Are you tired of dealing with dull, tired, or frizzy hair? If so, then consider the practices that have brought you to where you are, and what you can change in your routine in order to eliminate as much damage as possible, and learn to care for damaged hair.

But is my hair even damaged?

Damaged hair is usually rough to the touch. Its condition is dry and brittle, and not at all what you have been working for.

Chemical processing is one of the worst things you can do to your hair, whether it’s a permanent dye job or chemical straightening procedure (we’re all guilty of it!). It’s surprising to also realize that frequent shampooing can weaken your hair. Regularly using heated tools and styling aids can really damage your hair, too. Even too much sun is harmful to your hair, not to mention what’s in the water that you wash and swim in. It seems impossible to win.

The older I get, the more I’m concerned with looking after my hair, skin, and nails. We’ve recently been working in front of cameras with a professional production crew, and we’re getting married next year, so I obviously want to look as fresh and healthy as I can.  It takes time and effort and, sometimes, a bit of radical action, but getting your hair back to a healthy place is well worth the sacrifice.

Although I’ve done a little bit of damage to my hair, it’s not all doom and gloom and it can be fixed.

Give your hair a break

Begin by giving your hair time off. On the days you can get by with not washing and styling it, by all means, do so. When it is necessary, wash gently with a protein-rich shampoo and conditioner and allow it to dry naturally. I’m lucky that I work from home because I’m not always in a rush to dry my hair. I try to let my hair dry naturally as much as possible, and I prefer to do it in the evenings, allowing it to dry naturally before I go to head.

No matter the texture of your hair, learn to towel blot as much as possible. Do not wring it out with a towel as this contributes to breakage, believe me! I find that using a wide-tooth comb makes my hair beautifully soft when it does eventually dry.  It was difficult for me to ban all brushes from my wet mane, but I knew it was the right thing to do to ensure the best possible condition for my hair.

Take a look at your routine

Is it time to change it to a more protein enriched treatment? I realised I’d been using the same conditioner for years, and when I was at a friend’s house I used her conditioner and decided to switch.

My hair feels SO much better. I’ve started to do a deep conditioning treatment once a week, too. Be certain you are rinsing well as conditioner can build layers on your hair and cause it to become coated and dull.

I always have scalding hot showers, but I was told this is super bad for your hair, stripping it from all it’s natural oils. My hairdresser said to rinse in warm water, and blast your hair with a cool rinse to help seal in moisture once you are certain that your hair is free of any products.

Avoid sun damage

If you feel that the outside elements are really adding to your damage, you may want to consider some cute hats or scarves. There are so many adorable, floppy summer hats, and I can’t wait to dig my Finisterre beanie back out this autumn. Look good and protect your hair, easy peasy!

**Psst!** Is anybody else using Turkish towels? Loving them rn.

If hats and scarves are not your things, you can purchase a leave-in conditioner or protective spray to combat the sun’s damage. Personally, I find these build up and get quite clumpy in my hair, so I prefer a shopping spree to buy new headwear instead of putting more products in my locks. Each to their own!

Seek professional advice

Every 6 months my hairdresser trims an inch off the tips of my hair. Initially, I hated this. I always wanted to grow my hair longer, so it felt like a step backward every time we took the scissors to it! Now my mane reached the bottom of my back, so I don’t mind losing a couple of inches but actually, it does make my hair healthy, thus grow faster. Don’t fight with your hairdresser on this, they know what they’re doing.

If you feel like you’ve tried everything and your hair isn’t as full as you’d like it to be, you can always have a consultation for naturals hair extensions or consider getting a hair transplant from companies like Hair-Transplant-Turkey.org. This is a sure-fire way to get gorgeous, thick, healthy-looking hair quickly, shaving years off your age!

The post Useful Tips On How To Care For Damaged Hair appeared first on Strawberry Squeeze.

