enchane your hair

Do you long for shiny tresses, but lack the funds for expensive products and treatments? Don't despair - you don't have to be a supermodel to have gleaming locks. Before you mourn your lackluster strands, head to the kitchen and try these simple solutions to lock in shine the natural way.

Sun, wind, saltwater, pollution, and chemicals are just some of the shine-depleting elements your hair may be subjected to on a daily basis. They can strip your hair of its natural oils and create build-up leaving it dull and lifeless. Fortunately, Mother Nature has a few remedies to share.

The Alluring Avocado
Mash an avocado (one avocado for short hair, two for long) in a bowl until it forms a thick paste. Spread the paste on your hair from root to tip and leave on for 20 minutes. Shampoo and rinse. Avocados are high in fatty acids and nutrients. Feed your hair!

Amazing Apple Cider Vinegar
Mix half a cup of apple cider vinegar with one quart of water and use as a hair rinse after your regular shampoo. Rich in alpha-hydroxy acids, apple cider vinegar helps break down residue build-up leaving your hair soft and full of shine. Rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar and it will be shining in no time.

Eggs Over Olive Oil
Beat together two eggs for short hair, three for long, and add in three tablespoons of olive oil. Coat your hair from root to tip and leave on for 30 minutes. Shampoo and rinse. Eggs contain eleven essential nutrients and are packed with protein. Combine them with olive oil for conditioning and nourishment and you have one powerful duo.

Coconut Craze
Warm three tablespoons of coconut oil and gently comb into your hair from root to tip. Wrap your hair in a hot towel and let the oil sit for 30 minutes. Shampoo and rinse. Loaded with antioxidants, coconut oil works to smooth dry and damaged cuticles and lock in shine.

Life doesn't have to be dull and neither does your hair! It's time to shine! Open your cabinet and start mixing, then sit back and bask in your natural glow.

Sheer Blonde - Look healthy and shiny

Ok blondes, we all know you love to soak up that sun but so does your hair. Natural sun and heat damages your hair vaporizing all the moisture needed for your hair to look healthy and shiny. Texture doesn�t really matter nor does the shade of blonde, as they all are more prone to damage in the sun. Frizz is common in the summer and with good conditioner and frizz control you can look like any celebrity.

Try Frizz-ease or Split Ends by BC Bonicure to control frizz after or before your blow dry. For added protection apply a blow dry sealer before you start to blow dry your hair. It will protect your blonde hair from heat and this is for high damage control. There are also newer sprays and conditioners specifically formulated with SUV protectants helping your hair from damage. For a great feel try Back to Basics - Kiwi Melon Body Boosting Conditioner.

If your hair starts to go a green from being in the water a little too much, Resolve by JOICO is highly recommended. It will strip the chlorine buildup letting your hair breathe. Eventually you'll get back to your great color.
Sheer Blonde is available at most drug stores. It's formulated to enhance your blonde while protecting it from further damage.

Frederic Fekkai Baby Blonde Conditioner is a daily conditioner and enhances your hair with a great shine. Using sunflower seed oil, lemon peel and other natural products it helps with your hair's elasticity and this product is used specifically for color treated blonde hair.

For further protection, use a wide toothed comb or pick while your hair is wet. If you need a great detangler, BC Bonicure�s Spray Moisturizer is the best product on the market for detangling those hard annoying tangles.

Blonde will always have high maintenance and expensive to maintain. The tips above are to help you in between visits to your stylist. It�s still more fun to be blonde at any cost!

Short Hair Cuts - What's so great about them

Short Hair Cuts

Short hair cuts reflect self-assurance, readiness to take new challenges.
Short hair shows you are cool, confident, in control, and too busy to spend hours 5 Minute Makeover fussing with your hair.

Great things about short hair cuts

Short hair is sexy. A man will see you and your personality.

Well-cut short hair emphasises femininity, especially if you get chunky layers and softness cut into the style.

Your hair - see Salma Hayek looks thicker and more glossy. Shorter hair looks healthier than the dull, damaged ends of longer hair. It�s a good choice for women with fine hair. Hair SOS

Short hair is easy to manage. You just step into it and go.

You can look younger. Wrinkles are emphasised by the straight lines of long hair, but the softer shape of short hair makes them less obvious. Turn back the clock!

Common Dos and Don�ts:

Don�t use any rubber band to the keep hair off your face. Rubber bands tend to break or split hair. Instead use a scrunchy or a fabric coated elastic band.

Don�t brush wet hair too harshly because it�s three times weaker and more likely to break off mid-strand. Towel dry hair first, then gently detangle using a wide toothcomb.

Oil your hair before every wash. Massage oil well into the scalp and keep for a minimum of half-hour. This keeps your scalp nourished and conditioned.

Avoid over-conditioning. Excessive use of conditioner can damage your hair and cause split-ends. Hair SOS

Remedy for Oily Hair

Greasy Hair Solutions - Remedy for Oily Hair

There are ways you can help stop the grease from appearing but you have to work at it.

Do not wash everyday. The cleaner your hair is the more it can seep into your glands and harder it is to get rid of. When you do wash make sure you are washing with a cleaning shampoo and scrubbing the build up off. Take in mind that you also have to have a ph-balanced mild shampoo and lite scrubbing is recommended. Try to avoid conditioner at the roots, apply in the middle or on the ends.

Try to avoid oil in your daily food intake. And do eat more vegetables. You could visit your doctor but only after you check and consider your diet, drugs, alcohol, and your fatty food intake. Let's face it we see what McDonalds can do to your heart in a month, can you image your hair. You would be dripping everywhere.

Maybe it's time to change your shampoo. Ask your stylist what she or he would recommend. Avoid using shine products at all costs. Keep away from two-in-one shampoos and conditioners and any frizz serums.

To fix at the moment, rub a little Talcum Powder on your dried hair at the roots. Just make sure you wash it out. I wish they would event that magic product, but this will help until they do.

Your Best Hair - Tips and tricks...

Best Hair

If Your Hair Is Curly:

Since your hair is prone to dryness, use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.
After washing, gently blot hair dry with an absorbent towel and apply 4 to 6 drops of silicone-based shine serum (the thicker your hair, the more you can use).
Detangle hair with fingers, and allow it to air dry.

If Your Hair Is Wavy:

Lather up with a shine-enhancing shampoo and conditioner. Rinse well.
Smooth and separate wet strands with wide-tooth comb, then spritz a silicone-based shine-enhancing spray from ends to roots.
Dry hair using a blowdryer with a tapered nozzle to direct air down the hair shaft and seal the cuticle.

If Your Hair Is Straight:

Your hair tends to lie flat against your scalp, where it can accumulate shine-dulling grease.
To avoid this, use a deep-cleaning shampoo daily and apply a clarifying gel treatment to roots once a week to prevent oil buildup.
After blowing hair dry, use a flatiron to enhance sheen.

