BellaSugar

5 Tricks For Humidity-Proofing Your Hair

BellaSugar — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:00 PDT

While humidity can be great for keeping your skin soft and supple, it can also be rather disheartening. How many times have you walked out of the house with freshly styled hair, only to have your coiffure looking totally unkempt three seconds later? If the humidity's got you down, there are a few tricks you can use to beat it at its own game. So to find out how, just keep reading.

Stylin' in the Rain: 5 Tips For Spring Shower-Proofing Hair

BellaSugar — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 09:00:29 PDT

May flowers may be on the way, but right now the rainy weather is just bringing most people's hair down. Whether you're dealing with frizz or flatness, almost everyone's got issues with wetness and humidity. But don't give up hope and shove your hair into a bun just yet - there are plenty of ways to outsmart the storm clouds and keep your hair happy. For five easy tips for better styling, just read more.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Hair Dryer

BellaSugar — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:00:27 PST

Over the past two weeks, longtime hairstylist John Frieda has been solving our hair problems. He's already given us tips on taming frizz, and he's provided a simple way to achieve instant volume. Today, it's all about getting the results you want from your hair dryer. Have you ever left the house after blow-drying your hair, only to be stricken with limp or too-frizzy locks later in the day? There's a reason for these inflictions, but the good news is there are a few things you can do about it. To find out Frieda's suggestions for getting the most out of your blow dryer, keep reading.

3 Tips on Battling Wintertime Frizz in a Flash

BellaSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:00:48 PST

Do you have flyaways galore? No doubt frizziness is a year-round issue. But now that the warmer-weathered humidity-induced frizz is pretty much no longer the cause of extreme pouffiness, lots of us get the frizzies from merely wearing scarves, hats, and gloves - not to mention the low moisture levels in the air.

Recently, famed stylist John Frieda, along with Harry Josh, gave us tips on eliminating frizz on wet locks. However, let's say you just don't have time to go through the whole blow-drying process, or your already-styled hair is showing signs of frizz galore. Here are three simple tips from the stylists on battling frizz in a flash, all on dry (as in not wet) locks. To get their expert advice, just keep reading.

Do You Ever Dry Your Hair With Paper Towels?

BellaSugar — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:00:28 PST

Recently, while perusing the Tabatha's Salon Takeover website (have you joined my We Love Tabatha group, by the way?), I came across a tip that I really hadn't heard before, although it seems to be reserved for the more frizz-prone or curly-haired set. Instead of rubbing water out with a towel, simply squeeze the moisture out with paper towels. The theory is that the softer texture of paper towels is less aggressive than than rougher-textured terry cloth towels.

It goes beyond paper towels, too. Often those with curly locks will opt for squeezing out the excess moisture with old cotton t-shirts or microfiber towels - a more environmental option, if you ask me. Sorry, Brawny Man. What about you? If you've got curly or particularly frizzy locks, do you go the nontraditional anti-terry-cloth route? If so, how's it working out for you?

Source: Flickr User edkohler

Tame Your Frizz With Tips From John Frieda

BellaSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:00:30 PST

Lack of body or too much frizz: "Most people fall into one [category] or the other," explains hair guru John Frieda. The solution? "A product and a technique," he says. In the 1970s and 1980s, when Frieda first started out, the majority of the products available were just for body and volume. If you had any issues with frizziness, as 60 percent of women do, you couldn't turn to your favorite anti-frizz serum or cream to quell the problem, as those types of products just didn't exist quite the way they do today. At least there was disco, right? Frieda, along with stylist Harry Josh, recently spoke on the stubborn issue of frizz. To find out how to prevent your hair from looking as if it's been hit by a Van de Graaff generator, keep reading.

Reader Review of the Day: Living Proof Straight Making No Frizz Styling Treatment

BellaSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:00:00 PDT

Living Proof's Straight Making No Frizz Styling Treatment for Thick to Coarse Hair ($24) is one of the newest frizz-fighters on the market, and it promises everything from a humidity barrier to the ability to repel dirt and oil so that you can go longer between shampoos. Reader sabriel2 finds that it does deliver in some areas, but still gives it mixed reviews. She says:

I have long, thick, dry hair, so I was pleased with the amount of straightening and control I got when I heat-styled after using this. The only thing is that it left my hair feeling lackluster, kind of "gummy" to the touch, and hard to style - and I hadn't even used that much. The next day, the product buildup was even more nasty. I wouldn't recommend this to someone who doesn't wash their hair every day, but it does straighten fairly well.

