Spread The Love

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!

Tips for Cleaning Your Styling Tools

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.

 

Brazilian Keratin Treatments

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.

How To Use A Straightening Brush

Our Straightener Ceramic Brush is a tool aimed not only to detangle and straighten, but to ionize your hair, recovering its brilliance, natural strength, and beauty, making it silky smooth. Due to an installed heating element, this brush helps create a stylish hairdo in just a matter of minutes, and the special technology of ionization relieves your hairdo from static electricity for a long time. Thanks to this tool your hair will be left looking much healthier and well cared for. Here are some tips on how to prepare and straighten your locks without any damage:

Wash Your Hair

Wash your head thoroughly with shampoo and conditioner. If your hair is very curly, choose a conditioner with high moisturizing features, as this type is usually much drier than others. It is advisable to apply a mask or balm, which contains argan oil, like our Rejuvenating Argan Oil collection. Cleanness is compulsory, if not, straightening will not be effective and long-lasting.

Use Heat Protectants

Do not neglect to apply special thermal protective products, such as sprays, lotions, serums or mousses before using the straightener to avoid loss of hair and to enhance the effect. Work any of these products evenly through your wet hair and let it dry naturally.

Dry Your Hair Before Styling

Use your brush straightener on completely dry and well-combed locks; otherwise, you risk burning your scalp and could damage the hair structure. Try not to use a blow dryer, as your hair can get over dried.

Do Not Straighten Hair With Split Ends

If your hair is splitting, do not try to straighten the tips — they will look ridiculous and messy. Get them cut at a professional salon.

Tool adjustment and suitable temperature levels

Turn the power button on and choose the appropriate temperature mode, which is shown on an LCD panel. In order to change the mode, use a switch on the handle of the brush. While the device heats up (it takes 30 seconds), you have time to part and section your locks. Use pins and bands for this.

Time to Straighten!

Temperature Hair structure  Hair shape
290-330F (140-170C) fine or slender naturally straight
330-370F(170-190C) fine/dyed hair of middle thickness straight and almost straight
370-390F(190-200C) fine slightly curly/wavy
390-410F(200-210C) dense slightly curly/wavy
410-450F(210-230C) thick curly/very curly

Take a small lock and slide the brush in slow gentle combing motions from top to bottom. If your hair is long or tangled, comb the tips first, gradually moving up. Devote several seconds to every lock. Do not keep the brush in one position for longer than 2-3 seconds.

The entire process lasts 5-15 minutes depending on the hair length, thickness, fuzziness, and structure.

 

New Year’s Hair Resolutions

New Year’s hair resolutions are a good use for your pencil! We just wanted to share some of the general hair-related decisions we think all of us should be making in the New Year! Please take a look even if you’ve already done your New Year’s hair resolutions, you might decide to update them a little bit.

I WILL BE BRAVE

Some of us are dying for a new hair color, others are considering a different cut and yet we’re too scared to act on it and really and truly make it happen! Promise yourself this one will be different than all new year’s hair resolutions you’ve made so far! You’ll be braver this year and you will do what you feel is right. You go girl! Dye your hair even if it means some clothes (or colors, to be precise) will be off limits for you due to a new color or cut it short even if you’ve worn it long for the last 5 years!

I WILL SPEND MORE TIME STYLING MY HAIR

Having a low maintenance cut doesn’t mean you’re off the hook when it comes to styling! Sure, you’re free to enjoy it, spend more time doing other things and still look good although you should promise yourself to do something nice with your hair every once in a while. You can curl it, braid it, put it up, experiment with tons of different styles and you don’t even have to have a really special reason to do it! A walk or dinner with your hubby, a boring Monday – it doesn’t really matter! You can be the busiest woman in the world and still have time to do it at least once a month. Because every woman deserves to get her hair done, put some make up and clothes to match and enjoy being and feeling flawless like a movie star at least once even 30 days! And that, my ladies, is something you should put in your resolution for new year!

I WILL RESTOCK

Throw away products with expired dates, pass along or swap the ones that are not doing it for you, don’t wait for your brushes to fall apart before you decide to get new ones and, trust me, not having a pair of decent hair clips is not something to brag about! Restock, woman! Invest in good quality brushes but opt for cheap accessories so you could get more. As for the products – either use them or pass them along but definitely ask for samples before you invest your hard-earned cash in something that may not work as good as it sounds!