Lasting Hair Styles - That salon look

Longer lasting hair style beauty tip

You probably noticed that when you go to the salon to have your hair done, it seems to last for days at a time.

The reason for this is that the stylist has taken a great deal of time and care to style it right on day one.

So the next time you wash your hair, schedule the time to carefully blow dry it, set it etc. A quick wash and go just isn't the same thing.

Blonde Hairstyles

Tragically Blonde Hairstyles

What would you do to go blonde? Female Fatale, Rebel without a Cause is one determined blonde-haired woman.
You see them everywhere and against all natural odds - they are blonde. Sort of. They sit in the stylist's chair with frizzy blonde, black-roots begging for more bleach. Their hair is screaming for moisture. See picture on the left...

For under $20 dollars you could help fix that problem with some products that could actually make your hair blonde, healthy and shinny. Maybe even natural? Blondes do have more fun - see Jessica Simpson hairstyles, but if you are not in the Salon cutting your hair every 3 months, and have dry, damaged hair, don't despair.

Should I blow Dry?

Even if you do not blow dry 100% pure natural hair, it becomes damaged creating split ends, by ingredients like climate, dryness, over highlighting and mostly by avoiding your stylist. If you are using a moistening condition for dry hair, or a re-constructer for damaged hair, should able you to blow-dry just fine.
Adding heat from a blow dryer weakens the strands and sometimes it breaks off in extreme cases. So put the proper conditioning treatment in your hair and ask a Salon that has a good reputation to help you find that product that you need.

Conditioner or Re-constructer?

If you have just a few blonde highlights, mixed in with a few other colors, you probably just need a moisturizing conditioner. Try Joico's Moisturizer or K-Pac Daily Conditioner, Redkin's Extreme Shampoo, or Sebastian's Potion 9.
If you are heavily blonde, and haven't been dark since you can't remember when, then try bc bonacure's Repair Treatment, one of the best quick fixes out there. It's a honey/wheat protein base to help strengthen the hair. For longer term results try Joico's K-Pack Re-constructer. Both products do a great job.

Lowlights?

Lowlights might be the way to go and can add a lot more moisture to your hair. Lowlights are usually sliced through the other lightening foils to add depth and darken some of your over stressed blonde hair. Giving it a chance to recover and absorb its lacking pigment. The good thing is that you could go more a natural blonde or golden, if you're brave go for a caramel or a darker color. Pick your blonde back up in the summer, after it 's healthy and rejuvenated. You'll look good and feel better.

If you can't live with the idea of adding some lowlights (and they can be dark blonde lowlights) to your platinum do, then let's fix it the easy way.
After Blow-drying and assuming you are using your conditioner apply a small amount of Farouk's Bio Silk Therapy. It's silk in a bottle. It will also protect your hair from the damage it sustains without bleaching or blow-drying. The amount of no more then a dime rubs into your hands before you apply the clear less lotion to dry hair. Instantly all your fly away ends and dryness is gone. Until you wash it, of course.

For an extreme shine finish use Joico's Spray Glaze, Shine-Enhancer. It smells nice and really gives a nice shine. Keeping shine, keeps moisture and helps make you condition process that much easier. There's a reason why blondes have more fun! You go girls!

How To Treat Dry Hair? - The five step regimen

Hair normally has a moisture content of approximately 10%. If your hair�s moisture content drops below this level the key is to increase the hair�s ability of attract and retain moisture. This is accomplished by using moisturizers.

Good ones have "humectants" that not only replace lost moisture but actually attract moisture and retain it in the cortex of the hair. Essential fatty aids (EFA�s) are great moisturizers. One of the best and most cost effective essential fatty acids is safflower oil. It is the kind you can buy to cook with. It is rich in EFA�s.

The scalp produces the best EFA�s called sebum. The problems is once the hair grows past the neck line or does not have direct contact with the scalp the scalps natural oils can not be utilized throughout the hair shaft.

You can manually replace the lost EFA�s by:

• Placing 1 or 2 drops of safflower oil in your palms and rub them together.
• There should only be enough to make your hands "shine" in the light.
• Carefully take your hair (while dry) and "scrunch" the small amount of oil to the ENDS first and work toward the scalp.
• Leave this in your hair.
• 1-2 drops of safflower oil on dry hair is so small, you won�t notice it is there.

Doing the above as often as necessary will ensure your dry hair will have the proper amount of humectants to attract and reatin moisture. The key is that a small amount will go a long way.

Curly Hair - Curls, tussles, waves, twists

Curls, tussles, waves, twists are back bigger than ever! Trend setting Celebrities like Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, and Alicia Keys at the Grammy wore sexy curls. Even Justin Timberlake did - but he can't help it.

It's a matter of convenience, less time doing your hair and more time having fun. Girls just want to have fun!

Prepare and get those curls bouncing, they're in!
For a loose sexy style curl scrunch your hair using a medium-to-strong gel. If you mix a little silk serum to soften, that's fine. Flip your head entirely over when scrunching. Try to bunch the hair in handfuls and keep the heat flowing between your fingers through your hair. After it's dry let it stay and cool for a minute, then flip it up.

To create loose curls, use a soft shine wax on the ends, if you want it to hold go in and curl with your finger any piece that did not curl so well, use some hairspray and Voila! If you want just a little wave use the soft shine wax from root to end.

If you want moving bouncing curls, invest in some hot rollers sold at Wal-Mart. Set your hair, it should take 10 minutes to heat and curl. Take the rollers out and before putting any product on it piece out the curls one by one. If you want a tighter curl, spray a little hairspray before wrapping the the hair on the roller. Spray the hairspray on your hair, not the roller itself. The harder the spray, the firmer it holds.

If you already have natural curly or wavy hair, lucky you; just remember to visit your stylist and get some long layers to revamp your curl. The same products apply in your case.

How To Trim Your Hair - Doing it at home

How To Trim Your Hair

Peeking out from a bit of fringe is sexy. Bang-induced blindness is not.
If you are not quite ready for a full haircut, take things into your own hands: "trimming your own bangs will keep your cut looking fresh between salon visits", says stylist Garren of the Garren New York salon.
He tells clients to trim about an eight of an inch every month.

Here's how to do it at home:

First, grab a pair of straightedge cuticle or mustache scissors. Style bangs as usual and clip back the rest of your hair. Start at the center of your bangs and work your way to the outside.

Using your fingers, gently hold a small section of dry hair - only about 10 to 12 hairs at a time - straight down against your forehead. (Don't pull too tight - you'll stretch the hair and end up cutting a lot more)
Trim and cut below your fingers to keep from cutting it shorter than you'd like.
When you are done trimming each section, comb it back into the rest of your bangs to check length (and that they are even) before moving on.
When you reach the end, return to the center and trim in the opposite direction until you are done.

