What's the Best Order to Apply Makeup?

No introduction necessary! I got this simple questions this morning, here is the answer! 

1- Skin Care 

This is a vital part of your makeup regimen, cleanse, exfoliate, tone and moisturize!

2- Facial Sun Screen

Seriously, do it. You will thank me in 20 years. 

Mary Kay
Mineral Eye Shadows

3- Eye Makeup Primer 

4- Eye Shadow

I put on the eye shadow first because of fall out. If you have any dust from your shadow on your face after applying your eye shadow wipe it off with a makeup remover. 

5- Eyeliner 

6- Mascara

I do one coat of mascara before everything else, and one right at the end. 

Laura Geller
The Real Deal Concealer

7- Facial Primer

8- Facial Concealer

This can go on before or after foundation, every one is different. I prefer to put it on before because I think it helps me get a more blended look.

9- Foundation

This can include CC/BB cream, Liquid or powder foundations. Whatever you use, it goes here. 

10- Under Eye ConcealerOnce again this can go on before or after your foundation, but I like to do the concealer under my eye after foundation. 

Tyra Beauty
Light in a Stick/Sculpt in a Stick

11 - ContourYou can use any powder, bronzer, or cream that is darker than your natural. Contouring takes a lot of practice. There are so many ways to contour I don't think anyone can say what is right or wrong. Do what you love.

12- Highlight

You can use any powder, highlighter, or cream that is lighter than your natural skin tone. It would customarily be shimmery but it doesn't have to be. Just like with contouring you should highlight in a way that makes you feel beautiful and confident. Whatever you like is the right way. 

13- Blush 

Lipstick Queen

Apply on the apples of the cheeks and then lightly apply a dash on the upper cheek bone back to the ear. If you don't like the back to the ear look, don't do it. It's as simple as that.

14- MascaraCoat two... or three :) 

15- Setting Spray/PowderI recommend a powder for oily skin and a spray for dry skin. However if you have normal or combination skin you can really choose whatever you want. Translucent Powder and Setting Powder are the same thing.

16 - Lipstick 

DONE!

In the end I do it this way because it is most effective when apply other peoples makeup. Dow hat works for you and what you love. That's all that matters in the end.

***Thanks for asking this question Janice B.***

How can I Heal my Brittle and Weak Nails?

Nails can become weaker because of several things. Pregnancy, hormonal imbalances, diabetes, cancer and medications are just a few things that can lead to brittle finger nails. So now that you have weak finger nails how can you heal them and make them feel better? Or how can you prevent them from getting weak in the first place? I have the answers!

1 - Cut your Nails!
Don't let your nails get to long, because they will break off eventually. Cut them regularly to keep them strong.

2 - File your Nails EVERY TIME! 

After cutting your nails you have to file them, every single time. Otherwise you leave snags and little rough spots. You need to make sure you file them into a nice oval or rounded shape to prevent getting ingrown nails. 

3 - Stop Biting Them!
I know you've heard it before (especially if you are a nail bitter), but biting nails really is terrible for them. It leaves scratches and dents in the nails surface and an uneven unfinished edge that can be hard to file down. 

4 - No Acrylics
If you have acrylic nails it will take a long time of going without acrylics to get them back into shape. Otherwise if you are thinking of getting acrylics nails just know that you are kissing your finger nail health goodbye! 

5 - Wear Gloves
Chemicals and Detergents found in most household cleaning products can weaken and damage your nails. Wear gloves whenever possible while cleaning. If you don't like the big ugly rubber ones that people usually wear for cleaning I'd go to Sally's Beauty or your local beauty supply store and get disposable gloves for perming or putting on hair color. They are more comfortable, flexible and have a closer fit. Vinyl is the best option for your nails (over latex or rubber). 

6 - Take Care of Hangnails the Right Way!
The worst thing to do with hangnails are to pick them or pull them. Instead use fine scissors to clip the hang nail as short as possible and then an over the counter antibiotic ointment (like neosporin) to keep it from getting infected

7 - Moisturize!
After taking a shower, washing your hands, or anything else use moisturizer or lotion on your hands. It will help keep the nail from drying out. But if you have an infection you will want to keep them dry, so be conscious of your nails state of health. 

8 - Be Careful with the Nail Polish Remover

Acetone (which is found in most nail polish removers) is very drying and is not good to use on your nail (unless it's infected). If you need to remove polish it is fine, but try to use it less than once a week, and remember to moisturize after. 

9 - Biotin
Biotin can help your nails get the vitamins they need to be strong and healthy. Taking a Biotin supplement or a hair skin and nails supplement can help. 

10 - Nail Treatments

There are lots of nail treatment sets and kits and most of them help by providing healing oils to your cuticle and nail and the skin surrounding it.

***Thanks to Suzanne Parise for asking this question***

Does Blow Drying my Hair Damage It?

In a word, yes. Any time you apply heat to your hair you are damaging it to some degree. Even going out in the sun on a hot summer day can take a hit to your hair. But there are some super easy things you can do to protect it.

1 - Use a Heat Protectant
I know! I say this all the time. You are thinking "Angela, you are so boring, you always say the same stuff!" I get it. But I say this a lot because it is important and often overlooked. Here are a few of my favorite heat protectants. (click the name of the product to learn more about it)

For Hot Tools - Redken Iron Shape 11
For Blow Dryers - Redken Satinwear 02
For Sun - TIGI Bed Head Straighten Out

2 - Use a Cool Shot
Apply heat to your hair causes the cuticle layer to open up. By using cold air you help it close and smooth down a little more. It will also help you maintain height, volume and set the style you create while blow drying your hair.

3 - Don't Do It if you Don't Have ToIf you shower after doing some yard work all Saturday and the rest of your evening's itinerary consists of Netflix and ice cream sandwiches, don't blow dry your hair. Even if it will be smoother and more controlled follow my steps for helping your hair air dry smoother, and give your hair a break!

True or False? your most common Beauty Myths Answered!

1 - Box Color from Drugstores (like Walmart, Target, ect.) is bad for your hair, but if you get the Argon Oil infused colors, or other box colors from Sally's it's the same as what professionals use.         
FALSE! A little Argon Oil is better than none (making it slightly better than drugstore varieties) but it not what pros use, and isn't good for your hair either. We also don't use salon care lightener and developers like you find at sallys. Once again, while these are better than box lighteners at walmart, they are not what professionals use and I don't recommend them.  Learn more here!


2 - Coconut Oil and Olive Oil are just as good for your hair as Fancy Conditioners.

FALSE! They are good for your hair, but not as good. Your hair has over 50 types of natural oils in it that professional conditioners try to replicate. Granted most conditioners don't get near the 50, but it's a lot better
than 1. Plus while those oils might be okay for your hair strands, they aren't great for your scalp. And to really get the full effect from a conditioning treatment, you should heat it up. If you do that with olive oil you are literally frying your hair, like the way you would chicken. It's awful. Pro conditioners are designed for added heat and are safe on your scalp when heated.


