First things first: a good hair conditioner is a good hair conditioner—regardless of scent. But we all love it when our hair products smell nice, don’t we? In addition to passing the smell test with its refreshing, sweet-yet-minty scent, this one leaves my hair silky-smooth and hydrated in spite of all the heat-styling and chemical processing I subject it to. I’ve tried (and loved!) other products from the Nick Chavez family and I have to say that, as amazing as all of them are, this is my new favorite. The condition of my hair has really and truly improved.

Another helpful hint for ladies hoping to maintain long, luscious locks: take it easy with the shampoo! At first it may seem weird, the idea of washing every other day or (gasp) once or twice a week. But I’m telling you, it’s really one of the best things you can do for your hair. I know the idea sounds all the more crazy if you’re an avid worker-outer. How can I possibly skip a day of shampoo when I’m covered in sweat? you ask. Just rinse your hair with water and apply a good hair conditioner like this one to your ends. Give it a few months and I guarantee you your hair will be shinier, softer and just better in general.

Did you receive Nick Chavez Ultra Shine Honey-Peppermint Conditioner in your Beautyfix kit this season? What did you think?

stock.xchng user marcos_bh

Hair dye has been around for centuries, and there are so many different types, techniques and colors to choose from that it can be hard to stick to one shade of style for longer than a few months. Unfortunately, those of us who have repeated hair-color-induced identity crises tend to overdo it, and can be left with brittle damaged hair. There are ways to avoid this inevitable damage and still stay spontaneous with your hair color if you use the right products. Understanding the different processing levels is key to keeping your precious locks in tact while they go through regular color transformations.

Temporary Hair Dye

For those of you looking for a way to spice up your look with a shade that is a few shades darker or similar to your natural hair color, temporary hair dye is a great way to add shine and luster without penetrating the delicate hair shaft, keeping it safe and intact. When choosing a temporary color, make sure you are using a “no lift” formula that contains verily low or no peroxide. (Peroxide is what enters the hair shaft; and is a must for shades that require an initial lifting of the base color, but for a temporary color deposit jobs, will just cause unnecessary damage.) Unfortunately, this is only an option if you want to dye your hair with brown hair dye, and is pretty limiting to the adventurous beauty queens. These products only coat the hair with pigment and boost radiance without the side effects of permanent hair dye or bleach.

Permanent Hair Dye

Permanent and Semi-permanent hair color works one level deeper within the hair strand and therefore have a wider range of shades both lighter and darker from your natural color. These work with a higher level of peroxide with opens the hair cuticle to allow the dye inside the cortex. Once inside the cortex the two-step process of removing color (also called lifting) and then depositing the new color on top. This process bonds with the hair much more strongly than a no lift color deposit, and there for provides longer lasting, yet slightly more damaging results.

Hair Bleach

If you have dark hair and want to go 3 or more shades lighter than your natural color, there is no way around it, you have to use hair bleach. The bleach reacts with the melanin in hair, and permanently removes all of its pigment. Bleaching black hair blond can be a tricky and often disastrous process if the person is not familiar with the chemistry of the hair, but these problems can be avoided with a little knowledge.

Normally the goal with bleach is to achieve the pale yellow hue that is actually the natural color of plain keratin (the building block of hair). But way too many people end up with one of those fiery shades of radioactive orange that I am all too familiar with. This happens due to the bleach being removed too early in the lightening process. It’s all a matter or science, and understanding the different nature of color molecules. When bleach starts reacting with the melanin in your hair, it first removes the smallest and easiest blue molecules, and then enters the longer stage of taking out those larger, more resilient red molecules. This takes multiple treatments in some cases, as the bleach will lose its potency after about an hour. It must be reapplied to cut through all that stubborn red and reveal that oh so beautiful pale blond below.

If you are doing an at-home bleach job, be very careful to not over process, as bleach doesn’t stop when it has reached the desired shade, it will keep on eating away at your hair, and could dissolve it completely.

If you don’t trust yourself or fully understand what you are doing, I would highly recommend shelling out the cash to have it professionally done. I have fallen victim to about every hair dying disaster, and believe me when I say, emergency color correction is VERY expensive.

