Wedding Wednesday.... My Favorite Humidity fighting products

With so many products on the market, it's often difficult to figure out which product would be the most effective?, right?
Well I'm going to let you know what products I have personally used on my clients that have the best results. It's so easy as a consumer to get bamboozled into spending hundreds, even thousands of dollars a year on hair products.
I have been the victim of buying the latest hair products, some work and some didn't. It's really about finding the product that works for your hair type. It's usually trial and error. I tend to buy my products from the professional beauty supply stores so that I can return them if it doesn't do what it says. It also guarantees that it's fresh, sometimes in regular stores (i.e, Target, Cvs, Walmart, etc...) the products sit on the shelf longer than they should. In professional supply stores the products have an expiration date, that way consumers and professionals are guaranteed a good product.
Tress tip: Most of the time the products that are carried at your local store (Walmart, Target, Cvs, etc....) are old product that the Professional supply store won't carry because it's been on shelves to long. It doesn't always mean that it's not useful, but the professional supply stores are strict about the shelf-life of products.
It's important to keep in mind that there is no product out there that can protect your hair from getting caught in a thunderstorm, running a full marathon, or reversion in 100+ degree temperatures. Hair will revert in those conditions. These "humidity resistant" or "anti-frizz" products will aid in creating a layer between your hair and some environmental elements.
Here are a list of my top ten humidity resistant products:

1) Paul Mitchell Super Skinny serum

2) Moroccan oil 

3) Kerastase' Nutritive oleo-relax serum 

4) Paul Mitchell "Hold Me Tight" finishing spray

5) Paul Mitchell Awapuhi wild ginger Hydrocream whip (Awesome for blowouts)

6) Stay 'n' shape lemongrass shaping spray (A stronger hold, I like this one for up-do's and more structured styles)

7) "Its a 10" Leave-in spray

8) Design Essential HCO leave-in (Awesome for manageability and leaves a great sheen) (Use before blow-drying)

9) Tigi Bedhead Wax stick (Great as an edge tamer or for up-do's)

10) Frederic Fekkai Pre-style Thermal/UV Protectant (It's a heat activated protectant, its awesome.)

Rising S.T.A.R.S Pampering Day with the Tress Artist

Over the past weekend I was blessed to be able to use my talents for a great cause. A good friend of mine started a non-profit organization for troubled teen girls who are struggling with their self-esteem. Low self-esteem is a huge problem amongst teens and even some adults. I know how I feel when my hair is freshly done. I feel beautiful and like I can conquer the world. “When you look good, you feel good”.  I saw an area where I could be of some service and I dived in. It was so rewarding to donate my services to these girls. Just to see the smiles on their faces after they had an evening of pampering was incredible.
We totally transformed them into the Cinderella’s that they really are. Often kids with self esteem issues, develop them because of emotional, verbal, sexual, and physical abuse that happens right in their own homes. It’s programs like Rising S.T.A.R.S that gives these girls hope that no matter what their circumstance is, that they can be successful.

I remember vividly how I was as a teen and those were some of the most difficult times of my life because I battled with acceptance and individuality. As a teen you want to be accepted by your peers, you want to be apart of the "popular" social circles. I'm so grateful that I had a amazing support system at home that allowed me to be Serena. I had structure at home and even though at the time I didn't see the benefits, as an adult I do. The type of people you hang around as a teen has a huge effect on your outcome, so it's important to choose them wisely. Kids will be kids, but some of the choices you make as a kid can have a lifelong effect.
This is why Rising S.T.A.R.S is so necessary for the community. It's not only beneficial for girls but also for their families. The program broadens their perspective so that they know, that someone believes in them and they have the ability to be anything that they sought out to be. It takes education, determination, and focus.

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.

 

 

New York Fashion Week HairTrends

Well it's that time again, Fashion Week (Fall/Winter 2013) in NYC .  I love fashion week because it's a  time that people come out and express themselves artistically through fashion. I have gotten inspiration from so many fashion icons during this time. Not to mention having the opportunity to attend runways shows and great events during this time. Although I'm not there in person, I am there virally. It's a great experience to be able to watch shows live online. I use  www.liverunway.com to stream the shows.  I naturally look at the hair, although most of the time it's simplistic. I still enjoy seeing what looks the hair artists' create for the models.

This is my Favorite look from Christian Siriano Fall/ Winter 2013 show

Thom Browne Fall\Winter 2013

Betsey Johnson Fall/Winter 2013

Alice and Olivia Fall/Winter 2013

Carolina Herrera Fall/Winter 2013

Laquain Smith Fall/Winter 2013



Max Azria Fall/Winter2013

Altuzarra Fall/Winter 2013



Kate Spade Fall/Winter 2013

Helmut Lang Fall/Winter 2013

Rag and Bone Fall/Winter 2013



Diane Von Furstenberg Fall/Winter 2013