HOW TO MAKE YOUR HAIR GROW FASTER Fast!! - 5 TIPS to longer hair, Secret from the East

Do you want to make your short hair grow faster, so that it will look long and shiner than it has ever been within this century?  Healthy looking hair  full of vibrancy is not impossible, but it does require a lot of patience on your part.  I'm going to share with you some Beauty secrets from the East.

 Let's start this blog with me contradicting guides that tell you to keep your hair trimmed while growing it out...

 If you don't have the patience to go through the UGLY-Cave woman phase, then you'll NEVER have that long sexy mane that you've always dreamed about anytime soon.

 This blog was requested by someone on Twitter (name hidden: @only#$%^li* )

.  Here you go, sweetie. <3

((Photo source: http://www.somuchtotellyou.co.nz/2011/06/long-haired-child.html))

Five Tips on growing your hair faster:

 1)  DON'T CUT YOUR HAIR.

 Don't trim it, blend it, just don't go anywhere near a hair salon or scissors.  Expect to live through some bad hair weeks and months and this means dealing with and putting up with some split ends. I repeat, do not get a trim.

When a client comes in to get their hair trimmed by me and they tell me that they're trying to grow it out,  I usually turn them away and talk them out of a "trim".  Exception to this rule is if they're going from a boy-short hairstyle to a real long hair look - Victoria Secrets hair anyone?. 

Your hair only grows about 1/4 to 1/2 INCH from the roots a month.  This is a scientific fact based on your genes, your health, diet and blood circulation.  Just imagine how SMALL 1/2 inch really is and consider how scissor happy most hair stylists are ... and you're going to trim it every few weeks?  Are you nuts?! Just use your common sense.

Problems with split ends? Read number 2.

2) AVOID GETTING MORE SPLIT ENDS. 

During this no-cutting, ugly-phase, you need to take care of your short mane.

• This means using some very intense deep conditioners, and if you can afford  to spurge, try some of the best in the market like this.
• Avoid excessive chemical processes - going from black hair to double platinum is a huge no-no. 
• Not only minimize your use of heating tools like flat irons and curling irons, but make sure you're using a good heat protectant when you're using them.
• Keep your ends moist with good hair oils.

3) CIRCULATE THE BLOOD ON YOUR SCALP.

Every time you shampoo your hair, give yourself a deep scalp tissue massage during conditioner phase to stimulate your hair follicles.  If you're using your fingers tips, make sure that  you're not scraping your scalp with your nails.  You can also try using this handy and cheap shampoo massager and brush.

• Don't brush and comb your hair too often, and use a wide tooth tomb instead of a brush.  
• Detangle from bottom strand up.
• Don't put your hair up too often, try wearing it down.
• Don't yank on your hair

4) GO SULFATE (SLS - Sodium Lauryl Sulfate ) FREE.

Sulfates are harsh cleansing chemicals that creates large amount of lovely but unnecessary bubbles, that companies prefer to use to cut cost.  It was first used to cut oil in the motor parts before they started using it in our own soaps.

Not only will SLS  irritate your skin and scalp but there are studies now that show that it's the leading cause of premature hair loss in women and can cause other health hazards.

 I  can tell you, from my own personal experience how this affected my own scalp.  I had to go sulfate free last year because of dry flaking scalp from all the garbage ingredients that are in our "normal SLS" shampoo.  Since then, my scalp feels quite fantastic, and my hair seems to shed less.

I blogged about my favorite and best SLS free shampoo here.  If you're looking to go SLS free, and you don't know where to start, try with Dermorganic shampoo set.

5)  SEA KELP/ Sea Kelp Bioferment/ Ferment Extract

Sea Kelps are seaweeds, which are high in iodine content, vitamins, minerals, iron and the essential amino acid l-lycine, which directly affects hair growth.


(( Photo source from :http://theminuteafter.blogspot.com/2011/11/kelp-forest.html)) 

Furthermore, this amazing  ingredient also  keeps the skin from sagging and wrinkling.  Adding this to your diet if you're deficient will surely make your hair grow.

