Fun Pony Tail Ideas
Everyone loves a good ponytail, but after a while you get tired of the same look, so here are some ideas to help spice up those tails!
THE TWO FOR ONE
Craving a long, full ponytail but lacking have the length for it? This two-ponytail hack will save the day! Start by sectioning your hair into two sections, a top and bottom, from ear to ear. Next, use an elastic to secure the hair in the back and then tease your hair at the top. Now pull the top section into the shape you desire and use a second elastic to secure it to the bottom section. Give them a little fluff and a light spritz of medium hold hairspray, and you’re good to go.
Photo ref: www.cosmopolitan.com
THE COMB OVER
If you’ve got long, thick hair then this big and wavy ponytail is for you! Begin with a ponytail at the base, then take the left section and sweep it to the right. With the right section, twist a little and sweep it over to the left. Add a little curl for texture, tease it a little, pull it up, and you’re done.
Photo ref: www.onecrazyhouse.com
THE SIDE TAIL
Tired of the classic ponytail or high pony? Then give the side ponytail a try. Start with the ponytail at the ear level, giving volume to the ends and wrap a piece of your hair around the elastic.
Photo Ref: www.latest-hairstyles.com
ADD SOME BRAIDS OR TWISTS
These quick and easy styles are great for a day at the office, lunch with the girls, or a night out. Start on each side of your hair and braid towards the center at the back of the head. Gather the ends and all your other hair then secure into the sweetest looking ponytail. If you’re not great at braiding, you can accomplish the same look with twists.
Photo ref: www.onecrazyhouse.com
THE BUBBLE PONYTAIL
Start by teasing the hair at the crown to give a little volume in the front. Then, sement the hair in sections about ¾ of an inch apart and secure with a hair tie. Give each section a little pull on each side to fluff it up like a bubble. You may need to adjust the ties up or down a little as you fluff.
Photo ref: www.popsugar.com Instagram @beatenb
ADD ACCESSORIES
You can add in all kinds of accessories to spice up your ponytails like scarves, flowers, gems and barrettes. Get creative and go wild!
How To Wear A Wig
Want to switch up your hairstyle or color, but don’t want to fully commit? Then wigs are the way to go. They are an easy and affordable option for switching it up. So where do you start?
Picking The Right Wig
Sizing The Wig Properly
- Not all wigs are one-size-fits-all so you need to measure your head size first. (FYI: The average head size is around 21 x 14 x 13 inches.) Once you have your exact measurements, it’ll be easier to find a wig (and wig cap) that fits perfectly onto your head. Here are the three basic measurements you’ll need:
- Circumference: Wrap the measuring tape around your head by beginning at the hairline and working it back to the starting point.
- Front to Nape: Start at the middle of the hairline and run the tape down to the nape of your neck.
- Temple to Temple: Place the tape above your left temple (above the ear) and wrap it across the middle of your head to the right temple.
Choosing A Wig Type
There are three options when it comes to wig types: human hair, synthetic hair or a combo of the two. When it comes to human vs synthetic hair, there are a few pros and cons depending on wearability, cost and management:
- Human Hair: This is just what you expect—wigs made from actual human hair. That means that the texture is easy to manipulate and you can cut, color and heat style the hair with no issues. These wigs also look and feel the most natural. The downside is that they can be pretty expensive. Plus, if you’re looking to wear this look daily, it can be a lot of upkeep.
- Synthetic Hair: This type of wig is the most affordable and low maintenance option. Synthetic wigs are pre-styled which can be limiting, but if you are looking for a wig to spice up your look for the day then it’s a great option. However, because of the weaker strands synthetic hair has a limited shelf life (think: three to six months) and won’t look “as natural” the more times you wear it. You also can’t style them with heated tools or use any styling products.
- A Combo of the Two: Yes, a mix of synthetic and human hair exists. You can enjoy the best of both worlds with this combo wig that offers a natural look without breaking the bank. But, can you use heat tools? Read the wig’s specific instructions to make sure it is heat-resistant, most are not.
Also, think about your goals for your style before making your purchase. If you’re looking for longevity then definitely go for a human hair wig. If you are looking for something for a quick style for a party or Halloween then a synthetic or combo wig would be perfect.
