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 :)

Dry Shampoo Review.

I am cracking up here over the new video that  Matt Damon put out about clean water and his going on strike. Good luck with that Matt! It is awesome if you haven’t seen it here is a link. I agree with him clean water is important and conservation is key. His organization offers many ways to get involved if you are interested.
Here is a way we could help and conserving water - skip a shampoo or even two! Not only is shampooing your hair everyday not the best thing, it strips the cuticle of the natural oils and nutrients that it needs to be strong and healthy. It also dries it out beacuse the more you shampoo the more styling you have to do which is harder on your hair. Try giving your hair a rest with  a dry shampoo.
What is dry shampoo?
Dry shampoo is a powdery substance that is applied at the roots of your hair to absorb excess oil. It extends the length of your blowout or is very handy when water is in short supply or not assessable.
These would be my top recommendations for dry shampoo or root hiding opportunities on the market at this time.

AG has a fairly decent dry shampoo you spray in. Adds volume and softness. Absorbs oils and restores life to your style! 
Use: Shake well before using. Spray throughout hair and work in with fingers allow a few minutes and then brush or pick through. Style as normal.
Downside: is that it can feel sticky and makes it harder to brush out your hair, plus it’s an aerosol.
Cost: approx $19

Bumble and Bumble powder/dry shampoo has color!! It is awesome that it can cover grey re-growth and volumize all at once! I would highly recommend this product to anyone wanting to cover their roots between visits to the hairdresser and anyone wanting to extend the life of their style by not shampooing on any given day. 
Downside: This product will get on your pillowcase, sheets and your clothing, so prepare accordingly. There are a couple of videos out on YouTube that are helpful and will give you the warnings I mentioned above. Here is a positive one and a negative one. And the cost is a little higher than average
Cost: approx. $33 - $35

Keratin Complex is one of those amazing products that you just have to use to understand. With these three colors you are close enough to most colors that you can at least soak up the oils and have a some root color coverage to boot! Huge upside to this product is that it will make your hair “look thicker” simply because it will disguise that pink scalp! :)
Downside: Again you are using color so you will lose color on your clothes and pillowcases if you are not careful. Here is a video that will help you use this product properly. Just a heads up, the lady being interviewed is VERY animated. ;)

Cost: approx. $23 - $30

Schwarzkopf OSIS Dust it is a powder that gives a soft matt effect with natural movement to your hair. It is also touted to adding volume to fine hair. 
Downside: Doesn’t come with a brush to apply. Hand application is difficult to control. 

Cost: approx. $16

Redken Powder Refresh absorbs oil, freshens up your style and extends the life of your blowout. Comes in a neutral shade that works well for all hair colors, even those with a darker base. It has a nice refreshing mint smell that really does refresh your hair for an extra day or two, 

Downside: It does not have a brush so that again and it’s an aerosol.

Cost: approx. $10 

Baby powder absorbs oil. I have been using this since I was a teenager. When you apply it to your roots with a brush you will want to wait a few minutes for the talcum powder to do it’s magic. Then simply brush through. This product is great and inexpensive and works well for blondes and lighter shades of hair.

Downside: I would not recommend this for those of you with darker hues. It will look like you have grey roots coming in. 

Cost: approx. $3-$4

So this is my short list. You will find a huge list if you are interested in more options, here are 58 dry shampoos!  

Hope you enjoyed this review! If you have a product that you love that works as well or better than any of my suggestions here I would love to hear about them! Leave me a comment in the space below! Forward this to your teenager! Let’s all do our part to conserve our precious resources and look beautiful while doing it! 

Michon :)

Be Beautiful Valentine!

As we approach this Hallmark card occasion,  I thought I would share a couple of fun things to do, whether you are single or in a relationship, that are beautiful and easy to do! Pick and choose as many as you like from the list below to create a week long celebration without breaking the bank!

