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With so many different styles of wigs on the marketplace, picking a wig can be pretty confusing. There are lace front wigs, human hair wigs and several other wig-like hairpieces for women.

Just like choosing a diamond, picking a wig requires a certain level of understanding details. In this buying guide, we take you from A to Z of buying wigs.

What Is a Wig?

A wig is a head covering that’s typically made from either human hair or animal hair, although some wigs are made with synthetic fibers. The root word ‘wig’ is derived from the word ‘periwig’. The term first showed up in documented English literature around approximately 1675 AD.

Wigs are worn for many reasons. Some people simply want to hide their hair loss, as wearing a wig can be far less intrusive (and cheaper) than restoring hair through surgery or even installing hair extensions. Wigs for cancer patients are also very common. Some women use wigs like apparel, as an opportunity to periodically change-up their appearance. In film, it’s common for actors and actresses to use wigs to suit the characters they portray.

Do Wigs Cause Hair Loss?

Wearing wigs for extended periods of time, especially when you neglect to properly care for your hair, can lead to all sorts of hair related issues including hair loss. Although, just to be clear, hair loss isn’t exclusively attributed to wearing wigs. It’s simply that wigs can contribute to hair loss.

Synthetic Hair Wigs and Human Hair Wigs: The Difference?

Which wig type is the best for you?

Synthetic hair wigs and human hair wigs have their own advantages and disadvantages that make them each an ideal choice at different times. Both are great options depending on your needs and budget. Below is a comprehensive comparison of human hair wigs and synthetic hair wigs.

An Overview of Human Hair Wigs

One big advantage of human hair wigs is that they provide the most natural feel and look. This type of wig is very soft with movement and shine that cannot be matched with synthetic hair. Human hair wigs are also very versatile. They can be easily cut and also styled in a way that it suits your personal taste. Although they are the more expensive of the two types of wigs, they are also more durable especially if properly cared for.

Generally, there are four kinds of human hair that are used in wigs: Chinese, Indian, Indonesian and European. Obviously, most wigs are manufactured using Asian hair. Most hair extensions also come from this same part of the world.

If your only consideration is quality, human hair is by far the superior choice. This isn’t only because of its origin (being “human hair”), but another important factor that affects the quality of the hair is the processing technique. The chemicals used during production, which are required to sanitize the hair, as well as strip away the initial color, can give rise to different colors and curl patterns. Not only are these chemicals very strong, but they can also change the integrity of the hair depending on the method used. When chemicals of higher quality are used, coupled with a more artful production process, the resulting wig is of higher quality and therefore costs more.

When crafting or manufacturing a hairpiece, hair follicles are usually made to run in the same direction. Given that human hair cuticles normally all run in the same direction, there is a significant reduction in tangling. Be careful not to buy fake human hair, which is considerably low-priced and won’t meet most quality standards.

Caring for Human Hair Wigs

It’s very important that you only use hair care products formulated specifically for highly processed human hair. You also need to note that wearable hair doesn’t benefit from the naturally occurring oils on the scalp. You need to condition and hydrate human hair wigs.

However, human hair also has some shortcomings of its own. For instance, it requires a lot of maintenance. Just like with natural hair, you need to put in a lot of effort to care for it.

An Overview of Synthetic Hair Wigs

Thanks to numerous advancements in technology, lots of improvements have been made to synthetic hair. Actually, some synthetic hair wigs look so good that it takes a trained eye to tell the difference between the wig and actual human hair. In fact, with certain high quality synthetic wigs, you cannot tell that they are synthetic if you don’t have real human hair to compare it with.

One of the most significant advantages of synthetic wigs is that they can usually be worn straight of the box without minimal styling or no styling at all. The synthetic fiber contains a “memory” component for curls, waves, and volume which enable the hair to bounce back in place with minimal effort. Synthetic hair is even able to hold up quite well in bad weather without much frizzing or drooping (if any).

However, the downside is that synthetic wigs generally lack in the adaptability department. Human hair wigs can generally be worn in a multitude of styles, synthetic wigs are often much more limited.

Note that there are some heat friendly synthetic wigs on the market. Heat can be used to alter the wigs’ curl pattern; however, the synthetic fibers are still somewhat change resistant.

Our research shows that, when properly cared for, synthetic wigs will generally last about 4-6 months on average. For heat-friendly wigs and hairpieces, you should expect a shorter average duration of around 2-3 months.

How to Pick a Wig

Wig Cap Construction Types

The technological advancements made in manufacturing wigs has transformed them from what we used to know as our grandmothers’ hairpieces to pretty amazing, realistic looking hair products.

The base or the cap is the material onto which the prepared hair is attached in order to create the complete wig. Modern caps are a lot lighter, durable, and natural looking compared to earlier ones. The cap’s construction is one of the most important features to consider when choosing a good wig. Different caps are designed with different methods of attaching the hair strands. Each one of these methods also offers its own set of advantages.

The Monofilament Design

This type of design offers a more natural look. The mesh material used on the cap creates the illusion of hair growth on the scalp. Monofilament wigs can be monofilament at the part, crown, or on the entire top of the wig. This allows the hair to be parted or combed in different directions. Note that 100% hand-tied cap is largely the most comfortable of all the monofilament caps.

The 100% Hand-Tied Monofilament Design

This type of monofilament design (think individual pieces of thread or fishing line) gives the hairpiece a more natural look by allowing each strand of hair to move freely. A number of designs that are referred to as “hand-tied” designs, actually combines a set of hand-tied and machine-attached hair strands to create balance.