How To Wear Them
First you have to prep your hair. The goal is to keep your hair as flat as possible to avoid any weird bumps when you put the wig on. If you have short hair, brush your hair back and pin it in place. Use gel or mousse to keep your hair slicked back. If you have long hair, braid your hair down in corn rows and wrap all the ends together for a flat surface. If you aren’t much of a braider then wrap your hair around your head using hair pins to secure it in place.
Now it’s time for the wig cap. Start at the back and adjust the cap so it sits firmly on your hairline. Secure it in place with either bobby pins, wig clips, wig glue or wig tape; whichever method you prefer.
Once you have your wig cap on and secured place the wig on your head. Using both hands, start at the bottom and pull it onto your head. Slowly press down on the hairline so that the wig hairline lays on top of the gel and begins to connect and mold along your hairline. Once the wig is on start adjusting it so that it covers the whole wig cap. Once you have the wig in a comfortable position give your head a good shake to make sure that it doesn’t move.
Reference: https://www.purewow.com/beauty/how-to-wear-a-wig
Tips For Picking A New Style and Color
With the start of a new year, a lot of people decide to take the plunge and completely change up their hairstyles. A new style and a splash of color can make a world of difference. If you’re considering a new look here are some steps to help guide you along the way.
THE NEW STYLE
Pick a style based on your face shape. It’s a fact that certain hairstyles look better on certain face shapes so it’s definitely worth taking into consideration.
- Heart Shaped Face – This shape looks great with medium and long length hair. When thinking of ways to style it, think sweeping fringes and tousled curls to fully accentuate the shape. Remember you can make your hair longer with hair extensions!
- Oval Face – If you’re going for a short style, it’s best to opt for a blunt cut or strong lob. Medium and long hair also work with this face shape, while soft, vintage curls really finish the look.
- Round Face – If you’re set on having short hair, don’t do it by halves. A pixie cut will look super smart and will help in adding length to your face.
- Square Face – A fringe in some shape or form really suits this face shape, either sweeping across the cheekbones or incorporated in soft layers.
THE NEW COLOR
You should always consult with your stylist before the final decision on color, but it’s good to have an idea of what you want before you go in for your appointment. While old beauty rules don’t apply and you can make your hair any color you want, we recommend picking a color that compliments your skin tone. You can still do any color you want, it’s just about finding the right shade of that color that best matches your skins undertones.
How to Figure Out Your Undertones
First, wash your face, it needs to be completely free of makeup. Any makeup residue could alter your skins natural color. Then pick a room with a large window or other sources of natural light. While looking in a mirror, hold a shirt in a bright shade of green or blue against your face, then take it down and hold up a different shirt in a shade of red or yellow. If you think your skin looks better against the blue shirt, you likely have cool-toned skin. If it looks better against the red shirt, you have warm-toned skin.
If you’re still unsure then you can do a vein test. Flip your wrist over and look at your veins. If they appear greenish then you have warmer undertones. If you see blue or purple then your skin tone is cooler. If your veins look like a mix of blue and green or you think the purple shirt looks just as good as the orange shirt then you most likely have neutral undertones. Neutral undertones are the most flexible with colors. Once you’ve nailed down your undertones the color picking fun begins.
Warm Skin Tones
Warm skin tones tend to shine when paired with a warm hair color as well. If you’re looking to go lighter then try a blush-y, pinky blonde. Golden beige and buttery blondes are two of the best shades for someone with warm undertones.
If you are looking to go brunette you should lean towards shades like caramel, butterscotch, or clove. Reds are basically the same concept try sticking to golden copper hues.
If you want to experiment with highlights or ombres and you have warm-toned skin try making those lighter pieces blush-y blonde but not too golden.
To try out rainbow colors, the same guidelines apply: warm shades like coral, rose gold, apricot, and yellow would be good choices. If you want to try blues and greens, try placing them toward the back of your hair, keeping warmer colors towards the front.
Cool Skin Tones
Look for cool hair colors to complement cool undertones. Platinum, beige blonde, and baby taupe blonde are great choices for cool skin. These guidelines work for highlights too, and purple shampoos will be your best friend as a cool blonde.
Some brunette shades recommend for cool skin tones are dark chocolate and espresso. For red’s opt for shades like merlot, burgundy or subtle shades of mocha.
