

If you are bleaching your hair at home it is much better and safer to do several rounds of bleaching with 30 or even 20 volume developer, and use loads of conditioning treatments and protein builders in between.

A Word About 50 Volume Developer

50 volume developer and higher will burn your hair, destroy your hair and generally cause a huge mess. If you really need to lift your hair a lot, use Olaplex or a similar bond builder and possibly several bleaching sessions. Slow and steady wins the race, you don’t want to have a chemically burnt haircut. Always keep the condition of your hair, and your scalp, at the top of your mind.

Using Hair Dye Without Developer

You can use hair dye without developer in some cases, but the results won’t be as permanent as with permanent hair dye. Not all dyes are designed to be used with developer!

Matted hair is the combination of attached and shed hairs entwined in clumps or web-like tangles. They are more severe than regular tangles.

How does it happen?

Matted hair occurs when it has not been combed to remove shed hairs. Loose hairs can knot several times around attached hair, create a tangle, and lead to matting if not removed. Some people are just prone to knotting while other may be suffering from a damaged hair cuticle, causing more friction from the lifted cuticles.

Does it have to be cut out?

No, matted hair can be successfully detangled without cutting the hair. It takes patience, work, and the right tools, but it can be accomplished and end up saving your strands and your nerves from being shot.

How to detangle it

While some may decide to seek a professional (hair stylist) to fix their matted hair, it can be done at home with a few tools and some serious patience.

STEP 1: DAMPEN HAIR

Dampen your hair with a spray bottle of water, or briefly holding it under a shower or sink at low water pressure. Most hair treatments are meant to be applied to damp hair, but if you let the hair become dripping wet, it may be more susceptible to breakage.

STEP 2: LOOSEN

Loosen the matted strands by saturating hair with a good detangler, oil, or moisturizing conditioner but never a shampoo and water only. This is not the time to skimp so really saturate it. Deep conditioners are great at restoring moisture to your hair and making them easier to untangle, while detangling conditioners are meant specifically to add more slip to your hair.

Coconut oil, olive oil, or Moroccan argan oil can be used instead, and may be especially useful for textured hair. If you dislike the feel of oil in your hair, you can try a hair detangling spray.

If using ordinary conditioner, it will finish moisturizing your hair within a few minutes. Coconut oil and similar oils should be left in for at least 30 minutes for maximum effect, but no longer than 2 hours.Deep conditioners vary as shown on the packaging instructions, but are typically left in for at least an hour, and may be left in overnight for extreme cases.

STEP 3: PULL APART THE EASIEST KNOTS WITH YOUR FINGERS

Once the hair treatment has had time to take effect, attempt to gently pull apart the tangled sections of your hair. Small knots or loose mats can sometimes be pulled into smaller, separate tangles from the root side of the knot, nearer to your scalp.

STEP 4: COMBING

A comb with sturdy, widely spaced teeth is essential for combing out severe tangles. Fine combs and brushes are likely to meet too much resistance, forcing you to either pull out clumps of hair, or stop brushing.

Always comb tangled hair starting near the ends. Place the comb a few inches (several centimeters) from the end of the tangled hair, and brush downward. Repeat until that section of hair is free of tangles, then move the comb slightly higher up. Repeat until the entire length of your hair is combed. For long or thick, severely matted hair, this may take an hour or more.

If you have a sensitive scalp, hold a section of your hair as you brush it. Grasp a portion of hair about the thickness of a marker or glue stick between your fingers, and give it a half-twist to keep the comb from pulling directly on your scalp. Comb this portion of hair beneath your hand, moving your grip higher once the hair below it is successfully untangled.

If a mat of hair refuses to come apart despite all your efforts, you may need to thin it out. Open a pair of scissors and hold your hair tight with your other hand. Run the bottom blade of the scissors along the underside of the mat, then gently tug at your hair to remove loose strands.

Use a wide-toothed comb until the severe mats and tangles have been straightened out. Switch to a fine-toothed comb or a brush to remove any small knots that may remain.

There will be significant shedding so do not panic and remember we lose on average 100 hairs a day, and since the hair is matted those shed hairs are locked in and need removal.

STEP 5: RINSE OUT YOUR HAIR

Rinse out any hair treatments completely once your hair is untangled. If you have tightly coiled hair, and the severe mats have separated enough to allow you to part your hair, clip each section of hair to keep them separate, and rinse one at a time.

