Pretty Pretty Pretty

In the news: heat damage August 21, 2008

This from Stuff about hair straighteners.

Some dermatologist says:

Patients with major hair damage from tongs are told to keep their hair short for one to two years, stop use of tongs, hair dryers and heat products altogether and avoid sun exposure. But to avoid damage in the first place, only use the equipment on dry hair, never more then (sic) twice a week and at temperatures under 170 degrees celsius.

Which may be good advice, but don’t give up your GHDs just yet. If you get crud hair from your straighteners, then obviously give them up. But if you can maintain good hair with regular use, then why stop?

Review: Aesop hair moisture masque August 13, 2008

On my recent excursion to the land of Auck, I picked up these six, yes count them - six!, free samples of Aesop rose hair & scalp moisturising masque from the World Beauty Store on Vulcan Lane. (By the way the lady at World was way knowledgeable about fragrances and awesome.)

I don’t know much about this brand, but if they stock it in World I’m guessing it’s expensive, and perhaps even good.

You’re supposed to apply one sachet (I needed two because I have long hair) after washing and leave for a while, and do this once a week. That’s the pain with hair masques though - so time consuming.

I’ve used it twice now, and I don’t really notice much difference, except that maybe (but I’m not sure) my hair is a bit softer. There is certainly no instant and dramatic change though.

Still, it smells nice and is great for a free treat! It won’t hurt to ask World for some for yourself…

Get rid of oily hair in an instant July 22, 2008

This from lifehacker.com

I have also tried translucent face powder since i didn’t have baby powder, which works OK. I tried talcum powder too, but it left my hair looking white!

Bad H-dresser vent June 26, 2008

You feel like you take your life into your own hands when going to a new hairdresser right? I’ve been fearful for my eyes with an exctied hairdresser cutting my bangs with big-ass scissors; I’ve had clumps of hair fall out after being brunt by a hair-straightening gone wrong; and my ears blasted with hot hairdriers way too close. So walking into a salon for a free haircut with an apprentice is pretty brave. Which is what I did this morning.

I made the appointment over a week ago, and I’ve been at odds with the thought of ‘free’ versus the thought of a newby stabbing at my locks. So I’m a bit keyed up when I walked into Henri on Featherston St this morning. They sit me down, and then Henri has a chat to the apprentice, who then says she’s too busy to cut my hair now, and asks me to come back next week. That’s way rude I reckon, even if it was a free cut. I went to all the bother of showing up (when i should be at work), taking a big risk myself, and they hoof me out! So I’m not going back. You just lost a potential paying customer Henri!

How to: Pretty Pouf June 20, 2008

Here’s a vid I made on how to make pouf with a pony tail. It’s easy peasy - you just need a tail comb, hair spray and bobby pins. Oh and medium to long hair.

However, I mucked up the pony tail in the video - it could’ve been higher and the pouf flatter. But I’m sure you get gist and do a much better job than I did. (and I also say ‘pouf’ really funny, hehehe).

Pretty puppy hair!! June 5, 2008

Check out these amazing pics on Kanye West’s blog. I’m gonna try this as soon as I buy enough hairspray!

By Artist Nagi Noda

How to: tone down frizz June 4, 2008

I have naturally curly hair, and it goes through different phases of frizz depending on where I am in the wash cycle, and whether I’ve straightened (or even curled) it.

I haven’t found a way to permanently stop frizz, but there’s heaps of advice out there for frizzy-haired types. Here’s my quick frizz fixes.

(1) The Chemically Way: My hair responds best to ’serums’. I first used SP Ends Express (at least I’m pretty sure that was the one) a few years ago, and I remember it being the first product I’d ever used that actually instantly smoothed frizz. Then I bought KMS flat out shine serum (I think they’ve changed their packaging but the link is what mine looks like) which works almost as well as the SP product. Both are serumy products and you apply a few drops through your hair for instant de-frizz.

(2) The Hot Way: Whether you’ve got straight & frizzy hair or curly & frizzy hair, heat’s always a good way to smooth out frizz. I run my GHDs randomly through my hair - not to straighten it - just to de-frizz. Just grab big chunks of hair and run straighteners through, then work a bit more carefully on fringes and sides bits, like for about five mins. It works a treat. Hot hair curlers can also remove frizz from curly hair by smoothing and redefining curls.

I would like to add that occasionally I like my frizz - big, poufy hair (see picture) makes me feel footloose and fancy free!

Pictured below is my hair, starting from left with frizzy, naked hair. Then in photo 2 I added the KMS serum, and in photo 3 I did a bit of random straightening with the GHDs for a couple of minutes.

How to: easy peasy waves May 28, 2008

This trick is great for straight or curly hair, at medium length to long. And one of the simplest things you can do for a subtle style change.

If you have straight hair, it adds a lovely wave to your hair. If you have curly hair, it tames the frizz. At different times I have either curly or straight hair ( thansk to my GHDs), and the photo below is of me starting out with straight hair, and then adding wave. And I like it just as much when I tone down my curls using the same technique.

So how’d I do it? It’s diabolically easy! Just plait you hair before you go to bed and sleep on it. For this amount of wave I plaited two pigtails, secured with hair ties, and slept. Sometimes I go for just the one ponytail plaited. And obviously, if you want more wave, just do a few more plaits - easy as!

In the morning pull out the hair ties, tussle your hair and set with hair spray (optional). And as I said, it’s a nice technique if you curly hair too.

NOTE: This works best soon after washing your hair. I’ve noticed as my hair gets oiler days after washing, the waves don’t hold so well. Oh, and start the plait close up to you scalp so you get the wave starting high up.

DIY bangs that pop! May 11, 2008

Until a few years back, I had spent my whole life with short or medium length hair. I was always too impatient to grow it out, and it was never in good enough condition to go long periods without a good cut. But some how I pushed on through and am loving having long locks now. Sure, it costs more on shampoo but saves on not having to go to the hairdresser so much.

I also have bangs (a fringe) which is better than botox for hiding lines on my forehead. But it leaves me with a problem because it needs to be cut more regularly than my regular hair.

I used to sneakily cut my own fringe between hairdresser visits every so often and no one seemed to notice. But I was always a bit uneasy about how it looked when i did it myself, and since salons usually offer free fringe cuts to regular customers anyway i’ve stuck with the professions lately…Until i got the free-fringe-cut-from-hell! The hairdresser just grabbed and cut my bangs straight across in a few seconds flat. My friend at work sincerely asked if i had cut it myself (something no one ever asked when i did cut it myself!). So i’m all for at-home trims nowadays. it’s nothing to be ashamed of!

If you’re competent with the scissors then you may as well give it a go. Check out this vid, it’s a goodin.

Dud Trades: Hair Moisturiser May 10, 2008

Following on from our last dud trade (which is still up for grabs), I have this fairly full bottle of Hair Moisturiser from Jam Hairdressing in Wellington. It’s a good product, just my hair is too oily now-a-days for it.

Jam Moisturizer (Joes) - for dry hair, seriously shagged or critically dry hair. Jams Moisturizer is especially designed for maintaining the moisture within the hair shaft. Jam Moisturizer prevents the hair from being dull and unmanageable and helps to prevent fading and split ends in coloured hair. (Retail $22)

If you want it, it’s yours!!