Hair Advice

Haircut, Style, Care, and Color Advice for Healthy Hair

Why is it that everyone makes such a fuss over their hair? It's probably because shiny hair is very attractive and signifies good health. It doesn't matter if your makeup and clothing are top-notch, if your hair isn't up to par, it will ruin your overall appearance. Our haircut, care and styling advice will help you get the best possible results for your tresses and keep you feeling confident and happy.

Bad Haircut Help

If it hasn't happened already, sooner or later it will. The dreaded "bad haircut" goes beyond a "bad hair day." It can change the way you feel about yourself and undermine your self esteem for months. It's no secret, women are picky about their hair. It's hard enough to get a good style, but with a bad haircut, it's almost impossible.

First of all, don't panic! If misery loves company, you've got plenty. The bad hair cut happens to everybody at some time or another and it may help just knowing you're not alone. Here's some advice to get you through the tough times and help you feel just a little bit better.

Contact Your Stylist

You need to tell your stylist that you're not satisfied with your cut. It's possible you won't realize it turned out bad until you're home. If that's the case, give your stylist a call and tell him or her why you're not satisfied. If there's enough hair to work with, make another appointment and have it corrected. If not, it's better just let it grow (and it will) because you don't need to make it worse.

If this was a trusted stylist who botched your hair, it's better to forgive and allow them to make amends. Nobody is perfect, and it may just have been a bad day or simple miscommunication. While this is little relief, they'll try their best to make it right.

If this was a new stylist and you're certain that you won't trust him or her again, get a referral, go back to a trusted one, or try a new one to get help for your bad haircut. There's no reason to have someone cutting your hair again if they've caused you so much grief to begin with.

Help Yourself

Now, here's some consolation. For your emotional stability, you need to remember that hair grows about 1/2" a month and it's probably not going to take near as long as you think to grow out to a stage where it's acceptable. Trust me, this is the only time you will appreciate dark roots because that indicates your hair is growing!

Give it some time. If you're one of the few lucky ones, you may decide the cut wasn't so bad after all and you may even you like it. If that's not the case... Growing out a bad haircut is awkward but there are ways to minimize your discomfort. If the hat fits, wear it. Some people look great in hats and already have some. Ok, so that may not be what you had in mind...

Add Style

Try adding some body to straight hair with Velcro rollers or a curling iron. Adding some waves and curls will help disguise any blunt cuts. If your hair is wavy or kinky, straighten it out to give it some length. Don't be stuck in a rut. Now that you have a different hair cut (like it or not,) you need to do damage control with some new hair styles.

Use Hair Accessories

There are so many hair accessories on the market today, a bad haircut is a good excuse to try them out. If you hair's long enough, pull it back and leave a few strands around your face to give the illusion of longer hair.

Use the new style barrettes, hair pins, spikes, and butterfly combs to pull back your hair in problem areas only. Headbands come in so many styles and colors you're bound to find some you like. Plastic, jeweled and beaded, you can't go wrong. Think of it this way, you may be noticed for the best multiple innovative hair styles in the upcoming months!

If your bangs are too short, blow dry them straight down and sweep to the side. Then secure them back with a hair clip or bobby pin.

Add Hair Extensions

You can find clip on synthetic pony tails, braids (plaits) and straight hair extensions in department and discount stores everywhere. If you can match the color, you're in luck. You'll have an instant ponytail or braid for a feminine look.

Loose line extensions are more complicated and you're going to need a professional to put them in. You can choose synthetic or human hair. Human hair is costly but gives you a more natural look. Since the price tag for extensions is higher than other fixes, you need to decide it your bad haircut is really that bad. They require special maintenance and if you like things simple, this is not for you.

Do-it-yourself hair extensions are in longer lines and come with directions for you to put them in yourself. These are handy but it's a good idea to have someone help you clip them in.

Whatever bad haircut fix you decide on, remember, it's only a matter of time before you're back to your normal self and this will only be a distant memory.

Dandruff Causes and Treatment

If you're one of those people who are unfortunate enough to suffer from dandruff, you've probably already discovered how much of a nuisance it is in your everyday life. Not only does it undermine your self-esteem, but it limits your wardrobe to light-colored clothing to camouflage the unsightly flakes.

So what is dandruff and how can you get rid of the itchy scalp and flaking that occurs? The answer is not that simple because why you have dandruff may be a mystery and the treatment may depend on the cause. Read on.

Causes

Doctors dispute the actual causes of dandruff and there is no definite reason given for those annoying oily or dry flakes on the scalp that soon appear in your hair. Your scalp sheds cells in a natural process but for some people, excessive flaking occurs when dead skin cells are shed at an increased rate.

Different theories include overactive oil glands, clogged oil glands, stress, diet, hormonal imbalance, poor hygiene, and possibly a fungus such as P. Ovale. According to the Mayo Clinic, the fungus is often present in dandruff but may not cause it. The dandruff may, in fact, be causing the fungus.