I WILL SPEND A BIT MORE

But only on the right products! If you love a certain product or you’ve managed to get some samples and decided it’s truly fabulous, don’t let the price stand in your way. You would spend the same (or roughly the same) amount of money randomly purchasing cheaper products in hopes you’ll find a budget-friendly replacement. “Every expensive product has its cheaper dupe” rule does work but you have to be really lucky to find it on the first try! Wanna talk statistics? Well, you actually have better chances of finding the first, pricier product with reduced price!

I WILL DISREGARD ALL AGE/HAIRSTYLE STEREOTYPES

Take a good look at your new year’s hair resolution and cross everything that sounds like a stereotype! “I will cut my hair because I’m not 30 anymore” has to go and the same can be said for “I will streak my hair or go blond because my grays are showing” and “I will stop wearing my hair this way because it looks age-inappropriate”. Don’t let the society tell you who you should to be! Enjoy your thick, long hair as long as you want and if you decide to cut it, do it because you needed a change, not because some stupid rule says you should. Don’t cover your grays if you like them simply because someone out there may hate it – a beautiful woman is a beautiful woman with or without grays!

I WILL DEEP CONDITION

One way to get those compliments is to make a commitment to deep conditioning. It only takes a few minutes, but you’ll notice the difference and so will everyone else! There’s no time like the present to get started. A regular deep conditioning treatment will help lock in your hair’s moisture and keep it looking fabulous now and all year long.

I WILL GET NEW TOOLS

Curling irons, flat irons and hot rollers aren’t designed to last forever. I know – why not? But, if you’ve had the same styling tools since your college days, it’s time to toss them in the garbage and shop for new ones. Not only is that fun, but it means you can style your hair with less damage and your new ‘do might even come together more quickly and better looking than ever before. A girl couldn’t ask for more! A good rule of thumb is to shop for new styling tools if you notice a smell emanating from your current ones or if you simply can’t remember how long you’ve had them.

I WILL EMBRACE PERFECT HAIR WITH PRIDE

Some of the sexiest and coolest hairstyles are the undone and “careless” ones. You know, random waves or curls or straight styles that don’t have a razor straight edge. Rocking an imperfect top knot or not having a perfect part in your hair can be alluring and best of all-easy! Just because you can’t achieve a perfect, no-hair-out-of-place style doesn’t mean you’re in for a bad hair day. Embrace it and rock it with pride!

I WILL NOT BE AFRAID OF OILS

Oils have taken the beauty world by storm and for good reason. Some versatile oils can be used on the hair, body, and face and offer tons of moisturizing and nourishing benefits. If you have dry or damaged hair, resolve to try a hair oil this year. Our Renewing Argon Oil Hair Serum is perfect for anyone in need of some deep hydration in the scalp and hair. The most important tip I can give oil newbies is to stay away from the roots. Always concentrate on the tips for the best results!

 

Ref: allwomenstalk.com

 

How To Use A Flat Iron

Straight Ahead Flat iron | How to use Flat iron | Flat iron reviews

To get perfect, pin-straight hair, you need more than a blow dryer. You also need a flat iron. It also helps to know how to use a flat iron properly. It may seem obvious: you clamp down a bit of hair into the iron and pull it through. But there’s actually an art to correctly straightening hair with a flat iron.

BLOW DRY YOUR HAIR

You want your hair to be as dry as possible when straightening. Not only will this allow your flat iron to work better, it will also prevent your hair from being shocked by the heat and breaking off.

Point the hair dryer downward with the flow of your hair while blow-drying. This downward motion away from your roots encourages your hair to dry straight. Also, set your hair dryer on the lowest heat setting. If you have particularly frizzy hair, drying your hair on a lower heat setting for a longer period of time will prevent your hair from puffing up as you dry it.

USING THE FLAT IRON

It’s very important to work in layers when straightening hair and to start with the bottom layer of hair. To do this, clip away the top 3/4ths of your hair, or the top half if you have fine, thin hair.

It’s up to you to determine how many layers you want to work through. Keep in mind the goal is to run your iron over hair as little as possible. If hair feels at the end as if you need to do another run-through, you were ironing sections that were too thick.

Once hair is clipped, you’ll work your way around the bottom layer. Iron 1-inch or smaller sections of hair at a time. Clamp the iron down as close to the scalp as possible. Then slowly pull iron down the length of hair. If a second pass is needed be sure to wait until the hair has cooled before applying more heat.

Once you complete the bottom layer, create a layer above it by pulling up hair again. You want to work your way up through the sections of your hair, layer by layer.

If you have typically, dry, frizzy hair, rub a serum like our Rejuvenating Argon Oil Hair Serum between your hands and palm over hair for extra shine and to keep hair in place. To keep frizzies along the hairline at bay, spritz hairspray on an old toothbrush and ‘brush’ them down.

