Friday, June 27, 2008

Summer is Here! Take Good Care of Your Curly Locks

It’s summer and curly girls want shiny, healthy, bouncy curls! In Minnesota we have sun, heat and humidity—all affect your hair. Sun and heat dry your hair and humidity causes frizz.

Most curly hair is naturally dry and craves moisture. When it is humid, the hair soaks up the moisture and the cuticle expands causing frizz. In addition to curly hair’s natural tendency to be dry, many of us chemically treat our curly locks to brighten them with highlights, cover gray or change color. This dries out hair even more.

We’d love to recommend one solution for all, but what you should do for your curly head of hair is as unique as your hair. No one person has the same exact type of hair. And though you may think your hair can’t get enough conditioning, that isn’t necessarily true. There’s a fine line to walk to maintain healthy hair, especially during the summer.

Basics to Remember
• Don’t fight your curl. Straightening your curls is more drying. So embrace your curl.
• A good curly cut and the right products are essential. Talk to your hairdresser about what type of curly hair you’ve got and how it will react to summer’s heat and humidity.
• Be gentle with your hair. Use a wide-tooth comb instead of a brush and pull your long locks back into a loose ponytail or bun.
• Avoid the blow dryer! Let your hair air dry. With the warmer temperatures, this should be easier to do in the summer.

The Right Products
Find the right product or products to control the frizz. Easier said than done, right?

Shampoo will dry your hair. Using a cleanser that doesn’t suds up is better for your hair. And it is important to focus on the scalp, where the dirt and sweat is concentrated. Use a good, quality conditioner specific for your hair type. Women with thick, course curls can benefit from leave-in conditioner to help tame the hair. Women with finer hair will want to go light on the conditioner. The right conditioner is very important. Even the wrong conditioner can result in dry, brittle hair. Ask your hairdresser what’s right for your hair type.

For those who need help holding their curl, try curling gels and mousses. Again, choosing the right product depends on your hair type. Some gels and sprays are sticky and leave your hair feeling crunchy. For thicker hair, use a gel at the strongest level; for thinner, finer hair, use a curl defining mousse.

No matter what product you use, it’s very important to thoroughly rinse your hair. The hardest area of the head to rinse is the back and that’s where product build-up tends to occur. Cool water helps to close off hair follicles, which reduces the amount of frizz you’ll get.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Let Your Curls Out! East 42nd Street Salon is Now a Deva Certified Salon!

If you have curly hair you’ve probably looked high and low for that salon or stylist who really understands your hair. As the owner of East 42nd Street Salon, I’ve seen more and more people with curly hair coming into our salon who want to let their natural curls come out or want to spend less time styling their hair each day…but they’ve never before been able to find someone who knew how to cut their curls or to teach them how to care for it.

We started out with one stylist who was Devachan-trained to cut curly hair. This method of cutting hair was created by Lorraine Massey, author of the Curly Girl Handbook: A Celebration of Curls and founder and co-owner of the Devachan in the SoHo neighborhood in New York City.

With a growing clientele of curly haired women—99% of the population in the United States has curly hair—it was an easy decision to head to Los Angeles to take the Devachan training myself. I was there in late April and upon my return, I trained all of our stylists in cutting curly hair. Now East 42nd Street Salon is a Deva certified salon—one of the only in the Twin Cities.

The Devachan method of cutting hair is done dry, allowing the stylist to sculpt the hair visually. Because curly hair will “spring back” into place, it is essential for the stylist to understand how each hair will spring back. All hair does not curly the same, even on the same head.

Not everyone with curly hair will want to have their hair cut dry. Cutting curly hair dry lets the stylist see where the curls fall. For those who want flexibility in their hair style—being able to wear it curly or blow-dried smooth—cutting the hair wet may be better. This allows the stylist to cut for both styles. A good stylist will touch up the cut once it is dry as well.

Finding the right stylist for curly hair is essential. Some who knows how to cut and care for curly hair can provide you with the tips and tricks to maintain beautiful hair. Here are some things to look for in a stylist:

· The stylist uses a visual approach recognizing that each head and curl are separate
· A consultation is offered up front
· The salon carries products for curly hair
· The stylist has been trained to cut curly hair and is comfortable cutting it dry
· The stylist will be interested in:
· What you like and dislike about your hair
· Your daily routine, amount of time you want to spend on your hair
· Weaknesses with your hair, what is difficult for you when caring for your hair
· How short or different you want to go

At East 42nd Street Salon, we believe you can love your curly hair! Find the right stylist and the right products and it is possible.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Wedding Vendors

We wanted to help our brides that are getting married, and set up a list of vendors that they might need for their wedding day. first and foremost your hair and skin is important. We can get your skin in the best condition, your brows in the best shape, updo, nails, and makeup ready for your pictures on the wedding day. Call us for a consultation.

Vendors
Photographer: http://www.michaelbstudios.com/

DJ: http://www.jukeboxexpress.com/

Flowers: http://www.richfieldflowers.com/


Please check in as we continue to add vendors on our list.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

C-Curve: Nurturing Your Curls Beyond the Salon

Welcome to the premier column of C-Curve!

In each volume, I will provide tips and hints for maintaining your curls outside of the salon, a few website and/or book recommendations, and maybe little extra feature in from time to time!

As this is our first issue, we will address the basics needed to keep your hair frizz-free, soft, and manageable.

Beyond the Cut…

So you’ve just gotten your curly cut. Your hair feels nice and quenched, your curls defined and frizz-free. What now?