3 - Cutting Your Hair makes it grow Faster

TRUE!! Well... erm.. kind of. Trimming your hair helps maintain it and prevents breakage early so that your hair can grow long and strong without any problems. Click here to learn more!

  

4 - Celebrities HAVE to use the Products they Endorse! 

FALSE! Some celebrities have it in their contracts that they have to use it at least once or twice so they can be "honest" when someone asks them if they've used it. But usually they just don't. In fact fairly often they aren't even using it in the ads they shoot! Sometimes they have agreements that they have to use something on their tour, or for a duration of time, but not always. The moral of the story here is that just because they endorse it doesn't mean they use it.  Learn more here!


5 - When it comes to Hair, You Get What You Pay For

TRUE! If you buy box color instead of going to a salon you may save money but your hair will be dried, damaged and look cheap. Getting a higher end foundation will usually ensure that you will have cleaner and healthier skin as well as having a lighter and more natural look.

How can I get Rid of Frizz when I am Air Drying my Hair?

This is a pretty simple question with a couple little tips and tricks you can use to make this happen. These tips might not entirely get rid of frizz (especially if your hair is naturally curly and/or frizzy even when blow dried) but it should greatly reduce the amount of frizz.

1- Brush Your Hair
I know it dries faster when you throw it up in a towel turban and shake your hair out. I know that when the strands are separated it dries faster, I do. But it also dries frizzier. Run a brush through it until it is flat and smooth.

2- Don't Sleep on It
If you like to shower at night that's fine, but if you go to bed with wet hair it will be frizzy when you wake up. Always. I don't even have particularly frizzy hair and it's still frizzy when I wake up after going to bed with wet hair. So don't, blow dry it if you have to go to bed, otherwise be awake and around when your locks are air drying.

3- Product!
Duh! Come on, you all knew I was going to say this. If you have dry and damaged, or if you have thick hair use a heavy leave in conditioner on your wet hair to smooth frizz like TIGI Bed Head After Party. If you have fine to medium hair that is healthy use TIGI Bed Head Control Freak Serum. (click on the links to learn more about the products!) You can also combine the two beautifully. Smoothing serums work wonders on those who are trying to fight frizz.

These tips will help the straight hair or wavy haired gal, but if you have curly hair it's a whole different animal! Leave out tip 1, and mix the two suggested products together! Instead of brushing through your hair use a pic comb to gently pull apart thick and unruly strands.

***Thanks to Janelle Morgan for asking this question***

5 Reasons to Hire a Professional for your Big Day

Whether it's your Prom, Wedding Day, or Graduation, if it's a special occasion that involves lots of pictures, you're going to want to hire a professional. Here are my top five reasons why should help us help you!

1 - They Know Stuff You Don't
You may have pinterest tutorials on highlighting and contouring, but professional makeup artists know how to work with every face shape and type. I worked with a girl a couple of days ago who wasn't large at all, but her face was shaped in a way that it gave her a double chin effect. I was able to use an airbrush technique that made that second chin disappear! Find me a pinterest tutorial (that works on every face shape and type) to do that!


2 - They've Invested A LOT into Their Supplies
High end makeup is expensive, we all know that. Not everyone has the money to buy three Urban Decay Pallets ($45 each) and Lorac Primer ($32). Not to mention an airbrush machine ($200+) and the foundation that goes with it ($38+ each)! But makeup artists do. We can deduct makeup from our taxes because it is a business expense. It's the same with hair styling. I have over $300 in hair styling products in my studio. A lot of that is product that wont work for my hair, but will for my clients. I invest money in my supplies to be able to better help you. And just like makeup artists, hair dressers can deduct product purchases from our taxes. If we don't have high quality products we wont get booked.

3 - It Ensures a Moment of Peace in the Middle of Chaos
Weddings, senior proms, graduations and most other big events come with a lot of stress. "Where is my dress?", "I am so hungry!", "What time is it?", "We are late!" and many other panic-inducing things are often heard on these days! But if you have a professional doing your hair and/or makeup then it ensures that you will have at least one hour that day to sit down, relax and breath.

4 - It Lasts & Looks Great
Because makeup artists and hair dressers have studied long and hard to perfect their craft, and because they invest a lot in their supplies, their work lasts all day! No touch ups, no smeared lines, just enjoying your day! They know just how to contour your face, just what kind of primer to use for your skin, and what kind of brown to use for your eye color. That's right brown isn't "just brown". For someone with blue eyes I will use browns with more amber (orangey) tones, and for green eyes red browns are the way to go. We have the color wheel locked down so we know just what to use to make your features pop! Plus we know what photographs well and what doesn't. And most importantly we will set it, prime it and lock it in to make it stay!

5 - It's Fun!
You don't get married every day, or graduate, or go to your first high school formal! Whatever the special occasion is, it's special for a reason! Getting done up by a professional is fun! It's girl time that leaves you looking and feeling confident. So splurge a little and hire a local artist to work for you! It's your special day after all!

What are the Advantages to having Airbrushed Makeup?

What a great question! Airbrush makeup artistry is usually used for weddings, but can be used for all sorts of things. I am going to go over the few cons and many pros of choosing airbrush makeup.

Cons

- cost more money

- a personal machine costs hundreds of dollars

- takes longer to put on yourself

- has a tendency to look thicker in person

Pros

- takes less time to be put on by a professional than traditional makeup

- natural looking in photos

- flawless finish (bumps, acne and more will not show up on camera)

- kissable application (makeup does not come off)

- magazine worthy look

I honestly recommend airbrush makeup. It costs a little more, but it is so worth it! Temptu Pro is the only airbrush makeup brand I trust, but it is up to you where you'd like to begin! 

What not to do before seeing a Professional

You know how when you go to the dentist you spend ten minutes brushing a flossing your teeth really well? Well that works for the dentist, but for a hair dresser, not so much. Here are a few things to not do hours before you go to the hair dresser.

1- Wear your hair in a pony tail
If you are getting it washed, cut and styled you are just fine to wear it up, but having a kink in it like that can make styling or coloring your hair a lot more challenging.

2- Washing it
If we are styling your hair, having it freshly washed makes it harder for your hair to hold style. Plan ahead and wash it two nights before (example: if prom is Saturday, wash your hair Thursday evening and leave it along Friday and Saturday). As for cutting a coloring, we will wash your hair and there is seriously no need for you to. We aren't judging how greasy your hair is, I promise.

3 - Teasing it

Seriously? Why are you teasing your hair moment before coming to see me? I am just going to have to comb it all out. 

4- Deep Conditioning Treatments

Once again, a little damage isn't so bad at the salon, we are here to fix it. Having your hair super supple is really hard to work with while styling, and chances are I will throw some mousse and gel in there which will reverse your conditioning treatment and help me work with your hair.

5- DO Talk to your stylist
Your stylist will probably have some instructions for you (especially if you are getting your hair done for an event). Ask them if there are any things you should or should not do before coming to them.

Should I use Dish Soap in my hair?

