The Diffuser

Most of the time when you purchase a new hair dryer, you will also get a few attachments in the box. Typically a diffuser and or a concentrator will be included. I like to use both of these accessories on my hair, so I thought I would share a few tips on how to use them.

The diffuser is typically used to preserve curls and prevent frizz. The attachment diffuses the air so that it reduces the amount of direct heat coming out of the dryer. The diffuser should only be used on the low to medium dryer setting to prevent the diffuser from melting due to high heat.

The Process

Typically, I will let my hair air dry for a bit or towel dry if I am short on time. I then like to attach the diffuser and turn the dryer on medium-low. I then start at the roots and work the dryer down towards the end of my hair. I like to use a sort of circular motion as I work my way down keeping the dryer at 90 degrees from my scalp.

After a few passes, I will then bend over and let my hair hang towards the floor. I then use the same motion starting from the roots and moving down towards the floor with similar circular motions. This will help to dramatically increase the volume of my curls and it works really well.

Finally, I will stand back up and scrunch up my hair with the diffuser pointing towards the ceiling. This also helps to set the curls and create even more volume.

The Concentrator

If I want to go for a straight hair or wavy look, I like to use my concentrator. This greatly reduces the amount of frizz that is created without any hair dryer attachments.

I like to use my big round brush from underneath (so the hair is on the top of the brush). I start from the top and place the concentrator right at the top of the brush as I move my way down to the tips of my hair. I continue this process until my hair is totally dry.

As I move to the tips of my hair I will either flip them outwards or just go straight down. Most of the time I don’t even need to use a hair straightener, but I sometimes will go over the outer layers with a straightener to get a very straight look or to create some wavy-ness. I like to use my Solia flat iron for this purpose. Thats it! I am ready to go.

Please leave a comment if you have any other tips or tricks when it comes to using hair dryer accessories. Thanks.

The Problem

The international counterfeit trade is a booming industry and has been described as the worlds fastest growing business. From common electronics to your favorite clothes to even pharmaceuticals.

The problem is that most people are unaware of this epidemic and how these fake products have completely infiltrated the US market.

The other issue is that most of these counterfeit companies are very good at what they do and increasingly convincing. This means that you can look at two products side by side and not be able to tell the difference. Unfortunately looks are deceiving and these fake products will typically not last as long as the originals (best case scenario).

Worst case is that some of these products are created using harmful chemicals and other unsafe materials. A good example is the pharmaceutical industry that is completely infiltrated with counterfeit prescriptions made with incredibly harmful and even deadly ingredients.

Hair Care Products Are Not Immune

Unfortunately the hair care industry is also a major target for counterfeiters. Chi flat irons are pretty well known for being faked, but you can bet that many of the top brands are also currently being counterfeited.

I have done a lot of research on this topic and have discovered certain things to look for, but the reality is that these companies continue to improve their fake products, so there really is only one thing that you can do to avoid buying fake products. You really need to make sure that you buy from a trusted seller that guarantees the authenticity of their products.

A few places that you should most certainly avoid are auction sites like ebay. You should also stay away from sites like craigslist and even Amazon because many of the products that are sold on Amazon are not even their own products. Independent sellers are able to list their products on Amazon which means that counterfeiters can easily sell their products with no questions asked. I would also stay away from discount stores like Ross, Marshalls etc.

Don’t ever go for the lowest price that you can find. If you do, then you are most certainly buying a fake or defective product.

Bottom Line: If it looks and sounds too good to be true, then IT IS!!!

So, I don’t typically have a major issue with oily hair, but I do have problems sometimes in the summer months. I know that a lot of people have this problem, so I have done a lot of research and have been able to dig up some good information that I hope will help you control your oily hair.

Just like most things, oily hair is typically hereditary (thanks a lot Mom & Dad!). This basically means that you get what you get and you just have to deal with it. Luckily, there are some ways to manage this problem, which I will discuss further.

Where Does It Come From?

Oil or “sebum” is secreted from the scalp to help keep hair soft, supple and healthy. This substance is naturally ocurring in the body and can sometimes be excessively produced. This is what causes the oily or greasy hair feeling.

Typcically, someone with fine or thin hair will be more succeptible to oily hair because more glands means potentially more oil present.

Besides genetics, other causes of oily hair include infrequent washing or cleansing with improper hair care products. For example: If you do not have an oily scalp, but your hair looks and feels oily, then you are using the wrong hair care products. Your products are creating too much moisture in your hair leaving it oily and greasy.

What To Do?

You will want to find a good shampoo that contains the words “oil reducing” or “clarifying”. You will then want to make sure that you only focus the product on the areas that are oily. If you have an oily scalp, but normal hair, then you will want to only massage the oily haircare shampoo into the scalp and not throughout the entire hair. If your ends are oily, then only apply to the ends of your hair, etc… If you don’t do this, the areas that are not oily will become dried out and damaged, causing even more problems.

How To Control It

• Keep your hands off. Your fingers are very oily and the more you touch your hair, the more oil you are transferring to your hair and scalp.
• Rinse out conditioners applied near the scalp. Only apply to the middle or ends and keep away from the top of your head.
• A heavy amount of cosmetics or hair care products can also cause a buildup of oil on the scalp.
• Stay out of smoke-filled rooms. This is a major cause of oily or greasy hair.
• Avoid using temporary solutions like talcum powder or baby powder because these products have been proven to be dangerous when inhaled.
• Shampoo daily if necessary to avoid oily buildup. Focus only on the areas that need cleansing. Rinse with lukewarm water.
• Cut back on the oily foods. It’s bad for your skin and also bad for your oily hair.

