My most frequently asked question as a hairstylist: HOW DO I MAKE MY HAIR GROW FASTER?

My answers to how to make your hair grow faster?
The very best way that I know of is to take prenatal vitamins. Why is that? If you intake vitamin E from your food that you eat your body uses it for the most important things first. Which is... your BRAIN, then HEART, then lungs, kidneys, liver, etc. That leaves next to nothing for your hair. So if you have excess vitamins (example: prenatals) they go where needed then you pee the rest of them out. On average hair grows ½ inch a month, but this will help to make sure that you get at least that and more. Also
• Diet matters
Nutritious diet consisting of foods rich in B vitamins, proteins, iron etc is a highly recommended solution to the query of how to make your hair grow faster and longer. You can take the vitamin called biotin, which will also along with prenatal vitamins increase hair growth and healthy hair growth.
So, replace your empty calories with healthy foods like spinach, beans, broccoli, green bell peppers, lettuce, milk, fish, strawberries, avocados, tomatoes, bananas, apricots, yogurt, soy products, oregano, flaxseeds, nuts, whole grains etc.
• Hair trimming to remove split ends
Trimming your hair helps to get rid of split ends. Although split ends do not stop hair growth yet, they are considered unfavorable because if they are not eliminated then your hair will grow in split ends, diving into further split ends thereby it just breaks off instead of growing longer. Therefore, it is advised that you get your hair trimmed on a regular basis. In fact, most of the hair experts recommend that hair should be trimmed every 6-8 weeks.
However, you must be wondering that getting frequent hair cuts will defy the very purpose of achieving faster hair growth. But, this is not the case. Basically, the ends of your hair grow older as the strands of hair grow longer. These older strands can only be trimmed; they cannot be repaired.
Plus, normal day-to-day wear and tear tends to erode the ends, thereby giving rise to split ends that make hair susceptible to breakage. Thus, your hair will surely grow but they will not grow properly if you do not remove scalp residue
Reduce scalp residue as it clogs hair follicles and hinder faster hair growth. So those that think by not washing their hair all of the time will get healthier hair might help it will slow down hair growth. So washing with moisture shampoo and conditioner is a better answer than skipping days of washing.Also one of the key elements to your hair is protein, so increasing your protein intake will help too.

The well kept secrets of perms!!

Benefits of perming your hair and the drawbacks.
1.) To add curl If your hair is fine and limp, getting a perm just might do the trick for you. Gone are those days of tight, poodle type curls. Now you can choose from a variety of size curls... and perms. From small rollers to large, 1 ½ inch rollers, perms are out of the dark ages. A large roller will give you a very soft curl. As if you were to use a large barreled curling iron. A smaller roller will give you more of a spiral look.
2.) To relax naturally curly hair If you have naturally curly hair, that is unruly, perming can tame those locks of your. By using a larger roller then your natural curl size, perming will break down your hair and create a new curl.
3.) And to straighten hair Yes, you can use a perm to straighten hair. However, this method is tedious and time consuming. The lotion would be applied and then the stylist would comb your hair straight for the length of the timing. Sometimes up to 20 minutes. This method would only be used on hair that is almost straight, the type of hair that has a slight way to it. However, it is more gentle then relaxing your hair.
4.) To even curl on naturally curly hair. I have used perms also to make the top of your hair curly when it is straight but the bottom is naturally curly. This method is great because you only perm parts of the hair. So you have even curl everywhere. This would be beneficial for people with natural curl.
5.) women also perm their hair to give body, they still blow it out with a round brush everyday like a normal style, but have loads of body due to the perm.
Perms have come a long way, in even the past 5 years. They are made for all hair types now. You can choose the desired look and curl. Plus there is so many new techniques, such as perming on Velcro rollers, sponge rollers and many sizes of perm rods are available. You can even perm lightly bleached hair now too. Perms are expensive and last 3 to 6 months so that is where the name comes from perm stand for permanent because it is!
The drawback is that it can be drying on the hair, and where your stylist picks the perm types you will be using, your stylist must have lots of experience to pick the right kind or it could end badly. Perms also take a while to do so you will pay the price with, money and time. But in so many cases it is so WORTH IT