This is seriously one of the biggest myths ever! NEVER wash your hair with dish soap. This is often used in place of a clarifying shampoo. A clarifying shampoo is a stronger shampoo that specializes in ridding your hair of product buildup and is not recommended for those with color treated hair. It is however good for people who only wash their hair once a week. Most of the time clarifying shampoo is used in salons before getting a perm, Brazilian Blow Out or other special chemical treatment.

The reason that people have said to use dish soap instead is because it is super powerful at cutting through grease and oils. But it has no conditioning properties and will dry your hair out faster than you think! It is especially harsh for those who go blonde.

The only time I think it is okay is if your child has put Vaseline, Peanut Butter, or something like that in their hair. If it is all over wash their hair with dish soap and professional hydrating conditioner. If they only put it in one area, lather that area with the dish soap, rinse it out and then wash the hair with professional  shampoo and then conditioner.

***Thanks to Darleen for asking this question***

How Do I know I am Hiring a good Makeup Artist?

This is the message I received this morning:

Dear Angela,

For my sisters wedding we hired a local makeup artist. We posted on a facebook group page (one that was made for those who live in our area) that we were looking for someone and she was one of the few who responded. She seemed super nice, and had a few pictures of her work which seemed really, really good on her facebook. On the day of my sisters wedding she came late, and the makeup looked horrible! It was nothing like the makeup she did in the pictures! My sister took it all off and redid her own makeup, but what a waste of $50! Then to top it all off she got an eye infection that manifested itself the next morning! How can I make sure this doesn't happen to me? 

Thanks! 

Alexis H. 

Well Alexis, unfortunately this is a tough one, but I do have a few rules that can help you find a credible makeup artist.


1- Check Their Credentials
Did you know that in most states it is legal to style hair and do makeup without any kind of license or certification! YIKES! It is super easy to spread bacteria and viruses through eye and lip makeup, and proper cleaning and sanitation is a MUST. These are things that someone who does a certification course for makeup artistry or who is a licensed cosmetologist (or both, like me!) would understand properly. Ask them if they are licensed or if they have taken a certification course. Then ask to see their license or certificate. If the person you choose works in a salon or spa you are usually safe (as most places won't hire people who aren't licensed).

2- Check Their Website(s)
A serious makeup artist will have a real website. Your biggest mistake was looking at a few pictures from her personal Facebook profile and calling it good. She should have an actual website. Most makeup artists will also have other profiles, such as a Facebook Business Page, Instagram, Wedding Wire and a Google business profile.  These are all good things to have. The Google listing is great, because they can not have comments or reviews deleted, plus they have to register their business with Google, which is a process. however anyone can make a Facebook or Instagram, so be wary! But a real website, with a custom url (no .blogspot or .wix extensions) shows that the artist takes their craft seriously and is willing to invest in it.

3- References
In this industry references are hard to get! If they don't have any on Facebook or social media it's not a big deal, but they should be able to give you at least a few. Go back to that page and ask if anybody else has worked with her. If you ask me for references I can give you three contact names and emails, along with the pictures of the individuals I did services for. Any professional should be able to give you references some how! Another plus to them having a google business listing is that anyone can review it!

4- Do a Trial
I know these can be a pain in the butt, but do one, especially for something like a wedding! Not only do trials make sure that you and the stylist are on the same page and that you like the style you've picked, but it also allows you to make sure that you are using someone good on your big day. Not every stylist is for every client and vice-versa. Just because they are good, doesn't mean they are good at what you want, or that their personality fits with yours. You want your wedding day to be stress free, and a trial will help with that. However most artists charge for a trial, so still be selective about who you do a test run with.

If you follow these 4 steps you should be able to hire someone credible that you love for all of your important events!

What is Okay to buy at a Drugstore instead of going High End?

The most important things to buy high end are things that will directly effect the health of your hair and skin. While high end mascara might flake less and last longer, it isn't healthier for you than anything you can buy at Target. That is the big key. There are some things that I never recommend getting at the drugstore, and others that you can get away with. Here is that list!

Drugstore:

Mascara

I recommend Revlon 3D Photo Ready Mascara

Eyeliner

NYX or Covergirl pencils are my favorite here!

Blush

I like Maybelline's Fit Me Blushes

Lipstick

I think Revlon's Colorstay Moisture Stain is great!

Hairspray

Honestly TRESemme, Suave and Herbal Essance all work the same. I like High End hairspray better because it hold better and isn't as crunchy but you aren't hurting your hair by using Suave. 

High End:

Foundation

I love Mary Kay, but most high end foundations are great

Skin Care

Once again, Mary Kay has my heart, but I also Clinique and Estee Lauder

Shampoo & Conditioner

TIGI Urban Antidotes, Healthy Sexy Hair and Redken products all have my stamp of approval

Leave-in Conditioners

Have you heard of Uniq One? Because if you haven't you need too! 

Heat Protectants

If there were ever any beauty corners for you not to cut, this is it! Get a good heat protectant that works for your hair type. Click here to learn what is best for you! 

Eye Shadow

Okay maybe this one should be in the other section. It's just that high end eye shadows are SO MUCH BETTER! They have higher pigmentation and they last longer than drugstore brands. No it won't hurt you to buy them at Walmart and it isn't healthier to use high end ones here, but I honestly can't think of a single drugstore eye shadow I like.  I recommend Urban Decay and La Femme Eye Shadows. 

***Thanks to Vanessa Burgess for asking this question***

Blackheads 101

Blackheads are awful. It's plain and simple. People of all ages, nationalities and genders struggle with them. Like most I spent the first few years of puberty popping, repopping and angrily repopping the same black heads over and over again. But no matter how many pore strips, masques, and creams I used they always came back!

When I went to cosmetology school I went to a school that also taught esthetics (not to be confused with aesthetics). For those of you who don't know, esthetics focuses on skin care. They do chemical peels, advanced body waxing, extractions and several other things that cosmetologists don't do (but they don't do any hair cutting, coloring, ect). They study advanced skin and nails with a little hair and makeup, while cosmetologists are taught advanced hair and makeup with a little skin and nails. So being at a school with licensed estheticians acting as instructors I just asked one of them. This is what I learned.

Blackheads are oil and dead skin cells that clog a pore. The biggest difference between a whitehead and a blackhead is that blackheads are "open comedones (com-A-dough-ns)" while white heads are closed. Closed comedones have been covered by a layer of skin, and open ones have not. You have probably noticed that when you pop a white head, pimple or zit you have to apply pressure until it bursts, where with blackheads the clog comes right out when you apply the right pressure. Because there is no covering the clog oxidizes and turns black. It is not any dirtier or more infected than a white head.

Blackheads are caused by a lot of things. Excessive sweating, improper skin care, cheap makeup, not washing your makeup off at night, and even skin conditions. There are skin conditions that people don't even diagnose because they are super common and not life threatening at all. Most people who have super oily skin have a genetic skin condition.