In these designs, areas like the crown are hand tied, while the remaining areas are machine attached. If you are looking for a 100% hand-tied design, make sure that the wig you pick is labeled as 100% hand tied.

Part Lace Front Wig

Synthetic, part lace front wig with natural parting from edge to crown.

Lace Front Wigs

Lace front wigs attempt to create the illusion of natural hair growth along the hairline. This illusion generally improves the natural appearance of the hair and allows the wearer to style the wig away from their face without revealing that the fact they’re wearing a wig. Some lace front wigs can be bought pre-trimmed while others may require some styling for personalization.

2 Reasons Many Women Love Lace Front Wigs:

They Provide a Natural Looking Hairline:

Lace front wigs are excellent when you want to keep your wig a closely guarded secret. The invisible sheer lace front is designed to blend with your skin’s complexion to create the illusion of natural hair growth along the hairlines. Lace front wigs are among the most popular wigs available today. It’s easily one of the most popular human hair wigs for black women.

They Are More Affordable Than Ever:

Due to their production costs, these lace front wigs were previously reserved for celebrities, actresses, and other professional television and movie personalities. However, due to technological advancements, there has been a big shift leading to significantly reduced costs. Lace front wigs have become quite affordable and more common among those with middle class incomes. More and more wig manufacturers today offer lace front wigs as their lead product offering. This means that your choices just keep growing with each day.

3 Tips to Get the Best Out of Your Lace Front Wig

1. Hide Your Natural Hair: We recommend that you pull back your hair and secure it before you wear the wig. This will ensure that none of your hair is accidentally exposed under the lace front. If for whatever reason you don’t have hair, simply align the lace front with your natural hairline to create a seamless transition from your skin to the wigs artificial hairline.

2. Match It To Your Skin Tone: If your skin tone happens to be darker than the lace material, you can use a damp tea bag to darken it to match your skin’s tone. The longer you dab the tea bag onto the lace, the darker it will get. You can also use your ordinary makeup kit to match the lace to your skin tone. This is how many women have done it for years.

3. Handle The Wig With Care:The lace on the wig is made out of a very delicate material. Ensure that you handle it with care every time you take it off or wash it. If you feel that you need to trim your wig, we recommend that you take it to a professional. The lace may unravel if you try to trim it yourself.

A Few More Things to Consider Regarding Your Wig

Basic Capps

Basic Caps are the most affordable and most common wig designs available. They feature a closed lace layer at the crown. In basic caps, wefts of hair are simply sewn onto the cap and styled to a specific style. The crowns of these wigs are often crimped or teased to keep people from seeing down through the cap. Ultimately, basic caps often feature an increased hair volume at the crown.

Some wigs that have a cap have been mistakenly called cap-less wigs before. This misnaming usually happens because, instead of the closed lace layer usually present at the crown of these wigs, they feature vertical lace strips that create open spaces between the wefts of hair.

Average sized wigs normally fit up to 95% of all customers. Many wigs also come in large and petite sizes to cater to other customers. Some wigs have also been designed with adjustable straps to allow for up to 1/2” of space for a more secure and comfortable fit.

How to Determine Your Wig Size

To determine the appropriate wig size for you, measure your head’s circumference from the front hairline, just behind your ear, along the back of your neck, to the other ear, then back again to the front hairline.

Record the measurements to use as your shopping online (or in stores) for wigs. However, you should note that sizes can vary slightly based on the wig’s brand. You should also note that some wigs are not available in all cap sizes.

How to Buy an Appropriate Wig for Your Face Shape

While you consider and compare different wigs that interest you, take some time to think about the styles that might be flattering based on the shape of your face. Below are a few guidelines you might find helpful.

Oval: An OVAL-Shaped Face is longer rather than wide while the jaw is narrower than the cheekbones. Since an oval-shaped face doesn’t have any dominant areas and is largely proportional, the face will look good with almost any hairstyle, length as well as texture.

Round: A ROUND-Shaped Face has a wide hairline and fullness beneath the cheekbones. Some women with round faces may be obese with the neck appearing short. Round-shaped faces look pretty good with a linear or geometric style. Add height, if you can, and long, thin side areas for the cheeks to appear narrow. Then comb the hair close to the head both on the side and at the back of your neck.

Square: A SQUARED-Shaped Face has a wide hairline and jaw. Such a face needs height on top while the sides should be narrow. To add height to the face, comb the hair off your forehead. Curly texture and wisps of hair close to the face break the wide, straight lines commonly found on square faces.

Heart: HEART-Shaped Faces have wide foreheads and narrower chins. To hide its width, bring some hair onto your forehead. You should also keep the hair close to the head, on the area close to your eyes, but make it somewhat full around the jaw as well as beneath and at the fore of the earlobes.

As you’re whipping out the dye and sparkles, decorating eggs and prepping sweet treats, don’t forget to grab some hair-spiration for this springy holiday. Whether you’re decked out in florals or sporting a jumpsuit, all of these styles are fresh for spring, easy to create and will look oh-so cute with your Sunday best. Scroll on for 10 hairstyles you won’t want to hide under an Easter bonnet.

1. Romantic Braids:

Inspired by Emily Blunt’s stunning Golden Globes look, this tutorial is simple to follow. While you’re sweeping your hair off your shoulders, you might as well show off some statement earrings too.

2. Flirty Waves:

While your shorter, asymmetrical cut may have caused your grandma to raise her eyebrows, you can surprise her with a tamer look full of loose waves.