How to Curl Hair into Sexy, "Beachy" Waves

Here I can tell you how to curl your hair to get sexy, beachy waves like Juila Roberts I put a picture of her. The secret to this look lies in the technique, but also the haircut. Beachy waves work best on medium-length to long hair that ha...s long layers cut into it.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 30 minutes - 1 hour, depending on length and thickness of hair
Here's How:
1. Wash hair, towel-dry and comb hair out.
2. Prepping hair to hold the curl is very important. If your hair doesn't hold a curl well, don't skip this step. If you have straight-ish hair, turn head upside down and spray freshly washed roots with volumizing or texturizing spray, and mousse on the ends. Massage it in I insist the rubbing motion creates body and texture.
You may opt to use a heat protection spray to keep hair from burning. I will be featuring this product soon. I have two favorites Biolage thermal setting spray or Chi iron guard.
3. Blow dry hair straight with your head upside down, starting at the roots to get extra volume. Hair must be completely dry for this look to work. Separate hair into sections, with a clip. (It's easier this way to curl your way through each section).
4. To curl hair use a 1 inch curling iron, Spritz a section of hair with thermal setting spray , then take a 2-inch portion of hair and wrap hair around the barrel of the curling iron. Note: If using a regular curling iron, wrapping hair is different from the traditional curling method. You don't want to "clip" hair into the barrel. Wrapping it around the iron allows you to curl all the way to the root. When you're curling, make sure to leave ends loose to avoid a crimp mark.

Release the curl after about 10-15 seconds (hold longer if you want a tighter curl). You should end up with a corkscrew curl.
5. Spritz curl with hairspray spray, then roll it up and alligator clip it close to the scalp. (I'm lazy, so I skip this step to save time. I also don't like how holding spray makes my hair crunchy, so I usually leave the wave alone until it cools).
6. Alternate the direction of the curl as you work your way through each section. (It's all in the direction you wind hair around the barrel of the curling iron. Start by placing hair on top of the barrel and wrapping around, then switch by putting the barrel on top of the hair before winding it around). Alternating directions makes curls look more natural. Some curls can remain tight, some loose.
7. Once pinned curls have cooled, release them.
Separate curls with your fingers, just make sure not to brush them out.
8. To add shine, use paul Mitchell super skinny serum. Set with hairspray -- or don't, whatever you prefer. Just don't overdo the spray, you don't want new waves to feel "crunchy."
What You Need
• Volume spray and mousse
• Hair dryer
• A 1-inch barrel curling iron
• Hair clip and alligator clips
• Super skinny serum
• Hairspray

My favorite shampoo for thinning hair, or scalp conditions such as cradle cap, dandruff, psoriasis, acne & eczema. NIOXIN

I posted the site for this product above. Here is my overview.Hair loss, especially in men although also observed in women, is almost an inevitability, especially with the sebum buildup and DHT that actually cut off nutrient flow to the hai...r. Some other causes are cancer, surgery and extreme stress. A lot of shampoos are universally formulated but still try to claim to prevent hair loss while achieving only minimal results.
After decades of research, hair experts and scientists have developed Nioxin Shampoo which actually consists of a series of hair products all designed to optimize the scalp’s health and producing healthier, thicker hair. Unlike other shampoos that only focus on hair cleansing, Nioxin is designed to impact mostly the scalp itself.
Nioxin products utilize 20 years’ worth of research into hair and scalp care. BioAmp consists of glycol-proteins that strengthen the hair from inside the cuticle while adding thickness and repairing damaged hair. SmoothPlex adds natural shine and control to medium-coarse hair while adding moisture through a blend of silk amino acids and kukui oil. Glyco-Color Shield is designed to protect hair from chemical damage particularly from hair treatments. Trans-active Delivery System is a time-release formulation made up of vitamins, botanical, and moisturizing nutrients. Scalp Access brings moisturizing nutrients and proteins to the scalp and hair.
The Nioxin series of products has a treatment available for everyone no matter what kind of hair that you have. There are a total of eight systems all in all, all of which consist of three parts. From fine, natural, normal to thin-looking hair to medium-coarse, chemically enhanced, thinning hair each system includes the right combination of cleansers and hair products for specific hair types.
I personally used this shampoo and conditioner to fix the cradle cap that my baby had. I tried everything else and nothing worked so I finally used nioxin, which I knew would work. It effects the scalp, which is huge. I had to feature this, because of how much it has helped me and my clients. Many of those clients had cancer and it worked wonders for them.
Always remember to purchase your haircare products from your hairstylist rather than the grocery store. Otherwise it may be OLD, COUNTERFEIT, TAMPERED WITH, or BLACK MARKET.