When treating blackheads it is important to remember that the oil and skin cells are deep in your pore, and it's going to take a little more than honey and sea salt to get it out. You also have to keep in mind that while you may be able to use a pore strip or a scrub to get rid of the top few layers of the buildup so that it doesn't look black anymore doesn't mean you have gotten rid of the actual blackhead. Most blackheads stay for months and even years! When getting rid of them you have to be patient and persistent. You will most likely not see immediate results.

The best way to get rid of them is to follow these simple steps:

1 - Go to an Estethician for an Extraction
This is the most important step. Almost anyone who does facials also does extractions. Most spas and full service salons do extractions as well. Please do not try to do this on your own. If you are reading this you probably have lot of blackheads. If you have more than 5 individual black heads you need a professional. They know how much pressure to apply and for what length of time to remove your black heads without causing skin damage or trauma. They will also properly prepare and clean your skin before and after the extraction. If you can't afford it, go to an esthetics school.

2 - Buy and Use a Face Wash with Salicylic Acid or Retinol in it
I recommend using Mary Kay's Clear Proof Acne Treatment Set (or at least the cleanser from it). Use it once a day, daily unless the bottle instructs you to use it less than that. DO NOT USE IT MORE THAN THAT. Over washing the face is one of the biggest mistakes people commonly make. You should only wash your face with cleanser once a day, never twice unless a dermatologist okays it. You usually can't buy more than 3% retinol or salicylic acid products without a prescription. If your skin is bad enough, I recommend seeing a dermatologist for a skin treatment prescription.

3 - Extract the Blackheads that do Pop Up
It happens, it sucks, but there will be some that come back. If you ever break out so that you have more than 5 black heads at once you need to do another extraction (I'd wait a few weeks so a few more pop up before going to a pro though, just because I like to get my moneys worth.) But if a couple show up in the morning pop it, but do it right! Here is a quick guide to popping your own blackheads.

• Wash your face thoroughly while taking or right before taking a shower. 
• Make sure your hands are clean and dry.
• Dry your face thoroughly.
• Wear powder-free gloves or wrap your fingers in cotton before popping anything. 
• Apply gentle to medium pressure
• If the blackhead does not pop easily stop applying pressure!
• Do not try to do self extractions for more than 8 minutes (10 tops!)
• If it is painful, stop.

To learn more about extractions, what happens, what to look for, and what to expect check out this website!

***Thanks to Michelle Keller for asking this question***

Thanks to BreeAnn Sykes for helping me with the info to accurately write this post!

Ipsy vs. Birchbox

I have had so many questions about these two companies! For those of you who don't know Ipsy and Birchbox are both companies that send you beauty products and samples every month for $10. Usually you get 4-5 items each month. I have had a lot of people ask me which one is better so I decided to subscribe to both for 3 months and see who's really is "better".


Ipsy:

• sends you 4-5 items total, 1 or 2 (sometimes even 3) of which are full sized, while the rest are sample sizes. 
• comes in a different color/patterned reusable zipper makeup bag
• you usually get several makeup products with a few skin care products
• Every single bag comes with one high end well known brand named item (Urban Decay, NYX, Stila, Physicians Formula, ect.) 
• You can collect Ipsy Points by joining Ipsy, sharing your glam bag on Facebook or Twitter, singing your friends up under you, and a few for reviewing each item that come sin your glam bag. 
• The Ipsy points are redeemable on 3 selected items that change every month.
• The Ipsy website will direct you to other online shopping pages to purchase any products found in your (or others) glam bags. 

Birch Box:

• Sends you 4-6 items total, which occasionally includes one full sized item. 
• Comes in a brown, sturdy box every single month
• You get a lot of skin and hair products with a few makeup products, and the occasional snack!
• Most of the brands are not well known
• You can collect Birch Box points by joining, signing up friends, reviewing products that have come in your box, subscribing each month, as well as buying products directly from birch box.
•  Those points are redeemable on any and all products in the birch box store. 
• You can buy all products found in your (and others) birch boxes directly form birch box on their website. 

Overall I prefer getting Ipsy, because I prefer makeup to skin and hair products. I also think that most of the Ipsy products I get are high quality. I have gotten several drugstore items from Birch Box and once I even got a crappy hotel shampoo and conditioner! But with that being said I prefer the points system with Birch Box. I love that you get points every month just for being a member! I also love that you can get points for shopping with them. I have gotten a couple amazing full sized products off Birch Box for either very little or free! I love it!

So which one is better? I guess that depends on the individual. If I were you I'd try Ipsy for a couple of months, then Birch Box and decide for yourself. Like I said I prefer Ipsy.... but then again I still subscribe to both ;) 

***Thanks to Kari, GinaG, and MelanieLovesWatermelon for asking this question***

No Eva Longoria does not use L'Oreal Paris Box Color

It's misleading I know, for a celebrity to advertise and sometimes even say that they use a product when they don't. In school you should learn about marketing and writing techniques known as Pathos, Logos, and Ethos. Pathos is all about hitting the consumer with emotions that they'll respond to by buying your product. Logos is logic. It's when a commercial present the facts, data, results, and statistics that "prove" that their service/product is the best. Ethos is about credibility. When Jessica Biel says she uses this shampoo it makes you want to too right!? That is why celebrities endorse things.

So no, Miranda Kerr and Heidi Klum don't use clear scalp and hair, Eva Longoria doesn't use L'Oreal Paris box color, and Jennifer Garner doesn't use Neutrogena. Sorry! If they did they would have dry, damaged and dull locks, accompanied with bumpy and uneven skin.

p.s. Eva Longoria's Stylist uses Redken hair color

***Thanks to Anna Averette for asking this question***

Why do I see Salon Products at Walmart sometimes?

What a great question! This is actually one of the industries biggest problems. It's called Product Diversion and it's a huge issue!


Once when I was in cosmetology school we had a business class where a Paul Mitchell representative came in and talked to us about this issue. He began by introducing himself and picking 3 girls at random to go on a "field trip" with him. They left for about 10 minutes and came back. While they were gone the rep and the girls walked to a CVS pharmacy that was right next to our school and he purchased 3 Paul Mitchell products from their shelves (a shampoo, a conditioner, and a styling gel). He came back and wrote "DIVERTED" on those three products and then pulled identical products out of his bag (but without the word on it). He then took six clear cups out of his bag and wrote "diverted" on three of them. He squirted the 3 products from the pharmacy into the cups marked "diverted". Then he squirted the true (but identical) products from Paul Mitchell that were in his bag into the other cups and put them side by side. One of the sets were identical but smelled different, while the other two sets looked different as well as having different consistencies.

He had two of the girls volunteer to go have their hair washed with the products (one with the real product and one with diverted products). While they were gone getting their hair washed he explained to us that this is called diversion. One of two things usually happens in the case of someone having professional products in their stores. The product is either a counterfeit (yes there are whole factories that make counterfeit product!) or expired (and was supposed to be thrown out, but instead was sold, usually under the table). The two girls returned to the class room and we all came up to touch and smell their hair and examine their scalp. We could see that one felt soft, smooth, and hydrated, while the other was dull, lifeless, and there were several signs of dryness at the scalp and ends.