 This ingredient is a staple in most anti aging DIY's and are hugely popular in Asia.  I personally use this in my DIY Vitamin C serums so I can vouch how amazing this stuff really is.

You will see this ingredients in many high end, posh, expensive creams like the cult classic La Mere.

I have friends who swear by this Hair Growing Spray and because this info come from reliable, down to earth people that I respect in my work, I believe that this recipe will work for you.

DIY Recipe:  Sea Kelp serum or spray: 

 Make sure you're buying the authentic ingredients and not garbage that are mixed with junk so common online.  You need to use the PURE SKB or SK.  Check your local Health Stores.  I have also  linked it to  2 reliable sources that I, personally buy from online for your convenience.

• 1 part Pure Sea Kelp Bioferment also known as Sea Kelp Ferment  OR Some people prefer to use the Sea Kelp Extract instead of SKB.
• 3 parts Distilled Water

Apply this to the roots of your wet hair every time you shampoo (do not rinse off).. Store this in the fridge when not in use. 

Asian hair grows like weed, because we eat LOTS of seaweed and fish in our diet. Likewise, if you'd like to grow your hair faster,  make sure you're taking your vitamins, eating a lot of fish, or taking flaxseed or Omega 3 tablets, which are all a foundation of good hair, skin, and nail growth.

 Read about my favorite SLS free shampoo here.

Thank you for reading this guide.  I hope this was of help to you.  

Don't forget to Subscribe and stay in touch with me through Twitter+FB.

Take care!

xo-Tina 

Read my  6 Must Have Beauty Products in Summer here!

Hairstyle with Braid - Wedding Updo, Bridal Hair Idea

 Hairstyles with braids will always be timeless, modern, chic, youthful, romantic and weaving in some  pretty white flowers into the braids will  instantly turn it into a wedding-bridal updo look. 



 Please note that my mannequin's hair is quite thin  and black, which therefor, does not show hair textures very well in photos, like blonde hair.  Moreover,  her hair line and  is different from our own so her scalp will be more noticeable in the photos.

I ran out of black bobbi pins in the middle of this hair tutorial so you might see a blond bobbi pin here and there, sorry! lol...

I started this blog with the intention of doing it on my own hair....then I realized, I couldnt take photo's with both of my hands busy...And this is why I ended up doing it on my doll.  Anyway, if you look at my hair parting in this photo, that's what it should look like.

Doll before photo

I didn't curl my mannequin's hair because she's not going anywhere, but you should always start off by curling your hair with a curling iron (1/2 inch rod - you want the curls tighter) for any updo hairstyles.  This will make it easier for you to manage your hair while braiding and pinning.

 

Section off your hair: Crown, sides.

Grab the back crown area and tease the roots and create a bird nest - (leave the hair in front alone, we will be braiding that into the side later)

After you tease the hell out of the roots, gently comb the top layer and start braiding it very loosely from mid shaft to the ends of the hair.  We're going for that  "Bohemian braid style".  Loose and carefree.  Tie it with a rubber band.

Next, you're going to create a french braid on each side of your temple (leave the top alone - we do this last - note my red clip), going  towards the back of your hair, stop and pin it up when you get close to the middle braid.  When both sides are braided, then you will connect all three braids - meaning, now you're going to use those 3 braids to create 1 fat braid.

For clarity,  side temple braid  ---- crown braid ---- other temple braid == created one funky looking thick braid.  (this adds texture to your updo hairstyle)

Now, grab the lower parts of the front sides and braid that towards the back of your hair - do this on both sides.  Try to create a tight braid for this area because it will make your head shape more attractive. Pin it back when you get to the end.

This is where you start creating loops, curls and more texture.  Hairstyling is a lot like sculpting, you create shapes piece by piece and pretty much do what looks right.

Mixing into this hairstyle different types of hair braid.

Grab the hair in the back, piece by piece, create different types of braids, and pin them up, down, side ways.  Then the last piece will be wrapped around the long tail.  That long piece on the side you see is the crown/front hair, which we will do next.

I'm quite fond of Taylor Swift's side swept updo styles, sweep the hair to the side and start braiding it back.