People with cool skin tones will find shades of blue, green, and purple easiest to pull off in the rainbow category, though you can always play around with cool reds and pinks too.
Neutral Skin Tones
The luckiest of the group, neutral skin tones can really do any type of blonde, from super cool platinum or pale beige blonde to a more golden blonde or amber blonde.
Angelina Jolie is a great example of a neutral brunette, with her mocha-colored strands. Redheads can run the spectrum from auburn or strawberry blonde to cabernet. And, of course, this means you’ll probably be happy with just about any type of rainbow effect as well.
TRY THE LOOK ON FIRST
There are some websites that have App’s that will allow you to upload a picture of yourself and try on different hairstyles and test out different colors like:
https://www.lorealprofessionnel.co.uk/style-my-hair-page
https://www.thehairstyler.com/virtual-hairstyler
https://www.ulta.com/discover/vto/hair?origin=menu
https://stylecaster.com/virtual-makeover/
How To Fake Curly Hair
No matter what kind of hair you have you can achieve natural looking curls. Heated styling tools and some pre-styling prep will make all the difference. If you are against heated styling tools then you can braid freshly washed hair and let it dry overnight. That won’t give you ringlets, but it will give you some full-bodied waves.
NEVER BRUSH FRESHLY WASHED HAIR
Brushing or combing your hair will only encourage it to look straighter. Instead, using conditioner and a wide tooth comb, remove any tangles in the shower.
GENTLY TOWEL DRY
Rough towel drying can cause tangles and breakage, instead wrap your hair in a microfiber towel and use the press and twist technique to get rid of extra moisture.
APPLY PRODUCTS
A curl enhancing cream will help you achieve bouncier curls. Apply it to your mid lengths to ends, scrunching your hair as you do. Then apply your heat protector.
BLOW DRY TIME
Pop on your diffuser and set your blow dryer to low. As you dry keep scrunching your hair. This will help give the hair some extra texture to hold the curls. Make sure hair is completely dry before moving onto the next step.
TIME TO CURL
Pull out your curling wand, plug it in, and let it start heating up. If you don’t already have a curling wand and are looking to buy one there are a few things to keep in mind. Barrel size is important. The smaller the barrel, the tighter the curl, the larger the barrel, the bigger the curl. Also, some curling wands come with clamps to hold the hair in place and some do not. The ones that do can leave creases on your curl. We recommend a clipless styling wand like our Pro Styling Wands so you don’t have to worry about crease marks. We also recommend starting with a ¾” to 1” barrel to start with. They create very natural looking curls that have good hold.
Separate your hair into sections between 1” – 2” and, starting from the back and working your way forward, wrap each section of hair around the barrel and hold for 3-4 seconds then release. Hold the curl in your hand for a few seconds to allow it to cool, it will help set the curl. Also, by alternating the direction and size of the curls you will get a more natural looking finished look.
FINISH THE LOOK
When you’re done put about a dime sized amount of curl cream in your palms and rub them together, then scrunch your hair liberally to define the curls.
Oily Hair 101
As frustrating as oily hair may be, you can train your hair to be less oily. It’s all about spacing out your washes and using the right products. Over washing will end up causing your scalp to produce more oil. Be patient, the results won’t happen overnight, but stay with it and after a couple of weeks you should start to notice a difference.
Avoid Sulfates
Sulfates can over-cleanse and dry out your scalp causing your scalp to overproduce oil to compensate for the dryness. So, to help keep the oiliness to a minimum look for shampoos that are sulfate-free. Clarifying shampoos are also great at removing build-up.
Get A Good Dry Shampoo
If you really feel like you can’t go a day without washing your hair you can fight the urge by investing in a good Dry Shampoo. Instead of just blindly spraying it though, part your hair into small sections from ear to ear and spray the products at the roots. This technique will ensure that your entire head is covered.
Try A Texturizing Spray
If the Dry Shampoo isn’t working for you, then try a texturizing spray. It’s a great way to revive two- or three-day old hair without adding to much oil.
Do An Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
Use warm water, not hot, as it may dry out the scalp. Apple Cider Vinegar is acidic enough to restore the pH balance of your hair and help remove any buildup. But, mild enough that it won’t strip the hair of any nutrients and is safe on color treated hair.
Exfoliate Your Scalp
Scrubs not only feel divine, but they are amazing at keeping your hair looking healthy and clean by removing any product build up and oil.
