More Hair Tips

So I thought I would do another hair tips post as the last one was so popular. 

I will be keeping these simple so they are easy to do yourself at home without taking too much time. 

• When drying your hair, once its 100% dry, set the temperature to cool and blast cool air (downward facing at all times) over all of your hair as this will close the cuticle. You'll now have a much smoother, softer feeling blow dry. How EASY!!

• Styled your hair into a lovely bouncy, voluminous style and find that hairspray just weighs it down rather than holding the style? Spray the hairspray directly onto your fingers and then rub this into your hair STRAIGHT onto the root! and you'll still be left with long lasting volume!! 
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• Dry ends?? That's the LAST thing you want!! To treat and prevent this, we suggest that you give your hair a conditioning treatment EVERY 5 WASHES!! Apply this in the shower after you have shampooed your hair and leave of for between 5- 30 minutes. Or a similar treatment is to mix in some hair oil with your conditioner because it's very moisturizing for your hair. Remember to focus on the ends! You don't want greasy roots!!

• So we know a lot of you like to create volume in your lovely hair styles but who has the time to be using big round brushes and spending loads of time lifting and drying, while giving your arms a workout? A quick, easy and simple way to add volume is, after your hair is 100% dry switch the hairdryer to cool. Blast roots the opposite way to their natural fall. E.g. if hair comes downwards from the root, blow it upwards. (its important to just concentrate on root) When you then let your hair fall natural it will have a lot more root lift and volume. Use a product afterward to help keep this in place.

• Straightening your hair? ALWAYS us a comb to guide your hair and follow with the straighteners!! This will save you having to go over the same messy section of hair because "it still has a kink in it". Honestly you will love us for this one, it will save you from all those snapped pieces when you had to keep going over the same piece because it wouldn't straighten. Smoothing out the section first leaves a nice clean surface for the straighteners to glide over.
• Brush your hair EVERY DAY! I think this one goes without saying but i thought i'd throw it in there just in case. Even if you are just shoving your hair up in a messy bun, always brush it out first and smooth out any knots and tangles. this will save you a lot of pain when you next go to brush it and will also lead to less split ends from your hair snapping off!

There you go! 6 simple, easy to follow hair tips to improve your styles. Let us know how you get on! Xx

Holiday Hair Care

So you're going away, your main focus is relax, drink lots of cocktails eat lots of lovely food and most of all get that lovely glowing tan that you've been missing all winter. 

Of course you're be loading your skin up with protective sun cream all day long up to 4 times a day, as you should! Burnt skin is the last thing you want! 

But what about your hair? What about protecting those lovely locks you've worked so hard to protect during your normal daily routine? What about that amazing colour you had done just days before you jetted off? 

DON'T NEGLECT YOUR HAIR! 
Here are some tips for keeping your hair looking and feeling lovely while you enjoy your downtime in the sun. 

•   If you we're thinking of using hair lighteners in the sun... Don't. Do you know what's in them? have you ever seen any hairdresser whip out a bottle of "Sun-in" to give you lovely, even highlights? No! If a hairdresser won't go near it, you shouldn't either.  Sun-In is a Bleach product which will leave your hair TOTALLY over processed, dry and brittle!

• COVER UP- When you can, try to keep your head and hair covered up completely by wearing a hat. This is possibly the best protection for hair against sun because your hair will be completely shaded. Although I know it's not possible to keep a hat on all the time especially when you're swimming!

• Going swimming? The chlorine in the water will really dry your hair out leaving you struggling to get a brush through it afterwards then you end up with a horrible, matted mess! ALWAYS rinse hair and skin after swimming in the pool to get rid of as much chlorine as possible then apply a de-tangling product and thoroughly brush hair through.

• Sun protecting hair products. There are literally SO MANY products out there to help protect your hair against the sun. how are you supposed to be able to choose between them all?? Make sure whatever it is that you choose has some kind of SPF protection in it (preferably SPF 20 or more). Not only will this protect your hair against the suns harmful rays, it protects your scalp too!

• CONDITION. CONDITION. CONDITION! It's common knowledge that the sun dries out your hair. It's so important to replace any moisture lost while you're on holiday. I suggest to use a deep conditioning treatment every night or every other night while you are on holiday, depending on your hair type. 

Enjoy your holiday!! And don't make us too jealous Of your glowing tan!! Xx

End your Curling Nightmare!

Spend hours curling and styling your hair and find that it drops out after just 10 minutes or you end up with an overworked, crispy, frizzy mess? 

Learn how to get the perfect curls for you ! 

• Try to avoid curling on freshly washed hair. The curls will last tonnes better on "day old" hair as this isn't too clean so has a bit of texture to it meaning it isn't as soft so the curls should last you longer. 

• If you feel that your hair is constantly extremely soft, apply a light dusting of dry shampoo all over the mid lengths and ends to give it that bit more texture to help your curls last.

• When curling ALWAYS make sure that you keep the straighteners moving and turning at all times to prevent burning any part of your hair or having random straight pieces in there. 
  