Quick Fixes for Your Hair - Yes, fast and easy

Quick and Refreshing Fixes for Your Hair

Have you ever had one of those �perfect hair days� where your hair looks fabulous just before you�re about to hop in the shower? Knowing full well that you�d be generously lucky for your hair to look half as nice, you grab that quick shower, even though you just washed your hair this morning/last night.

You needn�t wash your hair repeatedly to ensure remarkable results, so why not skip a shampoo or two? Remember, the more you wash your hair and the more styling products you apply, the greater the amount of buildup that adheres to your silky strands.

Every once in a while, forego the routine washing by twisting your hair up into a towel or piling it into a shower cap before you step into the shower. To alleviate your concerns of how your hair will smell, look and feel without shampooing it just this once, try these tips to keep your hair vibrant and refreshed.

Freshen Up

You�ve got your perfume and your body spray, so why not something sweet and tantalizing for your tresses? A number of well-known companies offer deliciously delightful fragrances for hair, like Clairol�s Herbal Essences Style Refreshing Mist. It comes in a compact pump spray bottle with flirty floral fragrances that are sure to keep you feeling great about your hair.

Another option � if you simply must wash your hair every time you shower, so be it. Shampoo and condition your hair, but do without the blow dryer during the warmer months. Twist your hair up and secure it to your head with a hairpin or some bobby pins. Try a sexy style with some little claw clips or pull your hair back into a classic braid.

De-Frizz and Smooth Out

So the end of the day is nearing and you�ve still got your dinner date in less than an hour. You may not have time to shower and get prettied up all over again, but you can at least apply some frizz-fighting gel or styling product to smooth out your hair.

If you can�t possibly dream of going on a date without a shower to freshen up, take the fastest shower of your life and get moving! Apply a leave-in conditioner or other anti-frizz styling solution to your hair and follow the instructions for drying your hair, or allow it to dry naturally if you have time.

Preserve

While you may not have all the time in the world to get ready, it doesn�t hurt to catch a glimpse of yourself once in a while to be sure your hair is behaving and your makeup hasn�t smudged. Be careful not to whip out your compact in front of your date and surely avoid the obvious gawk at your reflection on a tinted car window as you walk by.

Excuse yourself for a brief trip to the ladies room, and failing all else, use a tiny bit of water or a small dab of hand cream to assuage any hair catastrophes.

Air Dry Your Hair - Think of it as a vacation for your hair

Air Dry Your Hair

If you often blow dry and process your hair with flat irons, curling irons or hot rollers your hair is probably ready for a break. All that heat and processing can leave your hair dry, brittle and very damaged.

Give your hair a much needed break and let it air dry naturally. Think of it as a vacation for your hair.

The first step for air drying is to use hair products for air drying instead of blow drying; a good absorbent towel is also a plus. An absorbent towel will suck up excess moisture and speed up dry time. A good leave in conditioner will keep your hair from becoming frizzy.

Use the absorbent towel to remove excess moisture then gently blot your hair dry. Do not rub your hair. Rubbing will damage the strands and cause frizzy hair and split ends. You want to keep the hair shafts as smooth as possible.

If your hair tends to become flat or too frizzy from air drying you can fluff it by finger combing or pull it back with big clips. I like to pull my sides back in two large clips to add volume to my hair while it is drying. Once it is dry I pull out the clips and have natural volume and waves.

Use products suitable for the texture of your hair. Fine hair works best with mousses and sprays, curly and wavy hair respond best to gels and creams. Find a great product suitable for your hair type that also helps combat frizz, this will help keep your hair under control while air drying.

After you find products that work well for your hair and you get the hang or air drying you will love it. Every time I air dry my hair it has a completely different texture than when I blow dry it. It is softer and so much shinier. Air drying is a vacation for your hair and a styling option for you. It gives you a chance to try a different style and it gives your hair a break from over processing.

Sedu Hair Straightener

The latest craze is the use of the sedu hair straightener. According to Variety magazine, Jennifer Aniston's hairstylist created her gorgeous hairstyles with Sedu hair irons.

Hair straightening could be achieved in many methods - see our hair straightening tips.

You can use one of two methods to straighten your hair: A permanent method using chemical components or a temporary one like the sedu hair straightener.

Hair straighteners do have advantages:

1. The use of ceramic ion technology which generates infra red heat and negative ions providing frizz free hair with no heat damage.

2. The sedu hair straightener, just like most hair straighteners, is good for all types of hair � thin, thick, fragile, wavy, etc.

3. The hair straighteners manufactured in the last few years are light weight and have an ergonomic design. The use of hair straighteners can now be mastered very quickly.

4. The sedu hair straightener heats up quickly and straightens the hair faster than other hair straightening methods.

5. There is a variety of widths for the ceramic plates you can choose when getting a new sedu hair straightener. You can choose the one which best suites your hair. Aim to get a maximum width of 1.5�.

6. Change your hair style. Hair straighteners give you the possibility to look different each day. Have a Casual chic look one day and a Messy Twist look the other day. More about Sedu Hairstyles

New tools for hair straightening are introduced to the market every year. We suggest you make a brief research about your needs and the best product to fit them. You must devote attention to the safety of each product and make sure you follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Make Your Own Hair Accessories

You are in a hurry and you just can't find just the right hair clip or barrette... Sounds familiar? Well, why not make your own?

Let's start with the smallest hair decorations: bobby pins.
You can buy packs of these for quite a low price. Just get the plain black ones and decorate them with nail polish to create nice hair clips. Nail polish is the best to use as it dries quickly so you can do last minute changes.

You can also try painting stripes on. Use sparkly or metallic polish for interesting effects. Then you can also add tiny rhinestones, available at your local craft store, while the polish is still wet. Hold the stones in place until the polish dries around them. You may need to reapply them at a later date. Tiny glass beads can also be used for an interesting effect.

The larger hair clips that bend to snap into your hair will not take beads and rhinestones very well. They will tend to fall off due to the flexing of the clip, but you have lots of room for painting on designs! Use a toothpick to help you make tiny designs on the clip. You can do zebra stripes, polka dots and letters on these. Let your imagination take over.

How about large hair barrettes?
These are the metal ones that have a spring clip at the bottom. You can buy packages of them at the local craft store. These are lots of fun to decorate! Go ahead and experiment, you will surprise yourself...

Updos - Beautiful and easy updos for women

Updos - see Heidi Klum - are back. The nice plush updos that look like they took hours to make piling up so high upon your head are in fact very easy to do yourself. 5 Minute Makeover

First consider using hot rollers - see Salma Hayek - even if you don't want a curl. It's easy volume without having to work for it. If you can, then curl a few pieces on the top and sides with a curling iron - see Hillary Swank.

Flip your head over towards the front. With a pick or large comb tease your roots. Tease it with small fast strokes until you feel a little nest forming at your roots. Give it a little spray using JOICO�s Ice Finisher to add a little hold.
Flip your hair back and assuming your standing position with your paddle brush smooth out your hair into your desired shape.
You can use a big bristle brush if you want to see more definition in your updo. Hair SOS

Start with the back of your hair and grab a piece of hair like you�re doing a ponytail. Twist clockwise bring up and put your bobby pins in. Four to six usually do it and don�t forget to criss-cross the bobby pins if you feel you need a little support in the back of your updo. Take your top piece that�s left over and twist very lightly.

