Pennies for a Pound: styling

Guest post - At home Hair styling how-to.

09:17:00

Why, hello there...

I haven't has a guest post on here for quite a while, so I'm very happy to introduce Sara from The Right Hair Styles! For all things hair, her blog is definitely the place to visit! Today she is bringing us a few tips for hair at home, I'm sure you'll all enjoy!

Should you visit a salon to get your hair styled? Is doing your own hair styling at home tough? That’s the only option most ladies have. Only few of them can afford daily salon hair styling, but all of them wish to look their best. Here are few simple rules to help you cope with the DIY hairstyling.

Proper hair care

It doesn’t really matter who styles your hair (be it even David Mallet); you would not look your best, if your hair is not healthy. Healthy hair is the base for a gorgeous styling. That’s why your daily hair care should include gentle head skin rubbing. It intensifies oxygen provision to the hair roots. Plus, you should regularly do hair masques according to your hair type. Sometimes you may even take vitamin therapy which is good for your hair and you should regularly wash it with boiled water (adding some chamomile or calendula infusions), instead of using your main-water.

Preparing for styling

There is one common rule: your hair should be washed and you should apply a hair conditioner or balm according to your hair type. Plus, you should dry your hair up with a towel or leave it to dry for some 7-10 minutes. Then you should comb your hair with rare teeth comb (wet hair has to be combed with a special care). Using a comb, a brush or just your fingers you may create a base for your future hairstyle.

Picking the right styling products

Such products may include all sorts of mousses, sprays, varnishes, axle greases, gels, lotions, creams, etc. Each of these styling products has its ins and outs. For instance, varnish or grease is good for short hair (or long and coarse hair). Pay special attention to the product’s grip. Some of these products should be applied onto wet hair (mousses), while others are suitable for dry hair only (such as sprays, etc.).

Taming tenacious hair

If your hair is a bit messy and unwilling to get styled, you’d have to hack upon it. Sometimes all you need is a good topical (as stated above), while in other cases you may resort to electric appliances (hairdryers, curling irons, hair irons or hot rollers). For European hair type (there are also African and Asian hair types) you may use hot rollers heating up to 200 F or diffuser hairdryer, which evenly spreads hot air throughout your hair.

If you use hairdryer styling for thin hair, you should choose warm or even cool air streams. If you plan on using hot rollers or irons, first treat your hair with protective styling cream or lotion and let it dry on (do not forget to comb your hair to spread the product evenly).

In rainy or murky weather hair styling should not be considered. You may go with braids, ponytails or other hairstyles like that.

Proper hairdryer use

Hairdryer can be good or bad for your hair. First let your hair dry a bit in a natural manner and only then use the fan. Use a diffuser hairdryer. The air stream should not be too hot; you should always end your styling with few streams of cool air. Do not use a hairdryer on a daily basis. Your hair deserves some days off.

Creating volume

There are many things you may use to create volume: gels, mousses, hot rollers, rare teeth combs and diffuser hairdryers. If you are using hot rollers or regular night rollers, you may use larger size ones on your forehead and head top and smaller size ones on the nape. Different size rollers can help you creating amazing volume and natural looking locks.

Styling fancy curls

Lacy curls have the love arrows effect on men. Mostly you may use rollers and hairdryer for styling such locks along with styling products mentioned above. Most hairstylists recommend using rollers of different sizes. You may also pick some styling products created especially for taming curly or wavy hair. They make your curls soft and obedient, evenly spreading and falling down your shoulders.

You can visit Sara's site here.

What's your everyday hair style?

Thanking you, Sara,

Naomi

andrew barton

Guest Post | Haircare Routine - Dry/damaged hair.

09:44:00

Helloo There,

I am Danielle from Danielle Saint Blog. my little corner of the internet is full of my ramblings about all things beauty, fashion and lifestyle. If you like what you read here be sure to pop over and check me out!!

Over the past month or so I have had really badly damaged hair, so it after having a hair cut I made the decision to really make an effort to look after my hair and keep it in better condition. So I though I'd share with you the products I have currently been using and actually really enjoying. I am pretty fickle with my hair care product as I swap and change a lot until I find one that really suits me, which is where I am now.

The first thing I use is obviously is shampoo and conditioner. Now the brand is I am using is not one I had come across before, as haircare isn't really my thing much more of a make up girl. The brand is Andrew Barton and I am using the S.O.S Super Repair which is exclusive to Asda. I am using the shampoo and conditioner from the range. Seriously these smell AMAZING, they are fragranced with a stunning Brazil nut scent. The shampoo is a great cleanser leaving my hair feeling really clean without a trace of build up. The shampoo is more of a jelly texture when compared to your conventional shampoo, so you really do have to lather it up and massage through your hair and scalp. The conditioner is lightweight but it really does work well due to the high levels of Shea protein it has in it. I only apply the conditioner to the lengths of my hair as it tends to make my roots greasy (I experience this with most conditioners).

Next I give my hair a little towel dry and run just on the ends Organix Brazilian Keratin Therapy Anti-Breakage Serum. Again this smells amazing, just like chocolate. It is supposed to transform you hair into silky smooth locks due to its unique blend of antioxidant rich ingredients such as coconut oil, keratin proteins and avocado oil. This is a great product as it really does prolong breakage after a trim.

Before drying my hair, I pop it out of its towel give it a brush using Denman AnarKitty 'Ruby' D3 brush. Then I spray a leave-in conditioner and heat defense spray through the length and roots of my hair. The leave-in conditioner I am using at the moment is also from Andrew Barton and from the S.O.S Super Repair range. Again its a good product and smells amazing. The heat defense spray I am using is the James Brown London Heat Styling Protector. Now honestly I haven't got a clue when it comes to heat defence spray, what makes it good and what makes it bad. I just use one and hope it is doing the right thing. Then I blow dry my hair, I start my doing the front then flip my head upside down and do the rest. I find this adds a lot more texture and volume to my hair.

After blow drying I use a little bit of Andrew Barton Frizz Tamer Quick Fix Shine and Control Serum. This really does tame the frizz, it is a nice light oil which manages to keep my hair at bay for about 24hrs. Then run my brush through it all again and apply a little bit more heat protectant.

Now on to styling, I either leave my hair at this point because blow drying gives me the most lovely volumized beachy hair or going in with the straighteners. The straighteners I use are GHD V Gold Max Styler. They are amazing as I have really thick long hair so they get the job done really quickly and well. Once all straight, I apply more of the anti-frizz serum if needed, I style as required usually just as french plait to the side or up in a clip.

Twice a week I like to use a hair mask, currently I am using Herbal Essences Beautiful Ends Intense Hair Mask, which you can read my review of here. Which is good and does the trick.