Straight Talk Hair Talk

Your beautiful hair is under constant attack. You probably don’t realize all the damage that your daily life is doing to it. If you can cut down on this damage, you’ll find it much easier to maintain a healthy head of hair with less effort. Here are the 6 worst things that life does to your hair and what you can do to save it.

Harsh Chemicals

Most styling products and treatments use chemicals, especially those that color and straighten hair. Bleach is by far the worst culprit. This doesn’t mean that they’re all bad, but just that you should exercise moderation in using them. Chemical damage to hair is the most severe when you do several treatments at once, so pick one at a time and stick with it. Also, don’t change your color too often. Check out this post if you want more information on how to color your hair safely.

Heat and Dry Air

There’s another common way styling products and treatments damage your hair – by frying it. Most products use heat, and this heat dries out your scalp and deprives it of the moisture it desperately needs. This is the worst when you use blow dryers and other products too often and too close to the scalp. For anything that heats, use it sparingly and make sure it’s as far as possible from your scalp. Also, make sure that you know how to use your hair dryer accessories properly and effectively.

Excessive Brushing and Combing

It’s good to brush and comb, but if you do it too much, you could be breaking and tearing your hair and this causes damage. It’s especially bad when your hair is wet. You may also be using the wrong brush. Use a wide-toothed comb and a brush with natural fibers. Be sure to follow our tips on how to keep your hair healthy, cut down on your brushing if at all possible and always make sure you’re extra gentle.

Sun Damage

The sun damages your hair just like it damages your skin. Those same UV rays do a little bit of damage every time your hair is exposed to them. If you’re a sun worshipper, the time you spend basking could be really causing problems. Whenever you go out in the sun, cover up with a hat and protect your locks from its rays.

Chlorine and Salt in Water

The water we swim in contains things that aren’t nice to hair. Chlorine and copper in pool water can leave deposits in your hair that are hard to remove and can leave you with green hair. The salt in ocean water dries out your hair and causes it to fall out. Whenever you go swimming, rinse well both before you dive in and after you towel off. If you spend lots of time swimming, you might want to try swimmers’ shampoo that’s formulated especially for deep protection.

Washing Too Much

It may come as a surprise, but actually washing your hair too much can cause damage. It depends on your hair type and the shampoo that you’re using. If you have dry hair, washing too much may make your scalp even drier and leech away the natural oils it needs to look and feel its best. Try skipping every other day or learn how to go shampoo free.

If you’re in the best overall health possible, this will protect your hair against the daily damage life causes. Your hair is a reflection of the state of your body. Eat well, exercise, reduce stress and make sure that you use a shampoo and conditioner with a good pH balance.

I would like to hear your thoughts about what you think will damage your hair the most. Maybe you have personal experience with a product that really messed up your hair or you have learned a lesson the hard way. Leave your comments below.

Hair straightening products are awesome and they work wonders for your hair. Unfortunately, like most good things in life, they can also cause damage. There are some risks to your hair’s health when using straighteners and you should be aware of them.

Can Straightening Lead to Hair Loss?

First of all, let’s get a common myth out of the way. No, hair straighteners don’t lead to hair loss. The hair that’s outside of your scalp is actually dead already. The living follicles are inside your scalp. This means that there’s nothing you can do to the outside of your hair that’s going to make it fall out or stop growing.

However, this doesn’t mean that straightening can’t damage it. Straighteners can also make it look unhealthy and lifeless. If your hair is badly damaged, it can break at the scalp and this makes it look like your hair is falling out. That’s why some people who use straightening products see it coming out in the shower.

Heat Damage and Your Hair

In order for a straightener to work, it has to be really hot. Most of them run at anywhere from 200 to 450 degrees. If you have fine hair, you would want to make sure that you use a temperature that is less than the max temp.

Even at the lower temperatures, the heat starts to dry out your hair. It loses all of its moisture, and that is what can lead to hair health problems. If you use these styling products every day, you’re exposing your hair and scalp to more hot, dry heat, and this is what can make it look lusterless.

Tips on How to Protect Your Hair

Because it’s the heat that hurts your hair, take some extra measures to make sure that it’s moisturized. Besides using a heat protectant spray or serum, you will want to make sure that you use a good moisturizer and make sure that your shampoo and conditioner also provide plenty of moisture. You’re going to need as much as you can get to fight the drying effects of straightening.