Set your blow dryer to cold on the lowest air flow setting. Carefully blow-dry your hair for another minute to help set your straightened hair. You can also use a thick brush to guide your hair in a straight motion if you prefer.

Straight Ahead Flat iron | How to use Flat iron | Flat iron reviews

How To Perfectly Curl Your Hair With A Flat Iron

You don’t need a curling iron to get perfect curls you’ll love! Next time you are looking for a new, fun hairstyle, pull out your Straight Ahead Beauty flat iron and get these amazing results!

STEP ONE: COMB OUT AND PIN UP HAIR

Take a half inch section from the nape of your neck and smooth with our Rejuvenating Argon Oil Hair Serum. The Rejuvenating Argon Oil Hair Serum will help with the glide of the flat iron over the hair. Go ahead and smooth the oil throughout the body of the hair.

Some Tips To Remember:

  • Wrap hair as if you were using a curling iron (don’t close the flatiron completely).
  • Use less heat for blonde hair and scale up as hair darkens.
  • You can tell if you’re putting enough heat in with the flatiron by feeling the hair. It should feel warm, which lets you know that the heat is reaching all of the hair.
  • DO not do large sections, work with smaller sections.
  • Don’t do the tips of your hair until the end, as they require the least amount of heat to retain the curl.

Here is the motion you will be using as you twirl your wrist to turn the flat iron.

STEP TWO: BASICS OF THE CURL

Take flat iron and start at the base of your head. You will be twirling your wrist around while holding the hair with your other hand when making the turn. Note: you are turning the flat iron, not the hair around the flat iron.

As you can see in these gifs, you aren’t wrapping all of your hair around the flat iron like you would with a curling iron. Instead you wrap just part of the hair and slowly and carefully pull it down the length of the hair.

STEP THREE: FLAT IRON UP

This method is to get “beach body wave curls,” a looser curl that falls down your back. Unlike the other curl, you wrap all the hair around the flat iron and then carefully unwrap it. Also, instead of pointing the tip of the flatiron down, point it up. Keep hair centered in the flatiron to avoid snags. Once you have it all wound around the flat iron, carefully unwind. If the curl comes out too tight, you can run your fingers through it to loosen it up.

 

Ref: Instructables.com

Preventing Winter Hair Damage

Winter has already set in! While it is time to thank the stars for putting an end to all the sun damage that your hair was being put through, it is also time to start planning a haircare routine that is fit for winter. Summer might be gone, taking its troubles with it, but winter means a whole new set of problems that you need to deal with.

While the season is perfect to get comfortable with a cup of hot cocoa, you can’t ignore the fact that the dry and dreary weather can wreak havoc on your hair if the right precautions aren’t taken. Your hair starts to find it harder to retain moisture, making it brittle and prone to breaking and damage, not to mention the frizz and static that often comes with your winter wardrobe. However, these are all problems that can be avoided with ease as long as you have the right hair care routine for winter.

FIGHT THE FLAKES

Your scalp is drier and itchier than ever during the winter months because of the lack of moisture in the air. This leads to issues like dandruff and aggravated scalp irritation, which can lead to hair fall. What most people don’t realize is that the dandruff problem can be super manageable with the right care. All you will need is a couple of tablespoons of olive or coconut oil and a teaspoon of lemon juice. Heat the oil for a couple of seconds until it is warm and then mix it with the lemon juice. Massage the oil into your scalp and leave it in for 20-30 minutes. Rinse it out with shampoo and condition.

CONTROL FRIZZ

One of the most annoying things about winter is all of the static. The hoodies, sweater, scarves, gloves, and beanies all seem to gang up on your hair, making it a static, frizzy mess. To tackle this, use a vented hair brush that has a combination of plastic and boar bristles while combing your hair. Wash your hair only with lukewarm water, not hot water, as the latter will strip away the natural oils that protect and nourish your hair. Apply a leave-in conditioner to keep your hair smooth.

SHINE AND BOUNCE

The lack of moisture in winter not only dries out your scalp and makes your hair frizzy, but also leaves your hair looking dull and lifeless. Brush or comb out your hair with a wide-toothed wooden comb to remove tangles and apply raw honey to the length of your hair from the roots to the tips. Cover up your hair with a shower cap or towel and leave it on for about 30 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water. Honey is a humectant that seals in the moisture and helps restore shine and bounce to dull and damaged hair.