Allow Your Hair To Air Dry
Blow drying to much can cause your hair to produce extra grease, so skip the heat from time to time and allow your hair to air dry instead. After washing add some leave in conditioner to your ends and try to avoid touching your hair to much while its drying. Touching your hair to much may cause frizz, especially in wavy and curly hair.
Use A Sweat Band
If you work out then you know sweating only leads to oiliness. Using a sweat band at the hair line will help absorb sweat and cut back on the extra greasiness.
Clean Your Hair Tools
Dirty brushes and tools can distribute oil and grime through the hair. You should be cleaning them at least one a month.
The 4 Seasons of Hair
Just like our skin, our haircare routines should also adjust with the seasons. Different weather affects our hair differently. Read below for some tips on keeping your hair healthy all year round.
WINTER
- Hair Oil Is Your Best Friend! The cold air in the winter can make your scalp dry and itchy due to the lack of moisture in the air. This can result in scalp irritation and flakes. A hot oil massage with oils like argan oil, coconut oil or olive oil will help keep your scalp and hair moisturized.
- Washing too much can also dry out your hair and scalp, so try to avoid frequent hair washes. If you can, try to keep the washes down to two times a week with a Sulfate free shampoo like our Biotin infused shampoo.
- Never skip conditioning or masks during the winter. Using conditioners and masks like our Biotin infused hair care line will help keep hair hydrated, moisturized and healthy. When conditioning, be sure to concentrate on the ends to help prevent dryness and split ends.
- If you use hated styling tools, keep the temps a little lower than you would at other times of the year. Using high heat on heated styling tools during the winter can make your hair brittle, making it more prone to breakage.
- Don’t go out with wet hair. Cold air expands the hair shafts, making them prone to breakage. It could also cause your color to fade.
- You can also use a hat or a scarf to cover your hair when you go outside to keep your hair from getting stressed. Using a silk scarf, or lining your hat with a silk scarf will also help prevent static.
- Take luke warm, not hot showers. Hot water can remove the natural oils and moisture from your hair. It may also dry out the scalp and cause flakiness. Give a cold-water blast at the end to seal the cuticles.
- Since heaters, which dry out the air, are a must during the winter months you need a way to combat that dryness and keep the moisture in the air. We recommend a humidifier to help balance out the moisture levels inside and help prevent dryness.
SPRING
- Fight Spring frizz by using a serum like our Biotin Infused Hair Serum or our Infinity Drops. They will help deal in the moisture and smooth the cuticles.
- Detangle your hair before your shower. Detangling hair when dry, rather than wet, will cause less breakage.
- Wash hair thoroughly after any beach or pool day to remove any chemicals or salt build up. While salt is great for texture it will lighten your color and chlorine sitting on your hair baking in the sun is a recipe for disaster.
- A healthy scalp is the base for healthy hair. Use a clarifying shampoo to keep the scalp healthy and remove any build up.
- Spring clean your styling tools. Clean your styling tools thoroughly to remove any product build up and get rid of any tools that you are no longer using.
- Now that the cold weather has passed, consider a trim to remove any dry or damaged ends.
SUMMER
- The sun can be torture for the hair so try using a scarf or a hat to keep hair protected when out in the sun. This will not only provide protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays, it will also help your scalp retain moisture.
- Restrict yourself to lose, rather than tight hairstyles. Tight hairstyles can damage the hair because they pull and tear the hair. This is even more detrimental to hair that is dry from the sun and summer heat.
- Wash less and condition more. Frequent washing can strip your hair of its natural oils stimulating more oil production and causing your hair to look greasy, making you feel like you need to wash more. If this happens, try using a dry shampoo to soak up the additional oil.
- Summer is another time of the year when you want to reduce the heat. Try keeping the temps on your styling tools a little lower than you would at other times of the year. Using high heat on heated styling tools during the Summer can make your hair brittle and cause breakage.
- Run your hands through your hair after you apply sunscreen to your body. This will help give an additional layer of UV protection.
- Use a wide tooth comb to detangle hair, rather than a brush, and never when hair is wet. When hair’s wet it is very susceptible to breakage and splitting.