HOW TO KEEP HAIR FROM MATTING:

• Do detangle regularly to decrease the chances of it occurring, especially if you are prone to matting
• Do not put off detangling, as it may turn into a more tedious and damaging detangling session or matting
• Do regular protein treatments to fill the gaps in damaged cuticles, as this will decrease friction, tangles, and matting
• Do not keep extensions in any longer than advised

During the winter months, cold outside weather combined with dry indoor heat can wreak havoc on your strands, leading to split ends and breakage. That’s right: Breakage isn’t just a summertime sadness. It happens in winter, and to all manner of hair types. In order to have a fabulous mane all year long, there are a few precautions you should take throughout the year.

1. Shampoo less often to help with itchy, flaky scalp.

Plaques of skin can smother the scalp, not only causing itch and flakes, but smothering growth as well. Shampoo a little less if you can.

2. Switch to an oil-based moisturizer to lock in extra moisture.

Blasts of dry air are not good for any type of hair. The only way to combat it: extra moisture. “Natural, curly, wavy, relaxed, and coiled hair is sensitive to cold weather, when it’s prone to brittle texture, breakage, and split ends,” explains Ron Williams, national educator for Phytospecific, who suggests using a heavier-than-usual oil-based moisturizer that will evaporate more slowly to protect textured hair.

3. Commit to weekly treatments to keep hair hydrated.

Dry air also means all hair textures should focus on weekly hair treatments to replace lost moisture. “Hair dries out in winter from not having enough moisture in the indoor air, which is when a good conditioner comes in handy,” advises James Corbett, owner of James Corbett Studio and global color consultant for Clairol. “Once a week, you should baby your hair: Slather conditioner on and take 30 minutes for the moisture to penetrate into the hair shaft.”

4. Use leave-in conditioner to combat static.

Floating, fine strands are a common occurrence during winter, which Corbett says is a key sign of dryness. Corbett advises that, instead of the static guard/dryer sheet route, be sure hair is hydrated with regular conditioning, then lock it in with a leave-in conditioner.

5. Forgo platinum haircolor for a darker dye this winter.

According to Corbett, this might be a good time to dial down blonde ambition. “Anytime you can switch off is good. Platinum is awesome, but it’s so incredibly damaging for the hair.” He advises leaving the roots a little darker and applying a demi-permanent hue until the weather is kinder. “That way, it washes out, and the process won’t be that detrimental when you’re ready to go back to platinum again.”

6. Cut down on your heat-heavy styling routine.

All that heat and dryness will result in split ends and breakage. Corbett advises avid use of heat protection, including leave-in conditioners, to prevent breakage. Also try protective styles, such as braids, buns, twists, and ponytails, which give hair time off from the heat routine.

7. But never go outside with damp hair to bypass breakage.

Although time is of the essence in the morning, it’s critical to dry hair thoroughly before dashing into the cold. “Anything that’s cold expands, and that’s what can happen with your wet hair shaft in the cold weather, which puts you at risk for breakage and makes your color fade faster,” cautions Corbett. Take the time. Your hair—and your salon bill—will thank you later.

8. Line your winter hat with silk or satin to stop split ends.

Warning: Wool, cotton, and other coarse fabrics can cause split ends and breakage, a tip even more important if you have curls or natural-textured hair. “Always line wool, acrylic, and/or cotton hats with silk or satin,” recommends Williams, who advises going DIY: Buy or use old fabric (like a vintage scarf or silk blouse) to measure and sew into any hat you already own.

Williams recommends curly and natural girls apply an oil-based hair moisturizer prior to hat placement, while Corbett suggests smooth-textured ladies utilize a silk scarf to prolong their blowout. “Place your blowout or style inside a silk scarf underneath your hat to protect your hair. When you arrive at your destination, remove the scarf and your blowout will be in-tact and protected.”

9. Use dry shampoo for volume if your hair has gone limp.

Those with oily hair might find their hair goes extraordinarily limp, particularly when it comes to the dreaded “hat head,” which can ruin your style and your whole day. “You’ll want to shampoo a little more, and condition a little less, especially at the root,” explains Reyman. “Use a good spray or thickening tonic to help build up the style and add volume. Dry shampoos are great for this: they keep the hair fuller and more robust, and expand the hair shaft.”