Source: Flickr user nlmAdestiny

One of my favorite things in life has to be champagne. And while most of us love indulging in our favorite champagne, we don’t realize that it’s not just for sipping. Your favorite bubbly is also great for your hair and in your skin care routine. Champagne skin care and champagne hair treatment are perfect at this time of year. Detoxifying isn’t something we normally think of when we hear the word “champagne,”  but it works amazingly well as a detoxifying toner and can benefit normal to oily skin. What’s more, it’s also a great hair treatment.  At home skin and hair treatments for a big night out with a bottle of bubbly? Sounds right up our alley.

With any new toner, especially one made at home, I’m concerned with the alcohol content because it can be very drying. Turns out, champagne actually contains less alcohol than a lot of toners that you find at the store. Carbon dioxide is also very present in champagne and it helps constrict your pores, detoxify and fight free radicals. All in all, this is a very good anti-aging skin care product if your skin is a little more oily than normal. Using champagne in your skin care will help make your skin firmer and give you a gorgeous glow. Skin care for oily skin can be difficult to manage at home, but bust out the bottle and pour a little into a dish or bowl. Start with clean skin so it’s ready for the toner. Take a cotton round or cotton ball and soak it with the champagne. At this point, you’re also free to take a few sips of course. Take the cotton round and gently squeeze out the excess champagne, so it’s not dripping wet. Using the cotton round, apply all over your face, neck and décolleté. It’ll feel very light and cool and you will be able to feel the carbonation on your skin. The detoxifying begins, and looking at the cotton round, you’ll be shocked at how much dirt and debris that it’s already picked up. Let it sit for about 20-30 seconds and follow up with your favorite moisturizer. Skin care for oily skin has never been easier.

At home hair treatments are an easy way to keep your hair healthy. And this one gives you an excuse to pop your bottle earlier in the day to prep for any big night out.  According to hair expert Joel Warren from Warren-Tricomi, champagne makes for an excellent hair treatment, particularly if your hair’s blond. One of our all time favorite hair tips for getting smooth, silky locks: mix one-half cup of your favorite champagne with one-half cup of hot water.  Distribute the mix evenly throughout your hair and let it marinate while you are preparing yourself for a night of luxury or fun. Rinse out and style for a head of gorgeous, lustrous hair.

Flickr user limonlucikolata

flickr user chicagophotoshop

2010 was a pretty beautiful year, literally speaking. Aside from a few missteps and casualties (Bump-its anyone? Jersey Shore-esque tans? Anything from the Taylor Momsen makeup bag?), this past year has ushered in some gorgeous new looks and brought relevance to retro trends as well. Below is a list of some of the best beauty trends 2010 had to offer.

• Ombre Hair- Good news for those who despise the monthly trips to the salon for touch-ups! Perfectly maintained hair is out and ombre hair is in!  Celebs like Nicole Richie and Rachel Bilson started bucking the beauty rule of root maintenance this summer.
• Retro hair- Think beehives, a la Scarlet Johanson, and Veronica Lake waves made popular by beauties such as Megan Fox and Angelina Jolie.
• Cat eye makeup and winged eyeliner- A favorite of everyone from Lauren Conrad to the make up artists at fashion week, this easy-to-achieve look dominated the beauty pages in 2010.  With a steady hand and an easy-to-use liquid eyeliner (I prefer Hourglass Cosmetics Calligraphy Liquid Eyeliner) anyone can perfect this subtle, yet sexy come-hither look. Again, please remember, you are going for subtle, not Little J!
• Pixie cuts- For the past couple months, stars have been chopping off their long locks one-by-one to reveal a gamine and gorgeous, yet classic do. Celebrities such as Michelle Williams, Ginnifer Goodwin, Carey Mulligan, Emma Watson, Elisha Cuthbert and Rihanna have all made the cut, literally. Beware though; this hair trend is not for everyone.
• Braids- The braided hair style is my personal favorite look from this year. The mixture of simplicity and versatility, mixed with my laziness and unruly mane, has turned the braid into my go-to hair style.

The worst? There were some doozies! The aforementioned Bump Its, Oompa-Loompa tans, raccoon eye makeup, also snuggies, neon makeup and scraggly extensions (again, bad year for Taylor Momsen) … but the absolute worst beauty trend of 2010? Vajazzling!

stock.xchng user Sammylee

To some people, admitting they have dandruff can be humiliating, and walking into the drugstore to get some medicated shampoo requires a level 10 head-to-toe disguise. But, just like all the other embarrassing creams and OTC remedies for delicate health problems, dandruff shampoo is purchased by millions of people every day.