FALL
- Use a leave-in conditioner like our Truffle Leave-In Conditioner or our Infinity Drops. They will help keep hair hydrated without weighing hair down, add moisture and shine, and help to prevent split ends and breakage.
- Look into getting a satin or silk pillow case. They help reduce friction and will help with frizz and static.
- Keep your curls moisturized and hydrated. Colder weather can easily disturb curly hair so it’s important to provide extra moisture. Weekly hair masks like our Color Safe Keratin Hair Mask can keep your locks hydrated and happy.
- If you are going to use heated styling tools make sure you are also using a heat protectant to help hair from getting dried out or damaged.
- Wash your hair once a month with a clarifying shampoo to remove any build-up and unclog follicles.
How To Curl
Everyone loves bouncy spirals, but how do you get them? Here are some different ways to add some curls to your hair. Before you being though, here are a few tips to keep in mind.
- We recommend practicing with your curling iron or flat iron in the OFF position. It may seem silly, but this will allow you to practice these techniques without putting unnecessary heat on your hair while doing so. After you feel confident in the gestures go ahead and turn on the heat.
- Always use a heat protectant spray when you use heated styling tools. Working with heat protection is vital to the health of your hair. Heat doesn’t just dry hair out, it can destroy the integrity of the inner structure of the hair, and even decrease the longevity of that beautiful color that you invested in at the salon.
HEATED TOOLS
Curling Iron Curls
Photo Ref: https://www.samvilla.com/blogs/hair-tutorials/6-different-ways-curl-your-hair
- Start by picking the barrel size you want to work with. The larger the barrel the bigger and looser the curls, and the smaller the barrel the tighter and smaller the curls. We recommend our 1” Pro Styling Wand.
- Then, take a small section, about ½” and mist with a thermal heat spray from at least 6” away to protect the hair. Wrap the entire section from base to ends around the barrel of your styling wand. Make sure to wrap the sections around the curling iron all in the same direction. If you want to curl away from the face, twist and wrap in the outwards direction from your face and vice versa for inward curls.
- Hold the section around your curling iron for about 5-10 seconds.
- Remove your curling iron and hold the curl in your hand for a few seconds to allow the curl to cool. This will help set the curl. Once your entire head is curled, shake the curls out with your fingers to loosen and add more volume. You can finish the look off with a flexible hold hairspray.
HOT TIP: Allow your spiral curls to really cook! Spiral curls collapse because they either didn’t get enough heat or they didn’t cool long enough to set the style!
Flat Iron Curls
Photo Ref: https://www.samvilla.com/blogs/hair-tutorials/6-different-ways-curl-your-hair
- Take a medium size section about 1 in to 1 ½ in wide and prep with a thermal heat spray.
- Hold the section in one hand and your Straight Ahead flat iron in the other with the iron vertical and your palm facing the head.
- Pinch the section at base and, as you pinch, fold your hand so your palm faces you (still holding the section with left hand). Slowly slide flat iron down to the end of the hair shaft and release hair, this will allow the hair to spring into a ribbon curl.
- Remove your flat iron and hold the curl in your hand for a few seconds to allow the curl to cool.
- Use your hands to shake the curls out and finishing with a flexible hold hairspray to keep the curls in place.
NO HEAT CURL TECHNIQUES
- One of the easiest ways to get loose waves without heat is to braid your hair at night and sleep with the braids in. That way, when you wake up in the morning, all you have to do is undo the braids and apply a smoothing hair oil, like our Biotin Infused Hair Serum, to tame any frizz.
- Scrunch time! If you’re blessed with hair that has some texture, this is probably the simplest technique. Spray some sea salt spray on damp hair, from mid-shaft to ends, and scrunch upwards. This technique will encourage your natural waves for that chic beach vibe.
- You might think hair rollers are more your grandma’s thing, but they don’t have to be! These babies can easily give you heatless glam curls. On damp hair, start rolling sections from the bottom up and secure with a bobby pin. Let it dry for two to three hours or overnight. You’ll have gorgeous waves and can apply hairspray, like our Blow Out Spray to set them.
- Find an old t-shirt. It might sound a little strange, but it really does work. First, twist a T-shirt into a roller shape and tie the ends together to create a large DIY halo. Then, put the halo on top of your head, wrap pieces of hair around it, and pin the hair in place. Leave your hair in the halo overnight, and in the morning, you can remove all the pins to reveal soft, bouncy curls.
