Shine On!

Summer is coming. Does your hair reflect the light or absorb it?

Here are a few simple tricks to get the shine back in your hair.

• Don’t shampoo too often unless your hair gets super oily super fast. I shampoo my hair every 3-4 days because my hair is so overly dry it starts to smell bad long before it gets greasy. Oil on the hair shaft actually helps to create a smoother hair cuticle, which in turn reflects light. And yes, that means shinier hair!
• Don’t go overboard with your products. Too much is worse than not enough, so dose your shampoo and conditioner carefully. Usually a coin-sized amount of shampoo and conditioner each is plenty, especially if you wash your hair daily or every two days.
• Rinse, rinse, rinse. Residue from shampoo, conditioner and masks will dull your hair if not properly washed away. I knew some girls growing up that liked to leave "a little bit" of conditioner in their hair because it made their hair "softer." This is so not true! Rinse conditioner completely! If you feel like your hair is dry, you need a different conditioner, or you need to use a leave-in conditioner after.
• For the final rinse, use the coldest water bearable. If you just can’t bring yourself to pour cold water over your head, rinse with lukewarm water. The colder the water, the more “closed” the hair cuticle, which means smoother and therefore shinier hair.
• Use styling products moderately—too much gel or mousse can really cut down on the shine factor, and too much serum will just make your hair overly greasy and therefore force you to shampoo your hair again right away.
• Keep your hair hydrated. Moisturized hair contributes to shine, while brittle and broken strands mean the hair shaft isn’t reflecting light. Give you hair a nutritious mask or conditioning treatment to keep it smooth. Finding your right product is a process of elimination, and anytime your hair goes through a change, so should your haircare regimen.

And don't forget: Trimming those split ends regularly keeps hair healthy, and therefore shinier.

Maternity Leave

For your peace of mind, I have decided to take a leave of absence while we prepare for the birth of our 3rd and final child. I will be beginning this leave of absence June 6th, and have hope to return on or just before July 17th. My due date is June 13th, but my babies have always been late. This will only be for 5 weeks, so as not to conflict with any of your schedules. I never want to let anyone down! Also note that when I do return, it may only be for 2-3 days a week for a little while. I'm planning on starting off with adding Saturdays & Sundays, then eventually add Mondays, then Tuesdays, and so on. All returning to my original schedule. (Saturday 12-6, Sunday 1-6, Monday 1-7, Tuesday 5-9 & Wednesday 10-4)
 I am doing my very best to accommodate to my very wonderful and loyal clients, while still putting my family first. Please remember I do appreciate your business so much! You are all so much more than just clients, I do consider you close friends, and I will miss you! If you have any questions or concerns, never hesitate to ask!

Take care of that hair!

How many of us have hours to spend getting our hair just right every morning? Yes, even though I do this for a living, I find it very exhausting dealing with my own hair, but there are a few basics—from lifestyle choices to using the right products—that will give your hair the cared-for look it deserves!

• The first golden rule is to eat right. A diet high in saturated fats and processed foods is not doing your hair any favors! Drinking lots of water is also a key factor in silky, shiny hair, and glowing skin as well.

• Visit your salon every 6-8 weeks for a trim. This will not only keep your hair in prime condition, but it will give me a chance to not only have a personal relationship with YOU, but a personal relationship with your hair. Yes, I said it. I have a personal relationship with your hair. The more time I spend with your hair, the more I get used to it and what it needs, what it can do, and most importantly, what it CAN'T do.

• Don’t weigh down your hair with too many products; remember, less is more! If you know me at all, you know I love products that can do multiple things all at the same time. If you have oily locks go ahead and shampoo daily, but for normal or dry hair restrict yourself to every few days at the most. I'm also loving the dry shampoos!

• Brush your hair with a natural-bristle brush every day, and if you can, massage your scalp. This stimulates hair growth. Never pull and tug too hard though! And never, ever EVER rub your hair with your towel! Big time no-no!

• Protect your hair from the sun. This means either a hat or products that shield your locks from UV rays, especially if your hair is color-treated. Also always get your hair wet and apply a leave-in conditioner before getting in a chlorine pool. This will keep your hair from soaking up those harmful minerals that are very bad for your hair.

• Keep blow-drying to a minimum. Let your hair air-dry until it is at least 85-90% dry, and then use the blowdrier, but make sure you're using something to protect your hair from the heat!

• Don’t pull your hair back tightly with elastic bands or clips on a regular basis. This will lead to hair breakage and in some cases to excessive hair loss, especially if your hair is wet. Have you ever noticed that your hair seems longer when it's wet? It is! Your hair is stretched when it's wet, and as it dries (even more so the curlier your hair is) it "shrinks." Well, if you have it tied back wet, and then as it dries... just imagine what you're doing to your hair! It's going to break right off.

Lastly, one of my biggest pet peeves is when someone says, "Oh it's just hair, it'll grow back." Please, be careful with your hair, and your scalp too for that matter. You don't know how good you've got it until it's not there anymore. Plus, it might not always grow back...