11/23/2013 2 Comments 7 Things Every Curly Girl Must HaveUnless you just woke up from a deep slumber, you probably don't need to be told that Curly Girls are very special and have very special needs. There is so much info to be found on the interwebs, it's hard to find out the very basics, so I have compiled a list of 7 things you absolutely must have. 1. Proper Products It all begins with the proper products. Curly Girls know that their hair desperately needs moisture, so finding a product line that is sulfate and silicone free is a must. Jessicurl, Innersense, and DevaCurl are just a few OlyCurl-approved lines, and available at your local Curly Hair Salon. 2. Flour Sack Towel or T-Shirt Regular terrycloth towels are no bueno. All the tiny loops in the fabric catch individual hair strands and separate them from their curl grouping, causing frizz. A flour sack towel or t-shirt is a smooth surface and will not catch and pull those hairs apart. 3. These Scrunchies Traditional elastics are too tight and binding, especially if they have a metal band on them. These ponies are perfect and will not tear, shred, or otherwise damage your fragile curls. 4. These Clips are great for adding volume in the setting and styling process. It's kind of an old-school technique made brand new for curlies. Ask your Curly Hair Specialist how to use them! I actually gift a handful to my new curly clients to use at home. 5. These Hair Tubes are going to be a life saver for getting 2nd-, 3rd-, and 4th-day hair. Similar to the pineapple, it holds your hair up at night and protects it from being shredded on your pillowcase as you slumber. Stop by the salon to pick out one (or a few) for yourself! Thanks for the use of your picture, Diane For Curls! 6. "Next-Day Spray" can be a curl saver! Simply mix up a batch yourself: 2/3 water and 1/3 sulfate- and silicone-free conditioner. In the morning, spritz on and lightly scrunch. Don't be afraid to play with it and see what works best for you! You might even want to add a few pumps of a CG-approved gel for extra hold if you have fragile curls or s'wavy hair! 7. A Curly Hair Specialist has had specialized training in the cutting, care and maintenance of curly hair. Members of Curly Hair Artistry all have the passion for helping men and women reach their curly goals. A website for the CHA will be launched soon so you can find one close to your area! We will keep you posted on our website for that, so make sure and follow us here and also on Facebook!
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11/20/2013 0 Comments How I Met a LegendWhen was the last time you met a celebrity/role model/famous person? Well, I met one in October at CHA Symposium. If you are a curly girl, this will mean a lot to you so listen up. I was able to meet and learn under Lorraine Massey, author of Curly Girl: the Handbook and creator of the DevaCurl product line. A true revolutionary, she worked hard to help curlies world-wide after years of experimenting and learning what worked on her own hair. I was able to hear her speak, share her love and passion for curly hair (which after years of working with has not waned one bit!), and watch as she worked her magic on several types of curls! It was an honor to be present at this very rare appearance, so excuse me as I geek out over my snapshot with her! Aaaaaah! I learned so much during that weekend in October, that it may need a blog post all its own. Suffice it to say, it was life changing; and just the opportunity to hobnob with the cream of the curly crop (fellow CHA members!) was beyond my wildest dreams. I look forward to years and years of collaborating with them to bring Olympia the best the curly world has to offer. SIDE BAR: Story behind the picture: I was getting a shot of myself with one of the models and Lorraine was walking past and jumped in the picture. I am not one to bug people (or celebs) to take a picture with me, so this was a huge surprise! That's why I look so dorky in the picture... And just to be fair to the gorgeous model, I will post the complete picture as well. Have you ever met a celebrity, or someone famous? Who was it? 11/18/2013 0 Comments A Curl StoryThank you, Nancy for trusting me with your curls! A year ago Nancy got a haircut in town with a stylist not trained in Curly Hair. She used a razor on her hair, and it has taken a full year for it to recover from that. Her ends had been thinned out and needed to be trimmed in order to get more even results toward the bottom. She wanted to preserve as much length as possible, so we took off as much as we could without compromising the length. I told her that in about six months she should have enough growth that we can trim the rest of the thinned-out ends. During the cleansing process, it was apparent that there was silicone buildup from frequent use of "smoothing" products. We had to spend some time detoxing the hair and stripping it of its plastic coating. This will allow her hair to receive the hydration that we then applied. Products were applied with the MAP and a heavier handed approach was used due to the very wet weather we are experiencing in the Pacific Northwest. Notice how the color looks richer than before? 