Wedding Wednesday....The secret behind hair extensions (Part 1)

The hair industry is a multi-billion dollar business. It has become an obsession, everybody wants the best quality extensions at the lowest price. It is over-saturated with people trying get a piece of the billion dollar pie.

Years ago the market was much harder to tap into. There was only a few people that had access to get the hair directly and they in turn would sell it wholesale to individual distributers. The hair quality was raw, unprocessed and would last for multiple installs. 

The hair is mass produced because of supply and demand. Hair extensions have been machine processed for years. The hair that is sold in beauty supplies has been artificially manufactured for more than a 2 decades. When the hair started coming from India and sold through individual distributers, then the hair industry blossomed. 

That's when you noticed that every one that you knew became hair distributers. People that had never been knowledgeable in the hair industry could tap into it. 

Hair could be sold to anyone that wanted to buy it. You didn't need a permit or license to buy hair and distribute it. People are making as much as $100,000 a month just selling hair extensions. They are becoming instant millionaires, thanks to the hair industry. 

I don't understand why people don't respect people that are haircare professionals. 

There is a lot of value in our craft. Hairstylist that are doing bare minimum can easily make $50,000 a year. If you incorporate doing extensions and distributing hair you can quadruple that number. 

The market generates $1.5-2 billion dollars in the United States as of 2013. 

Wedding Wednesday.... How to maximize your Extension installation

Are you bored with your extensions?
I have the perfect solution, switch up your look without having to get a new installation. I like to call it the 2 for 1.
When I wear extensions I usually get bored after about 6 weeks. I want a different look. I usually cut into it or I'll apply color to it. Normally my change consist of a haircut.
Some people spend a nice amount of money on their extensions and may not want to cut it so color may be the best option if you want to reuse the hair.
I don't normally spend $200-300 per bundle on my hair so I am always doing something new to my hair.
If you are someone who likes to reuse your hair, you can cut the hair when it's time to buy new hair. If you invest in really good hair it can last for 3 installs.
The client below has had her installation for 6 weeks and she decided to go for a big chop. Her natural hair is long and she's never worn short hair in her life so she wanted to try a new look and what better way to achieve a different look then with extensions.
The hair that she used is called 'Genesis' by Bobby Boss.

First install (2 months ago) 

The big chop

"Hairfinity" through my eyes

I'm sure most of you have heard of this new supplement on the market called "Hairfinity".

I heard about this product a few months ago and I decided to wait and see how "real consumers" were taking to this new supplement. I am pretty knowledgeable in trichology (study of the health of hair and scalp), so I know that it takes more than a pill to grow hair.
I know that hair growth is based upon the way you eat and how well you take care of your body. This is in addition to how well you take care of your hair. The fact of the matter is that you can't expect to continuously abuse your hair and expect it to grow overnight. Just think, If you destroyed your hair for 10 years, what makes you think it can be repaired overnight?
Your hair has to be nursed, and that takes time. More often than not people put way too much stress on their natural hair. Between braiding, extensions, color, keratin treatments, blowouts and chemical straighteners, you damage the hair follicle and the shaft.
I'm not saying that everything is damaging to your hair. You can wear protective styles, you just need to be mindful that your hair is getting the natural nutrients that it needs.
As well as realizing that too much of anything isn't good. If you are wearing braids or even ponytails everyday, then your hair will thin over time.
More women are wearing their hair in it's natural state and not putting chemicals in it. I think that is a great way to go, if you you want to see the best results in rapid hair growth.
I have read a lot of the reviews and some people think it's a great product and others have experienced some side effects from using.
Some people have specified that growth has occurred after use. Others have complained about skin breakouts from use.
I have never heard of a vitamin causing skin breakouts before, however there is a first for everything.
As you can see I am not a believer in this product. I think that it has been marketed very well. I also feel as though the celebrity endorsements have given this product an advantage. Many celebrities are endorsing this supplement from the Kardashians, Moncia, Keisha Knight-Pullium, Emily B and more.
All I say is make sure you thoroughly research this product if you are thinking about using it.
If you want to take a vitamin, I recommend Biotin or Pre-natal vitamins.
I also highly recommend eating healthier as well.

Wedding Wednesday...Roll it UP!

Last night I got an email from a client that's getting married. She is interested in getting an install for her wedding. She wants something that she can wear an up-do with as well as that will be low maintenance for her honeymoon.

As most of you know it is wedding season, so some of you are finalizing plans for your big day and others are getting ideas for their future wedding day. 

No matter what stage you're in, you have to remember to make the best decisions in terms of practicality. 

Weddings aren't getting any cheaper, so you want to make sure you are making choices that are cost effective. 