Some people are plagued with scalp problems year round, but even those with baby smooth scalps can find themselves seeing flakes when the weather is wacky. No matter which category you fall into, the causes and treatment for dandruff can vary, so in order to cure this pesky malady, finding the root of the problem is your best bet in solving it.

The first thing you should do is determine the severity of your condition. If you are experiencing extreme symptoms and nothing you try seems to be making making them any better, it might be more serious than just dandruff. If you have pain, excessive scaling (that might affect other parts of your body as well as your scalp), and redness, a doctor will be able to prescribe you a stronger method of treatment for Seborrheic Dermatitis.  But, if you are just experiencing an itchier than normal scalp and are concerned with having snow-flecked shoulders, there are plenty of things you can try that will combat the problem.

What many people don’t realize is that the cause of dandruff is  an imbalance of yeast and bacteria on your scalp. Before you freak out and jump into a tub full of Purell, know that both yeast and bacteria are necessary for our bodies to function, and different kinds are living in harmony together all over our skin, hair, and our insides. The problems occur when one starts to overpower the other, allowing one side’s population to thrive and the other’s to dwindle. Things like dandruff are the result of a low bacteria count and a high yeast count. This can be caused by internal as well as external factors, but many times the slew of hair products we slather on our hair daily is the culprit.

To maintain optimal scalp health, the right hair products must be used and the wrong ones must be eliminated. Even expensive shampoos are full of oil stripping, moisture sucking ingredients and can ruin all attempts to grow the perfect head of hair. To maintain a flake free scalp year round, look for shampoos that use gentle cleansers like Cocamidopropyl Betaine, which is made from coconut oil. Another good thing to look for in a daily shampoo is an antimicrobial that will make sure to keep both yeast and bacteria in check. Look for fungus fighting ingredients (they usually end in “conazole”) when dealing with dandruff. A good option is DS Labs Dandrene Shampoo. But don’t stop at just the right shampoo. Try to cut out as many after shower products as you can, as they can cause build up when used every day. This applies to hair sprays, mousses, gels, and all other mane control serums, spritzes, and salves that you may be applying more often than necessary.  Replace some of these products with a good quality hair follicle treatment like Alterna’s Life Volume Restore Scalp and Follicle Treatment. This will not only nourish your hair and scalp, but it will also help keep the healthy bacteria and yeast in perfect harmony throughout the day.

Dandruff can be a frustrating condition, but with the right tools, it can be easy to control.  With the right hair-care routine, you will be itch-free and wearing black with confidence again in no time.

Flickr user: irodman

By Jenna

Dry hair is not cute, and it’s just not fun at all. When your hair is dry it starts breaking and can make your fabulous hair cut not so fabulous anymore. It happens so fast that you probably won’t notice the change, but dry, damaged hair is a fact of life and most of us will have to deal with it one point or another.

Although a healthy diet does help the natural production of oil that will naturally condition your hair, dry, damaged hair doesn’t happen on its own.  Split ends and brittle hair are a result of over-processing, blow-drying, straightening, perming and overall excessive styling. Excessive styling with heat can wreak havoc on your hair, leaving it dry, unmanageable, fragile and broken. So can using harsh shampoos, washing it too often, exposure to the sun and wind, over brushing, chlorine, medications and poor nutrition.  If you’re guilty of any of these uber-drying faux pas, it’s never too late to improve your hair care routine.

To start out, don’t wash your hair every day, and do use a gentle shampoo. When you’re over shampooing, you’re stripping your hair of its natural oils, resulting in dry hair. There are a wide variety of shampoos for dry hair, made specially to treat the condition. If your hair gets extra oily between washings, consider using a dry shampoo to give you a fresh look without the water. Also, if you don’t already, use a conditioner every time you wash your hair. This will help infuse your locks with moisture and restore your hair with nutrients and vitamins. Conditioners for dry hair help restore shine, detangle and nourish all hair types.