• I find that a common mistake made by a lot of people (even me when i first started to curl) is that they will clamp the straighteners too tight on the hair which makes it SO DIFFICULT to move the straighteners as all and can be extremely painful when you feel like you are ripping your hair out. My tip is to hold the straighteners really lightly to allow the hair to just glide right through the ceramic plates as the heat will pass over the hair a lot better allowing for a better curl. 

• NEVER forget your heat protection! this is the most important part of curling your hair! This will protect your hair from burning and becoming frizzy or frazzled due to excessive use of heat! Redken have an amazing heat protector which is perfect for curling hair as it has a high hold factor so not only will is protect against the heat of the straighteners but will also hold in the curls for you.
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• Getting those different curls perfect: For tight spiral curls take smaller sections, and for looser more natural curls take thicker sections and don't turn the straighteners so much, and pull out the curls while they're still hot to leave them looser. 



• When applying rollers for more volume in your hair I find that its best to curl the section first before placing it in the roller as this allows the hair to cool in position leaving you with more volume and and a lovely loose curl.

• Try to do curls coming away from your face rather than having all your curls travelling in the same direction as these will look more natural and a lot nicer. 

Product Review!

Today I tried out a product that is new to The Hair Worx, Pureology Super Smooth. I wanted to give you my personal views on this particular product, as I have been wanting to try out Pureology for a while and i feel that it complements Redken very well. 

So, I used a system of All Soft Shampoo and Conditioner which is formulated for hair that is particularly dry and/or brittle and helps to add in moisture without weighing the hair down and leaving it feeling heavy or tacky at all. I followed this by using Pureology Super Smooth Relaxing Serum, only 1 small pump was more than enough to cover all the hair and I loved the feel of this particular product when applying onto wet hair. This product has many benefits:

• Smooths and Eliminates frizz
• long lasting smoothness and Style memory
• Good for all hair types (Thick, Thin, Coarse, Soft)
• Reduces Drying time
• Intensify natural shine
• ThermalAntiFadeComplex Provides heat protection and maximizes colour retention. 

I felt that the product lived up to all these expectations and more besides that. It added moisture without be heavy or greasy in any way, as other products can be.

The Client that I used this product on has typically quite curly and unruly hair so needs a product that will help to keep her hair smooth but also add moisture and tame fly aways. This product is PERFECT for that kind of client and doesn't weigh the hair down at all so still allows you to achieve volume. Or if there is someone who likes to only wash their hair 1-2 times per week so need a style that will last i would definitely recommend this Super Smooth Relaxing serum as it does not contain too much moisture so will not cause the hair to go greasy too quickly. 

5 Simple but Effective Hair Tips

Everyday Hair tips to make Styling easier. 

1. Use your Bobby pins the right way! How often do you find yourself re-inserting your grips everyday because they seem to constantly slip around in your hair? It may come as a shock to you, as it did me, but bobby pins are supposed to be used curved side down as this more textured surface grips onto the hair better. If this still doesn't seem to work as well as you feel it should, you can spray the pin with a light coating or hairspray or dry shampoo which stops it from being quite as sleek. 

Photo off Google

2. When blow drying your hair, even though it might seem quicker and less hassle, tipping your head upside down and blasting your hair all over the place is the worst thing to do! especially if you have thick/long hair!! Yes you might think its brilliant that you can dry your hair in 5 minutes, who wouldn't? but all that does is roughen up your cuticles leaving your hair feeling frizzy and dry and it will leave your hair more vulnerable to damage such as split ends. The best thing to do is to apply a nozzle to your hairdryer to guide the air and then to ALWAYS keep the airflow in a downward direction on your hair as this will ensure a smoother result. I find that with mine, as it is very long and thick, the best thing to do is to mostly dry my hair and then when it is 70%-80% dry I will split it into 3 thick sections to make sure that all the hair underneath and at the root is COMPLETELY dry! If you change from your usual hair drying routine to this, I can guarantee your style will last you a lot longer! 

3. Always remember your hair needs looking after just as much as your skin does! DON'T neglect it! It is recommended that every 5 times you wash your hair you should use a deep conditioning treatment to replace any lost moisture and proteins and to help restore the inner structure of the hair. My favorite product to use is Diamond Oil Deep Facets by Redken as this contains Redken's own Diamond oil which leaves hair feeling smooth and sleek with mirror shine! and it's SO easy to use! just apply the size of a 10pence piece to wet hair mainly towards the ends of the hair first and then work through the mid lengths and up to the root. This can be left on for anything from 5 minutes up to a few hours, I wouldn't recommend leaving this overnight as it can dry into your hair and leave it feeling heavy and rough. 

4. Brush your hair DAILY! One of the simplest hair tips but one that a lot of people struggle to follow. You may have heard of a little myth that if you don't brush your hair it will prevent you from getting split ends. This is COMPLETE RUBBISH and you need to IGNORE IT!! Your lovely locks deserve to be cared for and treated properly! Remember to brush your hair everyday whether it is wet or dry, a great brush to use is a large paddle brush or a tangle teaser as these will get all the knots out without it being too painful for you. If you find that after brushing your hair when it's dry it can be quite frizzy, use a small amount of oil to tame the frizz. I use Redken Diamond oil, as its a dry oil i find that it doesn't leave my hair feeling greasy, so i can use it every day. Only 4 small drops will tame any frizz left by brushing your hair. 

