Category Archives: Hair Care

Nancy Answers: Your hair doesn’t have to be dirty to look good.

Hi Nancy, my hair always looks best “settled-in” a day or two after I wash it…how can I get that shiny, manageable look on Day 1? Please help! Thanks, D

Over the years I’ve worked with some pretty spectacular stylists…Elsa Canedo is one of them. She can sculpt hair like she’s Rodin or cut and style it so it’s edgy, beachy or perfectly coiffed. Her client roster is a mile long…recently she’s worked with Jennifer Lopez, Cheryl Hines and Julie Bowen. I asked…Elsa answered…and said it’s all about product!

If you have Fine hair: Towel dry and use a leave in conditioner, applied from midshaft to ends.  The residual product left on hands can be applied to root area. Try Bumble and bumble Leave in Conditioner, $24 at sephora.com.

If you have Medium to Coarse hair: You need more control and shine. On damp hair, apply a nourishing product such as Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil, $48 at bigelowchemists.com. It has Argan oil that absorbs without leaving hair greasy. If air drying, continue to smooth hair gently coaxing hair into desired style every 10 minutes or so, until dry.  If blow drying, simply style as usual and this should do the trick to give you manageable, shiny hair the first day of shampooing.

If your hair texture is Coarse:  For added control and shine try Oribe Super Shine Moisturizing Creme, $49 at oribe.com. Tuck in your bag to use on strays throughout the day.
For Curly hair:  A curl defining product will help maintain shape and keep frizz down to a minimum. Towel Dry and apply the styling creme throughout hair before wrapping up in a towel (turbin style) for about 10 minutes to help set help set curls. Then, take down from towel and allow to air dry or use a diffuser attachment on your blow dryer gently drying and styling hair as usual. You’ll love Oribe Curl by Definition, $48 at oribe.com or Ouidad Moisture Lock Define and Shine Curl Styling Gel Cream, $24 at ouidad.com.
Credit:  Elsa for Oribe Hair Care.
Photo, Elsa at work courtesy of Pinterest.

Is there a cure for grey hair?

It seems there is. Research scientists at Bradford University’s School of Life Sciences in the UK have come up with a topical treatment that prevents and reverses the greying process. They’ve discovered that people who are going grey develop an overabundance of oxidative stress leading to an accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in the hair follicle, causing it to actually bleach itself from the inside out. This same treatment also appears to be a remedy for people with vitiligo, a skin condition that causes loss of pigmentation leading to white patches on the skin.

Though there are some who embrace their silvery strands, if you’re not one of them this is great news! But don’t cancel your colorist appointment just yet, it’s still in the research stage and could be years before it’s available to the public.

photo courtesy of Pinterest

 

3Floz.com. Because size matters!

You don’t have to be a world traveler to appreciate 3Floz.com. This online shop for those-in-the-know features luxury beauty products exclusively in travel-friendly sizes (3 oz. or less) but it’s also perfect for those looking to try something new without spending a lot of cash…a great way to find a new favorite before splurging on the full size!

3Floz.com  carries over 50 luxe brands, including Fekkai, Phyto and Murad, sized right for a hassle-free baggage check and priced right for minimum commitment. Browse through their curated selection encompassing everything from face and hair care to body lotions, treatment products, products for kids and men and even aromatherapy. Cherry-pick whatever catches your eye or go for the themed kits and best-sellers.

Coming this Fall 2013, 3Floz.com will be in select US airport terminals, carrying the same products available on on their e-commerce site.

photo courtesy of 3floz.com

Best Tressed!

Mitch Stone, Celebrity Hairstylist and Creative Director of Mitch Stone Essentials earned his stellar reputation one job at a time. His bio includes fashion shoots for Herb Ritts and Arthur Elgort, runway shows for Armani, Adrienne Vittadini and Patricia Fields, campaigns for Redken, Pantene and Victoria’s Secret and editorial work for Vogue, InStyle and Rolling Stone. He tends to the tresses of many a celeb including Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney. Let’s just say, he’s busy! So busy in fact, that I had to reach him in Bali where he was working, to have my questions answered.

Q: Why does hair lose its luster as we age? Is there anything we can do to change this?

As we get older, the body stops producing Melanin which is what gives hair its color.  It’s also what gives hair its shine.  As the Melanin dissipates, the hair starts to  grey – leaving it more course, brittle and dull.  

Another cause for loss of luster is the elements – wind, sun…and of course the old culprits, blow dyers and curling irons.  One of the  best ways to prevent lackluster hair is to use high quality hair care products and to limit your use of heat appliances.

 
Q: What do you recommend to get super shiny hair?
  • The key to keeping super shiny hair is to have it trimmed every 6-8 weeks and get a deep conditioning treatment at the same time.  
  • Also, what you do for your internal health can help. Be sure to take vitamins and minerals that promote hair health.
  • When styling, one of the best ways to achieve super shiny hair is to start with clean, conditioned, wet hair.  Using a boars hair and nylon mixed brush, pull and stretch the hair in one  inch sections while blowdrying.  Be sure to blow dry down in the direction the hair grows, as this will help to close the cuticle and create a reflective quality to the hair that will shine.   And of course, finish the look with Lustre Drops to seal the cuticle shut and add extra shine.

Mitch Stone Essentials Lustre Drops will give you super-shiny, smooth, humidity resistant hair but the fact that it’s infused with restorative key nutrients to actually improve hair health is what makes it stand out.  Brilliant!

Happy Earth Day…Lather Up!