OLIVE OIL FOR MAINTAINING HAIR HEALTH

Warm up two teaspoons of olive oil and massage it slowly on your scalp. This slow massaging helps the oil penetrate deep into the roots. This will help to keep your scalp moisturized and improve blood circulation, ensuring that your follicles get enough nourishment. It will also prevent hair fall. Optionally, you can use a few tablespoons of the oil to coat the entire length of your hair as a deep conditioning treatment.

DRYING YOUR HAIR

Drying your hair out completely can be a pain, especially if you have long hair. But you should never, I repeat, never put your hair up while it is still damp. Damn hair and scalps attract a lot of problems like dandruff, breakage, and split ends. You must also never rub your hair dry with a towel as the friction will cause damage. The best way to dry your hair would be to gently squeeze the excess moisture out with a towel and then use a blow dryer on the cool setting. If you are using hot air to speed things up, ensure that you are holding the dryer at least 15 centimeters away from your hair.

CONDITIONING

Your hair needs all the moisture it can get during winter, and this makes conditioning a vital part of your hair care routine. Using hair oils and deep conditioning packs at least once a week becomes vital for maintaining the health of your hair. It is important that you end every wash with a conditioner. Shampoo your hair and then rinse it thoroughly. Once all the lather has been rinsed out, start applying the conditioner from the mid-lengths to the ends of your hair. Concentrate on the ends as they are the oldest and most damaged parts of your hair. Leave the conditioner in for a few minutes and then rinse it out with cool or lukewarm water. It is advised to end a wash with cool water as this will seal in the moisture and leave your hair feeling smooth and looking lustrous.

Make these tips a part of your hair care routine and your hair won’t even notice that winter is here. A little extra care can go a long way when it comes to ensuring hair health.

 

source: https://www.stylecraze.com

Hot Wedding Hairstyles

With so many gorgeous hairstyle options, it can be hard to choose just one. Here, a guide to the hottest wedding hair trends — and how to decide which is best for you!

A Chignon

Where to Wear It: A chignon will work at almost any venue, from an elegant black-tie affair to laid-back seaside nuptials.

Hair Texture: This is the most versatile look on our list; most hair textures can easily be pulled into a stunning chignon. Brides with thin hair can add volume by teasing sprayed hair with a fine-tooth comb.

Match the Dress: For classic gowns with a bateau or portrait neckline, try a low bun style. With a high neckline, you’ll want to keep your hair away from your face and off of your neck.

Tip: Make sure you love your updo from all angles. A picture-perfect sideswept chignon may look plain and ordinary from the alternate view.

A Half Down, Half Up Hairstyle

Where to Wear It: This style is great for venues where heat and humidity will not be an issue — the last thing a bride wants is to feel sweaty or have limp curls on her big day.

Hair Texture: Despite having part of your hair pinned up, it’s almost impossible to keep everything perfectly in place. If you’re a summer or destination bride whose hair instantly frizzes at the first sign of humidity, you may want to stick with an updo so that you can enjoy every moment of your special day without having to sneak away for damage control!

Match the Dress: Half-up, half-down looks pair well with ethereal gowns — light and airy designs with plenty of lace or tulle.

Tip: Add a sparkling clip or oversized bloom to up the glam factor of this classic style.

A Short Hairstyle

Where to Wear It: A short style can be worn at any venue in any season. For winter weddings, consider adding a vintage birdcage. Spring and summer brides, embrace the season by incorporating fresh or silk blooms into your bridal style.

Hair Texture: You don’t need long hair to look gorgeous on your wedding day. Short locks can be styled to look just as good as long hair. With that being said, the same rules apply: If your hair tends to frizz, stick to enhanced au naturel curls or waves. And if your hair won’t hold a curl, rock a sleek straight style.

Match the dress: Brides with short hair are able to show off the backs of gowns with intricate detail. Forgo a strapless dress and opt for one with a sexy illusion or keyhole back. Also, skip long veils, which can overwhelm brides with short locks. Instead, try a vintage pillbox hat with a birdcage veil.

Tip: Forget the super-long hair extensions (especially if it’s your first time). Don’t get me wrong, we love extensions at BG, but top stylists agree that big changes on your wedding day are a huge no-no. A groom wants his bride to look like the woman he fell in love with — not a Barbie doll.

A Braided Hairstyle

Where to Wear It: There are so many ways to infuse braids into your wedding-day look. Whether you want a romantic waterfall braid with bohemian waves for a beach wedding or a smooth and sleek braided bun for a traditional church ceremony, braids add the perfect touch of elegance.

