How to Hair Rollers

Back in 96 ( okay it was 86 but who’s counting) I was attending Hairdressing School in New Westminster, BC. We had these 1960′s like mannequin heads that we had to practice all kinds of hair styles on. These heads had the same kind of hair that Barbie did back in the 70′s and it was tougher than you would think trying to do anything with them.

The only fun easy part of hairdressing school was the roller sets, ohhhh the roller sets, easy, flip on roller, pin, next! Hair rollers are so easy in fact that a child could use them. They can make any flat hair incredibly “not flat” and do the least amount of damage. Follow these simple steps to achieve fuller, curly, smooth looking hair.

1. The first thing you will need are the rollers.

2. Wash your hair and use a setting lotion.

3. Begin at the front of your head with a rat tail comb and part your hair in two sections the length of the tooth part of the comb. Measure against the roller so you don’t have hair hanging off the sides.

figure 1.

4. Comb the section of hair forward and hold it tight with your fingers. You should be stretching the hair but not pulling it. Press the ends against the roller. Make sure to moisten hair throughout process as curls wont hold if you roll them on the drier side.

figure 2.

5. Roll the hair onto the roller keeping it flattened against the roller and make sure it is taught. If there is any slack during the rolling process it will show when you are done. Make sure it is neat and tidy the whole time. Carefully and securely place a clip to the each end of the roller. Your first roller is done!

figure 3.

6. Do this process all over always rolling back. When you are finished place a hair net over your hair and you can air dry or use a hair dryer. When your hair is completely dry remove net and curlers.

This is the best know “healthy” way to style your hair daily. Until next time Good Luck!

niki

Best Flat Irons for African American Relaxed Hair

The Karmin Hair Straightener is one of the best flat irons for African American relaxed hair. Many hair straighteners straighten hair but if you have African American hair you will know that it is tougher to straighten than any other. Once you have your hair relaxed it won’t stay that way forever, you will need touch ups and such.

figure 1: Before and after relaxing

Once your relaxed hair starts to grow out you can use the Karmin on the roots, or when you want extra shine. There are titanium plates used on the Karmin which provide an even heat distribution and amazing durability under high heats which is important in obtaining the best results possible. Titanium delivers the most negative ions and infrared heat for smooth, frizz free, shiny hair. Another of the great features of the Karmin Km4000 Titanium Hair Iron is the tourmaline, it makes it safe to use on relaxed hair. So instead of getting your hair relaxed too often, which will result in damage, try the Karmin for all the touch ups you will need.

figure 2: After hair relaxer and straightening

Till next time Good Luck,

Niki

How to Wear Hair Up

Sometimes wearing our hair up is all we can do to fix a “bad hair day”. I am often told I look better with my hair up, I tend to disagree, I love having my hair down…on a good hair day of course. Here are some trendy up styles that some of the celebrities are wearing.

Here is a loose outside french braid that is wrapped around from front to back.

Wearing your hair down, especially if it’s past your shoulders, will make your face look longer while sweeping it off your face is instantly uplifting,” notes Paula Casano, co-owner of New York City’s Insitu Salon.

A well styled up do has professional written all over it. Although we can have more problems with our hair up than when down, a low pony tail or well polished “fold” should do the trick.

Absolutely more professional with hair up while the hair down is more suited for a casual outing.

If you haven’t had time to get a trim and frizzy ends are making your locks fall lank, tie them up, says Barry Reitman, a celebrity stylist at Juan Juan in Beverly Hills.

Straightening your hair with a hair iron is great for a sleek easy up hair do as well, it leaves the hair that you leave outside of the elastic in a straight sort of “messy look”

Tie your hair band to either side of the back of your head and flip over your shoulder. Use a hair straightener to flip ends up.

Till next time Good Luck,

niki

How to Style Hair – Quick & Easy Hair

Some of us are very busy, we don’t have the time to wash, dry and style without getting up at 5am to get to work by 9am. Here are some easy hair styling tips to let you sleep in a little longer.