Most of my brides add extensions for their Big Day, because they want to be glamorous. Extensions also holds your style in place longer than when you get your natural hair styled. 

It's also great for those women who are going on their honeymoon right after the wedding. You want to create a fantasy for your new spouse. Why not create an alter ego? 

Many of you know that 'Pinterest' happens to be my favorite go-to places for hairstyles. Whatever I'm looking for whether it be ideas for up-dos, hair color, hairstyles, cuts, etc... I turn to 'Pinterest'. 

Most brides also use this tool to pin ideas for their weddings. It's the bridal sanctuary!

As I previously stated, I had a client that contacted me last night. She was interested in getting a full sew in installation for her wedding day. 

She sent me a picture of the style she wanted to acheive as her wedding day look and I fell in love. It was the perfect Old Hollywood glam look. It was definitely a 20's inspired hairstyle. 

My inspiration for today's post is from this hairstyle below...

This is the look, isn't it Gorge?

Other looks from Pinterest that I loved:

These are Styles that I've done:

Wedding Wednesday... The Hipster Bride

It's no mystery that the average cost of a wedding has sky-rocketed. Most people are trying to cut cost wherever they can. Most brides I know want the perfect wedding dress for the day they walk down the isle and say "I do" to the man (or woman, I don't judge) of their dreams.
Some brides have a conservative budget, while others may have a liberal budget.
Whatever budget you may have, I have the perfect place for you brides-to-be. I happen to be a lover of Anthropology because I have more of a classic/vintage style.
If you are like me and have a classic, boho chic, or a vintage flair, then this may be worth looking into.
Anthropology has a wedding dress line called "Bhldn" (Beholden). http://www.bhldn.com
Bhldn has been around for a few years now, however many people aren't familiar with it.
Its not alot of options but if you are a bride on a budget then perhaps this may be an option for you. If not your ceremony dress then it could be a potential reception dress.

These are some of my favorites....

The Snowflake Gown

The Leila Gown 

The Emma Gown 

Tallulah Gown 

By Serena J.

Partial Sew-in Extensions (U-shape leave out)

Haircut, Natural hair (no relaxed) Pressed,
Color previously done by Me

Natural Hair Pressed, Soft Up-do

Wedding Wednesday.... Does length matter?

All Styles done by Serena 

I was on Facebook yesterday and my friend Yodit (Favored by Yodit Events) raised the question "Does size really matter" referring to wedding rings.
So the inspiration for this post was from her post.
I started thinking about hair and how fixated people are with length.
I've personally had a woman tell me that she didn't feel pretty without her extensions. I've had women tell me they felt bald, unattractive and out of place without extensions.
It's really sad that society puts pressure on people to be something they aren't.  I know women that are very comfortable in their skin. They happen to love their natural hair, flaws and all.
 I love extension but I also wear my natural hair. Is it perfect? No, as sometimes I feel that my hair is thin.  I wear clip-in extensions as well as partial sew-in extensions. Sew in extension when done properly can be a protective style. It's good to give your natural hair a break from chemical, environmental and heat damage. I feel as though hair extensions are an accessory not a substitution for damaged hair.
I do whatever I can to make sure that my natural hair stays healthy. I never want to be in a position as to where I have to wear extensions because my hair is damaged.
Of course, when I take the hair out I feel like I have no hair because I had 2 bundles of hair extensions sewn in (usually down my back, ha!). It's all mental.
It's so bad that the girls that have naturally long hair, are accused of having extensions. If your hair is thick and has body people think it's a wig.
 If you are African American and you have long hair, people assume you must be mixed with something else. Technically we are all mixed with something, but that's another topic.
I know most of you know a girl that decided she was going to go for the BC (Big Chop) and after cutting it short went and put extensions in it.
So I raise the question, Does length matter?

Wedding Wednesday... Oil series...The benefits of Flaxseed oil

I remember when I first heard about flaxseed oil. I had a client that was into the holistic lifestyle and she introduced me to flaxseed oil. She raved about how great it was for the hair as well as your skin. Her name was Ms. Millie; she was such a sweet woman, who was from England. She would tell me how I reminded her of her German childhood best friend Serena. A strange coincidence because my name is Serena and I was born in Frankfurt, Germany.  I digress… Her love of flaxseed oil intrigued me to try it for myself. I went to wholefoods grocery store in search of this flaxseed oil that Ms. Millie spoke so highly of.  I found it in liquid form (cold-pressed) , gel capped, and also as a seed. I didn’t’ know which one to get so I chose the gel-caps. The gel-caps had the oil within them. I know that it’s best to get liquid form in most things because you want it to enter your system rapidly.