The latest trend is the OPI shatter polish on your nails! It comes in tons of colors.

OPI Black Shatter Nail Polish Demo
www.youtube.com

How do the movie stars get their hair so Shiny?

This is how, they use a shine spray that once you are completely done styling you spray this on your hair, and Tah-dah! You now have movie star shine. You don't want to run your hands through it until it has dried, otherwise you look greasy.
Always remember to purchase your haircare products from your hairstylist rather than the grocery store. Otherwise it may be OLD, COUNTERFEIT, TAMPERED WITH, or BLACK MARKET.

One of my favorite waxes for men's hair..

* Strong, flexible resins whip hair into shape and provide long-lasting hold



* Mesh-like fibers create pliable definition or separation
...


* Matte Finish



* Formulated to dry down to a strong matte finish for a clean and fresh experience.
You can apply to damp or dry hair, this has a great hold along with the awesome smell. It's a favorite.
Always remember to purchase your haircare products from your hairstylist rather than the grocery store. Otherwise it may be OLD, COUNTERFEIT, TAMPERED WITH, or BLACK MARKET.

What to do for hard water on the hair?

Of course getting a water softener is ideal, but I have some other options for you:

1. Hard Water Weekly Demineralizer. This is a weekly treatment for your hair in order to remove harmful buildup, restore shine and manageability, unclog... follicles and help remove further buildup.

2. Water Purifiers/Filters for your shower.

There are many water purifiers in the market that attach to your shower head; this is a much cheaper alternative than getting a water softener. These filters provide pH balanced water that is free of chlorine, heavy metals, and harmful minerals found in hard water. This will make a world of difference, and you will notice and improvement in your hair!

3. Clarifying Shampoo. These shampoos remove the buildup and make your hair more nourished and manageable. I am a swimmer, and use a clarifying shampoo once a week. Just be careful not to use it if you have color treated hair, because it will fade your color. Again, it’s only to be used once a week, at most.

How does hard water effect my hair?