Apply styling foam and blow dry with a round brush. Appy a small amount of hair wax and use fingers to style.

It’s the short female business do and is popular with very dominant women. It’s a short hairstyle that shows the world you are a female and are in control.

Apply styling foam, blow dry for a few minutes leaving the hair still damp. Apply hair wax and style using fingers, twisting and styling however you like. This is also an easy hair style to wear without the blowdrying.

Apply mousse for waves and blowdry upside down scrunching your hair while drying it. Flip your head up and spray with a setting spray.

Perms are out, but one trend that is the hottest in salons is salt spraying. Don’t wash the hair everyday as dirty hair is easier to manage. Get the hair damp and use salt water in a spray to bring out the wavy curls. Since most hair has some sort of natural wave, the sea salt will bring this out and magnify it. Easy hair is all in what you feel comfortable with.If you do have time use a hair straightener, the temperatures do get hot enough to ensure a quick styling.

Till next time Good Luck

niki

How to Braid Hair

There are many types of braids, most of which you yourself can do at home. We are forever pulling our hair back into a messy bun or a ponytail. Try something new, try braiding. There are outside braids, inside braids, reverse french braiding, I could go on and on. I will tell you how to do a regular braid:

Step 1: Add some gel or mousse to your hair while still damp and then blow dry your hair. You want your hair to be as smooth and flat as possible, try using a straight iron to get all flyaways down.

Step 2: Separate your hair into 3 even sections. Place the left section between your left index finger and thumb, let the middle section hang free and place the right section between your right index finger and thumb. This will start the process of braiding.

Step 3: 3Grab the middle section with your right middle finger and pull it so it passes behind the right section. Extend your right thumb and index finger so that portion of hair becomes the middle section.

Step 4: Use the left middle finger to pull the middle section behind the left section. Extend or straighten the left index finger and thumb to make the left section become the middle section. Pay close attention to the smoothness and tension of your hair sections.

Step 5: 5Shift the portion of hair hooked in the right middle finger so it sits between the right index finger and thumb. Repeat the process, then shift the portion of the hair hooked in the left middle finger so it sits between the left index finger and thumb

Step 6: Continue until you achieve the desired length of the hair braid. Make a tighter, more compact braid by pulling the middle section into a horizontal line as you pull it to the right or left. For a loose, or longer looking braid just shift the middle section to the right or left, letting it remain in a straight line.

Step 7: 7Tie off the ends of the hair braid with a covered rubber band.

Till next time Good Luck,

niki

Hair Care Shampoo

Buying the right shampoo is easy. It’s when you take it home and find that what you thought it would do it doesn’t that makes it frustrating! Ph balance again is important but no shampoo is going to “fix” your hair. Read the label before you buy, is it for your hair type? When you do use shampoo use the amount that is right for your length. If you have really long hair I suggest using twice as much than you would for shoulder length hair (about a toonie for shoulder length).

When shampooing always massage into your scalp with your fingers, not nails and let the shampoo run through the rest of your hair while you are rinsing. This will prevent your hair from becoming to dry. Do not shampoo your hair everyday, your hair has natural occurring oils that are good it. I realize hair that is thin and fine needs to be washed more often, but this is the worst thing for this kind of hair. If you can, on the second day try to put your hair up instead of washing it. If you do not use too many styling products on day one of shampooing, your hair will not look as oily on day two. This Paul Mitchell Clarify product is a good choice to start the routine of washing every two days

Paul Mitchell’s Clarify Shampoo

Try to stay away from products that are a shampoo and conditioner in one. Do you notice that some people can go days without washing their hair and it still looks healthy and shiny? Well I know it is a little depressing for those who cannot, but after you shampoo every second day instead of everyday your hair will start to be “okay” with this. The first little while your hair may still look a little oily at the roots but this starts to diminish. Also to avoid excess damage make sure you use your styling tools, ie: hair straightener, curling irons and blow dryers at the correct setting for your hair. Too hot, more damage on thinner, finer hair types.

Till next time, Good Luck

Niki

« Previous Page