This picture depicts the contents of two bottles of
TIGI Bed Head Resurrection Conditioner. The top was bought
from a Salon, and the bottom from a Target.
Do you see the difference? 

The biggest problem is people buy these products at drugstores and they think they are getting the real thing. So someone could buy this shampoo and conditioner at CVS, use it and decide it's not better than suave and that Paul Mitchell products are a rip off. It's so sad because those products are great!

Why don't the products get taken off the shelves? It would cost a lot of time and money for companies to do that. They do their best, but it's a long process. There are a couple of brands who do choose to sell salon professional products in big box stores to try and stop people from selling fakes. The problem is that diversion still happens in these stores. The real product could be sitting on a shelf at Target right next to a fake one! And these brands are few and far between.

This pictures shows a bottle of what looked like
CHI hairspray bought from TJ MAXX, but was revealed to be an old and
discontinued product that was repackaged and sold!

There are a couple of companies as well who are very high end and work very hard to keep their products salon exclusive. As a stylist I can go to a professionals only store and purchase products by brands professional brands at a wholesale price. I can then sell these products or use them at home for myself or on clients in the salon. However there are some exclusive companies that work really hard to prevent diversion by not even allowing their brands in these kinds of stores that are exclusive to professionals! That's because somethings pros are responsible for diverting product too (it's sad but true). Some of these companies are Aveda, Euphoria, Living Proof and a few others. If you ever see these brands on a big box store shelf you can guarantee that it is not real! For a pro to even get ahold of them they have to sign a deal with the company and order directly form them.

So how I can I tell if it is real or fake? The only way to know you are getting authentic products is to buy from your salon and your salon only! There are a couple of other signs, like not using the barcode on the product, or not seeing a part number or code, but in the end you should buy from your salon. Why? Because you love your stylist! Buying from your salon and stylist will help support local business, support your amazing stylist and you will be guaranteed real product every time! Plus your stylist has your back! They will always recommend you the best products for you hair, and not just whatever looks good.

***Thanks to Shyanne Boyer for asking this question*** 

How do I Protect my Skin from the Sun?

This seems like an annoyingly obvious answer, but sunscreen! I know that a bottle of Coppertone from Walmart doesn't sound like the best thing to rub on your face, and you're right! It's really not. But there are a million types of facial sunscreens, and you should wear one every day. Here are some of my favorites and why, so you can pick the right one for you!


1- COOLA Mineral Sunscreen
Pros: Lightweight (it literally feels like you have nothing on!), designed for facial use, doesn't clog pores, scentless, absorbs oils
Cons: Not sweat or water proof, only SPF 30, lasts 4-5 hours, no moisture added
Best used for casual summer activities, walks in the park or the pool lounger and those with oily skin.
Do not use if you have dry skin


2- MaryKay Day Solution
Pros: adds moisture, SPF 35, lasts all day, doesn't clog pores, designed for facial use, sweat and water proof
Cons: pricey, heavy, has a faint funny smell
Best used for summer sports and heart racing outings or for those with very dry skin.
Do not use if you have oily skin.

3- Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen
Pros: Lightweight, doesn't clog pores, 50 SPF, lasts all day, moisturizing, sweat and water proof!
Cons: Not designed for facial use (but safe), has a faint funny scent, doesn't absorb oil
Best used for long days outdoors. If you are going to beach, hiking, or to a park for more than 6 hours use SuperGoop! Great for all skin types.

***Thanks to Danika for asking this question!***

Your Guide to Fashion Colors

Fashion Colors, in the hair industry refers to artificial hair colors that are vibrant and are not found naturally. Cherry Red, Purple, Blue, Canary Yellow, and Pink are all Fashion Colors. There are several brands, care instructions and other things but I am going to try to break down these colors for you right here.

1. Prep
You can not put a vibrant blue color on brown hair and get vibrant blue. You will end up with a blue-black-brown mess. You have to lighten your hair first. Going blonder, or even platinum will allow your color to have the vibrancy it needs. I urge you to do this step in a salon! Even if I can convince you to do the rest there!





2. Brands
Manic Panic and Splat are the two best selling brands in regards to fashion hair colors. I do not recommend them. I prefer Pravana Vivids. It is a Salon only brand, although you can purchase the color on Amazon. It does not need developer and the color always looks amazing! It is longer lasting, works faster, more vivid, and has better ingredients than Splat or Manic Panic.

3. After Care 
When it comes to fashion colors after care I insist on one shampoo and conditioning set only. Yes it's pricier, but it's worth it. Redken Color Extend Magnetics is sulfate free and amazing! I have never seen a shampoo that works better on color treated hair. Click HERE to get a full review on this product!

In short if you prep your hair professionally, use the right brand, and buy a great shampoo then your vivids will stay vivid for a lot longer, and you'll notice a difference!

***Thanks BabyBrooklyn for asking this question***

Going Lighter

When you want your hair to be a lighter color than it is there are only two options.

1- High Lift Color

High Lift Color is a professional line that will lift natural pigments from the hair while depositing new pigment. Did you catch how I bolded the word natural? That is because if you dyed your hair a dark color and now you want it to be lighter a high lift color will not work for you. You have to have 100% natural hair with no dye and no perms or chemical relaxers and no Brazilian blow outs done on it. 

2- Lightener

Yes, I know bleach has a bad rep. It is super damaging to your hair, causes breakage and damage galore! But if you go to a salon you have a %99 chance of having healthy hair after your service. Obviously this depends on your hair's history, but the bleach used in salons is a lot more gentle than what you find at a general beauty supply store. Professionals also have amazing products designed to hydrate and revitalize your hair after being lightened. 

I know that people hate to hear that they need to go to the salon, but I will reiterate do not try this at home. There is a reason that you have to get licensed to do hair. If you can not afford it go to a beauty school. Read more about why box color is bad for your hair, beauty schools vs salons, color oops and more below.

Related Articles:

Why is Box Color So Bad for your Hair?
Is it Okay to go to a Beauty School instead of a Salon? (pros and cons)

Why do Salons Cost so Much?

Color Oops and Color Removers

***Thanks to Kelly for inspiring this response***

Is it okay to go to a Beauty School instead of a Salon?

In a word, yes. Going to a beauty school will ensure that you are having high quality and good products used on your hair. Especially when it comes to hair color, beauty schools are much better than anything you can pick up at a drug store. Another major pro to going to a beauty school over a salon in price! Everything there is much less expensive!

There are a few negatives to beauty schools. Everything takes longer there. The students have to talk to their instructors at least 3-4 times before you can leave, and they often have to wait to communicate with them. You are also working with people who are less experienced. They might take you to short, or mess up your hair cut and while this is possible in a salon as well, it is more likely at a school.

Overall I think salons are the way to go, but if you can not afford to get your hair colored at a salon then going to a hair school is a much better option than using box color.

RELATED ARTICLES:
Why is Box Color So Bad For Your Hair
Color Oops and Color Removers
Why Does it Cost So Much to go to a Salon? 