Condition: Hard Water
Over 85% of the population in the U.S., according to the Water Quality Association, are bathing with hard water. While hard water is fine for drinking, it can cause many problems for your hair, scalp and skin.
These pr...oblems include:
• Hair feels dry
• Hair is resistant to color or perming
• Dandruff or eczema of the scalp
• Dry, flaky skin
• Thinning hair
• Colors fading too quickly
• Perms appearing to fall out
• Discoloration or darkening of hair
• Hair lacks body and shine
What are the minerals that effect hair?
• Calcium
• Iron
• Copper
• Magnesium
• Silica
• Lead
How do hard water minerals and chlorine effect hair?
Calcium - If your source for water is a well, then more than likely you have calcium in your water. If your source for water is coming from a treatment plant, calcium may have been added to your water. Calcium is the mineral that determines hardness of water.
How calcium effects hair:
• Calcium leaves the hair feeling dry and weighted down. It can even cause a perm to appear relaxed.
• Calcium builds up on the scalp causing flaking of the scalp, giving the appearance of dandruff.
• Calcium can choke the hair at the mouth of the follicle causing the hair to break off, then coating the scalp, blocking further new hair growth.
Iron - Iron is found in ground water from domestic wells and wells used by treatment plants as the source for local water.
How iron effects hair:
• Iron leaves the hair feeling dry, brittle and weighted down.
• Iron can cause dark hair to tint darker and blonde hair to turn orange.
• Iron can block perms and color from properly processing.
Copper - Copper originates in water in three ways:
1. It comes from the ground and is pumped into the water from a well.
2. Particles of copper can come from copper piping. The corrosion caused by hard water lifts the copper particles off the pipes and deposits them into the water.
3. Copper sulfates are added to swimming pools to control the growth of algae. Copper is often added to lakes (that are a source of drinking water) in the summer to kill algae.
How copper effects hair:
• Copper discolors hair causing blonde hair to turn green and dark hair to tint darker.
• Copper can weigh hair down and cause dryness.
• Copper can inhibit the proper processing of perms, color and relaxers.
Magnesium - Usually found wherever calcium comes naturally from the ground, magnesium is abundant in the soil and is very much a part of the mineral complex associated with hard water.
How magnesium effects hair:
• Magnesium causes hair to feel dry.
• Magnesium causes hair to appear weighted down.
• Magnesium can inhibit the proper processing of perms, color and relaxers.
• Magnesium causes hair to lack shine.
Silica - Silica is a sand-like substance found in desert or volcanic areas. It is usually bound to calcium or magnesium and forms very hard, virtually insoluble deposits.
How silica effects hair:
Silica causes many of the same effects on the hair as calcium.
• Silica causes hair to feel dry.
• Silica weighes hair down.
• Silica can cause dandruff-like symptoms of flaking.
• Build up of silica can choke the hair follicle causing hair to fall out.
Lead - Lead acetate is used in certain home remedy gray hair cover-ups.
How lead effects hair:
• Lead can cause the hair to feel dry.
• Lead can prevent the proper processing of perms, color, and relaxers.
Chlorine - unlike the other elements listed above, chlorine is not a mineral but an oxidizer. Chlorine is put into drinking water and swimming pools to kill bacteria. In addition to the following effects chlorine has on hair, due to it's oxidizing effects, chlorine also oxidizes minerals onto the hair causing worse effects of those minerals.
How chlorine effects hair:
• Active chlorine in the hair can cause hair to feel gummy when wet and straw-like when dry.
• Chlorine can damage the cuticle and proteins of the hair.
• As an oxidizer, chlorine can cause the air and sun to oxidize hair and worsen the conditions listed above.
• Chlorine can cause hair to feel dry.
• Chlorine can cause hair to become brittle.
• Chlorine can cause hair to lack shine.

If you aren't suggesting color shampoo for bleached hair what should I use instead?

Matrix Essentials Solutionist So Silver Shampoo neutralizes unwanted brassy tones and enhances natural highlights on blonde, frosted and bleached hair. Eliminates yellow tones and adds shimmering brightness to grey and white hair.Lather and rinse well. . For maximum benefits leave lather for 3-5 minutes. I would only suggest using this 2 to 3 times a week. It works great on bleached hair. Always remember to purchase your haircare products from your hairstylist rather than the grocery store. Otherwise it may be OLD, COUNTERFEIT, TAMPERED WITH, or BLACK MARKET.

How do I know if I should use a color shampoo or moisturizing shampoo? For my colored hair.

You only need to use a color shampoo if your hair is colored and you are worried about fading. When I say colored this doesn't mean bleached. Bleach is not a color and can't fade away. Bleaching is the process of removing hair color to achi...eve desired results. Most salon moisturizing shampoos are color-safe so if your hair is super dry you might want to go with that instead. Redken makes my favorite color shampoo the color extend it has UV filters to prevent fading and ceramides to strengthen. Tip for using salon shampoo: It is super concentrated so instead of using more shampoo to get it to lather, try using a hand full of water to get more lather. IT WORKS! TRY IT.. Always remember to purchase your haircare products from your hairstylist rather than the grocery store. Otherwise it may be OLD, COUNTERFEIT, TAMPERED WITH, or BLACK MARKET.

