Summer Hair

I think with the 96 degrees being predicted this coming weekend it is safe to say summer is here at last! Yeah! I love to get out and walk and run a bit in the warmer weather. I did my first 5K in years last weekend, the Run or Dye 5K. Maybe you saw all the crazy looking, dyed people running around town last Saturday? (“Color stations” are placed on the route and volunteers were there throwing dyed cornstarch at us).

 Anyhow while running it I was watching these women with that ever so popular “white” platinum blonde hair and thinking “OMG! This is not going to end well!” Well, sure enough, I had stained armpits still and some red looking stain left on my hair after my first shower. My hair is not platinum so by the second shower the red is gone from my hair. (Not the pits though! I may be wearing long sleeves to work all week). Anyhow this whole thing got me thinking about all the fun things we do in the summer and the havoc it can wreak on your expensive hair color. Here are my best tips on protecting your tresses while enjoying your summer.

• Running/walking is one of the most popular sports this time of year. The thing to think about when doing any sports is the constant tension you are putting on your hair when it is in a ponytail all the time. Make sure you are using cloth bands and not rubber, and be sure to not to wrap them too tight. When hair gets wet it swells and can cause breakage if you are putting rubber bands or wrapping the cloth ones too tight. Try an occasional braid to give that same hair a chance to recover now and again. 
• Sun and surf are very damaging to your hair. If you are highlighted, be sure to use a leave-in filler in your hair to protect it from further damage, my favorite on is Pureology’s here. If you are sporting red or any rich brown colors you want to be sure that your leave in protection has sunscreen in it. These products will save your hair from getting over-processed or washed out with all the UV rays it will be soaking up. This one is brand new on the market and amazing!
• Swimming in chlorinated pools is death to your hair if you don’t take special measures so protect it! First thing you need to do is get your hair saturated before jumping in the pool. Even better, if after wetting you add a conditioner for increased barrier and then a cap. If a cap is not practical at least wet it well, cover with conditioner and braid it to protect it. Also do not over use swimmer’s shampoo. This type of shampoo is very high on the pH and is designed to “strip” your hair of chlorine, which in turn, of course will strip your hair of color as well. So use weekly at the most.
• Camping is a great summer activity that our family loves. Remember going with your family as a kid and your mom always had a bandana on her head? Bandana’s are great for protecting your hair from the camp fire smell saturating it too much and also from the those pesky no-see-ums that show up at night and bite at your scalp. Spray bug spray on the bandana instead of directly on your hair to protect your hair and scalp from the direct assault of deet. Bandanas are very retro and back in style baby! ;)

I know there are many more sports that I am missing here but the issues with cycling, hiking, golfing and boating will all be a repeat of what I have said above. You get the gist right? 

Oh, and Color Me Rad is coming up in September so if you missed the fun Run or Dye 5K you might want to jump in on this one. I would suggest platinum girls wear a baseball cap and I did actually see one woman run by me with her hair in a plastic processing cap under her baseball cap to protect every last inch of her beautiful blonde! Here is the short list of marathons/running opportunities around the Reno/Tahoe area this summer. Whatever you do for enjoyment this time of year make the most of it! It is a short 3/4 months before we may see snow again! 

If you have suggestions for how you protect your hair during your summer play leave us a comment below. And please be sure to forward this or email it to any of your friends that you think would enjoy this article. Have a great week! 

Michon :)

Mini Escapes

Spring break is over and the tax man has been paid, so it seems all that we have to look forward to is longer days (yeah!!), and yard work. Well, all work and no play makes for a sad Jack and a pitiful Jill. There is no time left in the schedule to get away and enjoy long weekends for awhile yet, but you need to think of a way to refresh yourself. Here are some solutions that may help you through a mundane work week, which you can do on your lunch hour. Pampering services done in less than sixty minutes. 

Think of them as little mini escapes...