The weather can also be the culprit. If you live in a humid muggy environment, then frizzy hair is something to expect. The good news is there are ways to tame it and work with your look.

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  Useful tips on how to care for damaged hair

First, resolve to handle your hair in the least possible ways. Anytime you are going to work your fingers through your hair, be certain to dampen your fingers with water, first. This will smooth frizz. It’s also wise not to wash your hair every day. Since oily hair is not an issue with curls and waves, washing every other day is recommended.

An exception to the rule is if your hair is coarse, then a hot curling iron is advised. The coarse texture accepts the heat well and smoothes the hair, eliminating frizz. If drying your hair is a must, and these days it’s hard to dry naturally every time, using the blow dryer correctly and, by method, will keep your hair healthier and possibly cut down on the frizz.

Dry in sections using a circular motion and finish off with a cool air setting. This will help seal the moisture in your hair. Examine your styling products. Those high in alcohol are drying and, over time, damaging to your hair.

The way to read labels is to realize that the ingredients listed first is the most percentage ingredient in the product. Look for alcohol free aids and learn to use them. Know your daily conditioner and your deep treatment conditioner. Those that are oil based may contribute to the frizz, making these less than attractive to use.

If choosing products is confusing, simply select the specific to your hair type. It should say on the bottle what hair type is best served by the formula.

You might have something suitable for your hair right under your nose though. Products safe for your hair and very useful in fighting the frizz are vinegar and egg.

Vinegar can smooth the hair at the cuticle and bring the PH balance back to normal in your hair. A vinegar rinse is recommended once a week. Mixing an egg with 1 tablespoon of olive oil creates a paste to apply to your hair.

Let it set for ½ hour and then rinse out. Afterwards, use your regular shampoo and conditioner. This protein rich treatment may be used once a week to bring health back to the hair cuticles.

Regular hair trims every 4 to 6 weeks is also a useful tool in combating frizz. If your hair is suffering damage, it is recommended to remove the damage then resolve to work at bringing your hair back to health.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

The post How I Deal With My Fizzy Hair (and You Can, Too!) appeared first on Strawberry Squeeze.

Even picking a shade of blonde, there are a multitude of styles and sub-shades. So, the best thing to do would be research on what colours would suit suit your complexion and eye colour best and of course what could go best with your attitude.

But here are few tips to help you in pick the right color:

1. Light ash blonde hair colour: this type of hair colour would suit those who have a lighter complexion with a lighter eye colour. This shade comes usually in a whiter shade or a blonde grey tint. Typically, these shades look better in my opinion. 
2. Natural blonde hair colour: If you have it naturally then that’s good but if you don’t then you can easily carry it out no matter what your skin tone may be. Girls with lighter skin should go with a lighter tone of blonde colour and those with a slightly darker skin tone should go for a darker blonde colour.
3. Beige blonde hair colour: This is a look with a darker base and lighter highlights. This suites all medium skin tones. You can easily carry out a ashy or orangish look with this colour and best suits a warmer skin tone.
4. Bronze blonde hair colour: You should definitely go for this colour is you are looking to sport a warm and beachy look. This colour really suits tawny complexions with light to medium shades of eye colours.
5. Copper blonde hair colour: This is a golden hue under tones. This colour goes well with darker skin tones and brown or black eye colours. Copper blonde is a striking way to go blonde without looking hazy.
6. Chocolate blonde hair color: If you are a darker shade of caramel blonde, then this hair color would give you a more stunning look especially with golden highlights. This looks good for darker skin tones with darker eye colors. Try to avoid overdoing the white or platinum as they won’t give you a natural look.

So you have a few pointers as to what hair colour you should go with, then these tips have really helped point you in the right direction. All you need to do now is visit a salon near by and get the look you’ve always been wanting.

It’s true that it will take a bit of time, but you always have more than enough entertainment online to keep occupied especially online bingo games that you can play for free at www.newlookbingo.com.

