Caring for Hair Extensions

7388756160_b2d03243c2_oFor those who adore their short haircut but sometimes find themselves lusting over the long locks, hair extensions may be your answer. Even those who want to add more voluptuous oomph to their tresses can reap the benefits. Countless celebrities use extensions to add irresistible volume to their aesthetic, and now you can too!

Synthetic hair extensions are on the lower end of the pricing scale; because they don’t quite capture the bounce and texture of real hair, use synthetic clip-ones for fun occasions rather than every-day usage. Reversely, extensions made from human hair cost more but, because of the seamlessness in which they blend with your own mane, they will allow you to maintain a natural look.

To extend the life of your human hair extensions beyond a few uses, you must maintain them as you would your own locks. Wash them with a quality shampoo once every 2-3 weeks and use a conditioner to help keep them smooth and silky. Always make sure to pat them dry with a towel, as leaving them unnecessarily wet for an extended period of time can lead them to become tangled and weakened. To prevent knots, consider wrapping your hair (and extensions) with a satin scarf  when sleeping.

8551939338_92e28c9c9cExtensions can also be curled or straightened to fit your styling needs, and protect your investment with a spray that shields your hair from the the appearance of being fried and frazzled. Brands such as Alterna have products like this blowout creamto guard from heat’s injurious effects on your hair and extensions alike. When maintaining your hair clip-ons and extensions, use a gentler hand than you would your natural locks, as the add-ons can have the hairs fall out if handled overly rough.

By taking the proper steps to preserve your extension’s looks and health, they can last up to half a year. So invest in a head full of luxuriously bouncy locks that will make you feel confident and sexy!

Lesser-known Cosmetics You Should Be Aware of

 

3587705927_e3040c4653_oIf you open up your makeup kit, it’s very likely that there will be classics like lipstick, foundation, eye liner, mascara, eye shadow . . . believe it or not, you’re collection of cosmetics may not be as complete as you believe it to be. Below are some examples of beauty items that are obscure to some, and yet can be wonderfully useful to all.

EYE SHADOW PRIMER – Applying eyeshadow can be quite a tedious and artful process, one that you may not have time to perform multiple times throughout the long day. The application of eyeshadow primer makes your shadow more blended and to prevents it from sliding into the creases.

EYE CREAM - Believe it or not, your eyes benefit from having a separate cream from what you use for the rest of your face. The skin is particularly thin and delicate, and doesn’t naturally produce as much moisture as your complexion. Therefore, it contains more oil than most facial creams (and less SPF, as this area is less frquently exposed to direct rays). It is one of the areas in which wrinkles will first become apparent, so it is wise to take preventative measures. Plus, it is fantastic to use when wanting to soften your cuticles.

4280550413_c5242f0bfa_oHIGHLIGHTER – To give your skin that extra glow without the pink of blush or the brown of bronzer, apply a highlighter. It will balance out your complexion’s tone and give your skin a healthy, dewy look that appears seamlessly natural. It’s best applied to the cheekbones and can be used below the eyes as well.

TINTED MOISTURIZER – A great cosmetic for the summer, tinted moisturizer evens skin tone and yet is light as a feather compared to heavy foundation. It is effortless to apply, looks completely natural, will soak into your face so you don’t have to worry about streaking and should have SPF to help protect your complexion from harmful UV rays.

Dark_Brown_1_1024x1024DRY SHAMPOO- while we have all heard of dry shampoo, we often have negative associations of it being “dirty”. In reality, it is God’s gift to women. Not only will it extend the life of your hairstyles so you don’t have use hot damaging hot tools as frequently, but it can save time on those days in which you are running late and allows you to retain your locks’ silky moisture without the oily appearance. Plus, by reducing the amount of times you vigorously scrub at your dyed tresses, you can have your mane’s color last longer.

Tell us, about your favorite beauty products that you think other readers should give a try!

How to Straighten Hair Without Damage

Tips+to+Make+Your+Hair+Pin-StraightSo many of us dream about silkily smooth, shiny straight hair, and so we go the local drug store and pick out the cheapest flat iron they have. And yes, it works at first, giving us passable results. However, fast forward a little bit, and don’t be surprised to find yourself with a frizzy mane that has no glisten and, perhaps, even breakage. This is entirely preventable, as long as you’re willing to take a few simple steps:

1) A quality hair straightener might be more expensive, but it will save you plenty of grief in the long run. Search for a flat iron that has ceramic or titanium plates that evenly distribute the heat, like Babyliss Pro, as well as one that has adjustable temperatures; the thinner the hair, the less the degree of heat should be.