Pin it back into the cluster of braid hairstyle you have going on in the back.  You can rope it, tie it, make it as funky as you want.  Loose braids look better..

We're done!  It's not attractive to have a stick straight, thin looking tail hanging down your back, so either tease that hair and fluff it up (photo below), curl it, or tuck it in if it's too sparse.

The white hair spray that you see in my photos is my Holy Grail item, I've loved it for 10 years..  Sebastian Shaper Hairspray makes your hair feel like hair,  and has a matte finish.  You can spray the whole effing bottle and your hair will still feel soft and moveable.  It's the BEST updo hairspray you'll ever own, because it doesnt make your hair stiff, or shiny as if it's wet.   Maybe I notice things like this because I'm a pro, but I hate it when people mess up a perfectly nice updo with a bad hair spray that makes your hair look... well, like you used a whole bottle of gel on wet hair. 

 

Thanks for reading, don't forget to sub, take care! :)

Are you using the correct Straightening or Curling iron for your hair type?  Read my post about Hair Irons here  -- Ceramic and Titanium and other Irons.

Learn how to do this Chignon Updo at my new hair site.

Best shampoo without Sodium Lauryl Sulfate review. Get healthier skin and scalp.

 Do you notice your hair thinning?  Are you suffering from dry, itchy scalp?  Dry dandruff perhaps?  Which is caused by excessive dryness to the scalp.

You probably didn't know that Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) could be the cause of most of your skin irritations, and not just on your scalp but everywhere else on your body.  In fact, the LEADING cause of hair loss in women is SLS - aha! 

To give you a clearer picture of how harsh this chemical really is, this stuff is used in the auto shops to cut the oil from the motor parts.  And the main reason why the companies are using it is that it's cheap to produce and the lovely  bubbles are very pretty.  But  completely unnecessary. 

 Wow, this certainly is starting to sound like a TV commercial, doesnt it lol?   I could discuss this  much further here but then this blog would become endless and I wanted to share what my favorite SLS free shampoo is in the market and not what SLS is......

From my personal experience as a hair stylist AND a user of this product, the best Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) FREE shampoo in the market right now, IMHO, is the DermOrganic Sulfate-Free Conditioning Shampoo

LET'S GO OVER WHAT *THEY* CLAIM

Gentle sulfate-free formula
Safe for Color Treated Hair
DermOrganic Sulfate-Free Conditioning Shampoo provide a rich, luxurious lather that makes other sulfate-free shampoos jealous!

What makes it so good? Hair and skin rely on important nutrients such as Essential Fatty Lipids (EFAs) and Amino Acids.DermOrganic Sulfate-Free Conditioning Shampoo^® is the only shampoo made with a proprietary blend of EFA Lipid and Amino-Acid based skin cleansers. That means it is the only shampoo to moisturize, strengthen and rebuild the hair every time you clean your hair!
Whether your hair is colored, permed, heat styled or sun drenched, DermOrganic Sulfate-Free Conditioning Shampoo^® has what it takes to impress stressed tresses.
So gentle, this shampoo is ideal for color treated hair and is superb as an all-over cleanser that leaves skin soft and supple. So healthy for your hair that you’ll never have to switch shampoos again.
Further enriched with Argan Oil with Omega-6 and Linoleic Acid, Vitamin E, Panthenol, Rice Amino Acids, and anti-oxidant plant extracts to preserve the life of hair color. 

Ingredients: Aqua/Eau/D.Water, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate(1), Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate(2), Decyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Glucoside, Methyl Gluceth-20, Infusion of Argan Oil & Sunflower Seed Extract & Grape Seed Extract & Rice Amino Acid & Sodium PCA & Panthenol & Tocopheral Acetate (Vitamin E), Glycereth-2 Cocoate/Benzoic Acid (natural preservative), Fragrance.
(1) Amino-Acid based, plant derived cleanser
(2) Essential Lipid based, plant derived cleanser

AND HERE IS MY TAKE

 Let me first assure you that,  I've never been so utterly happy with a shampoo product in many a year.