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Picking a brush

Firstly, depending on how long your hair is, this will determine what kind of brush you’ll need. For short hair, a medium round brush can boost the volume significant. However, for those who have medium or long hair, like me, a large round brush adds the needed body to the hair. 

A small oval brush is used only to blow dry the bangs. A paddle brush is used to help remove moisture from your hair before you blow dry. This cuts down the actual time of heat on the hair and helps maintain quality of the hair. 

A teasing brush works for those who tease volume into the hair. You backcomb with the brush at the crown of your head for the lift. The flat brush has also become more popular over the years because work well to create a more polished look in record time. 

I’ve been using the GHD dressing brush for the last few weeks and it’s been working wonders for my hair, since. It’s made from natural bristle, which helps distribute the hair’s natural conditioning oils along the hair shaft, adds shine and lustre as you brush.

This, coupled with a few pumps of the GHD Total Volume Foam to give my hair a bit of ‘oomph!’, and the finishing spray combats fly-aways. The foam needs to be applied to damp hair, and contains heat protection, too!

When to use a comb

For wavy hair, a wide tooth comb is the tool to use, and finger picking is the preferred method, but not always possible. Never use a brush of any sort on wet hair. The hair is too fragile. No matter how soft the bristles, the hair cuticles will tear.

To detangle your hair with a wide tooth comb, be sure to start at the roots of your hair and hold the hair at the tangle with your other hand as you comb through. Work your way down, taking your time with each tangle to smooth it out.

A comb is also the preferred tool on dry hair that needs untangling. Using the same methods, take your time and work through your hair in sections. A comb also helps to distribute the natural oils in your hair in a more uniform manner.

A short or blunt cut may never need anything more than a wide tooth comb. For medium and longer styles, a comb is excellent in dividing the hair in sections to style or braid. Another tool that is invaluable for curly hair is a pick. The pick has much wider teeth and will help prevent damage as you style your hair.

What do you use on your hair?

The post How To Choose a Brush, And When To Use a Comb appeared first on Strawberry Squeeze.

Beards are lovely. Many women do love a good beard. On a man, who looks like the Beard Czar. Not on their own face. If you’re a woman who suffers from a fuzzy face, then you’re bound to feel self-conscious about it. But you’re not alone. You’d be surprised just how many of your girlfriends are likely to suffer the same problem, in silence, just like you.

From the odd frisky follicle to a full on five o’clock shadow, women are keeping it to themselves. But there’s no need to feel embarrassed. It’s just another one of the downsides to being a woman. Like periods. Gee, thanks a bunch, Mother Nature!

So, what causes excess hair on the face?

Blame your parents. No, seriously. There’s a good chance it’s genetic. It can also be caused by abnormally high levels of the male hormone testosterone. (Don’t worry. You’re not going to turn into the Incredible Hulk. Unless you’ve got PMT too.) In many cases, this is caused by Polycystic Ovary syndrome.

If you’ve got excess hair elsewhere too, you might have Hirsutism. This is characterised by too much hair all over the body, alopecia, acne, and often, an enlarged clitoris.  Whatever the cause is, it’s best to go and get it checked out by your doctor. It could point to underlying health problems. Even if that’s not the case, they can help you deal with your fuzzy face.

How Can I Get Rid of Excess Hair on my Face?

If the hair is very fine but dark, you can use hair lightening creams made especially for the face. Anything lightening products intended for use on any other part of the body will be too strong and can damage your skin. Tweezing, waxing and threading can work well too. But if you don’t want to have to worry all the time about whether you’ve got a ‘tache or not, you may wish to look at more long lasting methods.

Electrolysis has been popular for years, but laser hair removal is fast become the most popular method of removing unwanted hair. It’s quick, easy and relatively pain-free. The benefit over electrolysis is that small areas can be treated at on time, rather than having to destroy every hair individually.