2) As hot tools dry your follicles, help to rejuvenate your mane with a moisturizing shampoo. Furthermore, you can lessen the needed exposure to the scorching plates when you use a smoothing conditioner. It’s also advisable to buy a heat protection product that can be applied prior to straightening your hair to help lock in the shine (be careful to apply a thin layer, as excessive oil will make your appearance greasy). When venturing out on a summer’s day, prevent the sun from frying your tresses by utilizing a sunscreen mist that is specifically for hair.

Untitled3) Try not to use your hot tool on a daily basis – you should not be washing your hair every day (this will make your hair especially dry), so your locks will normally not be exposed to water that will ruin the smooth sheen. While wanting to quickly run the straightener through your hair to maintain your look is understandable, there really is no reason to significantly iron your mane when it is mostly straight.

Have any tips or tricks you think our readers would benefit from? Let us know in the comment section below!

Beat The Weather With Some Minty Hair Care and Cosmetic Products!

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It’s starting to look like summer is coming just a little bit too early over here on the East Coast but don’t worry we are here to help! Image Beauty is here to help you beat this 80 degree April weather with some minty fresh hair care products to help you feel cool and relaxed at work! Here is a quick list of a few of our favorite mint hair care products that are guaranteed to keep you cooled under the sun.

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Kneipp Body Wash Mint

Mint & Eucalyptus
ACTIVE HERB: Eucalyptus
Sinus Relief -A natural disinfectant, relief of runny nose, sinus congestion and allergies.

Mint and eucalyptus essential oils stimulate and clear the senses. Provides gentle cleansing, leaves your skin soft and supple, moisturized and lightly scented. (pH balanced, Alkaline free,  Dermatologist Tested)

Usage:

Pour a quarter sized amount into the palm of the hand and massage into wet skin. Leave the Kneipp Classic Herbal Body Wash on the skin for a short period of time to experience the maximum benefits of the Essential oils before rinsing off. Follow with various Kneipp Body Lotions or Body Oils.

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Back To Basics Fresh Mint Conditioner

Back to Basics Fresh Mint Energizing Conditioner is for all hair types and color safe. Energize your senses with a beneficial blend to revitalize hair, mind, and body. Awaken your hair with detangling conditioners and nourishing botanicals for ultimate daily radiance.

Infused with an uplifting creamy vanilla mint fragrance, Fresh Mint Energizing Shampoo & Conditioner is a daily hair care regimen that helps revitalize hair, mind, and body. Fresh Mint Energizing Shampoo & Conditioner is specially formulated with a beneficial blend of mint, ginkgo biloba, and lemongrass.

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Aura Rosemary Mint Rejuvenating Shampoo weightlessly cleanses and leaves hair full of body and healthy looking.

New Look! Same Great Formula!
Natural peppermint stimulates and awakens the scalp
Natural rosemary combined with Vitamins C and E helps strengthens hair
Protects hair against environmental damage
For fine to normal hair types

This unique daily shampoo adds body to fine hair without stripping, build-up or static electricity. Its pleasing aroma naturally energizes and motivates your mind and body. This is a gentle formula for fine to normal hair which revives natural shine and bounce. Peppermint stimulates your scalp and invigorates the senses. Rosemary combined with Vitamins C and E strengthen the hair and protect against environmental damage.

Katie Holmes Joins Alterna Hair Company

Alterna Hair Company and Katie Holmes recently made news when the 34-yearold actress, most famous for her role in the Dawson’s Creek series, announced she would be joining Alterna as spokeswoman and co-owner.

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Holmes said “I love that Alterna uses natural and organic ingredients and stays away from harsh chemicals like sulfates and parabens,” adding “It’s good for my hair and good for the earth, so I feel good using it.”

Katie is correct, Alterna products are free of Parabens, Sulfates, Pthalates and other additives that are harsh on hair and instead utilize natural substances like Caviar, Bamboo, Seasilk, Kendi Oil and more to deliver pure and powerful benefits.

How to Keep Your Hair Healthy This Winter


Healthy Hair! (Source Flickr)

 Winter weather means snow, nights spent in front of the fireplace and, oh yeah, and a sudden case of the hair bias. The good news is that it doesn't take much to get your hair back on track to looking healthy and manageable. Cold, dry air robs your hair of moisture, leaving it dry and brittle to the touch. Tweaking your hair care routine a bit fixes hair problems left behind by old man winter.

Shampoo Less

By now most of you know that it's a good idea to wait a couple of days between washes. This is especially true during winter, when the colder climate dries out your hair faster than during the summer months. Wash your hair every other or every third day to give it time to regain its natural oils.