Had a product experience that you want to tell everyone about? Want to know if the beauty buy you've been coveting is right for you? Just head over to our Product Reviews section to write a review of your own or read about other peoples' experiences with more than 50,000 products.

Avoid Naughty Hair This Spring

BellaSugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 09:00:11 PDT

Have you noticed? The sun is sticking around a little longer these days and the temperatures are steadily rising. Does that mean we should be doing anything differently to take care of our delicate tresses? To find out, I've asked the advice of Herbal Essences stylist Charles Baker Strahan, who has styled the likes of Leighton Meester and Lindsay Price, to name a few.

"Hydration is key as we walk towards warmer weather," advised Strahan. The combination of being out in the sun, flat-ironing, blow-drying, and/or curling, robs hair of moisture, therefore causing hair to react more to the dryness and humidity in the air. "Healthy, well-hydrated hair responds better to heat styling and allows styling agents to do their job more effectively," he said.

To put moisture back into weak locks, Strahan recommends Herbal Essences Hydralicious Shampoo and Conditioner ($4.30 each). "There are three versions so regardless of your hair type, you can get the hydrated base you need," he added. So long, misbehaved manes.

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Dear Bella: Help Smooth My NOLA Frizzies

BellaSugar — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:00:57 PST

Recently, I received an email from a Bella reader, and I knew I had to help. Here's her dilemma:

I have slightly wavy, very thick, and frizzy long hair. I live in constant humidity here in New Orleans, LA. I am not sure chemicals are the answer for me because technically my hair is already straight for the most part, but I would be willing to try a chemical procedure if it will smooth my frizzies and give me a sleek shine. I would love to try a new color when I finally learn how to control my mane. And for the record, I have never dyed my hair and only used heat in my hair about every three months so it should be healthy - can't tell behind all this frizz, though.

To see what I have to say,

read more. Winter weather often means dry, Winter hair - which often leads to frizz. But, since you're living in a more humid climate, excess moisture in the air is attracted to the the porosity of hair, which causes it to swell up. Frustration. While any chemical service will open up the hair's cuticle (which can also cause frizziness - ugh!), consult with a stylist for details on gentle hair color services and straightening options. But when it comes to defrizzing at home, here are some tips to keep your hair tame. The whole point is to keep your cuticle flat, protect your hair, and repel excess moisture:

Cleansing: Shampooing daily can make the hair behave badly. If you must shampoo every day, consider using a smoothing shampoo, washing only the roots to remove oils. Then, condition the hair shaft and ends to keep hair hydrated without weighing it down. To finish, blast your hair cold water to seal the cuticle as you rinse.
Don't touch: After washing, let your hair air-dry. Whatever you do, don't aggravate your locks by rubbing the towel all willy-nilly. Instead, try keeping your hair wrapped in that towel a little longer to absorb excess water. Then, apply an antihumidity smoothing cream like Aveda Smooth Infusion Style-Prep Smoother ($24), distribute with a wide-toothed comb, and let it be.
Yes to silicone. No to alcohol: Once your hair has dried, apply a silicone serum to boost shine and further prevent the dreaded frizz. Try Citre Shine Shine Anti-Frizz Serum ($6.89). Something to avoid? Products with alcohol, which can be drying and frizz inducing.
If you must add heat: Apply a heat protector first to prevent damage. If using a blow-dryer, point the nozzle downward to avoid ruffling up the cuticle. For even smoother results, use a flat iron to help manage those wild strands. But whatever you do, always use protection.

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Reader Review of the Day: John Frieda Frizz-Ease Wind Down Relaxing Creme

BellaSugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:00:31 PST

All across America, the weather is in varying states of coldness. Brrr. And while I chowed down my morning breakfast, I took a peek at the forecast. Wind chills, negative temperatures, gusting snow? Yikes. Needless to say, I'm sure the cold, dry air wreaks havoc on your hair - particularly if you have curly locks that tend to frizz.

So, for today's reader review, I did a little searching on our Product Reviews website for some hair tamers. And reader Ameliajc thinks that her John Frieda Frizz-Ease Wind Down Relaxing Creme ($5.99) does the trick for keeping her curly hair straight. Here's what she had to say:

"I have pretty curly hair that I like to straighten every once in a while. This is a good product to help tame my curly hair for the day. I comb it through my hair, blow dry, and then hit it with the straightener. It definitely makes a difference and keeps my hair straight all day."

Want to add your own two cents? Check out our product reviews section to share your thoughts.