Stuff4beauty Spotlight Beauty Blog, Stuff4Beauty.Com

You might be surprised to learn that just about every human being has 100,000 strands of hair on their heads. However, because of differences in texture, some people appear to have less hair, and some people appear to have a whole lot more.

What is texture?
Texture is the circumference of each individual strand of hair. If you have fine hair then your hair has a small circumference and you appear to have less hair on your head. Conversely, if you have coarse hair then your hair has a larger circumference and this bulk makes you appear to have a lot more hair than someone with finer hair texture.

Ultimately, the texture of your hair is simply a matter of genetics; if your parents have coarse hair, you will also, if they have finer hair, you will too. However, thankfully the hair care industry has developed ways you can enhance and modify your hair’s natural texture to achieve the popular styling choices you desire.

Fine Textured Hair

Fine textured hair is generally straight and can appear limp because of residues from hair care products. It can easily be processed by perming and coloring. However, it is important to not over-process fine hair because it can be easily damaged.

There are many things you can do to enhance the texture of fine hair. Some of them are:

Use a Clarifying Shampoo – To reduce residues and oils you should use a clarifying shampoo on fine hair. This will strip off the residue left by shampoos, conditioners, and styling products. Kenra manufactures a shampoo called: Kenra Clarifying Shampoo. Kenra’s Clarifying Shampoo is ideal for removing mineral deposits and chemical build-up from hair styling products. However, while this shampoo cleanses your hair, it also adds shine and body.

Use Mousse While Wet – After you shampoo with a clarifying shampoo, adding mousse to your hair (when it is wet) can give it added texture. Start at the roots and massage the mousse into your hair and then let it air dry, or dry it with a hairdryer on low heat. Not everyone wants to use the same hold factor in a mousse. There is a very wide variety of mousses to choose from, however I have three different options to look at. First is the Alterna Life Volumizing Spray Mousse. This is an aerosol mousse that has a light to medium hold. The Alterna Life Mousse was manufactured with fine and thin hair in mind. The exclusive LIFE blend of extracts provides weightless thickening agents that define, maintain, and preserve volume all day long. This product also contains anti humectants that effectively repel humidity, leaving your hair with a smooth texture and a radiant shine.

If you need more of a hold, I would go with a medium hold mousse. An example of this is the Biosilk Silk Mousse. This is an alcohol free mousse that is rich, creamy, and infused with concentrated silk and botanical extracts which add volume and shine.

If you require a strong holding mousse, I would recommend the Brocato Volumizing Foam. This product is a strong holding mousse that creates visual texture and stunning shine. This mousse allows your hair style to be firm, yet still moveable. This is an exceptional volumizing foam with a powerful hold that is great for all hair types!

Color Your Fine Hair – Another good way to add texture to fine hair is to color it. Coloring your hair adds texture to it by enlarging the hair shaft. However, make sure to not over-process your fine hair with color. Stuff4Beauty has an array of hair color lines. Go on, take a look and see what you like!

Coarse Textured Hair

There are a few things you can do to work with the texture of coarse hair. Some of them are:

Add Moisture – Coarse hair needs added moisture to control frizz and curl. By using a good conditioner you can insure you course hair will lay flatter and be shinier. Some manufacturers offer leave in treatments, rinse-out treatments, or hydrating conditioners that will help to incorporate moisture back into your hair. Bonacure makes a rinse-out treatment entitled Bonacure Moisture Treatment. This is a great product for naturally dry, or naturally coarse hair. This product reconstructs the moisture in your hair shaft from the inside out, which balances the moisture in your hair.

Joico makes a leave-in detangler that you can use on a daily basis which is called Joico Daily Leave-in Detangler. This is a conditioning agent that helps to condition, detangle, and make hair easier to manage. This product will also help you restore the moisture balance in your hair.