Dandruff Treatments

Dandruff is not a threat to your health or life. It is not contagious and does not cause your hair to fall out or (yikes!) complete balding. Getting rid of dandruff is beneficial to relieve an itchy scalp and for cosmetic reasons. If something's not right, it makes perfect sense to seek help.

Keep in mind that there is no definitive cure but there are several ways to manage it and keep in under control. Some dandruff treatments may work, some may not. Sometimes, what worked before, quits working and you have to move on to another remedy.

If your flaking is not too bad, you can start by washing your hair more often in tepid water with a mild shampoo. Every time you shampoo and condition your hair, make sure you rinse thoroughly to ensure there is no product left in your hair. Products not properly rinsed out can be a single cause of flaking. Avoid styling products that contain alcohol and use hair spray sparingly.

For serious dandruff, there are many solutions on the market today that contain salicylic acid, selenium sulfide, or coal tar to help control remove the dead cells and control any fungus. The cost is higher than other shampoos but it may be cheaper then visiting your dermatologist. Follow the directions carefully and massage thoroughly into your scalp for maximum results. Again, some shampoos may quit working and you may need to try another type.

See your dermatologist if symptoms persist. There may be an underlying cause of excessive flaking such as psoriasis or seborrhea dermatitis in which over-the-counter treatments are not very effective. Whilst prescription medications and shampoos can greatly reduce discomfort and ease symptoms, a cure is not guaranteed.

Home Remedies

There are many things you can do at home to increase you chances of success. Changes in your diet should include reducing your sugar intake and possibly yeast. You probably won't see results quickly but over time, it can help.

Get proper rest and do all that you can to reduce stress. You may need to put something on hold and take some time to relax. Again, results won't be immediate but reducing stress can not only be good for fighting dandruff, it's beneficial to your overall health.

Listerine mouthwash can be used because of it's antiseptic ability to reduce germs and fungus. It can irritate your scalp so don't apply it if you have a "raw" scalp or any open sores.

Aloe Vera is a popular home remedy for a large variety of skin conditions and dandruff is no exception. The best natural remedy is to take the gel from Aloe Vera leaves, apply it directly to your scalp and leave in for hours at a time or overnight, followed by shampooing.

Look for tree oil shampoo at a store that specializes in natural and organic products. Known for it's antiseptic, antibiotic and antifungal abilities, tree oil shampoo can be effective in treating dandruff. If your scalp is sore, test a spot first to see if it causes further irritation or allergies.

When babies have dry, thick flaking on their scalp, it's known as "cradle cap." Often, rubbing baby oil over their scalp softens the flakes for removal and helps prevent more from forming. For small areas, adults can try this too.

Growing Out Your Hair

Letting your short hair grow out will often give you some awkward stages to get through but there are several ways to glide through the rough spots. Whether you’re growing it out for a longer, overall length or just to get rid of layers, there’s still maintenance involved.

Of course, the oldest hair is on the ends and the longer your hair is, the more care it will need to keep it shiny and healthy. When growing out their hair, many people want to do it in the quickest manner possible, and that is, not cutting their hair at all. This is far from ideal and leads to breaking and splitting.

Why not make the decision to take it a little slower and keep it shaped and trimmed properly while it’s growing? This means trimming your bottom ends and also the ends of your layers regularly. The obvious trick is to cut at a slower rate than it’s growing. You can go to your stylist a little less often but make it clear that you wish to have longer hair and have her cut off only what’s absolutely necessary.

Life goes on and there are going to be special events to attend while your hair is in an undesirable stage. Besides a regular trim, there are several things you can do to ease the growing pains and still look good:

Hair Growth Tips

• Be patient and squash the urge to get a full cut. This is a great opportunity to discover what length looks best on you.
• Try out some new hairstyles. Take a cue from celebrities and enjoy diversity.
• Invest in some hair accessories such as head-bands, barrettes, bobby pins, hair sticks, and ties. Use these to pin back awkward areas or wear a full-fledged bun or pony-tail.
• When growing bangs out, you can pin them back or swoop them to the side.
• If your hair is thick, ask your stylist to use thinning scissors to keep your hair more manageable.
• Longer hair requires more time to maintain and style. Be sure to rinse out all of your shampoo and condition it properly.
• There is no magic pill for hair growth but taking a multi-vitamin, eating healthy foods, and getting your beauty sleep is beneficial to both your hair and skin.
• Avoid brushes and use only a wide-toothed comb on wet hair to avoid frizz and split ends.
• If you really can’t wait, go to the salon and have a professional add some hair extensions. Keep in mind that this is not a permanent fix and can damage your hair over time. Better yet, buy some inexpensive, clip-on extensions and pony tails. These can be found at beauty supply stores and drug stores such as Walgreen's.
• Take pictures of yourself every month while your hair is growing out. This will help you determine later on, which length is flattering on you.