- The sock bun technique is a creative, but also effective method. Cut the tip off of an old sock and roll it up to get a doughnut shape. (Or, you can just get a donut hair bun, but that’s no fun!)
- Once you have your sock bun, pull your ponytail through the hole, and then pull sections of your hair through it to create a large bun. Again, let the bun sit overnight, and pull your hair out to get gorgeous wavy locks.
Can You Use Heated Styling Tools on Hair Extensions?
We get asked a lot if you can use our heated tools on extensions. The answer is yes, depending on the material of the extensions. If they are human hair absolutely. If they are synthetic hair then they may not. A lot of synthetic hair becomes damaged when heat is applied to it.
It is also important to remember that human hair extensions, just like your natural hair, can suffer damage from the heat or from overusing heated styling tools. So keep in mind …
- Don’t overdo it. Just like you wouldn’t mistreat your hair, it’s important to give your hair extensions a rest from heat tools every once in a while. Doing so will help them last much longer.
- Use a heat protector like our Heat Guard. If you use high-heat tools like curling irons/rods or straightening irons, make sure to use a heat protector spray before you start with the tool.
- Curl before applying. If you curl your hair with an iron, it’s a good idea to curl your extensions separately. This is because of your natural hair and the extensions will have different textures and may require different curling times or higher/lower heat. By doing them separately, you reduce the risk of damaging your own and the extensions. Once applied, you can make small adjustments for blending.
Using A Hair Dryer
We recommend using one with multiple heat settings, like our 3800 Turbo Infrared Blow Dryer. When wearing hair extensions, it is best to use the lowest heat setting, and if you have the time or patience we would recommend using the cool setting, even though this can take considerably longer. If you are wearing pre-bonded glue hair extensions we would recommend using the cool setting when drying the roots of your hair. Too much heat from the hairdryer may cause the bonds to become sticky if it is hot enough to melt the keratin.
Using Hair Straighteners
You definitely want a straightener with multiple heat settings. Unlike the hairdryer we would not recommend using the lowest setting though, as this can cause you to have to go over your hair many more times to straighten it which is not healthy for your hair. Therefore we would recommend some trial and error in testing out different settings until you find one that is able to get your hair as straight as you would like it without going over the hair multiple times, or without having the heat up to the highest temperature. You will be surprised at how low the setting can be for this, as just because hair straightens have the highe heat setting it doesn’t mean you need to use it to get your desired effect.
Using Curling Wand
Curling wands are also absolutely fine with human hair extensions, however will also take some trial and error in how long you will need to leave the hair wrapped around the barrel to create your desired curl or wave. And as we mentioned above, the extensions may curl slightly different than your own hair so take your time with small amounts of hair to get an idea of how long you will need to leave before removing.
Using Heated Rollers
Heated rollers can also be used on hair extensions, and are particularly good for achieving a wavy look as they are not as hot as curlers or straighteners, and are therefore better for your hair. You will however need to pay special attention when applying them to ensure they are done so in a neat manner and do not become tangled around any of your bonds. If you have pre-bonded glue extensions be careful to make sure that none of the heater rollers is sitting against a bond, as this could cause the bond to begin to melt.
Natural Hair Tips & Tricks
If you have natural hair creating a hair routine that will help your curls achieve their utmost potential in terms of health and curl definition can feel like a handful. But don’t worry, we’re here to help.
LOOK FOR DEEP CONDITIONERS
Rocking free-flowing curls means keeping up with regular deep conditioning treatments, which can drastically help strengthen curls. We suggest using a hair mask once every two weeks — minimum once a month.
INCORPORATE A DEEP CLEANSE EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE
When it comes to washing curls, which are naturally drier, less is definitely more. Many hairstylists recommend only lathering up with a gentle, non-oil stripping hydrating shampoo once a week to every two weeks, especially for thicker spirals, and, if needed, rinsing with conditioner in between instead.
DETANGLE IN SECTIONS
Detangling your curls in the shower while they’re well-coated with a hydrating conditioner is the best curly-girl strategy to avoid breakage, and whether you’re using your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to work through knots, you should absolutely be detangling in sections. With natural hair tending to be on the thicker side, working in sections (note: always begin detangling at the ends of your hair and working your way up) really allows you to get down to each knot. Sectioning is also a game-changer when it comes to ensuring a thorough product application, especially when applying curl-defining products. Sectioning is key when it comes to great definition.