Dry hair treatments are also available and work wonders on restoring and reviving damaged hair. You can use an overnight hair treatment, scalp oil or a hair mask. Each of these will have amazing effects on fixing dry and damaged hair. Scalp oils contain vitamins to help protect against free radicals and essentials oils to nourish the hair and scalp. By massaging the oils into your scalp, you’re stimulating growth and infusing moisture into your skin and hair. Hair masques are easy to use as well as quick plus, there are many at home hair recipes to use. Generally, wash your hair and apply the hair mask. Let it sit for about 10 minutes and rinse off. They moisturize and help protect and nourish your poor dry hair.

Next time you go out on a windy day, don’t forget your hat!  Not just to be fashionable, but to protect your gorgeous locks! Dry hair products are easy to find and amazing to use. Pay attention to what your hair is telling you. If it’s falling out at alarming rates or breaking off when you brush it, it’s time to put a little effort into restoring your hair into the lustrous mane it’s supposed to be.

Emma Watson's Pixie Cut flickr user skoykkahwin

Forget the Rachel, say goodbye to Posh’s angled bob and peace out to Blake Lively’s tousled tresses. There is a new style on the block and it is taking Hollywood by storm. Meet The Pixie- the IT 2010 hairstyle. For the past couple months, stars have been chopping off their long locks one-by-one to reveal a gamine and gorgeous, yet classic, do. Celebrities such as Michelle Williams, Ginnifer Goodwin, Carey Mulligan, Emma Watson, Elisha Cuthbert, Rihanna, Katie Holmes and Hayden Panettiere have all made the cut, literally. The most recent addition to the ever growing list of short haired beauties is Ashlee Simpson Wentz, whose husband debuted the pixie haircut via twitter. So you think you want to jump on the pixie bandwagon? I got some advice about the 2010 hairstyle trend from Shear Genius contestant and stylist to the stars Janine Jarman—read on and learn how to make this fun look work for you.

Beautyfix: Let’s talk pixie cuts.

Janine Jarman: It makes me so happy to see short hair on girls! To me, short hair looks so feminine—it makes the face and eyes really stand out.

Beautyfix: Are different variations better for different face shapes?

JJ: Yes, there are hundreds of charts online of face shape and hair cuts that are designed to make your face shape look as close to an oval as possible. That’s the ultimate goal, so if you have a square jaw you want to have layers cut down into the jaw and round it out. If you have a heart shaped face, same thing—you want longer layers and a side bang cut down and over so that it makes oval.

Beautyfix: How often do pixie haircuts need to be trimmed to maintain the shape?

JJ: Every four weeks. Short hair cuts need to be cut a lot more often than long hair cuts.

Beautyfix: Any tips on how to gracefully grow out a pixie cut?

JJ: Hair accessories are the best way to grow out any hair-do. Once it gets to chin length and lower, get extensions if it’s that torturous for you.

We’ve discussed all the fall 2010 makeup trends, so let’s move on and discuss something just as important: your hair. Sometimes, the seasons and current hair trends run together into a busy blur or we forget to actually try new things—not this fall! Autumn is right around the corner and every single one of 2010’s fall hair styles is a definite “do.” Use these tips to update your hair for fall.

Source: Flickr user Mait Juriado

1.   Make it sleek and straight

Isn’t it refreshing to see straight hair back on the runways?  This look should be very well-groomed but still look airy and natural. To get a sexy, sleek look, apply Stylist Professional Series Straightening Lotion by Jonathan Product to damp hair and blow dry in small sections. This product will help smooth your hair and cut down dry time—without weighing it down.

2.   A quick and easy bun

As low-maintenance as it gets, this trendy hair style can be your everyday up-do for fall. Give your sleek hair a deep side part, then pull it back at the nape of your neck and loop the tail up into a bun.

3.   Accessorize

Add accessories for an instantly cuter look. Yes, you have permission to add anything from leafy headbands to jewels to your hair. But whatever you choose, be sure it doesn’t completely take over your head (the Lady Gaga look doesn’t work for most). The idea is to complement your new fall hair style, not ruin it.

4. Try a center part

Whether you’re pumping up your roots with volume, going for the laid-back sleek look, or sporting boho waves, keep your part in the middle. If you aren’t too keen on the dead-center part, veering slightly to one side will work as well. (Note: if you’re doing a ponytail or a low chignon, it’s perfectly fine to do a side part.)