Color Camo

I recently announced that I am now doing a color camo service! I have had A LOT of questions since then, asking what it is and how it is different than normal  hair color services. Here is that answer!

Redken's Color Camo line was designed to appeal to men. It is specifically used for covering gray hair and only comes in neutral colors (no reds or golden browns). Redken did a study that showed that most men are embarrassed to get their hair colored, but they want to cover their gray.  Color Camo is less expensive than a normal hair color application ($35 or $25 when added on to another service), and it's fast! As a stylist, the way I use the color camo is by leading my client to the shampooing bowl. There I put the Color Camo on my clients hair and I emulsify it (it does bubble up like shampoo). I let it sit for 5-10 minutes, and then I wash it out just like I would shampoo. I really could essentially dye your hair without anyone else in the salon knowing.

Some other great benefits to Redken's Color Camo include:

• Cost Effective
• Fast
• Blends Away Gray
• Fades Out in 2-4 months so there is No Harsh Line when your roots grow out
• All Natural Colors
• Deposit Only - so it doesn't damage your hair as much

This really is the perfect choice for anyone wanting to blend away grays fast without destroying their hair or committing to a color. 

Why does it cost so much to go to a salon?

I had someone message me and ask what she should do about a hair mishap and I told her to go to a salon and have a professional fix the mistake she made when she chose to use box color. She then responded by saying that salons cost to much money, and she said "I don't understand why they charge so much just to put hair dye on your hair. It's a total ripoff." I am going to start by saying I am not offended. Obviously I work in a salon and charge those prices, but I literally chalk this up to a lack of understanding. So here it is! I am going to let you all know why we charge what we do in a salon.

First I am going to tell you what we do o become cosmetologists, and what those expenses are. I went to a very average priced school, and I am a very average hair dresser so I will be using me as an example. 

Tuition for School - $17,000

Cost of Additional Education (while I'm in school) - $500

Cost of Product and Tools Needed - $500 (and I am being very generous here, I honestly think I spent more like $800-$1000)

Cost of Taking Exams - $200

Cost of Getting Licensed - $100

So just for my education I spent $18,300 not including time, transportation, and other misc. costs. After school I am now working in a salon, they provide most of my back bar product, utilities, and inventory for retail. But I still have costs. I generally spend $50 a month on product for my clients that my salon does not carry. Most stylists do this. 

The way that hair dressers get paid is they are considered "Independent Contractors". There are three options when working in a salon. The first is to be paid hourly. Most of the places that pay hourly pay in between $8.50 - $10.50 an hour. I have never seen a place that pays hourly pay more than $10.50 an hour. The second option is to be a commission stylist. This is the most common, and what I do. A commission stylist gets paid %40-%60 of the services total, more often than not they get paid %50. The other option is to booth rent. Booth Renters pay a fee either per month or per day to use the salon's station and product and they keep all of the money they make. 

So what does this mean in respect to the question? Well when we charge you $20 for a hair cut, the stylist usually makes $10. A good haircut should take 45-55 minutes (including a wash, blow dry and style) So at $20 a haircut your stylist is making $10 an hour, which is okay. Booth Renting on average costs $350 for a full time position (8 hours a day 5 days a week). Which means you have to make at least $350 a month to pay for rent, but most stylists that choose this option make at least $750 a month or more, (otherwise they'd make more being a commission stylist).

If you pay your hair dresser $10 for a hair cut you are either getting a very rushed and sub-par cut so they can get it done in 30 minutes, or your poor stylist is making $5 an hour, which is ridiculous. Please think about what you would want to be paid after $18,000 and 2 years to get licensed to do something. I'd like more than minimum wage at least. 

Now we'll look at yearly income. On an average day I make $75. That is $1,500 a month. Which means I am not even making $20,000 a month. Something else that is important to remember is I do get tips! I generally make about $100 a day if you include tips. That's $2,000 a month and $24,000 a year. That's not so bad. Oh yeah! Right, but that isn't taxed, (and yes I do have to claim taxes on my tips). So roughly $3,240 of that will go to the government and I will also never get another tax return. I will be paying into the system for the rest of my career with not yearly bonus to get excited for.

I am not writing this as a "woe is me" piece but to educate people on why we charge what we do (because at $20 a haircut that is how much I make), but so that they also understand that we love out jobs. We have to. And I hope you also remember this post when tipping your stylist.

Bad Haircut?

This stems from one my biggest pet peeves in the salon. What do you do if you get a bad haircut? You can get creative with the styling, you can wear it up or with a hat for the next while. There are tons of techniques for covering it up, but that is not what I am here to talk about. I am here to talk about your attitude after.

Most likely after your hair cut was over your stylist asked you if you liked it or not, or something along the lines of "how do you feel about it?" Hopefully you told her (in a kind way) that you weren't happy with the result. So often I have clients (and even friends!) that come to me and they aren't happy with their cut or color. But when I ask them how they feel they say they love it and they are super happy with the result! I then find out a week later that they are unhappy and have been saying unkind things about me and/or my work.

I can't even begin to tell you how frustrating this is! I am a professional, I can take the criticism. I now had you leave the salon and thought you were happy, instead of looking at the cut and trying to figure out what the flaw in my technique or miss-communication was and trying to dissect the situation to figure out how I can avoid this problem in the future. You know when people say it's important for you to learn from your mistakes? Well when you tell me everything is perfect and that you "love it", then I learn nothing, because I didn't know there was a mistake!

The next problem with leaving the salon without telling your stylist how you feel is that you feel more motivated to tell other people about your frustrations. So you go to your friends and neighbors and tell them all about that one girl at that one place and how terrible she did on your hair. I wish people would not do this. Not only does it hurt the stylist's business and career, but it hurts the salons.

There are so many variables when it comes to cutting or coloring someone's hair. Often clients bring in pictures and in their minds they think that this cut/color will give them a leaner or longer looking face, or high cheek bones. Often the color looks so different on the person in the picture than it will on you as well. The other thing we need to remember is what that picture is usually of.

Take for example this picture of Emma Stone. You might think she has a gorgeous auburn/copper all over hair color right? Wrong. Her hair has been dyed with 3 different shades of red with different tones and levels. This gives her a lot more dimension and makes the color look more natural. The placement of the different colors also add length and are placed in a way that makes her cheek bones look higher. It takes an extensive amount more time, and money to do something like this. It is something you can get at a salon, but it is a timely and costly process. Her makeup and the lighting of this photo also speaks volumes to the overall look.

My point in saying this is that if your stylist doesn't make you look like Emma Stone it is not her fault, or yours. But try and be realistic about what your results will be like.

Not every stylist is for every client and vice-versa. If you go to a salon and they stylist doesn't do your hair "right" or you don't think it looks good, then most likely the stylist isn't a bad stylist. She is probably very talented and has a faithful clientele, but she obviously isn't the stylist for you. Whether the miss-communication happened on your part or hers (most likely both) trashing her to your friends and family is not only unkind but it's really wrong. It can also have legal ramifications. Slander charges can be pressed if they can prove that your bad-mouthing or Facebook posts hurt their business or reached clientele.