Once it is secured and you have the desired height you want on the top, pin it down with 2 bobby pins. See Reese Witherspoon. Now take each side twist it back to secure on the top building into a pile. Fix your bangs and pull any front hair back that�s been left over and secure with a bobby pin.

Combination Hair - How to take care of combination hair

Combination Hair

How to Take Care of Combination Hair

There are many different types of hair. There are thick types and there are fine types of hair. There are curly ones and straight-falling ones. Some hair types are more prone to the accumulation of sebum (the natural oils that our skin secretes) than others, while some hair types are just naturally dry. There are various ways of taking care of hair according to its various types.

But what if your hair happens to be a combination type of hair? What if your hair is very oily near the scalp but has the tendency to be dry to the point of brittleness as the strands reach the ends? How do you take care of hair like that?

Fortunately, there are a number of ways to care for the combination type of hair. With the appropriate use of the right products, you can prevent damage to your hair, protect it, keep it healthy and even enhance its beauty. So how do you effectively care for the combination type of hair?

It all starts with the proper washing of the hair. In shampooing, never use hot water to wet your hair. Hair strands are susceptible to extreme heat and hot water will only damage it. Instead, just use lukewarm water.

Be choosy with the products that you use for your hair. If you have the combination type hair, avoid using shampoos formulated for oily hair. It might worsen the condition of the dry tips of your locks. Instead, opt for shampoos specially made for normal hair.

Do not use too much shampoo to wash your hair. Just a dollop the size of a quarter will do. Apply the shampoo directly on the scalp and just let the suds flow to the ends of your hair. Never apply the shampoo directly to the tips because the shampoo will wash off the oil that your hair tips need so much. If you must, just scoop some suds from the top of your head and use it to wash your hair�s tips. Never overclean your hair�s ends and be careful in handling them. Rinse the shampoo off carefully and thoroughly until it is not slippery any longer.

After shampooing the hair, apply a rinse-off conditioner. Just as you should never apply shampoo directly to the tips of your hair, you should never apply conditioner directly to your scalp either. The moisturizing agents in the conditioner will cause the scalp to produce too much oil. Instead, concentrate the application of the conditioner to the tips of your hair strands, and then rinse your hair thoroughly, this time with cold water to lock in the moisture and to discourage your hair from secreting too much oil.

For added TLC for your combination type hair, indulge in deep conditioning treatment once a week. Apply moisturizing conditioner to the dry parts of your hair, wrap it with a towel and let it be for a couple of hours before washing it off completely. You can substitute olive oil for commercial conditioner if you wish. Also, make it a habit to have your hair trimmed once every two months to get rid of your hair�s brittle ends.

The combination type of hair need not be a hair care nightmare. All it needs to keep healthy and beautiful is the know-how for its proper care.

Flat Iron - How to use the flat iron for a beautiful hair

Flat Iron Tips

Still can't live without your straightening iron? Once you know how to achieve that sleek, smooth look it's hard to go back. It really doesn�t matter which flat iron you use: ceramic, thermal, metal or ionic - they all damage your hair with over-use and inappropriate use. They heat keeps your hair dry and over time will damage the ends of your hair.

Here are 10 tips to help you and your flat iron work side-by-side without damaging your hair.

1. Keep your flat iron clean. It will last longer and do less damage to your hair.

2. Use a styling aid to prevent frizz before you blow dry. Sealed Ends by BC Bonicure seal the ends of your hair locking out frizziness by 79 percent. Use it after your blow dry to get rid of frizz.

3. Practice before you head out to any major event. It's very easy to use once you get the knack of it.

4. When using the iron on your hair comb, on the section you are using first, before running the iron through it.

5. Try avoiding using any products until you finish straightening out your hair.

6. Use small sections. The smaller the section the flatter and more weightless your hair will be.

7. Use even pressure while stroking your flat iron from the root to the end without stopping on any part of the sectioned hair.

8. Use a wide bristle brush on your hair while brushing your desired shape into place.

9. Use a lightweight serum to smooth any frizz left over. You'll only need a little.

10. Let your iron cool; clean its surface with a cloth so you�ll be ready to use it again tomorrow.

Athletic Hairstyles - For active females

Athletic Hairstyles

Athletic Hairstyles for Active Females

Get geared up for your sporting events with a new hairstyle! Whether your favorite sport is soccer, track and field, basketball, softball, rugby, running or something completely different, keeping the hair off the back of your neck and out of your eyes will surely make playing conditions more comfortable.

Double braids work well with medium to longer hair lengths as they both keep the hair out of the face and off of the neck. Using a comb, trace a straight part down the back of the head and secure one of the two sections with an elastic band. Begin braiding by separating the remaining segment of hair into three equal sections. Braid hair by alternately pulling each of the outside sections of hair toward the center, over the middle section. Continue braiding hair until only an inch or two remains at the bottom of the braid. Fasten the end with an elastic hair band and repeat for the second braid. For best results, braid hair while it is still damp from the shower unless sporting events are during cold winter months. (Consider doing this same style with French braids if you know how.)

Using elastic headbands, pull hair back from forehead and tie it up into a high ponytail for the best and easiest off the neck, out-of-the-eyes style. Elastic bands work best for ponytails because plastic and metal clips can sometimes cause injury if sporting accidents occur.

Mini-braid mania � Using tiny rubber bands made specifically for hair, braid bangs or front section of hair split into tiny sections, one by one. Depending on hair�s length and personal preferences, braid one or two rows and tie the rest back into a ponytail. For those with much time on their hands or a whole bunch of friends to help out, braid the entire head! If desired, use hairspray or gel to strengthen the hold. Consider using an elastic headband or other alternative to keep braids against the top of your head and off of your face.

Improvised headband - If elastic headbands are not among the selection of barrettes and clips in your personal hair care inventory, don�t worry. Try to get some pre-wrap from your team�s athletic trainer if possible, or barring that, find an old T-shirt and cut off one sleeve. Cut the sleeve again, but just at the seam that stitches it from bicep to armpit. Open up the sleeve and cut tiny strips about one-half inch thick and the entire length of the sleeve, starting the scissors along the edge where you just cut the seam. After cutting the strips, pull fabric gently but firmly to tighten and tie around head, holding hair down securely. This improvised fashion statement could actually accommodate your entire team with hair bands for all, if cutting both sleeves of an old T-shirt.

As a fun tradition, get a few friends together before the game and help each other with an athletic hairstyle. Braiding each other�s hair to keep it out of the eyes and off the neck can provide some relaxing downtime just prior to the opening whistle while putting everyone in a positive mood. Help each other get psyched up and ready to play!