5. Pretty in Ponytails

For a younger, sweeter hair trend, try a ponytail. A high, bouncy ponytail adds a feminine touch to any outfit. Pull all your hair back into an almost-perfect pony at the top of your crown and secure with an elastic. Use 2-3 drops of serum, like John Masters Organics Dry Hair Nourishment and Defrizzer to tame any flyaways and to keep hold. For extra credit, take a small piece from the underside and wrap it around to cover the elastic.

Blake's Perfect Beach Waves

Perfecting the California cool beach waves hair style is as easy as, well, a day at the beach! Trust me, if yours truly can pull this off, anyone can. If only I knew these quick hairstyle tips in high school…

The greatest part about this easy breezy summer hairstyle is that it can be achieved with either wet or dry hair! The most important ingredient is good hair texturizer that mimics the  look from the sun, sand and saltwater and spares your hair the damaging effects from the real thing. I recommend Krystal High Gloss Shine Spray by Kronos or Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray.

If you are starting with wet hair, work the product through the hair and either towel dry or blow-dry with a diffuser.  It is best to only partially dry the hair and remember to not run your fingers through it too much; this can cause frizz and accidently remove the hair texturizer. When starting with dry hair, the process is even easier! Just spray the product on the roots and lightly over the hair for added volume and body. If your hair gets oily easily, apply a little dry shampoo first.

Depending on your hair type and texture, a little spray and scrunch might be all you need. If your hair loses volume easily or needs a little extra vavava-voom, there is an optional step two. Use a curling iron, either large or small barreled, to add a few loose waves. Choose sections of hair in varying sizes and alternate the directions of the curls. Once you have finished curling, bend over and shake your head to ensure that your curls create a tousled hair look, not styled, and perform a quick final spray with either your texturizer or a high gloss shine.

The result? A perfectly chic and total easy summer hairstyle that works year round.

Think you’ve tried every frizz-kicking trick in the book? Think again! NaturallyCurly.com, the online oasis for curlies since 1998, provides some unique and unconventional methods of fighting frizz, even in the most humid weather:

frizzy hair	A natural fabric softener can be a great way to make your curls less frizzy. Simply use as any other conditioner and apply after shampooing. Keep some dryer sheets in your purse to use in a pinch and stroke the dryer sheet in a downward motion. Dryer sheets are also great for eliminating static cling. Breast milk is a natural deep conditioner, it contains the appropriate amounts of protein and fat to condition hair and reduce frizz. It also packs essential vitamins and minerals that help combat dry hair. Fill a spray bottle with breast milk, spray locks thoroughly and proceed with your normal hair washing routine. Take one cup of flat, room-temperature beer and work into hair after shampooing, then rinse with cold water. The vitamin B and natural sugars in beer add body and shine, while acting as a natural setting lotion that increases resilience, vitality and hold. Apply KY Jelly just like any gel. Don’t worry: this remedy isn’t x-rated! Use sparingly or mixed in with other products. This paste will condition each hair strand section by section; simply smooth through curls with your fingers. Rinse, and behold silky, restored, beautiful hair. You can also apply to dry hair to define curls and smooth frizz. Leaving the house without knowing the weather report can trip up even the most prepared frizz-fighter. Stay a step ahead of the weather with NaturallyCurly’s Frizz Forecast™.  The Frizz Forecast provides the humidity conditions for your specific area, as well as high and low temperatures for the day.
ABOUT MICHELLE BREYER:
Michelle Breyer Michelle Breyer co-founded www.NaturallyCurly.com, a website for curly hair that she launched with her business partner and friend, Gretchen Heber. Spending most of her life as a journalist, Ms. Breyer never dreamed she would develop the leading source of information for specialty beauty products. It was the Texas humidity that inspired both Ms. Breyer and Ms. Heber to search for information to help them manage their curly hair and find appropriate beauty products. They were frustrated by the dearth of information on curly hair, and the lack of products on the market. One of their curly hair rants, at a brunch, was the inspiration behind NaturallyCurly.com. They launched the site in September of that year with the help of a 14-year-old Web designer. They see unlimited potential for their venture. More than 50 percent of the world’s population has curly hair. Ms. Breyer’s personal experience with her curly hair, and as the mother of a curly haired daughter, has helped her recognize the challenges faced each day by those with curls and kinks. With a deep personal connection, she can relate well to the community, and is a role model to inspire others to learn to love their curls and kinks. Ms. Breyer lives in Texas with her husband and daughter.