There are also natural home remedies that you can use to keep your scalp healthy. One of these is lemon juice and black tea. You can massage these ingredients onto your scalp and then shampoo and rinse. This is good not only to fight the heating effects but also for overall scalp health.

You can also minimize the damage by buying a straightener that’s made with tourmaline like the Sedu hair straightener. This is a material that helps by spreading out the heat and keeping it from being concentrated in one area. Really cheap straighteners that don’t use this material have a habit of scorching one particular area more than the rest.

It’s totally possible to straighten your hair and keep it healthy. Just make sure that you use your styling products with care and take extra measures to keep your scalp moisturized. Oh yeah, and lay off the straightener a little bit!

More Reading:

Proper Hair Treatment leads to Healthy Hair Growth

Straightening Techniques For The Back Of Your Head

Tips For Straightening Naturally Curly Hair

It’s great to have nice, natural wavy curls that are bouncy and full of body. But what do you do if they’re not staying nicely defined all day long? Curls can be beautiful or they can be a nightmare. If yours are giving you a headache, there are a few simple things you can do that will help you take control.

The main culprit that destroys curls is over-styling. When you use too many tools and styling products, they lose their natural shape and bounce. One thing that will often help in keeping them defined is to simply cut down and simplify your styling routine.

The Dry-Moist Balance

Keeping your curls defined is all about the balance between moisture and dryness. When your hair gets too dry, it starts to frizz. Keep your hair nicely moisturized throughout the day and especially in the mornings. Try keeping a spritzer handy loaded with water and give yourself some when you feel like the curls are getting out of control.

Another way to control moisture is to wear a towel after you shower. This will keep the moisture you need in your hair while soaking up the extra moisture that can make your curls lose their definition. While you’re wearing your towel, gently press out the extra moisture with your palms.

Try your best to air dry your hair. This is the best way to get the natural balance of moisture and dryness back. If you need to use a blow dryer, use one that has a diffuser. Diffusers break up the air stream so that it doesn’t break up your strands of hair and send them flying everywhere.

Styling Products that Can Help

Some women use hair gels to control curls, but this is tricky. If you use too much gel, it’ll weigh your hair down too much and you’ll end up with a lifeless mop instead of curly locks. If you have hair product buildup problems, be sure to read our tips on how get rid of it.

Leave-in conditioner works much better than gel. It doesn’t leave your hair feeling heavy, but helps to accentuate its natural strengths. Comb it through your hair and leave it in. This will also help you control fly away hair, another frizz problem.

Hands Off

The biggest challenge in keeping your curls defined is to leave them alone. It’s hard to resist running your fingers through your hair, but if you do it, your curls will drop. If you’ve got a habit of messing with your curls, try your best to control it.

Whenever you’re handling your hair, be extra gentle with it. Curly hair is actually weaker strand-for-strand than straight hair. It’s more likely to break and strands are more likely to come apart. Keep this in mind whenever you’re doing any styling and take some time to find the right conditioner for your sensitive hair.

Healthy hair can be a woman’s crowning glory, and a man’s pride. But the picture of looking good is only completed when your face has the same healthy glow.

Good skin care is essential to looking your best. Since your skin is actually the largest organ in your body (is it weird to think of it that way?!) it deserves as much care and consideration as you put toward keeping your lungs and heart healthy.

The good news is that good skin care is easy, simple, and just takes minutes a day.

1. Cleansing. Start with good cleansing, and if you’re smart you’ll cleanse your face both morning and night. At one of those times you’ll be in the shower, so make sure you don’t forget your face during your scrub down. Then that only leaves one other time during the day to take a few minutes to clean your face.

2. Exfoliate. Many people equate exfoliation with celebrities and fancy spas. Guess what – your face needs – and deserves – exfoliation just as much. There are actually some good reasons for doing an exfoliation treatment (other than being pampered at the spa). Exfoliation removes dead and flaking skin cells, as well as performs a deep-cleansing, getting dirt and bacteria out of your pores where simple cleansing can’t reach. There are many exfoliation treatments that you can easily do yourself at home – and you’ll want to plan a once/week regime.

3. Moisturize. This is not only a very simple procedure, but it feels oh, so good, too.  Everything from weather (if it’s a sunny day it’s the sun, if it’s a cold day it’s the cold – you can’t win) to our natural aging process (yes, that means everyone over 20!) conspire to deplete your skin of moisture.  Your skin needs to be well hydrated daily for skin cell regeneration, healing, and preventing damaging effects that lead to those wrinkles and fine lines, and even skin cancer.