What’s the difference between nail polish enamel, and nail polish lacquer?

What’s the difference?
The biggest difference between a nail enamel and a nail lacquer is the lacquer is, much stronger than the enamel. It dries harder and lasts longer. It is usually more chip- resistant.

In the case of nail polish, "ena...mel" simply means "not lacquer." which is too fragile and dissolves in the presence of alcohol and acidic foods. Nail polish that is”enamel" has an acetone base and is removed by using acetone.
Nail polish, color, lacquer, enamel- they are all the same products being described by different marketing terms with one being a little bit stronger, the lacquer. Of course the formulations are different- but in small ways, i.e different combination or amounts of additives. Flexibilizers, UV blockers and drying accelerating solvents are also examples.
My personal favorite polish is OPI which is a lacquer. You do pay more for lacquers than enamel

My favorite UV protecting spray

Basics:
Powerful UVA and UVB protection helps prevent color fade.
Benefits:
Locks in and extends the life of hair color.
Bonus:
... Makes hair look conditioned and super shiny.
Details:




* Sunflower extract provides sun protection and keeps color from fading.



* Powerful conditioning agents and extracts add moisture and shine.

Tips for Swimming this summer! How to protect your hair.

Tips for swimming and being in the sun
Coat the hair with conditioner- Before jumping in, apply conditioner to your hair to protect it from the chlorine.
Shampoo hair immediately afterward-As much protection as the swimming cap and conditi...oner provided, it’s imperative you shampoo your hair right after getting out of the pool. By doing so you’re preventing the chemicals in the pool to settle in your hair and cause serious damage. Use Clarifying Shampoo
Deep condition-deep conditioning your hair after a dip in the pool is damn near mandatory.
When soaking out in sun do not forget to apply a good conditioner with sunscreens in it. The heat from the sun will help the action of the conditioner and the sunscreens will block out the UV rays, which cause hair damage. Also if you are in the wind braid your hair for the best protection against damage, Such as using a motorcycle, boating, or just a windy day.

What is the best way to color my hair crazy colors?

In order to color someone's hair a bright color you have to bleach it first. Think of your hair as a piece of paper if it is brown and you color it with a red crayon it doesn't show up that great. But if you have a white piece of paper and ...you color red crayon it shows up bright. The problem with these fashion color is that they aren't always shiny, and fade in 2 weeks or less. Plus you have the damage of bleaching it and it is expensive to color your hair twice to get the desired fashion color. So here is my recommendation, buy the BRIGHT colored extensions, you can clip them in your hair with a clip and remove them when you want. Plus not all jobs are ok with the wild hair. This provides you with the opportunity to have fun yet be professional. They are sold all over and come with the clip in them already. Peerless beauty supply is my favorite place to buy them. Have fun!

My Favorite Flat Iron. The only one I will buy.

The chi iron is the only flat iron to buy and own. I have used so many and they just don't work like a chi and here is why. The Chi has instant heat meaning the second it leaves your hair it is right back up to the 400F degrees, I haven't f...ound another iron on the market that does that. So you don't have to go down the hair 5 or 6 times. You can go once or twice which means LESS DAMAGE, and faster time flat Ironing. It is solid ceramic which conducts the heat evenly through the plates and give LESS DAMAGE. Yes, they cost more than other flat irons, but are worth every penny. Beware there are lots of counterfeit CHI's out there. So make sure to buy from me or a professional salon.

Question-I decided to use color instead of bleach because someone told me it is less damaging to my hair. Fact or Myth?