People rave about Pureology products and what they do for their hair, and that is why I would recommend the Pureology Hydrating Conditioner. The hydrating conditioner works from the inside out to keep your hair color fresh and your hair detangled ,all with renewed body and amazing shine! Hair is left conditioned, color protected, and shiny!

Air Dry – One of the most important things you can do for coarse hair is to let it air dry. Wash it, condition it, and then let it dry on its own. By not handling your hair too much while it is drying, it will not frizz.

Whether you have fine hair, coarse hair, or something in between, you can work with it by learning about texture and which products to use and which to avoid. By using products that are beneficial for your hair texture, you can better amplify the hair that you were given.

Have an absolutely amazing Fourth of July America!

Alayna
Stuff4Beauty

Have you ever wanted your curly, or wavy hair straight? It’s possible! The first thing you’ll want to do is to select a hair straightener. While it is not recommended to straighten your hair when it is wet, there are select hair straighteners available that can be used on wet hair. Be very careful in your selection of a flat iron!

The first step in taking your hair from curly to straight is to wash it and condition it. Finding a good hydrating conditioner can be very good for your hair once you start straightening it on a regular basis. Heat can pull moisture from your hair and dry it out, therefor a moisturizing conditioner can add some of the moisture back into your hair. There are many cremes, balms, and serums you can use to help produce the straight effect on your hair.

Back to Basics has a creme entitled Back to Basics Straightening Creme. This creme is formulated with a natural blend of ivy and bamboo to help smooth, straighten, and eliminate frizz in your hair. This product provides thermal protection and a humidity barrier to keep your hair sleek and manageable with a healthy shine. The bamboo adds flexibility and body to your hair while the ivy conditioners and smoothes hair during the styling process. Panthenol is incorpoated into this product as thermal protection from usage of heat tools.

Another straightening cream worthy of your attention is the Farouk CHI Straight Guard Smoothing Styling Cream. This is a styling aid that is easily applied to your hair and is ideal for all your heated styling tools. This product does help to eliminate frizz and promote shine throughout your hair. Before blow drying your hair, apply this product to your hair. Once you have finished blow drying you should notice that the straightness of your hair is controlled and your hair itself is smooth.

If you are more interested in using a straightening balm, Alterna has manufactured a product called Alterna Hemp Seed Straightening Balm. This is a cream gel that straightens both wavy and curly hair. The hemp seed oil that is infused into this gel increases elasticity, manageability and shine. This product also contains seaweed extract which softens hair and decreases the amount of static and frizz. It is recommended that when you use this product, you first towel dry your hair. Apply this product in sections to your hair and use a brush to pull the hair straight while blow drying it.

A serum used to straighten hair is Kenra’s Straightening Serum. This product does it all. It controls, smoothes, and softens your hair. While this product does not have a hold factor, because it is strictly used to straighten your hair. This is a humidity-resistant, non-chemical straightening serum. It works great on coarse, curly, wavy, and fine hair. With an emollient-rich formula this product also helps to elminate frizz and can help subdue even the most unmanageable hair!

To begin the process, wash your hair and condition it. Apply a small amount of straightening balm to one palm and rub your hands together, then work the balm into your hair. You want to try to straighten you hair out as much as you possibly can while you are drying it. Comb through your hair as you are drying it with a blow set on gentle. While drying, you should always dry it in a downward motion. Blow drying your hair in a downward motion will help reduce immediate frizz. Before we cover how to use a flat iron, here are a few tips on flat ironing etiquette.

Some useful tips for flat irons:

1.) Don’t rely solely on the straightener. Begin the process when you are blow drying.

2.) Use a styling spray. This will act as a barrier between your hair and the iron.

3.) If you use a steam straightener, it will moisturize you hair making it glossy.

4.) Keep your hair in smaller sections when straightening as opposed to big handfuls.

5.) A ceramic straightener is gentler on your hair than a metal one will be.

6.) Never turn your straightener to a setting that is too hot, it is possible to fry your hair.