Hair Texture:Braided styles work best on long hair without any layering. This trend can be used to tame unruly tresses, and it puts up a good defense against inclement weather.

Match the Dress: Braided styles are best for romantic flowing gowns with sweetheart necklines and floral accents.

Tip: There’s a misconception that when you braid wet hair, you’ll have fewer flyaways. However, it’s better to use heat to lock braids in place rather than be unprepared for the dry result. If you’re willing to take a chance on wet locks, at least when you let your hair down, you’ll have killer waves!

A Retro Hairstyle

Where to Wear It: Gatsby glamour is the hottest trend of the moment. Brides are donning pompadours and finger waves everywhere from lavish weddings in catering halls to intimate elopements at City Hall.

Hair Texture: Vintage styles work well with both long and short hair. Volume — not length — is key to achieving a retro-glam look.

Match the Dress: Contrast a vintage ‘do with a modern gown that has asymmetrical lines and tons of detail. Or, go full-on vintage in a tea-length gown with lace embellishment.

Tip: The bolder, the better. Do not be afraid to accessorize your retro style with an over-the-top headpiece. Channel the Roaring Twenties with sparkling clips, feathered headbands and stunning veils.

 

Source: https://www.bridalguide.com/blogs/fashion-beauty/choosing-the-perfect-wedding-hairstyle

What Kind of Straightener Should You Use?

If you are dealing with frizz and curls, your wish would be to have straight, smooth hair. Well, you can achieve that look by investing in a flat iron. The two most popular styling tools used by amateur and professional stylist are ceramic and titanium flat irons. These materials make the flat iron quite effective, but there is a difference between the two materials and the results they offer. It is important you stand these differences before you choose between ceramic flat iron and titanium flat iron.

When checking out ceramic vs titanium flat iron, the decision to buy the flat iron depends on you. If you are looking for salon-like finish, opt for a titanium flat iron. However, if you want to style your hair at home, ceramic flat iron is just what you need. So, check out your requirements and hair type first before you start looking for the right flat iron.

Ceramic Flat Irons

Ceramic is a non-metallic, inorganic material that distributes the heat evenly across the surface. This ensures that there are no cold or overheated spots and the potential of damaging your hair due to heat is also diminished.

Titanium Flat irons

Titanium is a lightweight, low-density lustrous metal that offers high temperature stability. Compared to ceramic, titanium can heat up much faster, within seconds, while distributing the heat evenly throughout the surface. It also has a higher ionic charge that makes hair straight and sleek in lesser time.

Titanium versus Ceramic

Before you rush to invest in either a ceramic or titanium flat iron, it is necessary you understand the pros and cons of each type of styling tool so that you can make an informed purchase decision.

Heating

As stated earlier, titanium heats up quickly and evenly, leaving no scope for cold spots. It also retains heat longer so that you can finish styling your hair faster. However, if you are not adept at using titanium flat iron, it can damage your hair. It can heat up too quickly for non-professional stylists to use it effectively.

Ceramic, just like titanium, is a good conductor of heat, but it may not attain high temperatures like titanium. Hence, you will require more effort to style your hair and this means spending longer time in front of the mirror. The good news is you will not cause heat damage to your hair.

Shine

Titanium is an ionic metal wherein it produces a lot negative ions when it is heated. These ions are transferred onto your hair when you style it with a titanium flat iron. As a result, your hair looks shiny and glossy after you finish styling it.

Ceramic too produces negative ions on being heated, but less than titanium. However, since it takes longer to reach it optimal heating point, the transference of negative ions takes longer. You will get a shine, but not as brilliant as the one offered by titanium flat iron.

Durability

Titanium is an extremely strong and durable metal. It does not corrode like steel so you don’t have to worry about the metal peeling or chipping off, or deteriorating with time.

Ceramic tends to deteriorate over a period of time. Hence, as you continue using your ceramic flat iron, it can begin to chip and peel.

Effectiveness

If you have fine to medium hair, you should opt for a ceramic flat iron as it is less damaging to your hair. It will ensure you enjoy safe styling for fraction of the cost of a salon. This is also the go-to flat iron if you have delicate hair as it will not get burned or damaged due to intense heat.

On the other hand, if you have frizzy and stubbornly curly hair, you require a titanium flat iron. It is also the perfect styling tool for normal, coarse and thick hair. It will style your hair efficiently and not leave behind any frizz or curl. The added advantage is that a titanium flat iron will help maintain your hairstyle for a longer period of time compared to a ceramic flat iron. If you are looking to save time and boost styling efficiency, investing in a titanium flat iron is worthwhile.