Avoid Hats

Stop! Step away from the hat. We know how tempted it is to hide a bad hair day with a cute fedora. However, it doesn't do your mane much good during winter as wearing hats take a toll on your scalp because it takes away your hair's oil, which is naturally produced from your scalp

Brush More Often

Are you scratching your head yet over this one? Traditional advice says to brush your hair as little as possible to avoid losing more strands than you already do. Most people lose from 50 to 100 strands of hair each day. It doesn't hurt your hair to brush more; however, you don't need to go back to the days when your grandmother would brush her hair a 100 times every night before bed. Experts state that this is when you cross the line from brushing too little to too much.  Experts also suggest using a comb or a brush with metal ball-tip bristles.

Eat Hair Happy Foods

Aiding your hair this winter to be healthy can begin with what you are eating. We all known eating an orange a day will increase your vitamin C intake which supports a healthy and strong immune system. Try increasing the amount of fish and nuts you eat as they are packed with selenium, which is great for your hair. You will also want to up your intake of fruits, vegetables, and vitamins such as A, C, E and different B vitamins that will improve the over quality of your hair.

Get to Know Argan Oil

Argan oil is one of the best natural products for your hair out in the beauty world today. The oil is made from the kernels of a tree found in Morocco. The natural product works wonders for not only your hair, but also for your skin. Rub a small amount into your scalp and along your hair. Notice how amazing your hair looks afterward.

Apply Hair Masks

Masks are crucial this time of year because they help lock in much needed moisture into your hair. We recommend using one once a week. Hair masks such as, Redkin Natures Rescue Deep Conditioner, give your hair much needed moisture during the winter months.

 Adding one or all of these hair care tips to your daily beauty habits will pay off in spades before you know it. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, which is right around the corner.

 

 

Do you have a way to keep your hair nourished and moisturized that is not listed?  Let us know below in the comments section!

2012′s Most Surprising Celebrity Hair Transformations

As we enter a new year, it is natural to ponder what  will change in the upcoming 12  months. Perhaps you are making resolutions about learning a new language or kicking a bad habit. Or perhaps you are thinking considering different ways to change your personal style. As we look ahead, it seemed only natural that we should look back and countdown the past year’s most dramatic celebrity hair transformations.

7) Katy Perry - This natural blond is not afraid to experiment with color, and the past year has been no different. She has sported blond, black, pink and purple hair. Perhaps the boldest dye move was when she inked her tresses jet blue – perhaps the most surprising thing about this look is how much we liked it!

      

6) January Jones - Whether she was playing Stifler’s love interest in the third American Pie or an icy wife on Mad Men, the starlet has always been blond. However, 2012 has been quite the year for the new mom as she took the leap to red hair, only to darken her look to a rich chocolate.

         

5) Rihanna -  The trendsetting R&B singer has become infamous for keeping us on our toes as she effortlessly shifts from one hairstyle to the next, this year proving to be no exception. While she certainly gave us many different looks to choose from, our pick for her most surprising turn was when she sported long blond curls with bangs, making her nearly unrecognizable.

       

4) Lady Gaga - Lady Gaga is the undisputed queen of weird. Whether she is wearing a dress made from meat or Kermit the Frog dolls, we have come to expect nothing less than strangeness from this pop star. So when she dyed her hair an ordinary shade of brown, perhaps it was the most shocking move of all.

         

3) Dakota Fanning – When we first met Dakota Fanning, she was playing the blond little girl of Sean Penn’s character in 2001′s I Am Sam. Since then, she has sprouted from the tiny eight-year-old into a grown college student. Throughout the years though, she has maintained her wispy blond tresses . . . until 2012, the year she went brown and changed what was arguably her trademark.

         

2) Anne Hathaway. She seduced us all in her sensuous turn as Selena Kyle in the last installment of Batman, and then broke our hearts in Les Miserables. One of the most dramatic scenes is undoubtedly when her hair is sheared as she sings of lost dreams. Outside of the movies, Ms. Hathaway has turned her cut locks into quite the stylish pixie.

               

1) Miley Cyrus. Most of you probably saw this one coming a mile away, as the transformation was analyzed on talk shows, on the radio and all across the social media world. In 2011, the former-Disney star had long brown hair; come 2012, she bleached her locks and then proceeded to chop them off in a move that no one anticipate and many disliked (with the exception of Charlie Sheen). Luckily, she likes her hair, and that’s whose opinion ultimately counts!

         

Tell us whose transformation was an improvement and who was better off not touching their locks! To play with your own look, visit Image Beauty for hair products that will keep your style flawless and your stands healthy.