If you have dry hair then you know that it can feel dry, brittle, crunchy to the touch and frizzy. So, what is it that causes dry hair? Well, the good news is that some causes are preventable, but unfortunately some are not. Genetics play a big role in the type of hair that you have. If your Mom has dry and frizzy hair, then your dry and frizzy hair is probably genetic. Even if you do have unfortunate genetics, there are some things that you can do to help manage this problem.

Inactive Oil Glands: One of the main causes of dry hair is inactive oil glands. If you also have dry skin, then this is probably a big problem for you. You need to make sure that you don’t wash your hair every day. Try every 2 to 3 days instead. This will allow the natural oils to replenish your hair follicles. Also, when you do wash your hair, be sure to use a good quality moisturizing shampoo that will help replenish the essential oils in your scalp. Condition after every shampoo, and don’t overrinse. A little leftover conditioner helps dry hair shine and be more manageable.

Beat The Heat: If you have very dry hair then your worst enemy is HEAT! I am not talking about the weather here. If you have dry hair and you also use a hair dryer or straightener every day, then you are just destroying your hair. A flat iron is probably the worst thing that you could use on your hair every day. Try to use it as little as possible. It’s also a great idea to let your hair air dry after you wash it so you don’t have to use the dryer or straightener as long.

Color & Chemicals: This one is not rocket science. If you are really serious about replenishing your dry hair, then you really should consider not using any more color treatments or chemical relaxers. Also, chlorine from the swimming pool is a major culprit in the summer time. Always be sure to rinse your hair after swimming with fresh water. Never let chlorine stay in your hair for a long period of time. You might also consider using a swim cap if you do use the pool often.

So What Else Can Be Done?

Here are a few ideas if you are serious about treating your dry hair problem:

1) Get a hair cut! Most dry hair will have at least some split-end damage. The best way to get rid of them is to just cut them off. A hair cut will also allow the new hair to replace the old and damaged hair.

2) Use a wide toothed comb. Cheap, thin-toothed combs can cause some serious damage especially when hair is wet. Major breakage can happen. A good soft-bristled brush will help distribute the natural oils throughout the entire length of your hair.

3) Coconut or Olive Oil. You can always visit your salon for a professional dry hair treatment, which might be a good idea if you are serious about a long-term solution. You can spread coconut oil on the ends of your hair and leave it in to help replenish the oils, or you can also massage warm olive oil through your hair, wrap it in plastic and leave in for about 30 minutes. You can then rinse it out with a good quality moisturizing shampoo.

With a little bit of TLC and a few of these strategies, you can manage your dry hair issues. Try some of these strategies and let me know how they work for you. Good Luck.

So, those with curly hair, wish they had straight hair and those with straight hair wish their hair was curly. The grass is always greener on the other side I guess. I have naturally curly hair and sometimes I just hate it. Sometimes I have no clue what to do with it and sometimes I just embrace it.

Most of the time I like to wear it straight or somewhat wavy, but of course it takes time and energy for me to get it that way. I am going to share a few tips with you that I use for dealing with my curly hair…

After I take a shower, I like to let my hair air dry for about an hour before I begin styling it. This really helps to cut down drying time, which is not healthy for your hair. If you really want to keep your hair looking healthy, shiny and vibrant, you really want to cut down on the amount of heat that you use to style it (this includes the hair dryer, flat iron or curling iron). The less heat you use, the better for your hair.

So, once I let my hair air dry for about an hour, I then use my Solia hair dryer which I just love. I use my big round brush and brush it out as I dry it. This helps to straighten my hair and cuts down on the frizz that can sometimes happen with a powerful hair dryer. Once I get it fairly dry, I then switch to one of my flat irons. (You can see my choice for the Best Flat Irons here).

I am always careful to not use the flat iron too much because out of all the haircare tools, the flat iron can cause the most damage if used too frequently. So I use the flat iron to finish straightening the outer layers that are most visible. At this point, I either go for the straight look or I use the flat iron like a curling iron to go for a more wavy look.

That’s really all that I do! Some people like to use heat protectants or relaxers, but I am not a big fan of those products and I find that this process works great for my hair. Remember: The less heat that you use, the better!

So, a couple of weeks ago, I got my new Solia 1875w Thermal Ionic hair dryer. Sounds pretty fancy for a hair dryer, but i wanted to give you my thoughts in case you are looking for a new hair dryer to buy.

First Impressions…

I bought this hair dryer from Folica and I think it arrived in about 3 days (pretty fast). When I got it out of the box I really liked the color and overall look of it. I also noticed that the size and weight of the dryer were a little bigger than other cheaper dryers that I have had in the past.

I immediately noticed the quality of the dryer. The plastic feels very strong unlike the plastic in cheap dryers. It seems very solid and well made, like it will survive some damage and last a long time.

Fire it up!

Once I finally plugged it in and turned it on, I was blown away… literally! I could not believe how powerful this thing was compared to my cheaper dryers that I have used in the past. I was so shocked because it was so quiet, yet it had so much power. I was so excited to try it out that I took a quick shower so that I could see what this baby could do.

Normally, drying my hair after a shower would take about an hour from start to finish. That includes the amount of time that I would need for my flat iron. My hair is naturally curly and I like to wear it straight.

So, I started using the Solia hair dryer along with my brush and I quickly noticed the difference. This dryer not only dried my hair in about a quarter of the time, but to my surprise, it also straightened my hair without having to use a flat iron! I can’t tell you how important this is to me. Saves me sooo much time.

Final verdict…

Overall, this dryer is one of the best haircare products that I have ever purchased. Not only because it works so well, but because it is also very inexpensive. I think I got mine for around $89. Probably the best $89 I have ever spent. The verdict is in… A+!