Hair Braids - Hair braids Carribean style

Hair Braids of The Bahamas
By Kate M. D�Imperio

Beautiful seas of blues and greens, soft and sparkling white sand and sun that beats down, tempting a tan on one�s exposed parts... these things are just a few signature traits of an unforgettable island vacation.

Relaxing by the poolside, enjoying the surf and sipping cocktails make a great start to a relaxing getaway from reality. Many will strive for the perfect golden glow while others may lather white limbs in coconut-scented sunblock. Perhaps the most common souvenir taken home from a week or two�s stay in the Caribbean is a new hairstyle!

Many women and some men choose to don the tiny braids that often reveal their most recent escape from corporate life. Braided hairstyles are common in a number of other tropical locations, including Jamaica and countless other island destinations.

Offers to braid one�s hair may be plentiful, depending on the time of day and location of the vacation. Women skilled in many styles of creative braiding may wander the beaches in search of their next clients, asking all those whom they pass if they would care for some braids.

In Nassau, the going rate per braid capped at about $3. Vacationers could request as few or as many braids as they wished, in a number of fashions. Those offering the braids often were willing to negotiate on the price in order to secure more business for themselves, so the cost of having one�s entire head braided may not be relative to having a few single braids done.

Once the number of desired braids has been determined, one should then select the braiding style. Common styles seen in The Bahamas include dozens of straight micro-braids - woven from roots to ends, cornrows fastened with beads at the crown, and cornrows ending in long braids.

Beads or tiny seashells may adorn braids and cornrows in the desired colors of the wearer. Popular styles seen this February consisted of cornrows ending at the crown in two alternating colors and long, micro-braids fastened off with a few beads on each one.

Some important hair and scalp care is necessary for those donning the stylish braids.
Dabbing a bit of sunblock on the scalp is critical to preventing sunburn.
When shampooing, wearers of the braids should not shampoo the braids directly, but rather the scalp, allowing the suds to soak down the braids.
To keep braids in great condition longer, a light coat of conditioner on each one should do just the trick.

When removing braids, the best method involves coating braids with conditioner and gently unraveling them one by one. A warm shower with normal shampoo and conditioner products should restore hair to its usual texture and appearance.

Hair Extensions - Everything you need to know

Hair Extensions

Have you noticed the amount of celebrities Ravishing Ravens who have all of a sudden grown long, flowing locks? The key to their fabulous hair is the clever use of hair extensions, carefully blended to match exactly with their own hair.
Hair extensions offer instant volume haute hair for limp tresses hair SOS or emergency relief from a disastrous haircut.
You can expect extensions to last up to three months.

Caring for hair extensions is a bit different from caring for natural hair. Some things that you should know.

• Use a soft bristle brush and brush your hair from the bottom and gently work your way up.
• Gently tie your hair up while sleeping.
• Do not color your own hair extentions at home.
• To prevent tangling, run your fingers through the braid extensions.
• Don't spray your extensions with conditioners or any silicone based products as they can cause the braids to slip.

How long can extensions be? Ellen Pompeo
You can have any length you want up to about 26"-30". Anything longer than this puts extra weight on your scalp which may lead to uneven pressure and damage to your own hair. The best looking hair extensions for average height women are usually around 22" or less.

How much are they?
It's all relative. Someone will do it for you for a few hundred dollars while others will charge thousands. Shop around, but remember that to get the best possible product you will pay a premium price. However, your hair will look great, it will last and you will feel terrific!

Can I wear my hair up? Heidi Klum
Of course, the hair extensions should not be applied any lower than the base of your scalp (approximately at the level of the middle of your ears) and so your hair under this point covers the extensions while you wear it in pigtails, ponytails - see Reese Witherspoon, french braids etc.

Does it hurt?
No! If it hurts get out of there! The extensions artist should braid the tracks firmly but comfortably. The tension should be even all over your head with no points pulling or hurting. Do not put up with someone telling you it has to be really tight in order to be secure. Pulling your hair out is not the idea. You will know you have something on your head for the first day or two but after that you won't even feel that they are there.

How To Brush Long Hair Properly - Did you know?

Brushing Long Hair

How To Brush Long Hair Properly

Bend forward, allowing hair to fall. Using only a wooden base natural bristle brush, bring hair from the nape of the neck over the head and down to the ends. Then,
stand straight again with hair falling normally and brush from the underside of the hairline down the strands to the ends. Now,
brush the top layers into place with long, even strokes. After each stroke, smooth hair with hands to reduce static.
Increase the number of strokes weekly, starting with five and increasing by one a week until you find a comfortable routine. If oiliness develops, reduce strokes.

Brush only when dry. Hair is weakest when it is wet and brushing can easily damage it. Even when hair is dry, always comb before brushing.

Curls Galore - Curling iron versus hot rollers

Before digging out the spongy pink curlers or running to your stylist for a hasty perm, check out these effective alternatives for an evening of uncustomary curls!

Curling Iron:

Inexpensive, relatively user-friendly and quick for minor touch-ups, this device can give you a glam look with a few minutes� investment. If you�re donning only a partial head of curly locks, a curling iron could be just the tool you need for an immediate response to your need of a few well-placed curls.

Glamorize your up-do with a curling iron by emphasizing your style with a few loose spiral curls around your face or one or two seductively sweeping along the back of your neck. Creating these curls can be a quick and easy process, but don�t forget to spritz them with a little hairspray, or else they may not last the entire evening!

Another common use for a curling iron is tending to your hair�s ends. Tuck them under or flip them out a bit wildly, but you won�t get the same results with a set of hot rollers! A curling iron is versatile enough to curl precisely the strands that you want curled, in whichever manner you wish to achieve. Even if you wish to curl more than a few small sections of hair, a curling iron is capable of curling your entire head as well.

Time Involved: Curling Iron use may take anywhere from 5 minutes or less to 45 minutes or more, depending on style�s involvement.

Hot Rollers:

Just a touch more expensive than the curling iron, hot rollers can achieve a full head of flawless curls, typically in under an hour. Hot rollers generally have a small amount of wax inside that is heated when the set is plugged into an electrical outlet. When the curlers are ready for use, the color may change color so that you know to begin applying them.

Forget about fighting with the curling iron and trying to decide which way you want the curl to spiral. Instead, enjoy the remarkably easy process with hot rollers-once you have fastened the curlers in your hair, your hair will all curl simultaneously!

It is still a good idea to use some styling products such as a non-sticky hairspray or gel to retain the shape of the curls. (Curls formed by hot rollers tend to last considerably longer for me than those I create with a curling iron, as my hair is typically resistant to curling in general.)

Tip for Hot Rollers: Try to wash your hair the night before you want to employ the hot rollers. Sometimes very clean, sleek hair tends to resist curling.