10. Hydrate hair overnight with an oil or serum.

Dry night air leeches moisture from your skin (hello, night cream!) as well as your hair. Ryan Cotton, hairstylist at Serge Normant at John Frieda Salon, is a proponent of night serums. “It can sometimes create a mess on your pillowcase, but I say designate an old pillowcase for ‘hydration night.’”

Williams advises girls with curls, relaxed, and textured strands hydrate nightly with a light oil high in omega fatty acids, along with an extra measure of added protection. “Always cover your hair with a sleep bonnet or silk scarf to avoid friction. It will also keep moisture levels intact.”

Ref: www.self.com

While most women have a go-to morning routine for their skin, what about for your hair? Whatever the style du jour might be, here’s how you can care for your hair on a daily basis.

1. Use the right brush

It all starts with the right brush for your hair type and condition. Using a brush that’s too harsh, causes frizz or forces you to rip through your hair are all bad ways to start styling. A non-synthetic wide and flat brush is a good option for most hair types, but remember to wash it regularly.

2. Give your hair a break

If you wore a heavily-styled look yesterday, opt for something looser with less products required today. This will help prevent serious product-buildup in your hair, and give it the time it needs to regain strength after being pulled around and strained.

3. Don’t grease up

Avoid skincare products getting into the hairline, giving you greasy roots before you even leave the house, by wearing a soft fabric headband when applying your skincare products and makeup. When you move onto your hairstyle, remember to wash your hands.

4. When to wash

It’s recommended to wash your hair every two/three days to avoid stripping it of its natural oils. If your hair starts to look a little greasy in between washes, spray Morning After Dust at the roots and underneath. Once a week, apply a leave-in conditioner overnight to replenish the hair.

5. Blow-dry it right

Don’t use the hottest temperature when blow-drying as this can damage and dry out the hair shaft, leaving it weak and prone to breakages. For a natural boost of volume to start your day, blow-dry with your head upside down, then flick upwards and backwards when 90% dry. Always try to avoid drying 100%, your hair will appreciate the little bit of moisture left over.

Applying these (almost) everyday tips to your haircare routine will show your hair that you care for it just as much as you do your skin!

01: Don’t Like Your Color? Change It!

If your clip-in human hair extensions aren’t quite the right color for you, it can be massively frustrating. But for the crafty out there, this doesn’t have to be a problem. In fact, just like standard human hair, you can simply dye them a different shade. As long as you’re making your extensions darker or altering the tone (for example, making them redder or cooler,) it’s a simple at-home process.

A word of caution, though: If you want to lighten or highlight your human-hair extensions, consider enlisting the help of a professional hair stylist. You can attempt it, but it’s a trickier, more involved process—one that can damage your expensive investment if done wrong.

Before you begin, double-check that your hair extensions are true human hair. Artificial hair cannot be colored successfully.

02: Choose a Color, and Gather Your Supplies

Select a color from a professional hair color and developer line. A boxed color from a drugstore doesn’t give you the option to choose the developer that you will use on your hair extensions, and that’s what you want. A 10-volume developer or a demi-permanent color is best. You can use 20-volume developer if necessary, but avoid 30- and 40-volume developers as they will damage your hair extensions if you’re not careful.

After you’ve purchased your color and developer, gather a few more supplies:

• Color bowl and brush
• Hair color gloves
• Tin foil
• Plastic wrap
• Wide-toothed comb
• Towel

03: Organize Your Workspace and Mix Color

If possible, set up your supplies on a large counter or table space with plenty of room to work comfortably. The room should be both warm and well-lit. Spread sheets of tin foil across your work area to prevent staining your workspace from the color.

Following the manufacturer’s directions, prepare your color. Most color is mixed with equal parts color and developer. You’ll need approximately 3–5 ounces of prepared color for your extensions. More color may be necessary for longer extensions. You don’t have to wash your extensions prior to coloring, but you need to comb them through to remove tangles. Then, lay them across the tin foil. Let them dry—don’t color your hair extensions while they are wet or damp.

04: Apply The Color

Using gloved hands and a color brush, completely saturate each section of your hair extensions with the color solution. Be sure that the color completely coats both sides of your extensions, from their tops to the very ends. It’s far better to use too much color, rather than not enough. Start at the top of the extension (where the clips are located) moving downward to the ends, following the natural fall of the hair. Applying the color upwards could damage your extensions, and will likely leave your extensions frizzy and disheveled.