If you get a bad haircut you really have two options, go somewhere else next time or go back next time. If you go back to the same stylist you can remind them what they did last time and tell them what didn't work for you. That way they already know what you don't want and can "fix" it. If you go somewhere else hopefully you and the new stylist will communicate the same way.

But what I really wanted to hit on in this section is going back to the same place, but not the same stylist. It is okay to request not to have a specific stylist. I know for a fact that there is a few people who don't care who at my salon cuts their hair as long as it's not me! I am okay with that. If i cut your hair and two months later I see you in someone else's chair my feeling aren't hurt in the slightest. If you find a salon that you like their atmosphere, prices, and location, but you have a bad stylist experience don't take it out on the salon. Go back to someone different, it's okay!

In the end I am trying to say that if you get a bad haircut you should tell your stylist! Then you should not go around bashing that stylist. Then you need to know that if you'd like to you can return to that salon without fear! You wont hurt anyone's feelings.

How do I get my hair to look like it does after going to the salon?

This is a SUPER common question, and I always have the same answer: Product and Practice.

My pet peeve is when my clients say "I went home and tried that technique you showed me, but it didn't work!" when I know you are not using the right products. I am not a magician, and granted I am knowledgeable in this industry, but I don't have super powers. I went to school for 2000 hours (2 years) and spent a lot of time learning about the structure of hair and the chemical reactions and processes that hair goes through. I also study ingredients. I study what ingredients do what, and what fillers and things you should look for and (watch out for) in your skin and hair products. It makes a difference. I use high end products myself, and that is because I understand, know and trust them. My point is, don't be surprised that your hair doesn't look as good when I am using a $25 heat protecting lotion and a $19 mousse, while we both know you are using Garnier Fructis and Suave at home.

Practice makes perfect! I did not start school knowing how to do a great round-brush blow dry. I had to work really hard and practice A LOT (for two years!) to get it right. So get onto youtube and look up "How to Round Brush your own Hair". You can find tutorials for all different textures and lengths. Then practice, fail, practice, give up (temporarily), check facebook and practice some more. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is the ability to do a killer beach wave!

Does Trimming Your Hair Help It Grow Faster?

This question is an old myth and a question that I get asked a lot, including in the salon today! Does trimming your hair help it grow faster? In a word, no. But does getting a trim help your hair grow longer? Absolutely!

When you get split ends, those "splits" begin at the ends of the strand and will work their way up the stand until they break off or that strand falls out. If you get a true trim, dusting, or micro trim (this is when the trim only takes off .25 - .5 inches of the hair) then your hair will be able to stay healthy and full at the bottom! If you wait every 6 months to get a trim though, then all of those split ends have gone up the hair shaft, and more will have to be removed to get rid of the dead ends.

Think of a plank of wood. When it is freshly cut it takes a lot for it to get split at the end right? But once it has been split on the end it is relatively easy to make that split go the entire length of the wooden plank. So if you get true trims every 2 months, then your hair will only have been cut .75 inches in 6 months, but if you wait 6 months, your hair could need around 3 inches off to get rid of all of the damage.

So no getting a trim does nothing to make your hair grow faster persay, but it does maintain healthy hair, which allows you to grow your hair longer and keep it strong!

Unwanted Facial Hair

We all have it, unwanted facial hair. While men can just shave off their scruff, we women have to do little more to get rid of our 'stache. Here is a list of facial hair removal methods, and their upsides as well as their down sides.

1- Shaving
Women should not shave their facial hair with a traditional razor. There is however special razors made just for this purpose! The Finishing Touch Facial Razor for women can be bough at Walgreen, Walmart, online and more. It is pretty common. Pros: It is easy, fast, pain free, inexpensive ($20), and it lasts a long time, I have had mine for 2+ years and it's battery just barely died. I put a new one it, and it's as good as new! It's also great for trimming the hair on your arms because it comes with guards allowing you to trim the hair without shaving it all off. Cons: The results just don't last that long. If I used this exclusively I would have to use it every 3 days minimum! Yikes! Plus it does tend to make the hair a little more coarse in the future. And it's harder to sculpt eye brows with.

2- Tweezing
This where you use small metal tweezers to pluck out each individual hair. Pros: It's very inexpensive. You only have to buy the tweezers (pictures on the right) and those cost $1-$4. You can do it home. It usually lasts a medium amount of time (around 3 weeks). Cons: It is time consuming! To pluck eyebrows alone can take up to 30 minutes, and that is not including any facial hair at all! Plus it does hurt just as much as waxing.

3- Waxing
A preferred method beloved by women everywhere. This method requires that you go to a salon and pay someone to use warm wax to shape and remove facial hair from eye brow to chin. Pros: It is fast (20 minutes max) and the results last up to 3 weeks! If you exclusively wax your eyebrows (and other facial hair) you will only have to get it waxed every single month eventually, which is nice. Cons: You have to pay for it every time. One time a month at $10 each time is $120 a year! Plus it does hurt, not for very long, and the more often you go it hurts less, but it does hurt. The only other downside is that if you do not wash the area that has been waxed really well after you will most likely break out.

4- Threading
Threading is basically tweezing with string. Two long pieces of cotton tread are rolled over your skin and then wrapped around a single hair and pulled out. The big difference is that you can tweeze your own eyebrows at home, but you have to have someone else thread your eyebrows. Pros: It lasts about 3 weeks. You have to have someone else do it, and if you go to a professional then you are probably going to get some gorgeous eyebrows! Cons: You generally have to pay about $10 for it. So that would put you at $160 a year (if you had it done every 3 weeks). It can take a while (around a half an hour each time). It is just as painful as tweezing.

5- Laser Hair Removal 
This method uses a special laser to kill the hair growth follicles in the skin, so that you become hair free! Well, hair almost-free. Most people report that 98% of their hair is gone, but there are a few hairs that still poke up at times. Pro: The effects are permanent. Cons: It's expensive! It costs on average $1,716 - $2,574! It is a little time consuming, you have to go in for several 1-2 hour sessions of laser hair removal before it is completely gone. Although that does mean that you no longer have to spend time tweezing, waxing or anything else!

***Thanks to Shania for asking this question***

Hair Color 101

Everything that you could ever need to know about coloring you hair in one post! That's right folks! Learn everything from professional jargon and chemical processes, to ways to prepare for and care for your new color.

1- Talk like a Pro

Most professional hair color uses a numbers and letters system. The numbers (1-9) represent the level (or lightness/darkness) of the hair. Those numbers represent everything from black to lightest blonde where 1 is the darkest and 9 is the lightest. The chart on the right has the levels listed with pictures of their respective color in a neutral tone! 

The second part of the color formula that professionals use is one or two letters. All of these letter stand for something. Typically they are simple to understand. R is Red, G is Gold, B is Brown, N is Neutral, A is Ash (or gray), T is Titanium, V is Violet, and C is Copper (a mixture of red and brown that is a little more on the orange side). While these are the basic letters, there are several others, and many brands and lines use different terms altogether.