Time Involved: Hot Rollers may take about 10 minutes to warm up and anywhere from 10-20 minutes to apply, and about 15 minutes to set. (Color of curler will revert back to original color to indicate that the curl has set.) Add additional time as necessary for styling your locks if you intend to use barrettes, bobby pins or other adornments and styling products.

Curling Iron Versus Hot Rollers:

• Both beauty appliances require time to heat up, but hot rollers may require a few extra minutes.
• Hot rollers are very easy to use when styling the whole head or a section, but don�t count on them to curl your ends out or under. Leave that to the curling iron!
• Color of hot rollers indicates when they are ready to use and when your curls have set.
• Curling iron gives great flexibility for choosing between loose spirals and tight ringlets, but you can always brush out your curls formed by hot rollers to achieve the style you desire.
• Curling irons are much easier to transport when traveling and staying in a hotel or other location away from home.
• Hot rollers save more time if going for a full head of curls. Success rate for curls enduring the entire evening may also be better.
• Both devices are useful in and of themselves-the best advice for you is to try them both and see which you like the best!

Foods To Avoid For Healthy Hair - Surprise, surprise..

Foods that seem to be harmful to your hair

There are some foods that you should avoid and replace them with fresh fruits and vegetables.

Why? To ensure that the hair that is forming beneath the surface of your scalp is healthy.

So, the foods to avoid include too many sweets, chocolate, cakes and cookies. Unfortunately, these favorites simply don't help your hair.

Have shiny hair

Did you know that your hair needs Vitamin E for shine?

You can get this much needed vitamin by incorporating brown rice, nuts, wheat germ and leafy green vegetables into your diet.

Hair care tools that can make a difference from a bad hair day and say hello to a good shiny one.

Shiny Hair

More on shiny hair

Did you know that avocado was good for your hair? Yes, it is!

So mash up an avocado with a tablespoon of olive oil and a tsp of baking powder. Mix this until well combined and then work the mixture through your hair.

Go and surf this site for about 15 minutes and then wash out. ;-)

How To Straighten Your Hair - From curly to straight!

Straighten Your Hair

How To Straighten Your Hair - Get the look

So, do you want to strighten your curls? Here's how:

* Wash and condition hair.

* Blot dry. Hair should be almost dry when you begin.

* Gather up hair into several sections and secure or clip hair on top of your head. You will be drying the bottom layers first.

* Follow the brush (with your dryer) down the sections of hair as you straighten each section and be sure to keep the dryer moving.

* Take down a new section of hair and procede as directed above.

* Work your way up the layers until all sections are dried and straightened.

* To curl the ends for a polished look, take your brush and pull the ends under. Finish your styling with a blast of cool air if your hairdryer has this capability.

Tips:
* Be sure to condition your hair often. Sun, cold temperatures plus the use of your hair dryer can be hard on your hair.

* For best results, use products formulated for your hair type. It does make a difference.

* Give your hair a break and allow it to dry naturally as often as possible.

* Have split ends snipped every six weeks to two months to ensure that they don't travel up the hair shaft.

Get glam and be beautiful!

Adding Shine To Your Hair - Tips for more shine

Adding Shine To Different Hair Types

Fine Hair:
Look for a shampoo that has wheat protiens and polymers as ingredients. They coat the hair shaft, making it appear thicker.
Learn to use spray volumizers. They light enough to deposit a light mist of shine in droplets on the hair without wilting it.

Normal Hair:
Use a shampoo that has silk amino acids. It adds softness and repair hair structure. Lecithin restores hair texture.
Gels and creams will add shine without weight. First, it's necessary to pour the product in your palm. Rub your hands together, and then lightly pat over head.

Thick Coarse Hair:
The best shine enhancers for this type of hair are old-fashioned pomades. They work not only to deliver shine, but to moisturize this type of hair.

Tips For More Shine:
* Use heat-activated shampoo
* Deep condition at least weekly
* Don't use too many styling products that can dull the hair by coating it.

Strawberry Hair Mask:
Mash eight strawberries with one tablespoon mayonnaise. Massage into washed, damp hair. Cover with a shower cap, then a warm towel. Wash out with a shampoo/conditioner combination. This luscious mix of rich acidic berries will leave your hair both conditioned and with rich gloss.

Best Curl - The best ways to curl your hair

to get the best kinds of curl for the best length of hair, you have to consider the following things.

Is your hair all one length? Layered? The more layers the more curl and shape. Long layers also apply. Do you have product already dried into your hair for hold? If you can�t let it dry naturally, here are quick fixes to get curls on any length.

For short straight hair use 1-inch barrel curling iron, throughout your hair. Curling med pieces of hair making sure you are tucking in the ends so the curl does not flip out. After curling rub some wax or pomade on both your hands. Flip your hair over and rub your fingers through it for a loose curl. If you like the tight curl effort spray some firm hairspray until you are ready to show off your curls.

For medium to long hair it might take a bit of work, but you too can get the waves or curls you like. For un-layered straight hair, you can get a curl, but its going to be very flat on the top of your head and very heavy and curly at the bottom. Invest in some hot rollers at Wal-Mart; getting curls only takes 10 minutes in the hot rollers. Twenty minutes if you are brave and want it really curly. As you wrap the pieces of hair on the roller spray hairspray in a downward movement and lightly stroke the ends before rolling. You get a better-defined curl. Start rolling 1-inch sections from front to back, then do your sides and top. Leave them in 10 minutes and voila! Curls-a-la-Carte. To loosen the curls apply a small amount of BioSilk for a soft shiny finish.

For medium to long layered hair scrunch with Joico�s Ice Finisher the hardest hairspray there is out there, but combine it with a soft gel or mousse to give you a softer yet holding curl. It�s guaranteed to give you curls all day. Pin some of those pieces of hair up if you plan to make it a night-time event or hot date.

To get the frizz out of any curl use a small amount of BioSilk to any ends. Spray on a spray shine for a final finished look.

Coloring Your Hair

Coloring your hair is perhaps the quickest and most dramatic way to change your look. It is also an excuse to go out and buy a new wardrobe of clothes, because you'll find that what suited you as a brunette looks rather drab on a new blonde.

There are two types of hair dyes: permanent and semi-permanent, with variations of each.
A) Permanent Tints:
Must be mixed with hydrogen peroxide to lift hair color. The peroxide opens the hair cuticle so that the tint can penetrate the cortex and form the color. The higher the level of peroxide, the quicker and lighter the result.
B) Semi-Permanent Colors:
They don't actually lift the color - you can either vary the tone within your natural highlights or go darker. Quasi-color contains ethanolamine and 3% peroxide which slightly opens the cuticle. This means that the color can last up to 20 washes and will softly fade as you shampoo, causing no regrowth problem.
C) Semi-Permanent Vegetable Colors:
Contain only vegetable extracts and natural ingredients, so no color is stripped from your hair. It is similar to henna but it doesn't coat the hair (adds shine though). This color sits on the hair's surface and will wash out after about 8 shampoos.