3. Sleek Pony:

Of course, you can always keep it simple while hosting your colorful Easter brunch with a wispy ponytail.

4. Delicate Hair Wreath:

Now that winter is finally over, we’re feeling all-floral everything. Wrap a crystal wreath in your hair to match your pastel dress.

5. Geometric Hair Pins:

Create a triangle with hair pins to keep fly-aways back while you’re having a blast dying eggs.

6. Casual Chignon:

If you’ve got a busy weekend full of entertaining family and friends, we know you’re looking for an effortless, no-fuss look. You can easily craft an Easter-worthy chignon with second-day hair.

7. Pastel Perfection:

Go all out with pastel hair. If you’re not up for a dramatic change, use those leftover Easter wreath blooms to DIY a fab flower crown.

8. Milkmaid Braid:

You’ve come a long way since those two braids that framed your face in grade school. Give your mane an upgrade with this hairstyle, which can be achieved in minutes and looks super chic.

9. Simple Twist:

We’re loving the half-up, half-down trend this season. This look will have you looking polished and sophisticated.

10. Bouncy Curls:

While your Easter eggs may be sporting beanies, let your locks flow into this amazingly wavy style.

There are some of us who are pros when it comes to at-home hair color, with all the tools and mixing bowls any balayage could ever desire, and then there are some of us who have our professional colorist on speed dial (unofficially, at least). But everyone has that one story—you know the one, when you got all idealistic and changed your hair color—only to regret shortly thereafter. It’s like someone who finally decides to go blonde—but after pulling the trigger, the golden-spun silk vision turned into a more of an orange-tinged one—an orange tone, frankly, that’s not unlike the Cheetos bronzer.

But regardless of whether you’ve been an at-home hair color pro for some time now or have never even tried a single-shampoo dye, don’t worry—we got you. In fact, we actually crunched the numbers and what we were immediately able to gather was that all women have one thing in common: We take our hair color very, very seriously.

44%:

The percentage of women would give up wine for a year in exchange for beautiful hair color every day for a year, according to research from L’Oréal Paris

35:

The average age at which women go gray. We get the urge to take a pair of tweezers to your newly gray hair, but don’t: The wild, wiry re-growth will only look worse.

48 hours:

How long you should wait between shampooing your hair and applying at-home hair color

When you’re coloring your hair, lightly greasy hair may actually work in your favor. The natural oils will protect your hair from any harsh chemicals. Plus, a good layer of grime on your scalp minimizes irritation there, too.

Two:

The number of at-home shades you should buy for a single-color process at home.

Purchase a shade that’s exactly one level lighter than your usual color so you can apply it around your hairline. The hair around your hairline—like those baby hairs—is finer than the rest, partly because of wear-and-tear from pulling your hair back and scrubbing your face. Since it’s so fine, it picks up color faster than the rest of your hair—and can therefore look darker once you rinse it out. So, by applying a formula that is slightly lighter around the front of your hair, everything will deposit the same color.

Once a week:

How often you should use a scalp scrub.

You usually never rinse as thoroughly at home as when someone does it in a salon, so there’s always some residue left. That residue could build up and make your scalp itch (no, thanks). Washing your hair with a salt scrub removes it without harming the color.

60:

The number of seconds you should wait before applying at-home hair color to your ends.

You can apply the color formula to your hair as directed but hold off on brushing it through the ends of your hair. Hair that’s subtly lighter on the ends looks real and more modern. Waiting a minute between distributing the color on your ends creates the 2017 version of ombré.

75%:

How many women first colored their hair at-home instead of at a salon.

Raise your hand if you did this in your dorm room. Raise your other hand if you ruined your towels in the process.

Five minutes:

The amount of time a DIY hair gloss needs to sit on hair.

And don’t toss the unused color once you’ve applied what you need. Save it until your color starts to look a little dull and faded. Then, water it down with conditioner and apply the mixture to wet hair. After letting it sit, shampoo and condition well. It’ll restore the shine and vibrancy to your hair color, extending its lifespan.

Here are a few weird facts you may or may not have known about our hair:

1. Each strand of hair can contain traces of 14 different elements (including gold).
2. Hair absorbs oil out of the water, working as a natural sponge!
3. Human hair is used by groups of eco-friendly volunteers to clean up oil spills.
4. The anticipation of sex makes hair grow faster.
5. The amount of weight an entire head of hair can support is equivalent to 2 elephants, or 2 TONS!
6. All of the hair follicles you’ll ever have were formed when you were a fetus (at 5 months).
7. Hair contains information about everything that has been in your bloodstream, such as medicine, drugs, minerals, and vitamins.
8. The only thing that CAN’T be identified by hair is gender.
9. Healthy hair can be stretched up to 30% of its length when wet. If hair does not stretch back to its original state, it’s lacking protein. If it snaps it is either over-proteinized or lacking moisture. This is called the Wet Stretch Test.
10. The average human sheds about 50-150 strands of hair a day
11. The most common hair color in the world is Black, and the rarest is Red (1% of the population).
12. In 1950, only 5% of women dyed their hair. Now, that number has increased to 75%!
13. If you counted the growth of all the hairs on an average person’s head, in one year it would equate to over 10 miles of hair growth!
14. In a survey collected about the relationship between hair color and personality perception, these were the results:

• Blonde: flirty, fun
• Brown: smart, serious
• Redheads: strong

15. Hair is the fastest growing tissue in the body – second only to bone marrow!
16. On average, Blondes have the highest amount of hair strands (146,000).
17. On average, Redheads have the lowest amount of hair stands (86,000).
18. On average, people have about 100,000 strands of hair on their head.
19. The first hair products specially formulated for African-American hair were created by Madam CJ Walker. She was also the first African-American woman to become a millionaire.
20. A hair follicle will replace a new strand of hair about 20 times in a lifetime
21. A single, healthy strand of hair can withstand about 6.5 pounds.
22. A strand of hair is stronger than a copper wire of equivalent diameter.
23. The only part of hair that is not dead is within the scalp.
24. The common thought that hair continues to grow after death is a MYTH!
25. The werewolf legend is believed to have originated from an abnormality called Hirsutism, which causes excess body hair or facial hair to grow in places it is not supposed to.
26. Hair is composed of the following elements: Carbon (50%), Oxygen (21%) Nitrogen (17%), Hydrogen (6%), Sulphur (5%).
27. Darker hair tends to have more carbon present than lighter hair.
28. Each hair strand has its own muscle, nerve, and blood supply.
29. If a man never shaved, his beard would grow to over 30 feet in his life time.
30. On average, women spend about $800 on hair products a year!
31. It takes only 13 days for grey hair to appear from stress or signs of aging.
32. The longest female hair was measured at 18 feet and 5.5 inches. Xie Jiuping grew her hair for over 30 years!
33. Chemotherapy causes the hair to fall out because it is intended to eliminate cells that replicate quickly. Since hair follicle cells grow and divide quickly, they are adversely affected.
34. Hair can grow back after chemotherapy, but often hair can grow a different color than normal for the first few months.
35. On average, women’s hair is half the diameter of men’s hair.

Frizz, gray hair, the dreaded growing-out phase? You asked your most pressing hair questions and we got answers.

“I’m trying to do something with my hair that makes me look younger. Should I change the color, get bangs, or cut it short?”

Bangs hide wrinkles on the forehead and make you seem more youthful. Long side-swept fringe is the most versatile. Short hair is a no no! That tends to mature people—plus, wearing your hair the same way every day is aging. Instead, go for hair that just hits the collarbone, with long layers. You’ll be able to pull it into a ponytail—and wearing different styles makes you look younger. Also, if your skin has gotten pale or sallow with age, try warming things up with golden highlights and a rich base color—just don’t stray too far. The most flattering base shades re-create the color and depth that you used to have.

“What is the best way to grow out a short pixie cut to shoulder length?”

Let it grow for four months before getting a cut. While you do, try tucking it behind your ears and sweeping your bangs to the side. If your hair starts to look puffy, brush it forward or off to one side, and avoid blow-drying. At four months, ask your hairdresser to even it up by cutting the back to create a bob, or to make the back a little shorter than the front—that will make your hair appear longer than it is. After another four to six months, add long layers in the back and cheekbone-length ones in the front. Another trick is to pin your hair up, then people just assume that it’s long.

“I have color-treated hair that is prone to breakage. How can I prevent both that and color fading at the same time?”

If your hair breaks easily, it’s probably either very fine or has been overly bleached and lost its elasticity. Hair color always fades eventually, but it will fade more quickly when hair is damaged. To keep it from becoming more porous and brittle, avoid bleach, shampoo infrequently, and only get highlights every eight weeks. Try not to heat-style more than a few times a week, and always use a protective product. Add strength and moisture by using a conditioning treatment with natural oils once a week and trade in your regular shampoo and conditioner for ones that are enriched with protein. Also, drink plenty of water, and take a biotin supplement. It can take up to six months to see results, but it works.

“My hair is oily at the roots, but dry at the ends and has no volume. The more I style it, the drier the ends get, but the more I condition, the roots get oilier. Ideas?”

You’re probably shampooing every day, and that can strip away natural oils, so your scalp overproduces oil to make up for it. Shampoo every other day instead, and follow with conditioner on just the middle to the ends of your hair. We are also firm believers in dry shampoo. It absorbs the oil that flattens the hair, so it takes care of greasiness and adds volume at the same time. Aim the nozzle at the roots, holding it eight to ten inches away, too close makes the hair look white, and then brush the powder out after a few seconds. Finally, use a light leave-in conditioner on dry hair from the mid-shaft down – it will moisturize without compromising volume.

“My thick, straight hair gets frizzy no matter what I do. I have never had it dyed, highlighted, or relaxed. I shampoo and condition once a day, and I rarely use blow dryers or irons. What can I do? I’m desperate!”

Some people think that leaving their regular conditioner in the hair instead of rinsing it out can prevent frizz, but that will actually dry out the hair. Instead, use a frizz-fighting cream. They are heavier than a serum, so it will coat the hair and weigh it down to prevent frizz. Work a nickel-size amount through damp hair from roots to ends, using your fingers or a wide-tooth comb. If your hair still gets frizzy during the day, use a quarter-size amount the next time. Then blow-dry your hair smooth with a big round brush; a natural boar-bristle brush is better than a nylon one, which just rips through the hair and can make it fuzzy. Work your way from the bottom layers up—otherwise, you risk making the top frizz. You’re better off not flat ironing your hair every day, because it can cause damage. But if it’s humid, zip a flatiron through the hair to make it look silky.

“My long, curly hair is triangular. What do I tell my stylist so that I can get a modern cut without looking like an ’80s rocker?”

Short layers on curly hair can cause that triangle look. In the front, layers should hit at an angle under the cheekbone, and then drop down to long layers by the breast so that the curl is all around the perimeter of the face instead of looking puffy at the top. In the back, you want longer, blunt layers so the hair drops down in softer waves.