TRY DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES FOR CURL DEFINITION
When you’re blessed with natural hair, you’re often dealing with various curl patterns on one head of hair. And the tighter your natural hair is, the less distinct your curls will be, even when the hair is wet. So, if you’re seeking an extremely defined and looser curl look, try testing out some tried-and-true curl defining techniques on natural hair that’s been freshly shampooed and conditioned. These techniques can be time consuming, but the best part is that the style results can last up to a week with the proper maintenance.
Popular techniques to define and stretch out coils include finger coiling, which, just as it sounds, requires taking small sections of hair, adding some product and twirling the strands around your finger to help form and hold a uniform spiral. Once one spiral is created, move on to the next section.
Another favored technique, especially for elongating the look of kinky coils, are two-strand twists outs. The method requires grabbing a small section of hair, finger combing it, applying a styling product, separating the section into two and twisting those parts around one another like a rope until you reach the ends. Allow the twists to set overnight and unravel them the next day to reveal a wavier pattern throughout your mane.
You can also try the shingling method, which starts with separating the hair into four sections and applying leave-in conditioner evenly to each by finger-raking it through from root to tip. Next, using your thumb and index finger, a curling cream or gel is applied and smoothed over individual curl strands within each section. Once you’re sure the hair is well-saturated with styling product, move on to the next sections.
For each method above, continuously working on wet hair is key, so keep a spray bottle nearby and spritz the hair whenever necessary to keep it nice and damp. To help with all that sectioning, opt for plastic clips to keep parts separated and to hold hair out of the way. Most importantly, don’t touch. After completing a technique, leave your hair alone so it can dry thoroughly without any disturbance.
PROTECT YOUR HAIRSTYLE OVERNIGHT
A trusty hair bonnet, which works to reduce friction and retain moisture while you get your sleep, is an essential for preserving your natural hairstyle or curls. Also, trading in your regular pillowcase for a satin or silk option is also great for avoiding dried out strands and hair snags. If day-two hair needs a refresh, we recommend giving it a spritz with a curl refreshing spray. If you don’t have a refreshing spray, you can put a little bit of your favorite conditioner in a spray bottle with water and shake it up.
EMBRACE THE FRIZZ
When you’re used to sleek hairstyles, frizz has a really bad rap. But when rocking natural hair, stop trying to wrestle with nature. Embrace the frizz, it’s part of textured hair’s DNA. If you’re always trying to get rid of it, you’re not going to get the styling results that you’re looking for.
TIPS FOR STRAIGHTENING NATURAL HAIR
ALWAYS USE A LOW HEAT SETTING
If you are opting to blow dry your hair make sure you do it on a low heat setting. Blow drying your hair expels water from your hair so if you blow-dry on a high heat setting you are potentially speeding up the process of expelling water and having your hair dry for a longer than needed period of time. By blow-drying your hair on a much lower setting, you make the process of losing moisture slower meaning your hair will retain much more moisture and thus having less potential for damaged hair.
Also, allowing your hair to partially dry before you straighten it means that you can have less exposure to heat. Less exposure means less chance of your hair becoming damaged in the straightening process.
USE A HEAT PROTECTANT
A heat protectant provides a shield so that your hair is not protected from excessive heat.
START ON FRESHLY WASHED HAIR
If you are going to straighten your natural hair then its best to start on freshly washed hair so there is no product build-up. Having a lot of product on your hair before you straighten it can cause your hair to fry from the oils and butters that you may have previously used. You don’t want that so make sure you have clarified your hair before you begin.
DEEP CONDITION
Deep conditioning really is a must if you are considering straightening natural hair because it ensures your hair is well moisturized before you begin the straightening process. The more you can do to ensure your hair stays well moisturized the safer your curls will be from damage when you do straighten it.
ONLY FLAT IRON DRY HAIR
For the best, longest-lasting results, only flat iron hair that’s totally dry. Doing otherwise is just a recipe to fry your hair. Does this mean you have to blow dry it straight first? Not necessarily. You can always wet wrap your hair and sit under a hood or bonnet dryer until it’s dry—this is a gentler drying method and the wrapping technique smooths your hair just like blow-drying would. You can also let your hair air dry until it’s about 80% dry, and then blow dry it the rest of the way.