05: Process The Color

After you’ve applied color to each section of your extensions, loosely cover them with plastic wrap in order to prevent the color from drying out. Allow the color to process at standard room temperature for the amount of time specified on the manufacturer’s directions—typically anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes.

Check a small section of the hair extensions every five to 10 minutes during the processing time by gently rubbing the color off the extension with a paper towel. Reapply the color with your color brush after checking, and remember that hair color when wet appears darker than it does when dry. When the processing has been completed and the color of your extensions is satisfactory, it’s time to rinse out the hair. Fold your tin foil in half for simple transportation to a sink.

06: Rinse

Rinse the color from your extensions using cool (not cold) water at low pressure, using your fingers to gently work the excess dye out. It’s important that you allow the water to flow in the direction that the hair naturally falls, from the clipped portion of the extension to the ends. A thorough rinsing should take an absolute minimum of 15–20 minutes. Make sure you remove all the color; if you’re not sure you have, keep rinsing. Follow up by shampooing your extensions with a mild, sulfate-free, moisturizing or color-safe shampoo.

07: Comb & Allow To Dry

When you’re sure that your extensions are rinsed completely, lay a towel down on your workspace. Apply a leave-in conditioner to each section of your extensions and comb them gently with your wide-toothed comb. Allow the extensions to air-dry thoroughly (don’t use a blow-drier) before using or styling them, especially if you use any kind of heat tools.

Ref: Byride.com

March is one of our favorite times of the year. The flowers start to come out, blossom appears on the trees, and the weather starts getting a little bit warmer. It means one thing: spring has well and truly sprung and summer is a little bit closer. Changing up your wardrobe at this time of the year seems completely normal. But what about the rest of your beauty routine? Does the change in season affect your hair? Changes in your hair texture can really throw your routine off balance. Here are some tips on how to handle troublesome locks when the season is changing and you’re not sure why your hair is too.

Everything from temperature to pollution can contribute to changes in your skin and body. Your hair is included in that. Humidity has a huge impact on the appearance and manageability of your hair. The more humid it is, the more likely it is your hair will frizz.

Many of us have to deal with our hair going frizzy and it can be super annoying. However, it isn’t completely simple. In fact, there is science behind your frizz. Your hair contains bonds called ‘hydrogen bonds’. These are weak bonds that are easily broken by water and then reset upon drying. This is, on the one hand, very handy as you can set your hair into almost any style when you dry it from wet with heated styling tools.

However, hydrogen bonds are not always broken and reset when you want them to be; they are also broken by water in the atmosphere, and subsequently reset themselves into undesirable configurations upon drying. Therefore, in particularly humid seasons like the summer, you are very likely to find your strands kink and frizz progressively throughout the day.

So, why is it that hair tends to get frizzier in the winter? Your hair can also frizz if you wear warm hats. This is down to the water content in sweat! Static hair is also a common winter hair woe.

The changes in season have a pretty fundamental effect on your hair. Shaking up your hair care routine is one way to combat dry, frizzy, or greasy hair. However, there is not a one size fits all cure. uring the summer, when UV rays are at their strongest and you are exposing your hair to more sun, hair tends to become dry and brittle. This is because UV rays act on strands much like bleach. The most obvious symptom of sun exposure is a fading of hair color; UV rays (like bleach) oxidize hair pigment cells (melanin). UV rays can also degrade the protein of your hair, making it more fragile and prone to breakage. Chlorinated and salt water are equally drying and can add to problems.

While summer can wreak havoc on your hair winter brings its own set of problems too. Winter often spells trouble for the scalp. We see many more cases of flaky/itchy scalps in winter than any other season. A flaky scalp can cause extra hair fall, so it is important to address any scalp irritation ASAP.

Dealing with hair and scalp problems can be super annoying when you are at a loss as to how to treat it. However, getting your hair back to its normal, luscious state doesn’t have to be too complicated. In fact, incorporating a new hair regime into your beauty routine really makes you feel like you are getting the self-love you deserve.

We recommend using UV protective products in the summer to shield your hair from sun damage. Your hair can burn just like your skin – you simply cannot feel it. To counteract frizzy hair, we recommend you use lightweight creams or serums that create a barrier between your hair shaft and water in the atmosphere.

