5 Questions You Must Ask Your Stylist

So you’ve managed to finally find a hair stylist that you like. He or she knows not only your hair type and preferences, but probably your favorite drink, your opinion on Tom and Katie, and that your co-worker is cheating on her husband. It may seem impossible, but you can further improve the relationship with your stylist, as well the quality of your hair, by asking just a few simple questions.

1. How should I maintain my hair at home and which products should I use?
After cutting your hair the first time, your stylist has a pretty good idea of your hair texture and tendencies. If you’ve gone over pictures together, he or she knows the desired outcome of your hair. With this in mind, your stylist will be able to tell you how to get the look at home and which products to use. Most times, the products are sold directly at the salon or you can even browse online for discounts .

2. I’d like to go for a new look. Which cut do you think would suit me?
A stylist can become bored with creating your hair style, just as much as you can become bored looking at it – especially if you’ve been going to the same one for a long time. Discuss this issue in a diplomatic way, explaining that you’d like a new look and are seeking their counsel. Talk to your stylist about what image you’d like to convey and it always helps to bring pictures for clarity.

3. How can I change my look without changing the cut?
Variety is the spice of life and hair is no exception! You may love your salon look because it gives off a professional feel perfect for the office. But how about those Friday nights when you fee like vamping it up? Ask your stylist to introduce you to the multiple facets of your cut. If he or she did the job right, you should be left with hair that’s versatile enough to pull off a few styles within the same cut.

4. When is your least busy time for an appointment?
What time is your first available appointment?As you can imagine stylists get very busy, so it’s important to be considerate and schedule your appointment in advance. If you would like a consultation in addition to a hair cut, also mention this. Like everyone else, stylists get tired. It’s helpful to come in on their least busy day or to be one of their first appointments.

5. Could you put some of the hair dye you used in my shampoo to keep my color lasting longer?
No matter how much you love your colorists, you don’t want to see them often for touch-ups. A little known secret is to add some of the dye used on your hair to a daily shampoo. This will keep your color lasting longer until your next appointment. A few drops is all you need and most stylists do not have a problem doing this, especially if your purchase a shampoo from the salon.

If you would like to receive the latest hair and beauty tips from me, please be sure to sign up for my mailing list by sending an email to kristenbeauty@gmail.com

Who Will You Bring to Brazil?

“That's the thing about the Brazilian. It makes you do crazy things. You have to be very careful who you invite to Brazil” Sex and the City siren Samantha Jones, as she advises Carrie on this popular form of bikini waxing.

In the late 1990’s, seven Brazilian-born sisters opened the J Salon in Manhattan, New York, and introduced their hometown hair removal method to the United States. Since then, women can’t get enough of the Brazilian bikini wax. What it is: every last bit of hair is removed from your pubic area with hot wax and cloth, except for a thin landing strip. “Think porn star. Think pain. But also think fanatic devotion.1”

What to expect:
1. Make sure you have at least a quarter inch of hair for the wax to adhere to.

2. Most waxings occur in a private room but don’t be surprised if you are separated from other clients by nothing more than a curtain. You remove your pants and underwear and may be provided with a paper thong, but probably not.

3. You will be lying down on a chair similar to the one at the dentist. If you hair is longer than a quarter of an inch, your waxer will trim it to the right length.

4. The waxer will work from the front to the back, spreading hot wax in sections. She will then apply a cloth strip over the waxed area and press down. After the wax has cooled, she will pull it off in the opposite direction of the hair growth, pulling hair out by the root.

5. Your waxer will touch and move you all into sorts of positions normally reserved for the bedroom, but rest assured, it is business as usual for her. Butt waxing differentiates the Brazilian from a normal Bikini wax, so you may be asked to go on all fours or lift your legs in yoga-like positions.

6. A good waxer is quick and the entire process should not take longer than 20 minutes. Once the wax is over, she will spread soothing lotion over the waxed areas.

First-time waxees will experience pain, but frequent visits minimize the pain factor and need for the procedure. With each waxing, the hair will grow back finer and slower. Some take a pain reliever, such as Advil, about 15 minutes before their appointment. A Brazilian wax lasts about 3 weeks, but has to be a certain length to be waxed. Expect redness and bumps for about 3-4 days, and avoid sex for at least 24 hours after your appointment. Do not be alarmed by spots of blood, but be sure to wash the waxed area using a loofah or body pouf to remove any bacteria.

Like a new haircut, your Brazilian will take some time to get used to. At first you will feel like a little girl, then a naughty little girl. Once the shock (and pain) subsides, you will find yourself gliding down the streets because getting waxed “is one of those hidden female pleasures, like wearing trashy lingerie under a business suit. It’s your little secret that makes you walk around with a smile, and puts and extra swagger in your step.1”

1 Valhouli, Christina. Salon.com. Sept. 2, 1999. http://www.salon.com/health/feature/1999/09/03/bikini/index1.html

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Let’s Dread Together and Feel Alright

Dreadlocks are a great way to completely change your look and make a statement with your hair. Its Rastafarian origins are linked as far back as the biblical Samson who wore his hair in dreadlocks and lost his unsurpassed strength when Delilah cut off his seven locks. Contrary to the belief that dreads are always tied to drugs, they are also a symbol of non-violence and non-conformity, and worn as a heavy spiritual statement.

If you’ve decided you want to try this bold and unique hair style, there are many ways to go about it. After much research and mellow conversation, I’ve found the most versatile and natural method is one called “backcombing.” This technique is all natural and will work on virtually any hair type that is 3 inches or longer. Also, hair will look like dreads once completed, compared to the “neglect” method which takes at least 10” of hair and 3 years. Be warned, this is a labor intensive process and will take several hours – nothing a couple of good friends and a Bob Marley CD can’t handle!

Backcombing

1. Start with hair that is clean and completely residue free. Use a purifying shampoo such as the Back to Basics Cleanse Clarifying Citrus Sage. Do not use a conditioner. Make sure hair is completely dry before starting the backcombing process.

2. Section the hair into 1”-2” squares - these will make round dreads. Temporarily secure the sections with a rubber band.

3. Start close to the scalp (not more than 1” away) and use a dread comb to comb the hair towards the scalp until the hair starts to pack up at the roots. Do not twist the hair, but rather roll the hair between your fingers as you are backcombing.

4. Continue working towards the end of the hair, keeping the dread as tight as possible. Secure the end with a rubber band.

5. Secure the dread at the scalp with another rubber band to keep it tight at its base. These rubber bands can be cut later once the dreads have matured.

6. When all the hair has been completed apply a petroleum-free dread wax to each dread.

Your dreadlocks should be in full affect once the process is done, however they will begin to tighten and smooth as they mature. With proper maintenance, full maturity can be reached in as little as 3-4 months. Be sure to continue using dread wax that does not contain petroleum and a purifying dread shampoo.

For difficult dreads, keep a rubber band on the scalp end. Also try rubbing the root of the dread in a clock wise direction against the scalp to help it lock up.

If you would like to receive the latest hair and beauty tips from me, please be sure to sign up for my mailing list by sending an email to kristenbeauty@gmail.com