“I’m trying to grow my hair long, but I get a lot of split ends. How can I get rid of them without losing length?”

Every 10 to 12 weeks, ask your stylist to trim just the split ends; some will even do it as part of a blowout. I know every product in the world claims to repair split ends, but that’s really hard to do. Plus, a lot of those products are so heavy, and there’s nothing worse than greasy split ends. We prefer leave-in creams. Rub a little bit just over the split ends to hold them together temporarily. That should last for about six hours, so carry the cream in your purse for touch-ups.

“My brown hair has already started graying (I’m 22). What’s the best way to cover the strays?”

Semi-permanent color is an easy way to blend away grays without much commitment. It fades after four to six weeks, so you won’t have obvious roots. Pick a shade that matches your natural hair color by looking at the swatches on the box; they’re more accurate than the picture on the front, but a lot of people don’t realize that. Finding at-home color that matches light blonde and red hair can be trickier, so look for a brand that offers lots of different shades. Apply the dye over the whole head. Don’t worry about only covering up the gray strands—that’s difficult to do and not really necessary. If you need an immediate fix, you can cover a few grays temporarily with a root touch-up pen, but we usually prefer using a loose matte eye shadow. Pick one that’s close to your hair color, and use a wet shadow brush to dab it on the roots.

“I lightened my brown hair but want my natural color back. Can I darken it with an at-home color kit?”

It’s not as easy as slapping on some brown dye, but with these pointers, you can get your natural color back. When you bleach your tresses, you strip away the rainbow of tones (bits of red, yellow, and blue) that make up a rich brown hair hue. So you have to put those colors back in to re-create the vibrancy. To do this, pick out a semi-permanent hair-color kit in a warm brown shade (look for the word golden in the shade name). Let the dye process for as long as the directions indicate, then rinse out. After your hair dries, apply another semi-permanent dye that matches your roots exactly. This should bring you back to your beautiful natural hue.

“Help! The stylist cut my hair shorter than I wanted! How can I tweak it until it grows out?”

Hair grows about half an inch per month. In the meantime, disguise your do with accessories and styling products. Here, some of our tress tricks:

If your bangs went from long to super short, the best solution is to sweep the barely there fringe to either the right or left side of your forehead, then secure it with a decorative bobby pin.

If you wanted long, sexy layers but your stylist gave you short, chunky ones, experiment with different styling products to create an edgy effect. To do, distribute a dime-size amount of texturizing cream to damp hair, then blow-dry using your hands to tousle your mane. Next, smear a pea-size amount of pomade onto fingertips and run over ends of hair to create a slightly separated, funky look.

If you asked for a shoulder-length bob but walked out with hair that barely grazes your chin, go for a super chic, slicked-back do. Just rub a dime-size dab of gel between palms, then rake hands through hair, slicking all of it behind your ears and against the nape of your neck.

“I’m an African-American with relaxed shoulder-length hair. I want to grow it longer, but it’s very damaged. Any tips?”

The chemicals used to relax kinky locks can leave them brittle and sapped of moisture, which can lead to split ends and breakage, making it a challenge to grow them out. To nurse your hair back to health and keep it strong, follow this moisturizing regimen: First, be sure to use a gentle hydrating shampoo that won’t strip away your hair’s natural oils. Follow with a thick, creamy conditioner to boost your strands’ strength and help seal split ends.

Too much heat from a blow dryer, curling iron, or straightening iron will hurt your fragile tresses even more, so always apply a protective styling cream first. Finally, even though you’re trying to grow out your hair, it’s important to get a trim every four to six weeks to keep any dead ends from splitting all the way up your hair shaft.

“My hair is fried from the sun. Any tips?”

If summer fun has wreaked havoc on the health of your hair, pamper your tresses back to their prime with this daily at-home conditioning routine: Mix equal parts of a scalp-soothing mint-oil conditioner and a shampoo made for your hair type. Suds up with this mane-moisturizing concoction, and rinse thoroughly. Follow with a deep conditioner, rubbing the ends of your hair as you let it soak in for a few minutes. Rinse, and apply a leave-in conditioner with sunscreen to shield your strands from do-damaging UV rays.

We all have those days where we get really frustrated with our natural hair. You may even have had dreams about having bouncy, soft curls everyday or having straight, frizz-free hair when you wake up in the morning! If this sounds like you, you may be considering getting a perm or a keratin treatment in order to achieve these looks, which your natural hair just won’t let you do. But, there are a few truths behind these treatments, which you need to consider before making the big decision. Keep reading for all of the details behind the truth about perms and keratin treatments.

THE TRUTH ABOUT PERMS

What exactly is a perm? It’s a type of treatment that sets the hair in curls by treating it with chemicals in order to last several months. Wow, several months! It may sound great to have such voluminous, curls for that long without having to touch a curling iron. But, it comes with a ton of maintenance and is more of a permanent decision than anything. They don’t call it a “perm” for nothing! This is why talking about the truth about perms and keratin treatments is so important. It’s time to get real.

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER:

YOUR HAIR NEEDS TO BE HEALTHY AND IN THE SUITABALE HAIRSTYLE FOR A PERM.

It is important to get honest with yourself here about how healthy your hair really is. In order for the curl to hold, your hair needs to be strong and healthy to handle the chemical treatment it’s about to undergo. Even if you have dyed your hair in the last month or so you’ll want to give your hair some downtime before committing to a perm. According to professionals, virgin, un-dyed hair is in the best condition for a perm.