Whatever you do, DO NOT SHAVE HAIR ON YOUR FACE. Put the razor down. It might seem like a quick fix, but you’re going to regret it. Cutting the hair at an angle makes the hair look thicker as it grows back. They may start growing back darker too, so all the fine hairs round those couple of pesky ones will look coarser and darker too. Before you know it, you’ve got (not-so) designer stubble. No matter how tempting it may seem, just don’t do it.

The post Why Women Don’t Like Talking About Facial Hair appeared first on Strawberry Squeeze.

It’s always a struggle! But I think I’ve come up with a few simple guidelines for taking care of long hair, and if they can help out anyone else, that’d be really wonderful! So here we go…

First of all-stop washing your hair every day! Many people, particularly those with more greasy tendencies, feel like washing daily is the only way to keep the grease at bay. But really you’re putting yourself in a vicious cycle where over washing strips the oils out of the scalp, causing it to go into overdrive by producing more oil to replace what’s been stripped away, causing you to get greasy, encouraging you to wash again….it never ends!

Washing your hair only once or twice a week keeps the healthy oil production on track. And never underestimate the simplicity of dry shampoo. A few spritzes on day 2 or 3 can be a complete life saver, and there are lots of cheap brands out there that do the job and do it well.

Next up, make sure you’re using your shampoo and conditioner properly. Now hear me out! But make sure you are shampooing only your scalp, and conditioning only the mid-length of your hair to the tips. Conditioner on your scalp is too overwhelming, while shampoo throughout all of your hair is far too drying. They each have a job, so let them do them well, and don’t mix up the jobs of the two.

When it comes to haircuts, things get a bit more personal, but getting a trim every 8-10 weeks is good enough for the long-haired lasses among us. The interval allows your hair to grow, but getting all those split ends and nasty bits trimmed off every few months keeps everything healthy and prevents the split ends from moving further up the shaft and causing more trouble.

I’ve been giving my hair a little nutrients boost by using GoldCrush hair supplements. GoldCrush Hair Nutrition Formula is an innovative complex vitamin that combines key nutrients to support optimal healthy hair and nail growth. Its unique blend of vitamins and minerals includes Selenium and Zinc along with complex B Vitamins such as Biotin, which feed and nourish your follicles helping to contribute towards healthy hair from the inside out.

Try not to use too many heat based styling tools. Thankfully we are out of the age of crispy straightened hair every day (thanks early 2000s!), but curling wands, straighteners, rollers-all of these are ultra-damaging to your hair, and should be used sparingly, and always with a heat protectant put on beforehand.

My last tip is a bit more luxurious-but I swear by a good hair mask. Facials and hydrating masks aren’t just for your face anymore. You can make your own mini spa in your house at least once a week by putting on a moisturising mask for 15-20 minutes, leaving your hair to soak up all the goodness while you get on with something else-painting your nails, or catching up on some YouTube videos. When the mask comes out, you’ll have luxuriously soft and luscious locks, and all for the price of a simple treatment in your own home.

Hair Development, world leader in 100% beautiful Human Hair Extensions as seen on celebrities, is looking for its first ever poster girl for 2016 – and it could be you! The winner will be given a professional extension makeover by a HD specialist worth up to £795, and then take part in a photoshoot.

Their face will be used on marketing campaigns and materials for the entire year and they will act as a brand ambassador for HD. Additionally, the HD Girl will represent the brand in person at events and exhibitions across the UK. You can find out more about the HD Girl 2016 competition here:

http://www.hair-development.com/blog/hd-girl-2016-competition-launches-june-24th/

http://hair-development.com/blog/extend-deadline-for-hdgirl2016-competition/

It’s so easy to enter! All ladies have to do is take a selfie of themselves and upload it onto Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Don’t forget to tag Hair Development and use the hashtags #HDGirlCompetition and #HDGirl2016. Absolutely anyone can enter if they are aged 18-45 and live in the UK.

Did I miss anything? Or do you have any tress secrets you’d care to share?

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