Good hair days can leave you feeling (and looking) like the boss that you really are. But by the same token, when your hair just isn’t work for you, looking damaged or getting greasy way too quickly it is really irritating. If you are having some common seasonal problems with your hair here are some tips:

For greasy hair: Wash it. Apply the same thinking to hair/scalp as you do to your face. i.e. If your face were to become greasy, you would cleanse it! You can also use a daily scalp toner containing an astringent ingredient, such as Witch Hazel, to help manage oiliness.

For dry hair: First, find out why your hair is dry in the first place so you can prevent it from happening again. Perhaps you have been heat-styling on too high a heat setting, or you have been coloring your hair too often. Or perhaps you have had time in the sun and have not protected your hair from UV rays. Whatever the cause (or causes), you can take steps to minimize dryness in the future.

To immediately add moisture back-into your hair, use a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment twice a week. Once your hair is in better condition, you can reduce your application to one time weekly.

We always go the extra mile for our hair- we splurge on products, we book our color appointments weeks in advance and we pour over our favorite hair stylists’ Instagrams. But did you know that the city you live in could be the culprit behind your less-than-stellar mane? High-stress environments and hair pollution can lead to bad manes or even worse, irreversible hair loss. Read on for how to battle your city and achieve healthy hair.

How does stress affect our hair health?

Stress can affect hair health in major ways including hair thinning and outright hair loss. Alopecia Areata occurs when large chunks of hair start falling out for no apparent reason, leaving behind bald spots. Telogen Effluvium is the second most common type of hair loss and it occurs when there is a change in the number of hair follicles producing hair. This results in more dormant than productive hair follicles and as a consequence, the person experiencing Telogen Efflulvium will face gradual hair loss. Both conditions are serious examples of what can go wrong if you live in a high-stress city and don’t take precautions to curb your emotional tension. Another consequence of living in fast-paced, high-strain cities is pollution. Environmental irritants can wreak havoc on your scalp and overall hair health.

How does your city fare?

If you are reading this from Scottsdale, we have good news for you: your city clocked in at number 177 and ranked least stressed in the study. If you are in Detroit, you may want to give your tresses extra TLC. Detroit ranks as the most stressed city in the entire US. Chicago comes in at number 17, Las Vegas is number 20 most stressed. Not surprisingly, Miami ranks in at number 30. We always knew Angelenos were more relaxed than New Yorkers and this proves true. New York city is number 47 and LA is number 56.

Wallethub.com just released a study about the most stressed cities in America. They report that about 100 million people currently consider themselves stressed. What is causing our woes? According to the study dinero is the number one stressor. After money worries, work, family and relationships are creating the tension in the US.

What to do?

If you find yourself in a tough city, worry not. There are a few steps you can take to mitigate burnout and consequently improve hair quality. At the risk of sounding like your mother, don’t forget to take your vitamins. High-quality supplements with biotin can help with your hair health. You can also consider using products that protect against pollutants. Exercise and meditation are also amazing ways to get your stress in check.

Infrared is a light wavelength that penetrates deeper into the hair shaft, heating the hair evenly and safely from the inside out. It’s designed to steam the hair instead of applying a direct heat. This allows you to use less heat, and by minimizing the exposure to heat, you alleviate styling stress on the cuticle. Hair’s overall appearance is improved, and it looks shinier.

This is helpful because hot tools can be harsh on the outer layer of hair, lifting up the cuticle, which dries out strands, and can leave hair looking damaged. Once that happens, it’s harder to maintain your given style because water from the air in the form of humidity will enter the hair shaft and puff it up, making it look frizzy.

BENEFITS FOR THE HAIR

Conventional styling tools provide infrared waves in the Near and Middle segments. These infrared rays have wavelengths that are not sufficient to penetrate hair or the scalp for healthy styling. Because of non-penetration, these shorter infrared rays heat the air surrounding the hair and conduct the hot air to the surface of the hair. The hair is heated by means of conduction from the surface which causes frizzy, dry and damaged hair.

SA’s styling tools use the longer wavelength from Far Infrared technology to generate deep penetrating heat. This penetrates directly into the cortex of hair cuticles, heating from the inside out. It creates an effect that relaxes and softens hair. The hair is heated evenly, giving a gentle drying process in half the time thereby reducing heat exposure. Water molecules on the surface of the hair break apart into smaller droplets and get absorbed into the hair. Moisture is then locked within the cuticles to give a protective barrier to reduce chemical and bacteria build-up.