For sure, you can find something that makes your hair feel and look as good as this, but also Sulfate Free?  HELL NO.   Just look at the ingredients there, they're all very good for you  (except for the silicone - but a vinegar rinse twice a month will clear that right up - and without it, your hair will look like a bush).

This is a rave review but nothing is ever perfect. Consequently,  I had 2  3 issues with this product.  JUST three and that's amazing in itself.


1) I didn't find it very color safe on my hair.   However, I must then admit that my clients didn't notice it.
  2) It's advertised as a CONDITIONING shampoo - like it's one of those  2 in 1 deal (Pert Plus anyone?).  Its NOT.  You def need a separate conditioner, folks.  
3) The scent doesnt last! 

 OTHER THINGS YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW

WHAT DOES IT SMELL LIKE?

Like all the beach oils poured into a jar of goodness.  Coconuts, bananas, etc - it smells like the beach.  Serious.


WILL IT LATHER UP? 

 This is a serious complaint with so many people when it comes to Sulfate Free Shampoos because 90% of the SLS shampoos in the market do not sud. 

 Therefor, I'm happy to report that, YES, it does lather up.  HOWEVER, the suds doesnt look like your average shampoo bubbles.  I spent a good 40 mins merely looking for a photo of what a SLS free suds look like for this  blog. 

  Please look at the photo to the left.  It looks just like that - barely there.  Kinda cute. 

And as a comparison, look at what a normal shampoo suds look like.  Nice fluffy cloud of sulfate there, mister...ahem.

FIRST TIME 

 My first comical reaction in the shower, quite butt naked and rambling on:

"What the HELL is this, crap, ugh !@#$!"  -  because it barely lathered up like they claimed.   So I shampooed again and this time it did sud up, and I started noticing the heavenly smell...  

But wait,  the second the water hit my head to rinse, and let me tell you, my hair has never rinsed off so fast in my entire life,  my hair started to squeak, no seriously - it squeaked!! Because it was so effing CLEAN.   UGH!!

This had me entirely worried because usually, for my hair type, which is long, thick, color treated and coarse - very clean hair equals a very dry, brittle hair when its completely dry.  If you have long hair, you know exactly what I mean.

By this time, I'm bitterly mumbling to myself about another crap SLS free shampoo that I wasted money on... but wait... wait

My hair started to dry and I rediscovered Jesus, and fell so deeply in love with DermOrganic Sulfate-Free Conditioning Shampoo that I went and told all my clients and am now blogging about it. 

My hair has never been as fluffy, soft and shiny in my whole life. In addition,   my scalp no longer flakes (unless I wash it twice a day) - this was my sole reason for looking into SLS free shampoos.    This stuff is entirely brilliant!!

This shampoo gets a 4.5 Amazon Stars from me.  

If you've found this review helpful, please sub, add, comment, share, and like my page.   It would mean a lot to me. :)

Finally, I just had to share this cute pic with you haha... Thanks for reading, take care, everyone !! :-)

 

 

 

  

  

Cut and Trim Your Bangs: Guide to Cutting Heavy, Blunt Bangs

 Look Great and Sexy, Not Fat - rock Carly Rae Jepsen's bangs! 


So you've been gazing soulfully at the celebrities with the heavy bangs lately, and wondered if it would look as bold and edgy on you.  Because lets face it, nothing screams "high fashion" , "rich bi*ch" and utter "Class" like those bangs, but in real life, they look absolutely horrendous on the people that you personally know AND make them look... fat! *gasp*


This guide will give you some insight and inspiration into how you can costume design the perfect heavy fringe to fit YOU.  These are my own personal rules as a Pro Hair Stylist in New York City, and not set in stone by any means. We all have our own ideas of what Beauty is, therefor, it is logical that not everyone will agree. :)

Read on...