MYTH! The part that makes it more or less damaging in the developer is how long the bleach is left on. The developer is the part you mix with bleach or color. If you pick a color that is a lot lighter than your natural color, you would have... to mix extremely strong developer with the color to get it bright. So in this case you could do it with bleach with not near as strong of developer, and that makes the bleach less damaging than the color would of been. Trust your stylist on this one.

There are so many round brushes out there, what kind should I get?

Pick a round brush that is made of solid ceramic, instead of metal. With the great technology that we have today turns out that metal is a horrible conductor of heat that causes hot spots and doesn't heat up evenly which causes damage to yo...ur hair. Ceramic is far superior because it heats everywhere evenly since it is a much better conductor of heat. This means faster drying time, less damage, and static. So REMEMBER metal is bad, ceramic is good so buy all styling tools in ceramic, that goes for your curling iron too

My favorite styling aid when round brushing!!!

I love Velcro roller to aid in round brushing my hair. This helps with the lack of coordination, gives max volume, and can let you style your hair over a period of time if you have children and keep getting interrupted. I purchased mine for... $9.99 at walmart and use them every time I round brush. After I round brush and get the section dry I immediately put it in after the round brush comes out and leave it in until my hair cools. Try it you will love it!! They come in all sizes.

Question- Fact or myth? If you pluck out your gray hair will more grow back?

This is an old wives tale. The reason that you get gray hair is age, hereditary, poor diet, and extreme stress or trauma .Remember all that gray hair is, is lack of pigment in the hair. You can always color it, that is better than not having hair to color.

How do I pick a blow dryer?

How to pick a blow dryer- (the things to look for and must haves)

-1875 watt
-Ionic, ceramic or tourmaline
-3 speeds (low, med, high)
-3 Temperatures(cool, warm, hot)
-Cold shot button
Extra's that are nice but not necessary, light weigh, and quiet motor.
This is the blow dryer that I have and love in the picture, I bought it at Sally's Beauty supply. A couple of tips for blow drying. For volume blow dry your hair upside down, When round brushing use the cool shot to cool it down to give max results.

These are the feather extensions in my hair. My 4 year old son took these

What are the advantages of Dry shampoo and disadvantages?

Have you ever woke up super late, stayed at so someone's house unexpectedly, went camping, or were just to sick to wash your hair?
Dry shampoo works great to give you an extra day without washing your hair, it comes in an aerosol can that ...sprays on your roots to soak up excess oils. It smells great and helps you get some body and lift back. It cost anywhere from $15-20 dollars. So for an extra day on your hair it is a must, the can should last you anywhere from 2 to 4 months.
The disadvantages is that it can cause build-up, dandruff and if used to many days in a row does the opposite that is makes your hair look dirty. Plus for those prone to laziness this definitely promotes it hardcore. I still like the product when used correctly. The product featured here is Bed head's Rockalcoholic dry shampoo. Always remember to purchase your haircare products from your hairstylist rather than the grocery store. Otherwise it may be OLD, COUNTERFEIT, TAMPERED WITH, or BLACK MARKET.

WHAT IS THE LATEST HAIR TREND???

What is the Latest hair trend?? Feather hair extensions. I posted this because Steven Tyler has them in his hair on the latest magazine of people. Everyone is asking for them. They curl like regular hair and style well. They come in every color. enjoy. I can do them for you

This is why you should never buy professional hair products at the grocery store

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTg2RQUSv_o

Only buy them at a Salon.

My favorite hair product of the week

SUPER SKINNY SERUM by Paul Mitchell
Basics:
Smoothes, conditions and seals strands.
Benefits:
Leaves hair smooth, shiny and frizz-free
... in any weather. Also protects hair from damage of a heat tool or styler.
Bonus:
Speeds up drying so you get silky smooth results in less time.
I use this product everyday after I wash my hair and before I blow dry. Then I reapply after I am finished styling. Always remember to purchase your haircare products from your hairstylist rather than the grocery store. Otherwise it may be OLD, COUNTERFEIT, TAMPERED WITH, or BLACK MARKET.