So if your stylist is using a 4RB on your hair it is a level 4 (medium brown) Red Brown. 

2- Toning Out Unwanted Colors

Have you ever lightened your hair and it looks yellow or orange? There is a way to get rid of that unwanted tone! If you have to much yellow, add purple into the mix! Combat orange tones with blue. If your hair is feeling a little red use green! Overall purple shampoos will tone out warmth, but using the proper color will speed up and enhance the process.

3- How Does it Work?
When you color your hair, your hair dresser uses a combination of hair color and processing solution. The processing solution lifts the cuticle layer of the hair and allows product to penetrate the hair shaft. It also softens the color pigments in your hair. The hair color eats away a portion of the pigment in your hair and then replaces or covers the pigment with a new color molecule.

When Lightening (or bleaching) your hair the processing solution works the same way. The lightener (or bleach) eats away the whole color molecule that lived inside your hair strand and needs extra lift from the processing solution to do so. This is why it is more damaging to your hair than coloring it.

4- Preparing for a Color

• Do not wash your hair right before going into get it colored. 
• Give yourself 36-12 hours after a wash before coloring your hair
• Do not use box color! Go to a school if you are trying to save money. 
• Do not use color strippers
• Do not lie to your hair dresser, if you use suave shampoo or have used box color we need to know! 

5- After Care

Redken has (in my opinion) the best post color hair care! There gentle sulfate free and low sulfate formulas are great! Talk to your hair dresser about what she recommends, but please stay away from drugstore brands like Garnier Fructis! And as much as I hate to say this I super don't recommend TIGI's color care line (Color Goddess). It is heavy and waxy, and I personally don't like anything about it except the smell. 

Other Hair Color Articles:
Colored Hair After Care  (this article is more in depth) 

Color Oops and Hair Dye Removers

Why is Box Color so Bad for your Hair?
What Hair Color will Bring Out my Eye Color? 

What Color should I Dye my Hair to Bring Out my Eyes?

This all comes down to the color wheel. There are 6 colors on a basic color wheel. The colors that are opposite to each other on the color wheel are known as complimentary colors. They bring out the other one and are pleasing to the eye when paired together. These combinations are often seen in holidays (Christmas is Red and Green), sports teams (The LA Lakers are Violet and Yellow) and company logos (FedEx is Blue and Orange). Use this color wheel as a guide and all of your problems will be solved when it comes to matching outfits, accessories and hair color.




If you have Green Eyes - While any color will really bring out your gorgeous green eyes reds and auburn will look best. Remember auburn means a red-brown, so do not go for orange (or copper) toned reds in your hair. I am sure the copper will bring out the blue somewhat, bu it will not be as bright as a red or auburn shade.
 
If you have Blue Eyes - Again one of the easier colors to bring out, but these eyes could really use some orange tones, which are best found in copper toned shades. Ask your stylist for a copper toned all over look.

If you have Brown Eyes - Brown is the trickiest shade to deal with because all brown eyes are different. However I have found that the safest route to go with brown is blonde! Most brown eyed babes have cooler undertones that stylists identify with violet (or purple). Because
of this a blonde (yellow) or super warm and light brown look will bring out the brown in your eyes and give your look a little more warmth.

If you have Hazel Eyes - You are a lucky duck! You have a combination of either brown and blue eyes or green and blue eyes. Because of this, you can make those eyes pop with any color on the wheel, and any of the looks mentioned above!

***Thanks to Anna Wright for asking this question*** 

How to do a Deep Conditioning Treatment at Home

What You'll Need:
A plastic disposable shower cap (buy them at Walmart or Sally's Beauty)
A spray bottle full of water
Two sectioning clips (or you can use normal clips/pins to section your hair)
Deep Conditioning Treatment
A Timer
A Blow Dryer

Step by Step Instructions:

Section your hair into three equal parts around the head. The first part would be around the crown of the head, the second would be the middle part and the last would be around the nape of your neck or the lower hairline. Like a cording to the black lines in the diagram on the right.

1. Allow the hair in the lowest section to hang down. Spray that section lightly with water until your hair is damp, but not dripping. 
2. Put the deep conditioning treatment on your hand. Using your hands work the conditioning treatment into the hair focusing it on the ends. Make sure it does reach the scalp too.  
3. Repeat steps 2-3 for the middle and top sections of your hair. Allow the middle section to be the "dampest" section. For the best results follow the red lines in the diagram above, and part into the hair when applying the conditioning treatment. 
4. Use your fingers to massage your entire scalp. Use them to stimulate blood flow in the scalp as well as to move, disperse and massage the conditioners into your scalp and around the head. Do this for about 3 minutes.
5. Spray you hair with water until there is a small amount of drip. 
6. Put on the cap. 
7.  Use your blow dryer to add heat to the scalp through the cap. I suggest turning it on high and then moving it slowly around the head in a swirl starting at the hairline and working towards the apex of the head. Do this for about 10 minutes.
8. Put the blow dryer down and wait for 15 minutes (you can watch TV or get on the internet during this time of course. just keep yourself busy for at least 15 minutes, but it can be as long as you want!) 
9. Hop in the shower and rinse the conditioner out of your hair. DO NOT Shampoo the hair after this treatment. 

Recommended Deep Conditioners:

These conditioners are just some of my favorites. You can use any PROFESSIONAL conditioner. (If you use a drugstore conditioner you are wasting all of this time infusing your hair with chemicals and filler products.)

Paul Mitchell
Tea Tree Oil Special Conditioner

Joico
K-PAK Revitaluxe Restorative treatment

TIGI S Factor
"Serious" Conditioner

        

Color Treated Hair

The question I received was "What products should I use after coloring my hair?" and that is a tricky question. Everyone's hair is different. But there are a few tried and true products I recommend.

1- Color Stay Shampoo

I recommend Redken Color Magnetics Sulfate Free Color Extend Shampoo. It's amazing. I have never seen a shampoo protect the hair as well as this one does. 

2- Purple Shampoo (for blondes)

If you've lightened your hair I have only found one purple shampoo that I am in love with and that is UNITE Blonda Shampoo and Conditioner. It smells like grape soda and works wonders! It is powerful and I am obsessed with it. 

3- Amazing Conditioner

If you choose to use a sulfate free shampoo (like the magnetics by Redken mentioned above) you really don't need conditioner. But otherwise you will need a powerful conditioner, so I recommend TIGI S Factor "Serious" Conditioner. Just trust me on this one. 

After Color Hair Care Tips:

• Do not use hot tools on your hair for three days after getting your hair colored. 
• Do not wash your hair for 2 days after getting your hair colored. 
• Use a shampoo designed for color treated hair
• Do a deep condition treatment 1 week after your hair color serivce. 
• When you wash your hair in the shower, use cold water.
• If you can not stand to use cold water, after shampooing and conditioning, make the water cold and rinse your hair with it for a cold "shot". 
• Do not color your hair more than once every other month 
• Do not color your hair at home, please go to a professional: Here's Why!

****Thanks to Janice for asking this question!****