Conventional irons leave the cuticles dry and frizzy. Small blood vessels in the scalp supply cells with essential nutrients and oxygen and carry away waste products. When the scalp lacks a supply of nutrients and oxygen, toxins build up that can lead to unhealthy hair, dry scalp and reduced follicles. Some of these toxins include carcinogenic heavy metals and poisons from food processing, lactic acid, free fatty acids, uric acids and subcutaneous fat associated with aging and fatigue.

Toxins are encapsulated by water and blood that are trapped throughout the body, including the scalp. Where the toxins have accumulated, blood circulation is blocked and cellular energy is impaired. However, when Far Infrared penetrates the scalp, they stimulate micro vibrations that cause a thermal reaction that elevates tissue temperatures. The energy from Far Infrared vibrates the water molecules and reduces the ionic bond between water/blood and toxins. As water breaks down, the encapsulated toxins are released. Because of the thermal energy, the scalp reacts by dilating all the blood vessels providing improved circulation to carry the toxins away. Improved circulation delivers nutrients and oxygen rich blood cells to revitalize tissues therefore leading to rejuvenated scalp to reduce dandruff, maintain healthy follicles to prevent hair loss, and healthy hair.

Why Far Infrared Has These Benefits

All molecules vibrate at a certain frequency. Cells in our body absorb the most energy when the heat source has the same intrinsic vibration frequency as the cells themselves. Only Far Infrared has a specific frequency with 8-14 microns wavelength that allows it to penetrate the skin and energize the cells. This range, sometimes called “Vital Rays”, has special regenerative effects on the body.

Is Far Infrared Safe?

Far Infrared is safe and healthy for the human body. Any excessive exposure passes through the cell without any adverse effects. One can be exposed to Far Infrared heat for hours and it will not cause burns to the skin. In fact, hospitals use it to warm newborn infants.

In summary, Sa’s Far Infrared hair dryers and flat irons can not only dry the hair faster, but also activate vital functions to maintain healthy hair and scalp. The use of Far Infrared’s penetrating rays reduce frizz, make the hair soft, shiny and retain moisture.

By now, you’re probably at least a little familiar with CBD — you know, the other three-letter compound derived from the cannabis plant. Whereas the most ubiquitous cannabinoid, THC, is responsible for cannabis’ well-known psychoactive effects, CBD (aka, cannabidiol) delivers all of the health benefits — like decreasing pain, inflammation, and anxiety — with none of the high. Unless, of course, you get high on good hair days.

There’s a lot of confusion out there about what CBD oil actually is, though. CBD oil is oil that contains a concentration of CBD, which is derived from seeds of plants in the Cannabaceae family — including hemp and marijuana. Many CBD oils on the market are derived from hemp, since this plant has lower levels of THC (the “high”-inducing substance).

Researchers have discovered a wealth of benefits associated with CBD, including better sleep, mood regulation, and a boosted immune system… not to mention every millennial’s favorite: reduced anxiety. But as it turns out, the ingredient can also help stressed-out strands in the form of CBD-spiked shampoos, conditioners, and stylers.

CBD oil contains all 21 known amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. Because of that, it helps to build up collagen and elastin, which are essential to hair strength. by helping hair to build protein, CBD oil prevents breakage and even makes locks look thicker and fuller.

On top of that, CBD oil is high in antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E. These three are the best studied of all the antioxidants – they protect us from pollution-induced free radicals. In other words, the vitamin content of CBD shields hair from environmental damage like dryness and frizz.

It’s also high in essential fatty acids such as Omegas 3, 6 and 9, so it helps to prevent moisture loss and keep hair well hydrated. Additionally, one of the amino acids in CBD Oil, tyrosine, helps to maintain hair color.

But where CBD oil really shines is scalp health. CBD made waves in the beauty industry for its amazing benefits to the skin, and your scalp is no different. It’s regenerative for the skin, so it helps the scalp maintain necessary things to keep it healthy, like good blood circulation and quelling dandruff and sore or irritated hair follicles. It’s even been shown to stimulate hair growth, according to doctors. People with receding or thinning hair may benefit from CBD use. Also, people with dry scalps show improvement from CBD oil.