Your stylist tosses a LOT of tips to you on your hair during the visit, and no one can remember them all ;). The biggest thing to remember with learning how to care for and style your hair at home is PATIENCE. Remember, we as stylists had to practice a LOT to get hair care down—it takes time and repetition to get used to a new routine. Be easy on yourself!

Probably the most important tips to remember are the ones that deal with general washing and conditioning. Among them…

1. Try to not wash your hair over two times a week. Depending on the cleanser, you can do it more or less. If you are using a cleanser without sulfates (Deva products) you can definitely use it more frequently. If you just have to wash your hair with a sulfate shampoo, be very gentle and do not use it more than twice a month. But remember: sulfate cleansers are going to take out quite a bit of moisture, so your curls will take a bit longer to bounce back to an ideal moisture state.
2. Condition! Every time you get your hair wet in the shower, you must condition at least the ends of your hair. The reason is that warm water and steam opens up the hair cuticle, allowing for moisture loss. Rinse your conditioner with as cool of water as is comfortable. This seals the cuticle back up and locks that moisture into your hair.
3. No more towel rubbing! Ideally, the best way to encourage those nice, frizz-free curls is to shake your hair out upside down, gently separating the curls with your fingers from the underside. Shake the curls out again, hold a towel open in your hands under your hair, then lift the towel up to gather your curls in an upward scrunching motion, and squeeze. Repeat this on all sections of your hair until you feel most of the water is absorbed. You NEVER want to rub a towel through your hair or use any fast motions, as this encourages frizz and breaks up the curl pattern.

Washing and conditioning are just as important to gorgeous curls as is styling, cut, and color. Remember, great curls start in the shower!


What’s on the Web

Many curly girls are quite adept at using the web to learn more about their hair, but it never hurts to mention a few sites of interest…
1. http://www.naturallycurly.com: This website was started around five years ago by a few curly girls looking for a way to network with other curls around the world and share their knowledge and wisdom of hair care. On this site you will find a very active users forum, full of tips and advice from fellow curlies. There are also monthly articles and features, as well as a curly mart stocked in books, hair accessories, and even curl pride t-shirts and bumper stickers! Definitely worth a bookmark!
2. http://www.devachansalon.com, http://www.devaconcepts.com: Both of these sites give great info and tips on the Deva product line. They also feature articles and advice for curlies. Check their sites out and learn more about what goes into making your fantastic Deva products!
3. http://www.geocities.com/hotsprings/4266/gloss.html- All About Hair: If you are like me and want to know what the ingredients in your products do, this website gives a good breakdown of common hair care ingredients and their indications.

And remember, we as stylists are here for you! If you ever have any questions about your products or techniques, do not hesitate to give us a call. Stay tuned for more tips on styling and a few book recommendations in the next issue!

Hair Peace! :)
~Carolyn

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Brazilian Waxing: All You Wanted To Know

Brazilian waxing has taken off in popularity in the new millennium and while there are many fans of the procedure, there are usually an equal amount of questions. Here are our answers to a few of them:

Q. What should I expect?
A. A first time Brazilian wax can be a nerve racking experience, but it shouldn't be! While every waxing specialist has different techniques, the general procedure is similar. Your waxer will have you undress from the waist down and will offer you a towel or draping cloth to cover yourself while you wait. They will then clean the area and usually use a talcum powder to absorb any skin oils. Then the actual waxing takes place. Wax varies and some waxers may use soft wax with strips or a self hardening wax or even a combination of both. After the waxing is over, an oil will be used to remove any excess or leftover wax and will be followed with a soothing agent.

Q. How much will it hurt?
A. Pain varies for everyone but often times people say it hurts less than expected. Taking an aspirin or pain reliever a half hour before your appointment will help alleviate some pain and redness that some people experience. Try to relax and keep breathing, being tense will only make things worse! And remember, if you need a short break, don't be afraid to ask.

Q. How much hair should I let grow before coming in?
A. Hair that is between 1/4" to 3/4" is the easiest to wax. If hair is too short, the wax will be unable to adhere to it and it will not be removed. If hair is longer than 1 inch, it is always appreciated if the hair is trimmed to a shorter length. If hair is too long, it can be more painful as well as take longer to perform the service. Some salons will also charge up to $15 extra if trimming is necessary.

Q. How long will it last?
A. Your first wax will generally leave you hair free for 1-2 weeks. The more often you are seen, the longer you can go between waxes. On average, every 4-6 weeks is a good timeline for appointments, eventually you may be able to go up to 8 weeks or more. With time, hair will grow back finer and thinner and each wax will hurt less.

Q. Is there any special aftercare I need to do?
A. Waxing is relatively easy in terms of aftercare. The area may be sore with some redness for a day or two but this usually goes away quickly. To prevent ingrown hairs, it is recommended that the area be exfoliated each day in the shower. This can be done easily with a bath poof or exfoliating scrub.

As always, if you have other questions or concerns, don't be afraid to ask your salon or waxing specialist, or ask us here!

What is eyelash perming?

This is a process that curls your eyelashes. It takes about an hour, and lasts approximately 8 weeks or until you have shed your eyelashes. The first step in eyelash perming is applying a small amount of adhesive to the eyelid and then placing a small sticky "perm rod" over the glue. Lashes are then rolled onto the rod. The size of the rod and length of eyelashes that are wrapped around the rod determine the amount of curl. A gel-like perming solution is then placed on the lashes and they are left to process. The perming solution is then removed and followed by a neutralizer. After the neutralizer, a conditioning oil is applied. Finally the oil, rod, and adhesive is removed and the lashes are curled.

Eyelash perming combined with an eyelash tint is a great service for anyone who wants to look polished without a lot of work. It is also great for vacations or any time spent at the beach, the pool, or the gym.