Different coloring methods suit different hair styles, so get some expert advice when deciding which one to go for...
Skin Tone: Your new hair color should complement your skin tone. Light-skinned people don't look good with very dark hair because it draws color out of their skin. Dark, tanned skin doesn't look great when mixed with a one-tone blonde, but four or five blonde, chestnut or honey tones look fabulous.

BLONDE:
If you would love to be blonde, talk the process through with your colorist (or stylist) before you go for it. It should be relatively painless on virgin dark brown hair, but if your hair has been permanently tinted then the process will become a long saga.
Never attempt this kind of dye job on your own for the first time.

RED:
Red is the ultimate sexy shade, for color that cries out for attention. Hair holds on to red-toned pigments well, so going copper-top can be easy for most people.
But be warned - if you are blonde you will usually have to go two or three shades darker than your natural color to achieve a rich red (brunette), and it's not easy to reverse it.

BROWN:
Brunette is always a safe choice as it suits nearly every girl in town. Varying the shade with highlights can achieve a huge range of looks. From chocolate brown and bronze shades to honey or dark blonde, combinations of natural tones gives incredible shine as darker-pigmented tints add condition to your hair.

BLACK:
This is by far the easiest color to accomplish because the molecules in black tints are larger and will cover all hair types very effectively. Caution is needed when using black as it only tends to look good on people with darker and olive skin tones. it's great for getting the goth look, but definitely not for your granny.

Some popular coloring questions:

* Will coloring my hair damage it?
Only if the wrong level of peroxide is used or you are over-processing (too many permanent colors are applied) your hair. If you constantly change your hair color , especially if you go from blonde to brown and back to blonde, you must regularly use deep conditioning treatments.

* Why can colored hair look dull?
Over-processing is the biggest reason. If your hair is starting to look dull, use semi-permanent colors where the pigments sit on top of the hair adding plenty of tone and shine.

* What's better for my hair, semi-permanent or permanent color?
Semi-permanent color give your hair a higher shine and enhance condition, but they won't lift natural hair color. Also, a semi-permanent tint will not cover large amount of grey hair (more than 50%).
If a permanent tint is used correctly, you will always achieve a beautiful effect and semi-permanent tints can be used to maintain these permanent treatments, adding condition.

Before You Color Your Hair - One week before

Before you color your hair...

Well, the week before you color you hair, make sure to really condition the ends so that they don't absorb too much color during the process.

The reason? The ends of your hair are usually the most porous and have a tendency to really soak up color.

How Often?

How Often Should I Color My Hair?

Another pressing beauty issue...

"It depends on the growth rate of your hair," says colorist Giselle of the Pierre Michel salon in Manhattan. "You should go in for a highlight application every two to four months, and single process color application about every six weeks."

Giselle, who has pumped up the blonde in such actresses as Sharon Stone and Renee Zellwegger, also says, "During the summer hair grows faster, but it also naturally lightens up, so you don't have to get your highlights done as often as during the winter."

Hair Highlights - Salon perfect results at home

Highlights consist of selecting small or thick strands of hair that are then lightened at least 2 shades lighter than the rest of your hair. Highlights should compliment your natural or artificial color. You should never go more than 3 shades lighter then the rest of your hair color. The object of highlighting is to give you a sun-kissed look and to bring depth and light to your overall color.

So if you want to achieve salon perfect results at home when you highlight your hair, here's what the pros say:

• Use a clarifying shampoo on your hair at least two days before coloring.
• Never shampoo the day you color. Haute hair
• Check the expiration date on the package. And once you mix the color, use it right away!
• Toss out the brush that comes in the box and buy flat 1/2 and 1/4 inch acrylic brushes. These brushes, used by artists, are available at art supply stores (they'll give you better control and more natural-looking results)
• Make sure you have on hand a pair of good, tight-fitting latex gloves (the ones that come in the package don't always fit well).
• Start from the back of your head and work forward. By working from back to front, you won't smear the pieces in front by having to reach over them to do the back.
• Apply the highlights only to the top layers of your hair. By leaving the hair underneath alone, you'll create depth and a sun-kissed look that looks completely natural!

Hair Color Mistakes - Common, but easily solved

Hair color mistakes

The worst thing you can do if you color your own hair is to apply the permanent color throughout your hair every time you color.

The reason? It makes the hair more porous with the repeated colorings and it grabs more color giving you uneven color. Also, it is not healthy for your hair.

So try a semi permanent color instead, if you don't have the time to do the job properly.

Stress And Your Hair - The universal culprit...

Stress And Your Hair

Stress: the universal culprit

Apparently stress can affect your hair as well.

Any tension/stress can bring about disorders of the scalp . This could be a cause of the dandruff you have been fighting....

Instant Volume For Your Hair - Especially for long hair

Bigger volume of hair

Do you have long hair and you'd like more volume?

Towel your hair dry and then it pull up on the top of your head. Secure with a fat "elastic" (that won't damage or crease your hair ) and then blow dry the scalp hair until it is dry.

Hair Accessories - Make your own hair clips

Let's start with the smallest hair decorations: bobby pins.
You can buy packs of these for quite a low price. Just get the plain black ones and decorate them with nail polish to create nice hair clips. Nail polish is the best to use as it dries quickly so you can do last minute changes.

You can also try painting stripes on. Use sparkly or metallic polish for interesting effects. Then you can also add tiny rhinestones, available at your local craft store, while the polish is still wet. Hold the stones in place until the polish dries around them. You may need to reapply them at a later date. Tiny glass beads can also be used for an interesting effect.

The larger hair clips that bend to snap into your hair will not take beads and rhinestones very well. They will tend to fall off due to the flexing of the clip, but you have lots of room for painting on designs! Use a toothpick to help you make tiny designs on the clip. You can do zebra stripes, polka dots and letters on these. Let your imagination take over.

How about large hair barrettes?
These are the metal ones that have a spring clip at the bottom. You can buy packages of them at the local craft store. These are lots of fun to decorate! Go ahead and experiment, you will surprise yourself...

You are in a hurry and you just can't find just the right hair clip or barrette... Sounds familiar? Well, why not make your own?

To Blow Dry or Air Dry? - Advantages and disadvantages

To Blow Dry or To Air Dry?

Should the hair be blow dried or air dried?
It is a matter of preference, actually. Some people do not have much time to devote to styling their hair, or want to achieve the maximum styling they can get for their hair, so they opt for blow-drying it. On the other hand, there are some people who think that blow-drying is a waste of electricity and is the quickest way of damaging the hair, so they opt to have it air dried.

Which is better, you may ask?
Both ways of drying the hair have their advantages and disadvantages, and there are proper and improper ways of doing both. Read on and find out what these are.

Air drying. Air drying is usually done by people who have short and low-maintenance hairstyles, or by people with curly hair. There are also people who have long hair yet have their hair air dry, as air drying does not subject the hair to excessive heat. Therefore, the hair is not as susceptible to damage as hair that is blow dried.

