Pureology Hydrawhip

Pureology is a personal favorite of mine. Their 100% vegan, 100% organic, 100% amazing products promise longer lasting hair color and I concur! Pureology Hydrawhip is a moisture souffle with avocado, jojoba, and mango butters, that takes your hair from fine and flat to soft and supple in minutes!! This fabulous find has become a weekly treat in my hair care routine!

Sebastian Professional Volupt

BrainyBeautys recently received the new Sebastian Professional Volupt gift set which contains Sebastian Professional Volupt Spray, and Volume-boosting Shampoo and Conditioner. This fine-haired female was more than happy to try this three-part regimen, claiming to to deliver up to 75% more volume!!

My lame locks definitely took to this Shampoo and Conditioner combo, giving me a great, bulky blow-out. The Volupt Spray is a total bonus, with an awesome root-lift. My only gripe was that the spray did dirty my hair a bit, so I would recommend a dry shampoo in between washes if you're a 2-3 day washer, like me.

An additional make-up bag gift and that one-of-a-kind Sebastian Professional product scent, makes this gift set a must buy for your thinner-haired lady friends, or to treat yourself!! It's the next best thing to a Sebastian Professional salon treatment!!

BLOW contest!

Blow is giving away four sets of products to four friends who resemble our favorite foursome!

Go to the blow facebook page & enter a picture now!

Brunettes are Easier... And other professional insight

Sam Villa, Education Artistic Director for Redken 5th Avenue, suggests the following tip for controlling wayward strands:

Spray a makeup powder brush with Redken vinyl glam 02 mega shine spray and gently brush the top layer of hair from roots to ends to smooth hair, add gloss and tame frizz. Make sure to concentrate on the hairline which can tend to have shorter, finer pieces of hair.

Krista Beahm, stylist at patrick mcivor color studio, explains how to get Soft Waves with a Center Part:

· Clip up top half of hair

· Divide bottom half of hair into three sections and spray with Matrix Vavoom Gold Heat Iron-in Control Protective Dry Mist

· Wrap hair around a 1½ inch curling iron, count five seconds and let the hair drop out of iron (repeat on all three sections)

· Take down the top section and divide into three parts. Only wrap hair about half way down the strand - this will give the look of loose relaxed hair.

· For the center part, make a messy middle line (not a perfect straight line), to compliment the casualness of the waves

Colorists from patrick mcivor color studio explain why Brunettes Are Easier:

“Brunette hair is definitely easier to manage. A brunette can get highlights a couple times a year, and with the proper maintenance, they can look shiny and vibrant for a long time because the new growth area blends more gracefully. Blondes are a whole other story. A blonde with a natural color that is a couple levels darker than highlights (most blondes), will show contrast much sooner and will need to be on a more consistent touchup schedule. Blondes also tend to oxidize in the sun very easily increasing the need for toning and glazing on a regular basis,” explains Lisa Grealish.

“Brunette hair typically requires less maintenance…since the number of natural blondes is dwindling. We colorists are working toward a new concept - providing guests with haircolor that doesn't enslave them. Softer, more natural base colors with off base "endlights" instead of massive highlights allows more time between services and less overall time at the salon – something everyone from moms to celebs appreciate,” says Amanda Lenz.

Emily West explains, “It depends on the natural color of the hair. Obviously, on naturally dark hair, darker colors/highlights will be easier to take care of. Highlights that contrast with natural color and are not tone on tone, will definitely require more upkeep because new growth will appear faster. I believe people look best with the color they are born with, accented with tone on tone color.”

Thanks to Suzanne Quinn of Glow Communications for the great post title line.

Quick tips for your hair!

May, 2010 (Bethlehem, PA) – “…late, late, for a very important date!” Whipping hair into shape when on the go is a skill few have mastered, for those still struggling, Amanda Lenz, stylist at patrick mcivor color studio, offers these quick and practical tips.

Curly Hair

Gently towel dry hair to keep cuticle smooth and minimize frizz. Apply a small amount of Design Pulse Loosely Defined Texture Créme and softly finger-comb curls. Randomly freely twist curls. Let dry naturally or use a diffuser to reduce moisture.

Straight Hair

For maximum volume and texture, set hair in hot rollers (the longer the hair, the bigger the roller should be) and spray with Vavoom ShapeMAKER Extra-Hold Shaping Spray. Do makeup, get dressed, eat breakfast and let hair cool. Take rollers out and apply a quarter-size amount of Biolage Volumizing Whipped Mousse throughout to tousle strands and provide all-day lift and hold.

Note: A typical set of hot rollers has 12-16 rollers and can be purchased in a mixed set of different sizes. The section of hair should closely match the diameter of the roller, 12 should be sufficient. It shouldn't take more than 10 to 15 minutes to roll hair, the whole goal of the style is to have a flirty relaxed vibe, so no pressure for perfection.

Creating Texture

At night, wash hair and loosely section into two to four braids before hitting the hay. In the morning, unbraid and blow-dry any damp spots on a low setting (with or without a diffuser). Finish with Matrix Essentials Amplify Full Body Texturizer for a beachy wave.

Redken Styling Products

Ringlet 07 Curl Perfecting Lotion, Aerate 08 Bodifying Cream-Mousse, & Align 12 Protective Straightening Lotion











Redken makes so many amazing hair styling products. Whether you have curly, straight, thick, or thin hair, they have something for you. I have recently tried these 3 products and can't say enough about them. The Ringlet 07 is perfect for when I just want to wash and go. I can put it in my hair and let it air dry. This creamy lotion produces perfect curls, with or without a diffuser. If I take the time to straighten my hair, I will use either the Aerate 08 or Align 12. The Aerate mousse is nice and thick. You do not need much at all! I made the mistake of using a little too much the first time and my hair felt like it was coated with product. I soon learned that it only takes a little to make my hair smooth and fuller. The Align 12 is great to use on those days when it is humid and you want your curls to stay away. All three products are a must have for styling perfection!

A Tale of Two Combs

The Ouidad Double Detangler and The Sam Villa Long Cutting Comb

The Ouidad is a VERY sturdy comb-- it detangles without breaking my hair or the comb!!!

I use this one, then the Sam Villa comb, which has finer teeth for best hair results.

The Ouidad is hefty enough to double as a weapon and doesn't yank.

The Sam Villa is more flexible, but not in the cheap-ready-to-snap way. Also very good for parting & teasing (or whatever the hip-kids are calling it now).

Together, these combs keep my hair in some sort of order! Love them!!!