11/12/2013 1 Comment Raw Hair Organics ReviewToday I tried out the Raw Hair Organics that I received at the CHA Symposium in October and thought I would share my experience. (I haven't really tried anything else except DevaCurl since being introduced to it this year, so this was good for me.) The Shampoo and Conditioner both had a nice fragrance, Orange & Tangerine. Both samples were quite small and seemed to be one-use only. The Shampoo, having an iridescent and somewhat runny quality, had a lather to it, so I wonder what the lather agent is? However, after the shampoo my hair definitely felt squeaky, not a feeling I am used to. I put on the conditioner, which was fairly thick, and rinsed it out. After rinsing, my hair felt similar to how it felt after the shampoo; it still had some squeak to it. At this point I would normally put some B'Leavin' as a filler, but I wanted to give the gel a fair shake, so I applied the whole little bottle of gel (as it says to use liberally), which was maybe a 1 oz bottle. The gel is runny in comparison to UDG, but no problem, as BL is runny as well. It felt weird putting it in though, as my hair still felt squeaky from the cleanse. After diffusing I think it had some great hold, and I usually do hit it with some Deva Spray, and I did today as well. I don't usually shake or scrunch out as my curl is super fragile and my hair tends to separate and lose definition, so I stayed with the same MO today. An hour later the naturopath wanted me to run my fingers through my hair to see if some would shed and I cringed, not wanting to ruin my hair! However, it didn't do too much damage to the definition. I think this gel has great holding power. I wish the sample packaging had more than a day's worth of product so that I can get a better idea of the hydrating properties of this line. I am not sure that I felt my hair was hydrated as well as with Deva. It is a very different feeling. I still have one more 1 oz bottle of the gel and will use it another day. I will try and get second-day hair tomorrow. I am adding some pics for your reference. Please 'scuse the cheesy grin; I hate selfies. Have you tried any new products lately? What were they? 11/9/2013 0 Comments The Secret to Proper ConditioningHave you ever had the hankering for some toast on a busy morning, only to get sidetracked and come back to it all cold? And then when you go to put your butter (or peanut butter!) on it and it doesn't melt, nor does it spread well? It's also difficult to reheat your toast in order to spread your butter! (Thanks to Scott Musgrave for the analogy!) Well, hair and conditioner are a lot like that. You hair best receives the moisture when it is pliable and warm. It allows the conditioner to slide into the cuticle layer of the hairshaft, much like the nooks and crannies of a piece of bread, or my favorite, an english muffin. This is why if you ever had a conditioning treatment in a salon, you sit under a warm dryer for some personal nap time. There are lots of methods to achieve perfectly conditioned hair, but this explains the best method. My colleague, Melissa Stites wrote this fantastic blog post, and I wanted to share it today. Just keep squishing, just keep squishing... 11/2/2013 0 Comments New Client Tutorial Wash and SetThis is a two-hour appointment and is the process used in the salon for optimal curls. It begins at the shampoo bowl where we cleanse the scalp with a sulfate and silicone free shampoo, better known as No Poo. During the cleansing process I will be able to ascertain if there are damaging and hydration-preventing silicones on the hair. If so, we will proceed with a Detox treatment. After that, the hair will be hydrated and detangled with the properly chosen conditioner. Then we will proceed with the application of products, which will be explained to you during your appointment and you will have the opportunity for hands-on learning so that you can go home and duplicate the results. Nothing is worse than leaving the salon not knowing how to get the same fabulous results, or even if you can! I understand, so I will show you how and explain things clearly, and have you do it as well. 1. You went to a traditional stylist and cried when you went home. Hairstylists are not trained in Beauty School how to deal with Curly Hair. They are only taught one method of cutting, straight cutting, and might even be taught that curly hair needs to be thinned out and/or straightened with hot tools before cutting. You need a Curly Hair Specialist, who has received extensive training, through CHA (Curly Hair Artistry), or another Curly-minded organization that follows the Sulfate-free, Paraben-free, and Silicone-free philosophy, and understands the special attention that curly hair requires.