Tress tip: Flaxseed oil gelcaps are great in smoothies. Put them in the blender/juicer with your veggies and fruit. I usually add 2 gelcaps, but the more the merrier.:)

Flaxseed oil (which is derived from the same plant as Linseed oil) is often used as a substitute for fish oil because of the high levels of omega 3 fatty acid. As I researched this oil, I was amazed by the benefits that it holds. Not only is Flaxseed oil great for your hair but for your body. It literally nourishes every system in your body from your nervous system to cardiovascular system (and so on). It's been known to aid in curing cancer, obesity, and skin problem (eczema, acne).
It's great for Dandruff. I know alot of my clients suffer from dry scalp. It prevents dry scalp and flakes. Flaxseed acts as a good moisturizer, which keeps hair follicles hydrated and eliminates dryness which in turn stops breakage. Here is a solution ladies and gentlemen. Especially with the winter coming, the air is dry and this becomes a huge problem. Infuse your body with flaxseed oil. For those of you that are health nuts, add a dose to your smoothie, take a flaxseed oil shot, put it in your fave dish. If you want healthy hair it starts with a healthy body.
The omega 3 fatty acids form the base of cell structure which is crucial for cell growth. The fatty acids are a part of hair cells as well, which are extremely beneficial to hair growth. The fatty acid maintains cell structure in the hair which smooths the hair follicles. This assures that hair has a healthy foundation.
The road to healthy hair is a journey. It doesn't happen over night. Healthy hair starts from within. You must realize if you aren't taking care of "you" then everything else is effected.
I want to provide tools to help you take care of not just your hair but also your body. This Wedding Wednesday post is dedicated to people taking care of their mind, body and soul. If you aren't taking care of you, then how do you expect to benefit your significant other?

Wedding Wednesday....The Advantages of Lavender Oil

I'm going to do a series on different oils that are beneficial for promoting healthy hair.
The first oil I'm going to focus on is Lavender oil. Not only is Lavender one of the prime essential oils, it also has awesome benefits for your hair as well as your body.
Lavender oil can be used to reduce stress and anxiety through aroma therapy. It can also be used as an antiseptic and pain reliever (great for bug bites, minor burns).
Ladies, when you are on your honeymoon on that beautiful island, make sure you have your lavender oil just in case you need a pain reliever or antiseptic. The aroma therapy is also great for upper respiratory infections.
Say you just want to inhale the sweet smell of Love, why not vaporize your honeymoon suite with Lavender?.
For the mothers and future mothers it's also been known to treat head lice. However I hope that none of your children would be subjected to them. Just passing information.
Lets dive into the hair benefits. I'm super excited to do this series because of the things that can be done to promote hair growth, can be done by anyone at very little cost. You don't have to be a professional to maintain healthy hair. There are things that you can do at home to produce healthy hair. However I still recommend that you see a professional for cuts, straightening, chemical service, and intense treatments. It's still very important to use good products when you are caring for your hair at home. If you are natural, I recommend sulfate free shampoo/conditioners because it doesn't strip your hair of it's natural oils. For fine to normal hair I recommend body enhancing shampoo/conditioners.
Lavender should Always have a carrier, meaning it has to be mixed with another oil or product. Using it directly can cause scalp irritation. It's too potentate to be used alone.
Lavender has many benefits for the hair. It's great for your scalp in that it keeps it moisturized, it prevents dandruff/dry scalp. Which in turns creates a healthy scalp, where blood is circulating and hair growth can then take place.
In order to have healthy hair, you need blood circulation and a healthy scalp.

*Tress tip:Sometimes when you are sitting on the sofa watching tv, massage your scalp. Scalp massages generate blood flow.

Experts suggest a couple different combination:
Lavender, Clary sage, Cedarwood
Lavender, Jojoba
Lavender, Olive oil

You only need to mix a couple of drops of lavender oil and add 2 ounces of the carrier oil. You can also add the drops into your conditioner and massage it into your scalp.
Whatever combination you decide upon, oil needs to be thoroughly rinsed. Keep in mind these are oils and that oil weighs your hair down and makes it limp. If you are hoping to maintain body after using these concoctions, you won't.
I recommend applying oil before a salon visit (night or 2 before), or if you are maintaining hair at home a couple days prior to a shampoo or co-wash.
The women who are natural, know how hard it is to keep hair moisturized especially if you live in area with cooler climates. It may not be an issue to keep some oil in your hair.
Especially Lavender, it has great benefits for keeping your hair moisturized.