• Blow out: Letting someone else do the work for you can make you feel valued and special. Especially if you have thick curly hair or you have a meeting later that you would like to look stunning for. 
• Manicure: A basic manicure will take approximately 30 minutes, leaving you time to eat and read a chapter in your novel. Going back to work with pretty patties makes anyone feel pampered.
• Massage: No undressing, no oily mess to deal with. You can get a 10, 15, or 20 minute neck and shoulder massage that will leave you feeling great for the rest of the day. 
• Mini Facial: Get a 30-minute facial. Hydration facials can be done quickly by avoiding the eye area. With a quick application of tinted BB cream and a touch of blusher, you will go back to work glowing.
• Quick Style: Come in with clean dry hair and have your stylist whip up something fun. Try a messy bun or a low swung bun with a braid twisted into it. Here is a link to my favorite quick styles to try.
• Sunless Tan: Weekends of shorts or capris coming up and those legs have not seen daylight in months? Spray tan is the ticket. Pacific Tan even has a coupon out for buy 2 sessions-get one free!  
• Waxing: Get an eyebrow, leg, lip or bikini wax on your lunch hour and save yourself the extra running around on the weekend trying to fit it all in. Now there is an invigorating way to spend your afternoon. 

I hope you find a few ways to give yourself some R&R this month. And while you are doing so, remember that Mother’s Day is on May 12th and any or all of these would make a great gift for that woman who takes care of everyone else all the time!

Thank you for stopping by my blog. 

Happy Spring!

It is looking like it may stick around this time! 

Michon :)

Limping along with that hair?

If you are one of those people who has been cursed with fine, limp hair, I have some help for you.

Limp, fine hair is one of the hardest problems to address in my world behind the chair. Genetics, medical conditions, medications, styling, and stress, can all factor in to what may be causing this to occur. If you have suffered with this condition most of your life, you are pretty safe to rule out the last four and realize that it is time to make lemonade out of those lemons. Here are my best tips to help you turn your limp locks into voluminous waves.

 Let it get dirty. Sounds contrary huh? Shampooing everyday is hard on the hair. Try instead to use a dry shampoo for one or preferably two days. There are a number on the market that are wonderful. Here is a link to a short list of the ones I have tested. 

1. Avoid “volume” shampoos. I know, crazy huh?  Actually, most "volume" shampoos work so well because they strip the oil. Years ago when I was educating with a manufacturer, we did strip tests on hair with various shampoos, and the OTC “volume” shampoos actually “permed” the hair we wrapped around rods - permanently!  
2. Use a light conditioner. One of the most important things about the conditioner you are using is that it stays far, far away from your scalp. Your scalp does not need the conditioning, just the ends, and very lightly at that. 
3. Don’t comb while wet. Your baby fine hair is so fragile when it is wet! Use a wide tooth pick or comb and GENTLY get through the ends. Avoid vigorous towel drying. Instead, gently squeeze the excess moisture from your ends with a towel wrapped around the hair. 
4. Style with TLC. Wash your hair the night before and allow to air-dry. The next day, mist your hair slightly to create the style you want with your blow-dryer on low. Instead of blow-drying it right out of the gate. Use a curling iron or flat iron on this type of hair for a rare occasion only. Consider investing in some good old fashion hot curlers, they are coming back into style again.
5.  Professional Color. Not only can a stylist see the back of your head and exactly how close to get to the previously colored hair without overlapping, we also use products that are much safer and gentler on your hair. Over-the-counter hair dyes contain harsh chemicals and metals that can further damage already fragile hair. 
6. Create an illusion. Use hair powder to disguise not only the roots and dry them out between shampoos, but to help create the illusion of more hair. Here is a short list from last week’s tip of the best powder shampoos that double as scalp coverage and create a fuller look for you. 
7. Consider getting a texture wave. Unlike the perms of the 80’s, these texture creating waves are done on much larger rods and use gentler chemicals. This option should only be considered if you have strong enough hair that has not been weakened by a high lift color.  Consult your professional for recommendations on this.

What has worked best for you dealing with your fine hair?  I would love to hear from you! Please leave me a comment in the box below and let me know! If you have a friend that would appreciate hearing about this information please feel free to share it, tweet it, email it, Facebook,

   or however you would like to help them out! 

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. 

Michon :)