GO SLOW AND STEADY
Flat ironing is a technique that requires slow, controlled movement, but also avoiding letting the iron sit in one place for any length of time. Move it, but don’t rush it. Begin as close to the roots as you can, and pull the iron down in one smooth motion. If you hurry through it, you may have to go over that section again—and each additional pass makes damage more likely. Keep the flat iron at two passes max.
WORK IN SMALL SECTIONS
Smaller irons (1 1/2 inches or less) are better for tackling small sections of hair. Try not to press pieces wider or thicker than 1 inch at a time, even if the bigger iron is cheaper. You’ll do a better job of straightening the entire section when you don’t have to deal with too much hair at once. Big, chunky sections won’t straighten properly.
FINISH WITH A SERUM
Lastly, after styling, it is always a great idea to finish everything off with a lightweight serum for some extra shine.
How To Get The Perfect Blowout At Home
A gorgeous blowout is like a work of fine art. The look appears effortless, but behind the smooth, shiny locks is a great deal of technique. If you’ve ever tried to give yourself a salon quality blowout at home only to stop midway through filled with fatigue and frustration, take heart. This seemingly elusive skill can be mastered. With a little patience and the right tips, you’ll be able to get a salon-quality blowout from the comfort of your own home, regardless of your hair type.
First, make sure you are using quality tools, starting with the hair dryer. Don’t feel like you have to go for the “usual” hairdryer either. We offer a range of hair dryers from ones that utilize Far Infrared light as a heat source, to handheld blow dryer brushes that are perfect for doing the double duties of drying and styling. If you’re using a regular hair dryer, your brush will be equally as important as the dryer. The right size round brush will depend on the length of your hair. The longer the hair, the bigger the round brush. For short hair, try a 1.5-2” brush; for medium: 1.5-3”; for long: 3-5”.
No matter which method you use, always be sure to use a Heat Protectant to shield your hair and prevent any damage. Heat protectants have come a long way since the early ’00s. These won’t weigh your hair down or make it greasy—in fact, some of them, like our Heat Guard, even help with frizz, hold, and volume.
Secondly, you should pre-dry your hair to cut down on styling time and to help build up some body. Using your fingers, lift a section from the top of your head and pull it taught. If you have thick or coarse hair, use the hottest setting on your drying. If your hair texture is medium or fine, use the medium heat setting. Using the full-speed heat option (if you have one on your dryer), direct the heat towards your roots, where you want the most volume. Repeat until your hair is between 30-70% dry (those with curlier textures will want less pre-drying while those with straighter textures can get away with more).
Once your hair is about 70% dry separate it into four sections, One at the crown, one on each side, and one in the back. Sections may be subdivided or customized depending on the length and thickness of your hair. From each section, take a 1½” portion of hair and pull it taught with a round brush using 1/4″ turns of the brush. Gently pull the hair up as you dry; avoid pulling hair down. (This builds volume). Use the hottest setting on your dryer if you have very thick or coarse hair. Use the medium heat setting otherwise.
The dryer may be switched to its lower speed setting if that option is available. Be sure to keep the airflow parallel to the section being dried. (Use the dryer nozzle attachment to avoid roughing up the hair cuticle and creating additional frizz.) Repeat drying steps with each portion of hair until completely dry. Then, set each dry portion with a blast of cool air.
Finally, apply a light layer of flexible setting spray, like our Blow Out Spray, after completing your blowout.
Some Mistakes To Avoid:
- Over-twisting the brush. Avoid completely twisting the brush near your scalp. This can create unfortunate tangles. To catch your hair on the brush, do a small quarter-inch turn. Holding your hair taught with the brush, bring the brush down to the mid-lengths of the hair and then begin turning.
- Holding the dryer too close. Hold the dryer at least one inch above the hair. Pressing the dryer nozzle against hair can cause dryness and damage.
- Going too fast. Patience is key! For a sleek, no-frizz blowout, hair must by completely dry. Furthermore, being slow and methodical will allow you more control over the final outcome of the style.
- Did you find this article helpful? We’d love to see your at home blowouts! Email them along with your Instagram info for a chance to be featured on our page!