First, if you're one of those people with sickenly a perfect face shape with a small oval head shapes (think Halle Berry), then don't bother with this guide. This guide doesn't apply to you, because you look great no matter what... lucky bi*ch. :)

 But for the rest of us:

• Know your face shape. 
• Is your hair on the crown thick enough to create a heavy fringe?
• Is your hair too curly? Because heavy fringe should lay flat and not look like a brillo pad.  Also, do you have a cowlick in that general are?
• Finally, what do you wish to cover up with your hair. This is so important. Always keep this in mind, it is what's left behind that impacts your face, and NOT what's been cut off! :-)

Now that we got that out of the way, let me show you what *I* consider beautiful and see if you can find a pattern in these photos.  I'm, of course including the photo of Carly Rae Jepsen's bangs at the very top of this list.  :)

 
It is my firm belief that any type of heavy bangs will automatically make your face appear slightly fuller and the farther you cut away from the center of your face will then make your face wider.   It sounds most dreadful but there is a fix!






 

  Sometimes heavy bangs, when done correctly, will actually make you not only look slimmer but sexier and edgier and younger!  I'm going to use the lovely Katie Holm's photo as an example here, because no words are needed to show my point.

 read on ..

THE rules to rock'in heavy bangs: 

 ( I will be using a mannequin's head for photo's,  understand that their hair lines and the hair density greatly differs from humans).

1. Always consider what's being left behind and not whats being cut off.  Take small cuts, you can always cut more.  Try using a razor instead of shears.

2. Section off , and clip back the hair that you want to keep.  How much to clip back?  Usually all the hair in front of your ears on the crown of your head is drawn forward for bangs, but  this depends on how thick your hair is. If your hair isn't thick enough then you will need to draw more hair from the back.

CROWN section -  in a soft, rounded V, you can use your nose as a guide for the highest peak.

3. NEVER cut your bangs past the outer corners of your eyes. The farther you cut away from the center of your face, the wider your face will appear.  If you look above, all the photos that I've posted follow this rule.

HOWEVER : You CAN cut farther back if  you're creating a graduating effect -  from short to long,  like the KATE MOSS's photo that you will see in the next page.  This is a far more advance way of cutting but it will create a more softer look.

Read more ....






  4. Very blunt bangs only look great on models with perfect features, on everyone else - it looks like a wig.  Razor cutting the edges will soften, modernize AND make you look thinner.  This is especially important for anyone over 30+...




I'm holding a camera with 1 hand, but this is about where you want to start point-cutting, or razoring your hair - DRY HAIR.  ALWAYS cut tiny bits at a time, so you can cut more if it's too long. =)

5.  Long shaggy, piecey, heavy bangs that hits "just" on the top of the nose (for clarity - between your eyes, where your nose starts to slope up - Kate Moss's bangs)  is the most flattering on normal human beings. The KEY here is to create soft and shaggy edges for a wearable blunt bangs.

6. Attitude.  Your personality should reflect this bold style.  Just sayin'. =)

Now, here are the "bang tragedy photos". These, IMHO, do not enhance the beauty of the person's face but exaggerate's the negative for the sake of fashion - that is, if small, oval face is your ideal.

You apply make up to enhance what you have, your hair should do the same, since it's your greatest and best the accessory.

To show this more clearly, let's take the beauteous Olivia Wilde here, look at the photo's side by side. The one on the left, you can clearly see how far the bangs have been cut ( and far past the outer eyes) and then the one on the right.  The bangs were cut correctly here for her square face (the shortest bangs ending at the outer eye and the edge's kept soft and wispy), this style suits her to perfection.





 Finally, how to style it once you've achieved your perfect fringe.  

• 1. Use a oil serum or a heat protectant on damp hair.
• 2. Dry your bangs flat against your forehead, and please, I beg you,  do not use a big round brush or it will give you that mushroom look, unless that's your thing.  A flat paddle brush, the  fingers God gave you or a vent brush works beautifully.
• 3.  This is optional because not everyone owns a flat iron.  But if you do, I suggest you use it here.
• 4. Apply some soft wax when your hair is completely dry to give you that shaggy, sexy, piecey look.  Not too heavily, otherwise you'll end up looking like a oily heroine addict - unless that's your thing. :)

I hope this guide was helpful.  Please sub, add, comment for future guides and requests.  

Thanks!!  :)

 



Speaking of hair, try my popular Do It Yourself Ombre Dip Dye Hair Color Tutorial next ...   :)