Not only does it need to be healthy, but, a perm is not recommended if your hair is short or has a lot of layers. Since the curl can often be pretty dramatic on short hair, the extreme curl can often leave you looking like a poodle (and for several months!). Making sure your hair is at the right length for a perm is definitely a huge thing to think about before getting one done.

REALLY CONSIDER WHAT TYPE OF LOOK YOU’RE AFTER (THERE’S DIFFERENT STYLES OF PERMS).

Here is where you need to do your research. There are a ton of different types of curls which you can achieve from a perm, as a result of different setting times, costs, and levels of upkeep. Ask yourself, “what kind of curls am I looking for?”. Whether it might be subtle waves, hollywood style pin curls, tight ringlets, or curls like Carrie Bradshaw, this is your time to get on Pinterest and start pinning and researching for the best curl type for you!

YOUR HAIRCARE ROUTINE IS GOING TO LOOK A LOT DIFFERENT.

After getting a perm, quality hair care is extremely essential. Since your hair has undergone a treatment it isn’t necessarily used to, maintaining its health in the right ways is really important. Here is a list of tips:

• Use shampoo specific for curls and curl enhancement.
• Avoid creamy formulas, which end up weighing down your curls.
• Don’t towel dry your hair (this causes frizz), rather, use an old cotton t-shirt which soaks up moisture more effectively.
• The less heat the better! Avoid drying your hair with a blow dryer or straightening with an iron.
• Avoid dyeing your hair after getting a perm (at least a month).
• Get a trim every 3-4 months! If you let your hair grow out to a point that is too long and heavy, it weighs down the curls.
• Wear a swim cap if you are swimming and stay away from chlorine filled pools.

GETTING A PERM IS A COMMITMENT

As you can see, there is a lot to consider before making the leap to get a perm! It is not easily fixed, but it can be done right as long as you do your research and make sure you are treating the perm properly post-salon. The truth about perms and keratin treatments is a topic that you really need to be an expert on if you are making the choice since it is truly a commitment to your hair lifestyle.

THE TRUTH ABOUT KERATIN TREATMENTS

Moving over to the infamous keratin treatments! I am sure you have heard beauty YouTubers or even friends who just rave about how great their hair feels after getting it done. But before jumping the gun, let’s chat about some things you need to know.

First, what exactly is a keratin treatment? Basically, the hair is saturated with a keratin formula (almost like when you get your hair dyed), then dried with a blow dryer on high heat, then straightened, which locks in the formula. Your hair is filled with keratin naturally, but the treatment restores the keratin in the hair to a level that creates the frizz-free, shiny look.

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER:

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR

Since the treatment uses chemicals that can be very harmful to you (e.g. formaldehyde), it is super important to do your research when choosing a salon, stylist and which kind of keratin treatment you are getting. If you aren’t looking to pay the extra money to get the right treatment, it might not be worth the risk of damaging your hair for a cheaper form of it. Everyone’s hair needs are different, so going to a skilled stylist who will take the time to feel out your hair and know exactly what kind of treatment you need will make all the difference!

IT’S ACTUALLY A BETTER OPTION THAN STRAIGHTENING YOUR HAIR EVERY DAY

Straightening your hair every day is one the most damaging things you can do to your hair. So, if you are someone who is a day-to-day hair straightener, considering a keratin treatment might be a more healthy option for you.

YOU NEED TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE INGREDIENTS IN YOUR HAIR PRODUCTS AFTER GETTING THE TREATMENT

Sodium chloride (a.k.a salt) is the demon ingredient included in hair products that will wash out your keratin treatment. Now going forward, you are going to have to pay close attention to what exactly is in your shampoo, conditioner, and any other products you are using, so that you are ensuring the treatment lasts for the long-term. If you make sure to use the right products, your treatment will last up to two months, maybe more depending on your hair type. So, sadly this means if you are planning a vacay in the near future, dips in the ocean or chlorine-filled pool is a bit of a no-no when it comes to keratin treatment hair care.

And there you have it! Are you still unsure whether the perm or keratin treatment is right for you? Well, there are tons of great ways to get the hair of your dreams without chemically altering it, and it starts with using the right products for healthier hair and the right hair tools to accomplish the styles you are looking for.

Oh how we love those beautiful, flawless, bouncy curls. But you know what’s even better? Beautiful, flawless, curly hair that lasts all day. Here are some tips to help those curls last longer.

1. Get Your Curls To Stay: Cool Them Down

One of the most effective tricks on how to get your curls to stay is to let the curl cool down and set before letting it go. Take each fresh curl (still keeping the curl shape) and secure it with a clip or a bobby pin. How does this work? Well, as you wrap your hair around the curling iron, heat is transferred onto the hair strands, which is what makes them change their shape. So once your pinned curl is cooled down, it will allow the cuticle to close and set in place, making the curl last for a much longer period of time. When unclipping your curls, be sure to let them cool down for a couple of minutes prior to brushing them out. If you break the curls too quickly, they will loose their form in a shorter amount of time.

Hint: If you don’t have time to wait 10-15 minutes for the curls to set, pin them all to your scalp and use your blow drier to blow cold air on them from a distance.

2. Use the right hair products

Help your curls! Apply styling products to your hair, which will help hold the curls in longer. Depending what works with your hair, apply a tiny bit of mousse prior to drying your hair, or simply spray hairspray before, during and after curling. This will give your hair a rougher texture, which will help prolong the lifespan of your curls. All this is after applying heat protectant, of course – always remember the heat protectant first! 