You can order Lavender oil from vitacost. I've done a little research and this particular one has great reviews.
http://www.vitacost.com/vitacost-100-pure-lavender-oil

Credit:
Webmd.com
urbanbushbabes.com

Wedding Wednesday

Every Wednesday will be "Wedding Wednesday", It's a New Feature on the Blog for people that are getting hitched. It's so nice to see so many people getting married, I just Love 'love'. I think we all, mostly women dream about the day you'll meet your 'soulmate', while other choose to believe there is no such thing. I believe that some people are fortunate enough to meet their soul mate and others meet a significant other that are compatible to them. Either way, I feel that you have to be with someone that brings joy to your life. I think as long as you understand that happiness comes from within, then love will always trail behind it. People are attracted to people who love themselves first, it's striking. Many people wonder around with a false sense of reality that marriage is a fairytale, but it's not. I have had the pleasure of talking to older couples as well as younger and no one ever told me it was easy. However when you love someone you compromise and figure out how to communicate effectively in order to have longevity. Longevity is what it's all about, two people coming together in Holy Matrimony and dedicating their lives to one another. That's what marriage means to me. Welcome to Wedding Wednesday, where you are going to get much more then bridal up-dos, wedding photos, and bridal ideas, but you'll get 'food for thought'.

A Special Thank You to my dearest friend Tanya Thompson for being so supportive to my business and inspiring me. You are such a blessing to my life. I love you. Thank you for this incredible idea. 

At-Home HairCare. Natural Hair maintence

I've noticed that more and more people think they can manage proper hair care on their own. Before I moved to the DMV area, clients came weekly or on a bi-weekly basis for hair appointments. However the reality is that people are stretching out their appointments a bit longer. Some are protesting because of a bad salon experience, some are on a budget and consider hair a "luxury", others "think" they are hairstylist because they watched a few "How to..." YouTube videos. Whatever the reason may be I want to make sure that you accomplish great results without damaging your hair. It's a few factors that go into a successful blowout, press and curl, or ceramic straightening. I will walk you through steps that should be factored in when you are maintaining your hair at home. I Do Not recommend that this become a regular occurrence for you, rather a "Rare" one. I highly recommend seeing a "Licensed Professional" for your hair care needs.

Blowout-

Shampoo your hair with a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. I like Joico smoothing cure line. I also like Wella Enrich line. It specifies it's for coarse, curly, and frizzy hair, however I use it for medium and normal hair as well.
People with fine hair should use Joico Body Luxe or Kerastase Bain Volumactive. It's very important that you use good products because that determines how well the outcome of your hair will be. If your foundation is solid then the final result will reflect a healthy sheen, and voluminous body.
After you have shampooed and conditioned your hair, you will apply a heat protectant. I use Design Essentials HCO Leave-in treatment as well as Moroccan oil. After I apply the product, I then blow-dry the hair with a ceramic blow dryer (Babylyss Pro). A ceramic blow-dryer not only gets hot but it also gives your hair a noticeable sheen.  While blow-drying, use a paddle brush, if you want straight sleek/silky hair (http://www.denmanbrushus.com/ ) and a round brush
( http://www.beautystoponline.com/Rusk-Brushes-and-Hair-Combs-s/181138.htm ) if you want your hair to have volume and curls. The brushes give your hair body. You want to make sure you don't over-use product as it will weigh your hair down and compromise the outcome.

Press and Curl-

 

 

 

 This process takes a bit more skill. Pressing hair is an art in my opinion. You have to have the right pressing comb. It has to be "broken" in (meaning the wax coating has to be burned off), and you have to know the technique of silking the hair properly. I only use Kentucky made pressing combs. The teeth have to be pretty close together, if you have a wide-tooth pressing comb, you won't get your hair as straight. One of the keys to using a pressing comb properly is knowing that the back of the comb is what gets your hair straight. You still use the teeth to comb through the hair then you turn it slightly to the back almost like you are flipping the hair upward. Divide the hair in 4 large sections and press hair in 1/2" sections.

Ceramic Straightening (Flat-iron) -

 

 This step is easier than Pressing the hair. The key to using a ceramic straightener is having a good one. There are so many on the market today. In order to get a good iron, you should definitely do your research. I only use irons which I can control the temperature. The irons that only have an on and off switch often fluctuate in temperature. You want the heat to be consistent so that you get great results. I use a couple different ceramic straighteners, FHI and Babylyss Pro. I have different sizes as well. These tools are not to be used on your hair daily. It is safe to use once a week following a shampoo and conditioning. If you use this tool on a daily basis, expect to see breakage. No ones hair can tolerate that amount of heat daily. Most people rush when they do their own hair and that's why you don't get the same results as a professional. Flat-ironing in small sections is key to getting a salon finish, as well as gliding down the hair shaft slowly. Consistency is key, you want the same amount of heat to be distributed evenly throughout the hair.

Even though I gave you tips on at-home hair care maintenance, it's not to encourage you to be your own stylist rather educate you on the proper why to do it in case of an emergency.