2. You asked for "maybe an inch off" and lost at least 6 inches. Curly hair has a bounce factor. When a curl is pulled down and stretched out it can be a couple to several inches longer than at it's relaxed state. This is why curly hair is cut dry, in its natural formation, and without tension or elevation. 3. Your regular hairstylist used a comb on your hair. If your hairstylist pulls out a comb, run quickly. They are clearly not trained in Curly Hair Artistry. Combing and brushing are not necessary and can stretch and damage your fragile curls. A curly hair specialist will show you and teach you how to detangle, with conditioner, when your hair is wet. 4. You are tired of people saying you look like a "wild woman". You can be a professional and curly at the same time! You can learn to kill the frizz and love your curl (and make your friends super jealous!). 5. You have been asked "why is your hair so frizzy?" more times than you can count. Straight-haired people just don't understand! *sigh 6. You cannot brush your hair. Ever. If you do, you become a giant puffball. Like a pom pom. Or a troll doll. Unacceptable. 7. Your child is of mixed race and you have no idea what to do for their hair. You want your child to embrace who they are and take pride in their mixed ethnicity. Let's face it, mixed children are adorable!!! We can work together to help you help your child. 8. You hate it when it rains in the Pacific Northwest. You really, really, really hate the weatherman. You can live free from worry and anxiety with the proper products and application techniques for your specific type of hair. 9. You are fed up with chemical relaxers and straighteners. You have been chemically burned for the last time. You are done. Now, how to transition? 10. You deserve to have someone who knows how to work with your curl! You are sick and tired of fighting with your hair, of blowing it out, of braiding it on rainy days, of flat-ironing and smelling burning hair. You are sick of having split ends! Your Curly Hair Specialist can work with you; teaching and guiding you in the proper care, maintenance, and styling of your natural curl. Aren't you tired of fighting it? Learn to LOVE it! 10/15/2013 1 Comment Press ReleaseFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Curly Hair Artistry, an international online group of hair stylists, will gather for the first curly hair symposium October 19-21 in Atlanta. Besides advanced cutting techniques, these curly hair specialists will be educating their colleagues in unique product applications and business needs within their specific genre. When Scott Musgrave started C.H.A. at the beginning of 2013 he had no idea it would have such appeal. Nearly 80 members speak throughout the day on their concerns and passion for their specialty. “There is very little education on curly hair, so the encouragement to work through difficult situations, receive mentoring and guidance is what this group focuses on,” says Musgrave. Yukiko Taylor, curl specialist at Perfect Image Spa-Lon in Tumwater, is one of the fortunate stylists participating in this year’s symposium. “My career has taken a turn towards curly hair,” claims Yukiko, “I am drawn to it and my desire is to reach out to Curlies and help them to embrace their hair! I get to love what I do as a job.” As the fashion trend of straight hair moves toward a more natural look, there will be an increasing need for Curly Hair Specialists. Lorraine Massey, Curly Hair Expert and author of Curly Girl: The Handbook states “65% of women have naturally wavy or curly hair.” Curly Hair Artistry is on the forefront of this movement with the world’s first Curly Hair Symposium this fall. Curly Hair Artistry was founded in January 2013. It represents a forum for the Curly Hair Specialist seeking deeper knowledge and support in their craft. 9/30/2013 0 Comments CHA Symposium 2013The countdown has begun! Symposium is just around the corner and I am super excited to bring back all I have learned! Click on the link below for an article on the event!
http://www.curlstylist.com/articles/stylist-spotlight/curly-hair-art-symposium 9/8/2013 0 Comments About My Curly Hair JourneyWhat is your interest in curly hair?
I have had so many people ask me to troubleshoot their curly hair and lament about their hair, that I started to wonder why curly hair was so different and how can I help my friends who are beyond frustration? One time someone asked me if I could do curly hair I was at a home-party where the consultant was of mixed European background and she had a pile of hair wrapped up on top of her head. She said it is constantly dry and hard to comb out and she couldn't find any products to keep it from becoming a big ole frizz bomb. I so wanted to give her answers! The very next week I went to a trade hairshow in Seattle and was introduced to DevaCurl, a product line that was developed by a hairdresser who after a lifetime of suffering her curly hair discovered some methods that worked best for her curl type and has since started a Curly Revolution. Lorraine Massey wrote the book, Curly Girl: The Handbook, and has changed the lives of millions of Curlies around the globe. At this hairshow I was mesmerized by the before and afters that were done right before our eyes on stage. We had opportunity to visit other booths and educators but I stayed the whole day observing and soaking in the Deva 3-Step. This was when I decided I wanted to be a curly hair specialist. Do you have curly hair yourself? Yes and no. I have what we call a s'wavy curl pattern. S'wavies have straight/wavy hair and can go either way. I am half Caucasian and half Japanese so my hair is a little on the coarser side. When I was a teenager I had very thick straight hair. As I have matured, my hair has thinned out quite a bit which has left room for volume and curl. I am able to achieve curls with proper hydration and scrunching. Left to its own, my hair will just lay straight. Of course, people with straight hair long for curly and curlies long for straight hair. I say, embrace what you have! Personally I think it's all fantastic. I am jealous of my curly counterparts who have so much personality to their heads, and I love that straight-haired gals can always look freshly groomed. |
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