Eyebrow Grooming and Tweezing Tips

How your eyebrows are groomed can make a considerable difference in your appearance. Eyebrows help shape your eyes and give you character. If you have bushy eyebrows, it's important to keep them trimmed and well groomed. Most people need some kind of eyebrow maintenance. Many of these tips work well for women as well as men.

Never shave your eyebrows for a quick fix. You will regret it later when they all start growing back in with straight edges. It will look obvious, and require constant maintenance. Depilatories are not a good idea to use around the eye area and there's plenty of room for mistakes. This can irritate your skin and your hairs will also grow back much quicker than waxing or tweezing.

Waxing your eyebrows is best done professionally, however, there are many kits on the market for this purpose. They come with step-by-step instructions to simplify the process. If you want to do this at home, have a professional do it the first time so you can see how it's done. Be prepared for some temporary discomfort and pain.

Trimming Your Eyebrows

Depending on how thick your eyebrows are, sometimes all you need is a small pair of scissors to trim away the stray hairs. Grooming and trimming your brows is best done under a bright lights for accuracy.

First decide what areas need attention and slowly trim your eyebrows in the direction of hair growth. Don't go overboard, if you trim your hairs too short, they will stick out and look silly. You may want to do this over a few days, after you have a chance to decide if you're on the right track.

Plucking Stray Eyebrow Hairs

Aside from waxing, tweezing is still the most efficient method for removing eyebrow hairs. If you need to pluck your eyebrows, keep a clean pair of tweezers handy for this use only.

Men are tempted to use tweezers for other things, such as cleaning their fingernails. Don't! This will make them unsanitary and less affective. If you do this, you'll probably need to buy a new pair when the ends don't meet properly to grab the hairs.

Start off with moistened brows. Tweezing after a shower is ideal, but you can soak your brow area with a warm washcloth for several minutes and it will have the same effect. Comb your eyebrows in the direction of their growth and let them fall naturally in place.

After deciding which areas need thinning out, tweeze your eyebrows in the direction of hair growth. For an even look, start underneath, from the inside, out. Pull them out one by one to avoid mistakes. Be careful, some hairs may not grow back!

Tweeze the center of your eyebrows and look carefully to make sure you don't get them too far apart. You can always go back later and remove additional hairs if you need more space.

Don't pluck away too many hairs from the top of your brow. Target the obvious stray hairs and thin them out a little. Again, start from the center, then outwards.

Correcting Mistakes

Mistakes are bound to happen, even with a steady hand. If you should find yourself with some empty spaces or bald patches, don't fret. Fill in your eyebrows with an eye pencil or eye shadow that closely resembles the color of your hairs. By grooming your brows and blending in the color, they will look more natural.

Hair Removal Tips

Hair can be beautiful if it's in the right places. Unfortunately, the human body grows hair in places we would prefer not to have it. Getting rid of unwanted hair is one of the most common beauty problems for women, but men can also have problems with excessive growth.

From shaving to tweezing, there are many ways to enjoy smooth, silky skin, with little cost and effort. Plan on constant maintenance because hair seems to grow back much faster in places we don't want it. Professional threading and permanent removal are good alternatives but quite costly. Here, well focus on practical tips for quick hair removal.

Getting Rid of Unwanted Hair

• Shaving is still the most common and inexpensive method to remove unwanted hair. With care, it gives you a great, smooth feeling with the least fuss.
• When shaving your legs, use hair conditioner if you're out of shaving gel. This will leave your legs feeling smooth and silky.
• Tweeze eyebrows immediately after a shower or bath to loosen hair. If you find it painful, apply teething gel beforehand.
• Tweeze in the direction of hair growth.
• Enhance your natural brow when tweezing. Never change the shape of your arch.
• Hot wax can be used at home but it's best to have it done professionally the first time to see how it's done.
• Don't use hot wax if your skin is sensitive.
• Don't apply cream to your face after a hot wax treatment if you're prone to breakouts.
• Apply a coat of Vaseline to sensitive spots when using a depilatory or hot wax to keep it off of those areas.
• Do a test on a very small patch of skin before using a depilatory or hot wax to make sure it won't cause an allergic reaction or breakouts.
• Absolutely do not use depilatory, hot wax, or any other chemicals to remove nose hairs unless you're into pain.
• If you have your hair removed professionally, make sure the shop is up to the standards set by the health department and properly licensed.
• Consider professional threading for facial hair and eyebrows. It's much easier on the skin than waxing. Not every beauty parlor offers this service, so give them a call first.

Eyebrows

• Use an eyebrow or moustache brush to blend eyebrows up and enhance your natural arch.
• Tweeze only underneath your eyebrow but it's okay to pluck out the stragglers above.
• Tweezing is best done before bed time. Any swelling will be down by morning.
• If you accidentally make a gap in your eyebrow while tweezing, fill it in with an eyeliner pencil or eye shadow matching your eyebrow.
• You can find more tips for eyebrows on our Eyebrow Grooming and Tweezing page.