7.) If you sense the straightener is too hot or you smell something burning, stop using the flat iron immediately!

8.) Never jerk the flat iron through your hair, run it along your hair slowly. This will also help to reduce frizz.

9.) If your hair is fragile or fine, you will most likely use a lower temperature setting than someone with coarse, thick hair.

When straightening your hair, always use a spray, or a protective gel to protect your hair from burning.

Most protective sprays and gels have a similar concept in how to apply them. It is best to apply these products in sections as you straighten your hair.

Rusk makes a product called Rusk Thermal STR8 Protective Flat Iron Spray. This is a spray that protects the hair both internally and externally from heat. UVA and UVB sunscreens provide protection during the day while thermplex and cermix complex are combined to leave hair smooth, silky-soft, sleek, and shiny.

Matrix Sleek Look Iron Smoother is another product you can use prior to straightening your hair. This product provides your hair with the ultimate protection from heat to prevent styling damage from even the hottest heat appliances. This Iron Smoother gives your silky-straight, lasting style results with an all-over glossy shine and even a humidity shield for frizz control! This product contains style memory to help train your hair towards straight tendencies. The Matrix Sleek Look Iron Smoother protects your hair from heat up to 450 degrees!

To begin the flat ironing process you will first want to put your hair into sections using clips or combs to hold your hair out of the way. Start at the lowest section of your hair. This will make the process easier and you are less likely to burn yourself. Starting as close to the roots as you can, clamp the straightener down and pull slowly downward. Be careful not to put the straightener too close to your scalp as you could burn yourself.

If you have short hair, a straightener with a narrow plate will do the job nicely. If your hair is long, then a wider plate will be needed. Do this with each section of your hair until it’s all done, then grab yourself a thick, rounded hairbrush. Gently run the brush through your hair in the same direction that you ran the straightener. You may have to repeat this process more than once depending on how effectively the flat iron has straightened your hair.

Enjoy your week everyone!

Alayna
Stuff4Beauty.com

We Were Asked:

I have thick, curly hair. My hair is super dried, curly, and frizzy! The products I am currently using do not help with my hair, especially on humid days. I need advise on what products to use!

We Answered:

It sounds like your hair is in need of some smoothing! You’re in luck, because Biosilk has a great line of products that will help to reduce frizz and add shine to your hair!

Biosilk has manufactured many products that are aimed towards thick, unruly hair in need of shine and taming. Biosilk Silk Therapy Smoothing Shampoo is a luxurious and gentle cleansing shampoo. This product contains humectants that moisturize and smooth the hair shaft. The goal of this product is to smooth down your hair and prepare it for conditioning.

For your conditioning agent, I would recommend the Biosilk Silk Therapy Smoothing Conditioner. The Smoothing Conditioner provides maximum weightless conditioning, which provides essential moisture, silk proteins, botanicals, and herbs to your hair. This product helps to smooth and add shine to your hair, while eliminating frizz!

If your hair is in need of more frizz elimination and shine, I would suggest to you a replenishing and reconstructing treatment called: Biosilk Silk Therapy. This is a great product for repairing your hair. It bonds and strengthens the hair from the inside out while also filling any voids in the cuticle layer. Biosilk Silk Therapy also repairs split ends, protects your hair from heat, UV ray exposure, cold, and environmental pollution. While providing your hair with incredible shine, no build up, and no added weight to your hair, this product can also be used on your skin!

For a styling agent, I would suggest the Biosilk Silk Therapy Gel. This is a great, truly versatile product. You can use it on wet or dry hair, and it provides a flexible, controlled style. You can use this product to mold, shape, blow dry, or even set a hair style! With long lasting style memory, you’ll find that this product leaves your hair feeling silky and looking fantastic with vibrant shine. All without stiffness or flaking!

Stuff4Beauty is ready for summer, what about everyone else? Indulge your hair this weekend, the first weekend of summer!

Alayna
Stuff4Beauty!