1. Say Something Sweet: Lotion your hands lightly and then write on the mirror of your bathroom. When your sweetie gets out of the shower and the room is all steamy, your declaration of love will be visible! Send a series of texts throughout the day with all of the things you love about them. Put post-it notes on the car steering wheel, in their lunchbox, in his gym bag, in her purse. At the end of the day they will come home to greet you knowing they are loved and appreciated.
2. Feed Them Something Delicious: There are a lot of ways to let your food do the talking. Here is a short list of ideas I like to do on my Pinterest Valentine Board. Don’t have time to cook? Nothing says I love you like having someone treat you to dinner and giving you the night off from cooking and cleaning. If you decide not to stay in and cook up something special, I found this list of all of the local specials including pricing. I would imagine you should call for reservations today if you haven’t gotten to that yet this week! ;)
3. Do Something Sexy: For the ladies, check out this blog post for the best possible lipstick you can wear on Valentine's Day. Don’t leave that lipstick all over his face and shirt! He will thank you for this one, I promise! For the gentlemen, spray a little cologne on when you get home and freshen up a bit after work, then go put your hand to her face and tell her she is beautiful. 
4. Touch them: Whether you are planning your Valentine's surprise for a significant other, children, or grandchildren, we all respond to touch. An impromptu scalp and shoulder massage from behind while he is at the computer. A foot rub for your little kids as they are reading before bed. Everyone appreciates a good old fashion back rub. Not into touching anyone right now? A gift certificate for a massage is a fabulous gift for anyone! 
5. Be Beautiful: Take a care package down to Tent City for a homeless person. Brand new warm socks or gloves filled with Valentine treats and maybe a little cash. Pay for the person behind you in the Starbucks drive-through. Write a letter or a thank you note to someone that has made a difference in your life. Donate to one of your favorite local charities this week. Local charities typically have much lower overhead administrative costs so more of your money goes directly to the recipients. Charitable donations drop off severely after the holidays. You all know my favorite local charity Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation. (just one suggestion). 

We pretty much covered the five senses here plus the heart with that last one. I hope you all have a fabulous Valentine’s Day! Please share this post with all of your friends that are looking for last minute Valentine's ideas and leave me a comment with your favorite ideas for making life sweeter this time of year. I would love to see what you like to do.  

Thank you for stopping by.

Michon :)

Cabin Fever

Do you get that overwhelming feeling of wanting to 'break out' this time of year? The warmer weather we have had over the last couple of days seems to make it even worse. Many of my clients start to get anxious and decide they need a change. Some come in with some pretty drastic changes in mind for their hair, but, is it the right move for you? When you look at the big picture of where you want your hair to be by summer you need to take a few things into consideration before you let someone get carried away at the mixing bowl or with the scissors.

1. Maintenance. How often do you want to be seeing your stylist in order to keep the style looking fresh? The longer your hair is, the easier it is to go a little longer between haircuts. Short hair cuts really do self destruct in 4-6 weeks. Hair grows a 1/4 inch per month. This can be the difference between a spunky, sassy style with “tude”, to a limp overgrown look that is mediocre. Give some serious thought before chopping off too much and then spending the rest of your winter months bluer than you might have been. 
2. There’s an app for that! There are several fun apps available for your smart phones that may help you decide on a new style or color. Simply take a picture of yourself with your phone and then import your picture into the app and shop around. Fun way to “see yourself” with a new look before taking the plunge and being too surprised. Here is a short list of ones I found available for your iphone or droid. Hairstyle Lite, Magic Mirror, Fun and Fashion, Smart Hairstyle and one for your computer if you are not a phone junky like some of us, InStyle Makeover.
3. Coloring. This is a great time of year for low lights. You are still out of the sun most of the time this time of year so it is easier to maintain the rich lowlights you can achieve with a low peroxide, conditioning color that will fade much less this time of year. By summer it will have naturally lifted enough so you won’t have trouble when you want to lighten it again for summer. A nice subtle change that won’t fry your hair. 
4. Deep conditioning treatment with a trim. This is a great way to breath new life into your hair. It is amazing what just a quarter to an eighth of an inch can do to make your hair feel so much better. Add to that, a deep conditioning treatment and you have a new do that is sleek, shiny, polished feeling and will last you a couple of months through the rest of this deep freeze. 
5. Take baby steps. If you are contemplating making a drastic change talk to your stylist about making the changes over several appointments. Take a picture with you and consider their recommendations. Drastic changes done too quickly can be disastrous! Just see what January Jones (the Mad Man movie star) has to say about her impulsive style change and her hair falling out in clumps! 

The way you feel about your hair is very closely connected to your mood. When your hair looks good you feel good. Beware! Remember, you will have to live with this drastic change for months to come. However, if you are of the mind set that “it is only hair” by all means have fun! What else is there to do on these long days but spend time in the salon mixing it up a bit! :)

Thanks for subscribing to my weekly tip blog. 

Please feel free to leave me a comment below and let me know what your favorite strategies for keeping the winter blues at bay this time of year. And if you have any questions or ideas you would like to hear me work on please let me know. Please share this tip with any of your friends that are contemplating big hair decisions! 

Thank you again, 

Have a great week! 

Michon :)

This post has been published in the Galena Times Newspaper/ Spring Edition 2013