Hint: Don’t hold the hairspray too close to your hair as this will make your curls crunchy and heavy. You want to spray mist onto it, and wait a few moments for it to dry prior to applying heat.

3. Invest in good hot hair tools

For years, you may think that your hair is ‘stick straight’ and that ‘your curls will fall apart in 20 minutes anyway.’ You will think that as long as you use cheap, drugstore brand curling irons or curling wands. Only when you switch to better quality, higher-end hot tools, will you realize that the problem isn’t in your hair – it’s in the curling iron! Yes, they may be more expensive, however, they damage your hair less, they heat up better (so you will apply heat for a shorter period of time), and good quality curling irons will last you a very long time. We recommend to set your tools at a heat temperature of 300-350 F to achieve the optimal curl. If you are curling your extensions, be sure to use a lower heat setting of 250 F.

4. Use the right barrel size

Barrel size is actually pretty important. It’s easy to think that a bigger barrel curling wand or curling iron is what will give you those sexy Victoria Secret Curls. We find, however, that most of the time, a smaller barrel will do the magic. Depending on your hair, of course, try using a 1″ or 1.5″ barrel, and see what difference it can make! Not only will the curls look better, but they will also last longer. Sometimes, using a larger barrel just leads to the curly hair loosening up faster and falling out.

5. Your hair still doesn’t curl?

Well, my beautiful friend, this is a sign that your hair is screaming SOS. Overly damaged hair (including split ends) doesn’t curl well. Period. It’s time to give your hair some love and get a trim!

When you give love, you get love so why not have a little fun with it this Valentine’s Day?

We know you’ve got the whole “Valentine’s Day” thing down pat. But in case you’re looking to spread a little more love around, try one of these ideas for making everyone’s love holiday the best yet.

• Visit a shelter and walk a dog (or love on a cat)
• Bake someone a cake, cookies or cupcakes.
• Write a letter to someone you miss.
• Buy fresh flowers and put them in every room.
• Find things at home you don’t use and give them away.
• Pass out $1 bills to children randomly.
• Write cards of appreciation to those who’ve helped you.
• Visit a senior center and give out flowers.
• Take a lonely friend to a movie and buy them popcorn.
• Give some slightly used books to a teen or woman’s shelter.
• Buy makeup or toiletries and do the same.
• Treat a friend to foot massage.
• Buy a box of chocolates and give them out at work or a class.
• Keep nuts or snacks in the car to give to the homeless holding signs by the road.
• Give up your seat on public transportation.
• Pay for the order of the person behind you at the coffee shop or fast food restaurant.
• Tell a stranger you like their shoes (or hair, or coat, or etc …)
• Listen to love songs on your iPod in public … and dance!
• Smile! Your positive energy is a gift to everyone around you.
• Send old-fashioned Valentines (the kind school kids buy in a 30-pack!) to all of your friends.
• Leave conversation hearts with cute messages in random places where people will get a giggle.
• Try a new recipe — and make extra to share!
• Resolve not to say anything negative, for the entire day.
• Ask a couple you admire to tell you the story of how they met.
• Tell your own “couple” story to your kids, nieces or nephews.
• Say “Happy Valentine’s Day” to everyone you meet … and mean it!

As any hair professional can tell you, clean tools not only work better, they are more of a joy to use.

Whether or not you use hair products, your brushes and heated styling tools still collect hair, dust, and grime on a regular basis. Brushes get matted with hair and dirt, and curling and flat irons get coated with dried styling product. When you use dirty implements, they leave the residue of old styling products on your hair, and your tools won’t work as well.

Here are a few pro tips on cleaning your tools to keep them in tip-top shape, performing their best, and keeping your hair looking fantastic.

Hairbrushes and Combs

Cleaning any type of hairbrush, whether synthetic, natural, round, or paddle, starts with getting all of the hair out from between the bristles.

How to clean hair brushes

1. Use a pencil or pen to lift the hair away from the base of the brush. If you’re cleaning a round brush, lift one section of hair and then cut through it with scissors – this will make it much simpler to pull the rest of the hair out. Once you’ve removed as much hair as possible using the pen, use your fingers or tweezers to get the last bits out.
2. Next, run the brush under warm water and apply a little shampoo to the bristles and base. If you have a brush with natural bristles, try not to use a shampoo that contains silicone. It will coat the bristles and make them less effective at absorbing and redistributing your hair’s natural oils.
3. Using an old toothbrush, gently scrub the base and bristles of the brush to free up any hair product buildup.
4. Rinse the brush well under warm water. Then dry it as well as you can with a towel. When drying a natural bristle brush, simply lay the brush bristle side down on a towel and let it air-dry overnight.

Combs may not gather as much hair and dust as brushes, but they do build up with styling product – especially if you use a teasing comb. You can use the same process as above for cleaning any type of comb as well.

Curling Irons, Flat Irons, and Hot Rollers

When cleaning any heated styling tools, start by unplugging them and making sure they are completely cooled down.

How to clean a curling iron

1. Use rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball or tissue to wipe away styling product buildup from the barrel or flat of the iron.
2. Next, dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and use it to clean away any residue trapped in the tiny crevices of the iron or rollers.
3. With a clean, damp cloth, wipe down all surfaces of the styling tool.
4. Dry the styling tool with a towel, and leave it out to air-dry.