Today is Earth Day, a day to think about the environment and the issues that threaten it. Unfortunately, one of the greatest threats is woman! The beauty products we use on a daily basis can have a huge, negative impact on the earth. But, you don’t have to sacrifice beauty for the sake of the environment. One way to lower your carbon footprint is to use eco-friendly products and packaging…and LATHER stands out as a shining example!

I first discovered this brand a few years ago while staying at a swanky Vegas hotel. The wonderful-ness of the lemongrass soap and body wash made me linger in the shower that much longer (I know…not so good for the environment). LATHER is a beauty company with skin care (face and body), hair care and aromatherapy. Besides formulas made with natural ingredients, pure essential oils and no synthetic fragrances or colors, nearly all the products are paraben and sulfate-free and their sample packs, shopping bags, and gift cards are all made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials. Customers can even return empty LATHER containers to receive 10% off their next purchase. Not bad!

I recently received a box chock full of LATHER products to review…I’m in heaven!!! Though I’m taking my sweet time working my way through it, here is one notable mention in case you’re looking for that perfect body cream:

LATHER Coconut Creme Body Whip, $22 at www.lather.com. I applied it all over my body and my skin was instantly silky smooth without the least bit of greasiness. Truly!  And that scent…fresh coconut/vanilla. Perfection!

If shopping for beauty products doesn’t feel enough like “earth-day” to you, you can also get your hair cut or blown out at a participating Aveda salon today (see my previous post here). Still not enough? Plant a tree, pick up trash in your town today and everyday, always turn off the lights when you leave a room and recycle/repurpose whenever possible. Happy Earth Day!!! xoxoNancy

Get your Hair Cut…Change the World!

Mark your calendars! If you’re looking for something fun (and worthwhile!) to do on Monday, April 22nd (aka Earth Day 2013) Aveda is planning to set the GUINNESS WORLD RECORD for most money raised for a charity by haircuts in a 24-hour period. With this global cut-a-thon, Aveda hopes to raise $5 million for clean water.

If you’re in the NYC area, stop by the Aveda Institute at 233 Spring Street between 12:00 and 8:00pm for haircuts priced from $20 – $40, specialty blow outs for $10, a silent auction, complementary massage, catered food and more! Not going to be in New York City? Click here to see what’s happening at your local salons.

(photo courtesy of Aveda)

Never Have Another Bad Hair Day!

Thanks to the ease and beauty of a top-knot I’ll never have another bad hair day! I usually like it a little messy and low-key, but it can also be styled to perfection–it all depends on the look you’re going for.

You’ll need: a ponytail holder, 3-4 bobby pins, styling cream. Try: PhyoSpecific Moisturizing Styling Cream, $26 or MoroccanOil Hydrating Styling Cream, $27.

To do:

  1. Start by putting your hair into a high ponytail, but don’t pull the hair all the way through the elastic band. You’ll end up with a small loop on top and the ends sticking out. 
  2. Take the hair that’s sticking out on the bottom and gently twist in one direction. Then, loosely wrap it around the base of the small loop and pin into place with your bobby pins.
  3. To finish, apply a bit of styling cream to tame fly-aways. *If desired, pull out a few strands and tuck behind your ears for a more casual vibe.

Hair Tie Upgrade

I love these hair ties! They come in so many fun styles–glitter, camouflage, zigzag, brights, embellished with sparkly beads or rivets, animal prints, even mustaches–and are perfect for my tween-age daughter.

She likes the cool designs and the fact that they double as bracelets, I like that they don’t pull, tangle or crease her hair. And though I’m always found with a basic black ponytail holder on my wrist…I just might have to “borrow” from her for a change!

Available online at www.maddyloo.com, prices start at $1.

 

Hollywood Waves at The Academy Awards 2013

If you watched the Oscars last night, you might have noticed a trend emerging, a return to Hollywood glamour. Jessica Chastain, Reese Witherspoon and Catherine Zeta Jones (among many others) sported Hollywood Waves hair, characterized by a side part, super-shiny waves beginning below ear level and not a hair out of place. It’s a style that pays tribute to screen legends, Veronica Lake and Rita Hayworth.

If you love this look as much as I do and your hair is at least a few inches longer than your shoulders it’s very easy to duplicate.

To do:

  1. Work mousse through damp hair (to add hold) and blow-dry using a round brush. I like Kerastase Mousse Substantive.
  2. Starting on one side, midway down hair shaft (slightly below the ears) wrap 2-3 inch sections around a hot curling iron (try the Bio Ionic Style Winder), held vertically. Work your way around entire head until all your hair is done.
  3. Let hair cool completely, then gently finger-comb to break up the waves for a slightly softer, looser look.
  4. Add a styling cream such as Bumble and bumble Grooming Creme  for added shine.
  5. Lock it in with a finishing spray like Paul Mitchell’s Awapuhi Finishing Spray.

Mane Event

blog post - agave healing oil

Product Review: Agave Healing Oil Treatment

At Mizu New York salon on Park Avenue and 59th I met up with world-renowned stylist, Fernando Romero, to test his latest breakthrough product, Agave Healing Oil Treatment. As he was working a few drops of it through my hair he explained the healing properties of the blend and how the gentle, non-greasy formula can even be used to rehydrate the skin. Not one to take anyone at their word I rubbed it into my arms and hands and he was right, it’s perfect! When he was done with the blow-dryer and flat iron my hair  was transformed. It was so incredibly silky-smooth and shiny I couldn’t stop touching it.

Agave Healing Oil Treatment works on all hair types to smooth, hydrate and de-frizz, plus it keeps hair color from fading and even moisturizes skin!

Agave Healing Oil Treatment,  $24 for 2oz., $48 for 4oz., available Spring 2013 at Sephora.  www.sephora.com

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