5. Putting your hair up and find that your hair keeps slipping out of place and won't keep your desired style? This means that your hair is too soft (which most of the time isnt a bad thing). To prevent this and help improve your up-do, spritz dry shampoo all over hair, through the lengths and ends.This will give your hair more texture and mean that there is a better surface for putting it up and getting the style to stay. 

Pillow Proof Your Blow Dry

Fed up of spending hours on your hair only to find that the style disappears overnight? or WORSE, only lasts a few hours?! Redken 5th Ave.'s fantastic range 'Pillow Proof' is the answer to avoiding this! 

Primer:

The Pillow Proof Primer is very similar to a makeup primer in the sense that it works with the hair to improve the benefits of the styling products used. The Primer also has many benefits of its own, these include:

• Reducing blow dry time by up to half
• Anti Breakage
• Heat Protection up to 250 degrees
• Hair is left up to 3x Stronger
• Provides 24 hour lasting volume
• Helps to prolong style
• Prepares hair for use of other styling products
• Humidity Protection

How to use:

Shake well and spritz all over damp, towel dried hair. Following this apply a styling product of your choosing and then you will be ready to style your hair.

Use a Styling product of your choosing to achieve your desired affect.

Using Pillow Proof Primer along with your styling product will allow you to achieve many different styles and have salon perfect hair every day of the week! It is a perfect product for everyone, whether your hair is long or short/ thick or thin.

Two Day Extender:

This dry shampoo instantly refreshes hair and absorbs oil to extend the life of your blow dry by two days. Can also be used to add volume and texture for up do's.Unlike most dry shampoos, this leaves NO visible residue. 

 

FRESH is all you need!

Is your bathroom cupboard piled high with tonnes of different supplements you have been told are "great" for your hair. All the different vitamins you persuade yourself that you can only get from these particular supplements. FORGET THEM ALL!

All you need is lots and lots of FRESH fruit and veg! These naturally contain the vitamins you need for healthy hair and for a lot cheaper too! Start caring for your hair from the inside. 

In this post I will be giving you ideas of the best fruits and vegetables for healthy hair and exactly what they contain.

Pineapple, Nectarines, Sweet potatoes and Carrots are all full of beta-carotene which converts into Vitamin A in the body. Sufficient amounts of Vitamin A will help produce essential oils to keep the scalp moisturized and avoid dry/flakiness. 

*CITRUS FRUITS* A great way to healthy hair is lots of Vitamin C and an easy way to get this is to eat lots of citrus fruits. Vitamin C helps to build collagen which is important for hairs growth as it surrounds the hairs follicle. It also plays an important role in absorbing iron which is essential for keeping hair strong.

Dark Green vegetables such as Broccoli, Kale, cabbage and asparagus contain a very high percentage of water which will help to keep hair hydrated. These vegetables are also rich in Vitamin A which will not only condition hair but also contain antioxidants which help to strengthen and thicken hair and reduce breakage.

Coconut water is a brilliant drink which has a lot of health benefits, drink on its own or in a smoothie for its amazing benefits. This promotes hair growth and can penetrate hair shaft, moisturizing it and giving a healthy shine. Lauric acid which is also present in coconut water, this shields the hair proteins and protects the root of the hair strands, preventing breakage. 

5 Tips for the best winter hair care

We all know it an be a constant battle in the winter months with dry hair and style struggles because we have to constantly wear hats. Here are some tips to help you banish those winter hair blues.

1. Use of heat and constant friction from hats and scarves can damage the hair cuticle leaving your hair feeling dry and brittle and looking quite frizzy. A simple solution to this is to use deep conditioning treatments to prevent the damage and to make damaged cuticles feel and appear smoother and more healthy. I recommend using Redken Diamond oil Deep Facets treatment as this is infused with oils to keep hair soft, smooth and add shine. 

 

2. Flyaway hair becomes very common in winter due to hair picking up an electric charge from the cool dry air. Avoid this by using a hydrating shampoo and conditioner which will target the problem and add moisture to the hair. Redken Clear Moisture or All Soft Shampoo and conditioner will be perfect for this as they are formulated to reduce dryness in the hair cuticle and add extra moisture. 

3. Dry, flaking scalp is an awful thing to have to deal with in winter and is caused by less humidity and moisture in the air. The use of a shampoo which is specially formulated for a dry scalp is great for this (Redken Scalp Relief Dandruff Control). I also recommend to keep yourself hydrated by making an effort to drink lots of water, you will see an instant difference. 

4. Breakage can become a huge problem for many people in winter due to how dry the air is and in turn how dry this makes hair. The only option here is HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE! Again, use treatments with excess moisture and leave in treatments containing proteins to help re-structure brittle hair. Redken Extreme Anti-Snap is a one in a million product to treat this, you will instantly noticed hair feeling and looking less distressed!

5. In the winter months try to avoid using heat as much as possible as this will dry your hair out even more. There are lots of great, simple hair up styles you can do on yourself without having to use any heat at all. Plaits. Twits. Ponytail. Bun. The list goes on.