And remember, to go along with your young looking hair there are also a number of non-invasive (no surgery required) procedures that can take years off your face.  These include Botox (this procedure has definitely gone mainstream in the last several years) which relaxes the frown lines helping you look younger and more rested, and dermal fillers which plump up sagging facial folds and erase wrinkles.

Another type of skin rejuvenation treatment that I recommend for my patients is a product called “Tensage.” This uses a unique technology for firming the skin and smoothing out wrinkles and lines by both repairing and preventing skin damage.

Check with your dermatologist for suggestions on the best products for your daily skin care regime, and for more information on the skin rejuvenating procedures.

Dr. Tess Mauricio, “America’s Favorite Dermatologist,” is an author, renowned international speaker, physician educator and nationally known media personality. This San Diego dermatologist is the Founder of Scripps Ranch Dermatology & Cosmetic center in San Diego and Dr. Tess Dermatology in La Jolla, California.

Every mother loves her daughter’s hair. It can be so fun to style it and fix it up all nice and cute. What you don’t enjoy is the complete rat’s nest it looks like in the morning when she wakes up, and the subsequent screaming and crying that takes place as you try to brush it out!

Some kids have hair that’s naturally thick and kinky. No matter how you style it at night, she wakes up the next morning with clumps of natural dreadlock on the back of her head. It takes half of the already busy morning to comb it all out so that she doesn’t look like a wild child.

Proper Shampooing

You may be surprised at the huge influence shampooing has on your girl’s rat’s nest hair. If she isn’t shampooing it thoroughly, her hair will not be clean and it will naturally clump together.

Does she just lather it up and rinse it off? You should watch her wash her hair a few times to see if she’s doing it right. If she’s not thorough enough, teach her how to do it right. It could be that she’s too young to be doing it herself already. If so, wait another year or two.

The shampoo and conditioner she’s using also make a big difference. Try switching her shampoo to a brand that’s known for being good at moisturizing. If she has more moisture in her hair, it won’t stick together so much.

Disentangling and De-clumping

After the shower, be extra gentle with her hair. Don’t pull at it when you’re drying it, but gently squeeze it dry. If you’re fighting with her hair, this can cause hair breakages and that means more problems. Squeeze the moisture out like you’re wringing a wet towel dry.

You can also try detangler spray. This is a type of spray that you can buy at the beauty supply store. For most types of detangler spray, you use it on her hair before she goes to sleep.

A new comb may also help. Buy a large-toothed comb with natural bristles. When you’re combing it out, comb from the bottom up. Be gentle when combing it and make sure you don’t break hairs. This will only worsen the problem and lead to more hair health problems.

Tie It Up

One other thing you can try is tying it up. Braid her hair every night or tie it in a bun. Braiding and tying take some time but they might save you time brushing it out the next morning. Other ways to stop her hair from having so much friction with the pillow include getting her a nightcap or switching to a silk pillow.

Give these tips a try and see if they help. You’ll save yourself lots of time combing out that rat’s nest each morning and your daughter will thank you for it!

Before I tell you how to grow your hair faster, I’ve got some bad news – it’s not actually possible! The truth is that hair grows at a regular rate, which is about a half an inch per month (give or take depending on the individual). But that’s only when it’s healthy. So, you can’t exactly make it grow faster, but if you make sure your hair is in the best shape possible, it’ll seem like it’s growing faster.

It is possible for hair to grow at a slower rate and there are many different factors that could cause this, some of which will be discussed below…

The Causes of Slow Hair Growth

Healthy hair grows and you don’t need to worry about it. If your hair is growing slowly, there’s a reason for it. Many of these factors can be easily fixed, while others are not easily fixed and even impossible to avoid.

Common factors include:

• Improper diet
• Stress
• Smoking
• Too much caffeine
• Medications you’re taking
• Menopause
• Thyroid disease
• Sometimes genetic factors.

Dealing with the causes of slow hair growth is the best way to grow your hair faster. There are some other things you can do as well.

Scalp Massage

Scalp massages are great for speeding up hair growth. When you get a scalp massage, it improves the circulation and helps your hair grow the way it’s supposed to. Your scalp can then naturally repair the damage that occurs to your follicles. Massage your scalp with hot oil, which also provides much-needed nutrients.