There is a bit of a gray area when it comes to selling CBD products, though. The initials are still controversial in some places due to their proximity to marijuana, and marijuana-derived CBD — even though it’s completely non-psychoactive — is still illegal in a handful of U.S. states (Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota) and in Canada, as well. But hemp-derived CBD is totally cleared for sale, which is why many CBD oil-boasting brands use the word “hemp” in their marketing. “A new trend that is emerging is that CBD companies are relabeling their products as ‘hemp’ only so that they don’t run into any issues selling them on the mass market via places like Amazon and Walmart. In these cases, the products are the same.

The key is to look for the words “hemp seed oil” on the ingredients list, which connotes CBD oil. If the product says “hemp extract” or just plain “hemp,” then it’s likely using ingredients from the entire hemp plant, which will dilute the concentration of CBD. Regarding how they would affect hair, both will be beneficial in many ways, but if you’re on the hunt for the full effects of CBD, you should “get the real deal”.

Ref: www.thezoereport.com

One of the most debated topics online is which are the best haircuts for curly hair.

1. YOU DON’T ALWAYS NEED TO SEE A CURLY SPECIALIST

Yes, there are different standards that hairdressers are trained to, and while seeing a curly hair specialist can help, it doesn’t always necessarily guarantee that you’re going to get a great haircut.

Many curly training skills seem to be a little outdated. So, going to see a hairdresser who takes the time to listen to you and understand your hair is far more valuable than a particular specialist.

2. WET CUTS VERSUS DRY CUTS

In the hairdressing industry, it’s pretty standard to do cut hair when it’s wet. There is a movement amongst curly girls to prefer a dry haircut. This is where they cut your hair curl by curl. It does have some advantages, but it also has some disadvantages.

3. DEVACUT

DevaCut was started from the Deva chain of salons in New York. This was also formalized by Lorraine Massey in her book Curly Girl. This technique is a dry cut, where they cut curl by curl, examining your hair as they go.

The benefit of this cut is it’s less likely that you’ll end up with a haircut that’s too short because it takes into consideration the way that curls ‘shrink’ once they dry.

However, if you have way more heavy hair and your curls can change from day to day, this type of cut produces a very uneven result. It can be quite a time-consuming process and the stylist will charge more for this type of appointment.

4. OUIDAD STYLE

The Ouidad school of hairstyling (pronounced ‘wee-dad’) has a kind of hybrid haircut theory. They start with a wet cut, slicing into the curls to shape your hair. Then they dry cut and do a recheck and cut again when it’s finally dry.

Cutting it wet and then, once its dry, rechecking to make sure that its even seems to make the most sense.

5. ONE THING TO AVOID: THINNING SCISSORS

If you’ve ever seen these scissors at salon or had them near your hair, you know immediately why we are saying no to thinning scissors.

Very popular in the ‘80s for that Farrah Fawcett flick, these are not the kind of scissors that you want to thin out curly hair. These scissors have one blade that’s a regular scissor blade and a comb-like blade on the other side. They cut out half the hair as they go through.

While they will thin out your hair, they will also leave it looking very fine on the ends, which can make your hair look thin and stringy.

6. THE ‘UNICORN CUT’

We’ve seen this mentioned a lot on YouTube and a lot of curly girls in the forum talk about giving themselves a home haircut by doing a ‘unicorn cut’.

We don’t want to encourage you to do it, but briefly this is what you do: roughly put all your hair up into a ponytail on top of your head and then cut straight across.

The idea of this technique is to create a shag haircut where all of the layers are the same length. Most of the time though, it’s very difficult to cut your own hair evenly – or even someone else’s if you’re not a trained hairdresser.

What you’ll end up with will be something that looks more like a mullet. Try this one at your own risk.

AND AN EXTRA FINAL NOTE ON HOME HAIRCUTS:

There’s a reason why hairdressing scissors cost hundreds of dollars. They’re incredibly sharp and they’re a precision instrument.

Don’t think you can do a home haircut or trim your own split ends at home with a regular pair of scissors. You’ll more likely create more split ends using scissors that aren’t incredibly sharp.

Blunt scissors cause a blunt edge on your hair strands, which will in turn lead to more split ends.

We hope this helps you understand what the best haircuts for curly hair are and, as always, we recommend taking photos to your hairdresser for reference.