If you are going to have your hair air dried, it is very important to remember that the hair is at its weakest when it is wet. So, take care not to rub your hair dry with the use of a towel. The friction caused by rubbing the hair with a towel will make the hair brittle and eventually break. Rather than rubbing it, you should instead blot the moisture out of your hair with the towel. Also, be careful not to tug or pull at your hair that much when it is still wet. Once the water is blotted out of the hair, fluff it out with your fingers.

Blow Drying. Blow drying the hair is the most convenient way of doing it, and because most people live fast-paced lives, blow drying the hair is the way most people want to do it. Moreover, drying the hair using a blower adds volume to the hair. But inasmuch that blow drying is very convenient, it is also dangerous to the hair, especially if overdone. It can make the hair very brittle.

If you blow dry your hair, make sure that it is not soaking. Blot the water out with a towel first. Do not hold the dryer too close to your head; keep it at least six inches away from your hair and move the dryer constantly around your head. Protect the outer strands of your hair from being over-dried by bending over and blow drying your hair with your hair hanging upside down. Also, try not to dry your hair completely with the blow dryer. Stop while the hair is still slightly damp.

Whether you air dry your hair or you blow dry it is completely your own choice based on your own lifestyle and preferences. But whatever you do, always remember that the hair is fragile. Be careful while handling it.

Shake Dandruff Flakes Away - Control dandruff with proper hair care

How To Shake Dandruff Flakes Away

If you have dandruff, do not worry about being alone with your problem. With one out of every two people in the entire world having, or having had, that same problem as yours, you are definitely not alone with it. Dandruff is a common hair problem. Embarrassing indeed, but a very, very common problem nonetheless.

What causes dandruff? Well, you see, our entire skin, from our scalps to the soles of our feet, sheds dead skin cells on a daily basis. We get a complete coating of new skin every 28 days or so, but we hardly even notice it.

Our bodies also play host to a lot of microorganisms like bacteria and fungi, feeding off on the sebaceous oils that our skin produces. Our scalp in particular is home to a kind of fungus called malassezia fungus, and its food is the oils produced by the hair follicles of our scalp. Dandruff happens when, for some reason or another, the malassezia fungus goes crazy and irritates our scalp, causing the dead skin to shed a lot faster. So, instead of shedding the dead skin cells of our scalp for a month, the shedding happens in less than two weeks, and the oil that our hair follicles produce cause these dead skin cells to clump together and become dandruff. Until now, the factors that trigger this phenomenon with the malassezia fungus are still the subject of research.

Dandruff is an embarrassing hair condition, and it can recur despite your best efforts. But with proper hair care, the recurrence of dandruff can be controlled. The best way to keep the flakes at bay is to shampoo your hair every day - picture perfect hair.

Dandruff can, of course, become stubborn, so if washing everyday with your regular shampoo does not stop the flakes from becoming haywire, the next best thing to do would be to start using anti-dandruff shampoos. Look for anti-dandruff shampoos with zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide, salicylic acid or ketoconazole as the active ingredient. To keep your scalp from developing immunity to these shampoos, go ahead and rotate brands at least once a month.

For optimum results, you can lather your hair with the shampoo of your choice twice. The first wash will clear the scalp of the flakes and the oil buildup. The second one would let the chemicals in the shampoo get absorbed by the scalp - haute hair.

You can also try homemade remedies to wash the flakes away and to keep the dandruff from recurring. What is considered the best homemade remedy to dandruff is a vinegar wash. Mix two teaspoons of vinegar with six teaspoons of water and rub it against your scalp before you go to bed, then wrap your head with a towel. Apply the same solution to your hair once again in the morning when you wake up, then rinse it with water. You do not have to worry about the smell of vinegar in your hair, as the smell of vinegar does evaporate eventually.

Whatever you do, never, ever scratch the clumps with your fingernails. It will cause wounds on your scalp.

Dandruff is an embarrassing hair condition, but it is not unmanageable. Just take good care of your hair and the flakes will go away.

Blonde Hairstyles - What would you do to go blonde?

Tragically Blonde Hairstyles

Blonde Hair What would you do to go blonde? Female Fatale, Rebel without a Cause is one determined blonde-haired woman.
You see them everywhere and against all natural odds - they are blonde. Sort of. They sit in the stylist's chair with frizzy blonde, black-roots begging for more bleach. Their hair is screaming for moisture. See picture on the left...

For under $20 dollars you could help fix that problem with some products that could actually make your hair blonde, healthy and shinny. Maybe even natural? Blondes do have more fun - see Jessica Simpson hairstyles, but if you are not in the Salon cutting your hair every 3 months, and have dry, damaged hair, don't despair.

Should I blow Dry?

Even if you do not blow dry 100% pure natural hair, it becomes damaged creating split ends, by ingredients like climate, dryness, over highlighting and mostly by avoiding your stylist. If you are using a moistening condition for dry hair, or a re-constructer for damaged hair, should able you to blow-dry just fine.
Adding heat from a blow dryer weakens the strands and sometimes it breaks off in extreme cases. So put the proper conditioning treatment in your hair and ask a Salon that has a good reputation to help you find that product that you need.

Conditioner or Re-constructer?

Blonde Hair If you have just a few blonde highlights, mixed in with a few other colors, you probably just need a moisturizing conditioner. Try Joico's Moisturizer or K-Pac Daily Conditioner, Redkin's Extreme Shampoo, or Sebastian's Potion 9.
If you are heavily blonde, and haven't been dark since you can't remember when, then try bc bonacure's Repair Treatment, one of the best quick fixes out there. It's a honey/wheat protein base to help strengthen the hair. For longer term results try Joico's K-Pack Re-constructer. Both products do a great job.

Lowlights?

Lowlights might be the way to go and can add a lot more moisture to your hair. Lowlights are usually sliced through the other lightening foils to add depth and darken some of your over stressed blonde hair. Giving it a chance to recover and absorb its lacking pigment. The good thing is that you could go more a natural blonde or golden, if you're brave go for a caramel or a darker color. Pick your blonde back up in the summer, after it 's healthy and rejuvenated. You'll look good and feel better.

If you can't live with the idea of adding some lowlights (and they can be dark blonde lowlights) to your platinum do, then let's fix it the easy way.
Blonde Hair After Blow-drying and assuming you are using your conditioner apply a small amount of Farouk's Bio Silk Therapy. It's silk in a bottle. It will also protect your hair from the damage it sustains without bleaching or blow-drying. The amount of no more then a dime rubs into your hands before you apply the clear less lotion to dry hair. Instantly all your fly away ends and dryness is gone. Until you wash it, of course.

For an extreme shine finish use Joico's Spray Glaze, Shine-Enhancer. It smells nice and really gives a nice shine. Keeping shine, keeps moisture and helps make you condition process that much easier. There's a reason why blondes have more fun! You go girls!