Hair Dryers

The lint, dirt, and hair that builds up in a hair dryer can not only blow back into your hair, it can also break the dryer if not cleaned out regularly. Here’s how to make sure that doesn’t happen:

How to clean a hair dryer

1. First, unplug the dryer and find the air vent on the side or back.
2. Remove the vent grill (or cover) to get to the filter. If you can’t remove the grill, try to clean the filter through the openings of the grill.
3. Use a toothpick and/or tweezers to remove the big pieces of lint from the filter.
4. Next, use an old, dry toothbrush to scrub away any left-over dust.
5. Replace the vent cover. Then plug in the hair dryer and let it blow for a few seconds to release anything that might have fallen into the dryer while you were cleaning it.

So, how often should you clean your hairbrushes and styling tools?

It depends on how often you use them. If you use a lot of hair styling products and style your hair with a curling iron or flat iron on a daily basis, you’ll want to clean your tools at least once a week.

If you only break out the heated styling irons on special occasions, you can get away with cleaning them less frequently.

As a general rule, give your brushes and styling tools a quick rinse or wipe down once a week, with a good, deep clean once a month.

Finally, remember to clean the handles and bodies of all your styling tools and hairbrushes. Regular dirt and grime builds up on them, as well as styling product from your hands and any sprays you use.

Is your hair difficult to manage? If yes, you’ll have probably experimented with a number of different solutions, but have you tried a Brazilian Keratin treatment yet? Whether your hair is dry or damaged, too thick or too curly, Keratin hair treatments can help with your hair’s misdemeanors.

But what is a Brazilian Keratin treatment? And are they a reliable route towards frizz-free, easy to manage, smooth hair? This helpful guide covers everything from the basics of Keratin proteins to Brazilian Keratin treatments.

Let’s begin by looking at Keratin itself…

WHAT IS KERATIN?

Keratin is a compound of proteins and the essential structural components of the skin, hair and nails of both humans and animals. Formed from a combination of amino acids, including cysteine which is rich in hair-strengthening sulphur, the structure of the hair is a little like a ladder or stair case, with bonds of varying strengths as the steps.

Straight hair is structured much like a traditional ladder, whereas curly hair is like a spiral staircase. Strong hair is typically the result of stronger sulphur bonds. Breaking these bonds makes it possible to permanently transform the structure of hair from curly to straight and restore the spiral staircase as a ladder.

WHAT IS A BRAZILIAN KERATIN TREATMENT AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

It may seem counterintuitive to use a Keratin treatment when our hair is already made up of up to 95% Keratin, but these proteins are easily damaged and depleted day to day. This degradation is mainly caused by physical damage including using thermal styling tools and chemically treatments like perms and coloring. In fact, the structure can even be adversely affected by stress.

Most Keratin treatments include hydrolyzed Keratin proteins, which fuse with our hair’s natural Keratin when heated. Known as the ‘sealing process’, this happens when the hair is infused with a Keratin treatment, dried and flat-ironed.

Depleted Keratin can make hair look dull and frizzy in appearance, and can be extremely brittle and prone to split ends. Replacing the Keratin will help rebuild the cortex of the hair, giving it strength and a shiny appearance. The latest Brazilian Keratin treatments also include low pH amino acids, that help to straighten the hair as well as assist in rebuilding it to enviable strength which is, of course, great for anyone looking to grow their hair.

ARE BRAZILIAN KERATIN TREATMENTS GOOD FOR HAIR?

Initially, straightening treatments were made from chemicals like thioglycolate which breaks down the structure and can cause huge damage. These have become far less popular. Firstly, people color their hair more often, and color and chemical straightening is not a healthy match. Plus, the fashion for a more natural straightness and less lifeless has resulted in salons have moved away from these types of harmful treatments.

These earlier straightening treatments saturated the hair with a formaldehyde solution before drying and ironing, earning them a bad reputation. Formaldehyde is a highly toxic and corrosive chemical and is reported to be carcinogenic, potentially fatal to humans. There are very strict laws regarding the allowance of this ingredient in cosmetics and these early formulations were found to have between 10-50 times more than the legal limit. They also had many rules like not being able to shampoo for days and may people found they didn’t like the two to four days of greasy flat hair.

With superb technological advancements, safe and restorative Brazilian Keratin treatments have been developed and have transformed both clients’ hair and salons’ businesses. While formaldehyde is yet to be effectively banned from hair treatments in USA, it is illegal in UK, EU, Canada and most of the rest of the world. We believe health & safety laws are there for a reason and recommend avoiding formaldehyde treatments at all cost. Use only reputable brands and salons who are open and honest about the treatment they are using.

WHAT TYPE OF FLAT IRON SHOULD YOU USE ON YOUR TREATED HAIR?

Choosing the right flat iron is essential for getting the best results from your keratin treatment. The flat ironing part requires high heat. The high heat of the flat iron is necessary in sealing the keratin in your hair and to ensure superior shine and a silky-smooth look.

What to Look for?

When you use a hot hair iron to seal a keratin treatment onto the hair shaft your flat iron must be constructed with titanium plates and heats up to 450°F with easy to read display and controls, like our Hybrid Pro Titanium or our Premium Titanium flat irons. Being able to adjust flat iron temperatures is also important.

Why are Titanium Plates Important?

Titanium has an ability to reach up to the set high temperature in just a few seconds. It is inert and will not interact with any styling products. Titanium also retains heat better than ceramics and offers even heat distribution. The titanium plates will retain the consistent heat levels, once you start straightening. This will result in the perfect finish and will give your hair unbeatable shine.