Change Your Diet

Your whole body, including your scalp, needs essential nutrients and vitamins. When you’re not getting them, it can affect your hair and slow it down. Make sure that you’re eating a balanced diet with plenty of leafy green vegetables and whole grains. Zinc is especially important for good hair growth. Protein is good also because it builds your strands of hair. For the best protein without the fat, try eating lean meat, dairy, beans and fish. You might also consider taking supplements that contain vitamins B, C, and E, magnesium and beta ceratone.

Keep It Healthy

Visit your hair stylist on a regular basis to get a trim. It’s true what they say about split ends slowing your hair growth. You should also be careful that you don’t over-style your hair. The heat and dryness that straighteners, blow dryers and other hair care products cause can damage your hair.

Remove Residue

Leftover residue on your scalp can block new follicles and keep it from growing. You can remove this debris with rinses and natural products. Look for products that contain coconut oil and other natural oils and butters that have anti-bacterial properties.

Lifestyle Habits

Finally, make sure you’re getting plenty of rest. Deal with stress effectively and cut down on smoking and caffeine. Regular exercise also helps to kick your scalp into gear by improving the overall health of your body. You can’t make your hair grow faster, but these are some simple things you can do to keep it in good health, and this will make it seem like it’s growing faster!

From the moment our winter coats go into storage, we dream of playing in spring sunshine. Nothing gives you a new perspective on life, or in the mood for warm days better than a fresh new hairstyle. Listed here are ten fresh, lovely new spring styles for your tresses.

1. Ribbons are nice - consider weaving an attractive ribbon through your braids. It will add flair and really make you stand out.
2. Messy is in - Perhaps the easiest way to update your look is a low, messy ponytail. It is the perfect daytime look, and looking less than perfect is actually an advantage of this do.
3. Play with Color - Use a free style highlighting method to add unique splashes of color accentuating the best areas of your haircut. Use bold, bright, vibrant colors such as golden or shimmering burgundy hues.
4. Braid play - Consider transforming your hair into a couple of braids, then pin them up. The braids do not have to be perfect, in fact, if they are a little messy, that is even better as this style is purposely meant to have an undone appearance.
5. Dress up your ponytail - Ponytails are hot this season. Refresh your tail by styling in some pretty ringlet curls and adding a silky bow.
6. More fun with braids - A nice fishtail braid is great for any activity. Consider a loose fishtail braid worn to one side for a charming look.
7. Crimp those tresses - Loosely crimped locks were all the range at recent runway shows. Just braid your wet tresses before going to bed to produce perfect waves.
8. Large accessories - This spring, large hair accessories are in. So if you are not big on styling your hair, try a large flower clip or hippie hair band instead.
9. New twist on a vintage style - the beehive hairstyle is back with a new twist. The modern hive has cleaner lines and less height. It’s a pretty sexy update on an old classic.
10. Consider a side part - Part your hair on the side and then style into a low ballerina bun or ponytail. This style is simple, elegant and looks great with large earrings.

This season, the hottest hairstyles are defined by natural beauty and simplicity. Easy elegance is popular on the runways. Sporting styles are also in, with styles that appear outdoor fresh, yet classic. Glamorous styles such as pretty blowouts and polished ponytails are still popular. The key this season is to avoid looking too done. Undone braids, buns and knots are currently chic and trendy.

Also, short cuts are super popular now as well, so if you have been thinking about trying a sassy, short style, this is the perfect time. Tousled waves and textured bobs are easy to care for, making them a great choice for the season. Apply any of the styles or tips above to ensure pretty and trendy springtime locks this season.

All of these styles are simple and easy to manage. So, what are you waiting for? Take on spring with a sassy new do!

Cindi Lewis writes for Glossy an organic skin care and beauty products online retailer.

Deciding whether to color your hair and what color to use can be a big decision if you have never done it before. You might be feeling nervous about it, especially after seeing and hearing horror stories about hair coloring gone wrong. Read the following advice before deciding:

• Professional vs. Do-It-Yourself: You may be struggling to decide if you should just color your hair yourself using store-bought dye, or if you should see a coloring expert. For the first try, it’s recommended that you see a professional stylist. They will be able to consult with you on the right color based on your skin tone and the natural color of your hair. A professional can conduct a strand test to determine what products are right for you, making sure you are not allergic and that your hair will get the desired look without damaging it.
• Types of Treatments: There are three different types of color treatments: semi-permanent, demi-permanent, and permanent. Semi-permanent hair color only lasts about six to twelve shampoos, and is recommended if you aren’t sure you’ll like your new color. Demi-permanent hair color lasts approximately 12 to 26 washes and lightens the hair slightly. Permanent color can lighten your hair up to four levels and will last until it grows out.
• Lightening A Dark Color: If you’re a brunette wishing to go blonde, your hair stylist will use some sort of bleach or peroxide to remove the pigment first in order to create the color you are going for. If you aren’t quite that daring, try getting blonde highlights the first time around to see if you like your hair lighter before committing to coloring the entire thing.
• Damage: If you are coloring your hair with permanent dye, you’ll first need to lift the hair using hydrogen peroxide, as this process raises or opens up the cuticle layer of the hair. If this isn’t done properly, it could damage the hair. Constantly changing your hair color (called over-processing) can also cause damage. It’s best to consult with a professional to be sure you are using quality products that are right for your hair type.
• After-Care: After coloring your hair, you’ll want to wait at least 24 hours before shampooing your hair. If you can wait 48 hours, even better. If your hair is now an intense color, like a vibrant red, limit washing it to three times a week so the color doesn’t fade out.

Coloring your hair allows you to achieve different looks, from bold to natural, depending on your personality. So many different colors and brands are out there, it can be difficult to choose which color is right for you. For expert advice, consult with a hair professional.

With more than 100 schools in 22 states, Empire Beauty School is the leading group of cosmetology schools in the United States. For more than 75 years, Empire Beauty School has maintained a strong tradition of training future beauty professionals for rewarding careers in the beauty industry. 

Written by guest contributor Johnny Ball.

For nearly all women, hair is one of the most valuable possessions that must be fostered with care, or otherwise, she can never look good and presentable. Some believe that one can look beautiful only by adding colors to one’s hair. However, reality says that proper circulation of oily scalp secretions can make your hair look glossy and lustrous.

There are people who make the blunder of opting for expensive hair treatments even after coming across a minor hair complication. Some rush to professional hair styling experts while others run to the clinics. Now, you can always take advice from hair experts. But, if the solution can come fairly effortlessly, why should you jump through hoops and spend loads of cash? So, take a quick look at some of these natural products that can make your hair healthy and strong:

For oily scalp:

-         Use Green soap and a branded egg shampoo. Remember, eggs can work wonders for your hair scalp thereby making your hair regain shine and glossiness.

-         A little bit of borax and a few ounces of Castile soap blended in some hot water can bring positive results for your hair.

-         For blonde and grey hair, use Castor soap jelly. In fact, if you can add with it quarter teaspoon borax and use the mixture to brush it with the help of a comb, your scalp will get a good deal of nourishment.

For dry scalp:

-         Use dry shampoo and clean your hair scalps thoroughly on a daily basis.

-         Massage your scalp with a good hair tonic. There are many scalp lotions that are designed to stir hair circulation and also cure hair disorders.

-         Rubbing a refined beef marrow gently into the hair roots is bound to bring exceptional aftereffects for those having dry hair.

Remedies for Hair Growth

• Tea Tree oil
• Apple cider vinegar
• Saw palmetto
• Olive oil
• Avocado
• Jojoba
• Baking soda
• Vinegar

The above mentioned natural hair treatment products are considered best for making hair grow in quality as well as quantity. Moreover, certain herbs are no doubt best in stimulating hair growth. Hair experts say that there are no better and safer alternatives than applying natural herbs for hair growth.

Does Hair require Vitamins?

If you are worried regarding hair growth, you should know that vitamins are essential for providing sufficient nutrition to your hair. Vitamin E for instance results in blood circulation thereby leading to hair stimulation. B vitamins are regarded best for bettering hair health. Moreover, lots of vitamins and proteins should be consumed through food and supplements to help you re-grow and retain hair.

3 Fear Factors for Hair

• Dandruff – If you are subjected to digestive disorders or having toxic elements in your blood, your hair might acquire dandruff. This can be cured with proper brushing and massaging of the scalp.
• Lice – Hair can catch lice if kept untidy and unwashed for days. Lice can augment your itching to a good extent and hence affect your hair roots. Thus, you should consult your doctor for a better hair treatment as soon as you discover lice in hair.
• Ringworm – Avoid using sulfur ointments or washing your hair with bichloride soap. These can lead to ringworm and hence make your hair fall.

So, it can be concluded that negligence and carelessness are the two biggest factors that can ruin your hair scalp and diminish your natural beauty. Using good hair treatment products can only keep your hair protected from falling prey to deadly hair complications.

Author Bio : Johnny Ball is a Hair Treatment Expert. For Hair Loss Treatment, he suggests you to visit hairtreatmentexperts.com