BellaSugar

How to Shampoo Natural Hair

Jessica Cruel — Tue, 29 May 2012 06:05:00 PDT

Kinky hair should come with an advisory: fragile when wet (and dry). Getting in the shower can be overwhelming when caring for thick hair, but it is also a crucial point that will determine how well your style turns out, because curls are at their bounciest and longest when wet. Celebrity hairstylist Diane Bailey shares her tips for achieving the perfect wash, no matter your hair type. Read more for the simple steps.

Why You Should Break That Hair-Washing Addiction

Jaime Richards — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:00:50 PST

If your hair has been less than lustrous as of late, factors such as cold weather and excess toweling can be the culprits. Daily shampooing, however, can also be the cause of dull, dry-looking strands. That's why John Ryan, hairstylist and owner of Festoon Salon in San Francisco, advises his clients to skip the washing every single day.

The reason? Natural oils provide shine and protection, therefore making the hair look healthier and more radiant. And by busting out of the shampoo-each-day routine, you'll likely even notice that your hair styles even better with its natural oils intact. Additionally, since oil production reduces with aging, you'll also likely notice you won't even have to wash nearly as often with each passing birthday.

Skipping the shampoo step every day, however, "doesn't mean you have to be unhygienic," Ryan explains. In fact, you can still get it wet and add styling products as needed. "I sell a lot of dry shampoo," he quips. So just think: a few weeks back we all scoffed after discovering a video from the 1950s suggesting that women wash their hair every other week. Although that may be a tad extreme, maybe they were on to something with their anti-rinse, -lather, and -repeat mantra.

This Might Be the Best-Smelling Shampoo You'll Find in 2011

Annie Tomlin — Wed, 25 May 2011 04:00:06 PDT

If you don't want to spend any money right now, then stay away from Carol's Daughter Monoi hair care ($18–$29). Because here's the thing: after you smell the shampoo, conditioner, or mask, you will pretty much be powerless against its sway. It smells that good, like a perfect tropical blend of suntan lotion and a salty breeze. (This makes sense, considering its star ingredient is Tahitian monoi oil, a blend of coconut oil and tiare flower.)

The products promise to dramatically reduce breakage, but I haven't been using the collection long enough to tell whether that's the case. However, the formulas are incredibly moisturizing - seriously, you could easily confuse the rich shampoo for conditioner - and they've left my hair smooth and shiny without weighing it down. Still, considering how amazing this stuff smells, it could turn my hair green with purple polka dots and I'd still rush out to buy another bottle. Obsessed.

Tabatha Coffey: How to Get the Most Out of Your Shampoo and Conditioner

Guest Writer — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 06:00:00 PST

Editor's note: The following post is written by celebrity stylist, reality TV star, and author Tabatha Coffey. Do you know how to shampoo and condition? You may think you do, but the fact is that most people don't really know how and are using the wrong products for their hair type. As trivial as it they may seem, properly shampooing and conditioning your hair are actually the most important steps in your hair maintenance routine. When correctly selected and applied, shampoo and conditioner set the foundation for everything that comes after.

So what do they do? Put in the simplest terms, shampooing slightly opens up the cuticle, removing dirt, oil, and product buildup to create a clean, optimal environment for conditioning. Conditioning, meanwhile, delivers essential, nutrients and moisture, then seals the cuticle to keep hair healthy, balanced, and protected. Now that we have that down, let's get on to the details!

Do You Always Seem to Run Out of Shampoo Before Conditioner?

Jaime Richards — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 06:00:00 PST

You might match your shampoo and conditioner brands, but when it comes to using these shower staples, do you ever seem to run out of one before the other? In my household, there's usually about 10 times the amount of conditioner than shampoo. What about you? Tell me in the comments below and I'll come up with some solutions for a future post.

The Shampoo and Conditioner in the Sweet-as-Honey Bottle

Jaime Richards — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 08:00:00 PST

From A Beautiful Life, makers of the incredible natural nail polish remover that really works and I Heart Unicorns Perfume, comes these cute as can be Honey'do Shampoo and Conditioner ($16 each or $30 for the set).

While they look like something you'd keep in your kitchen, much like FarmHouse Fresh Goods' Sweet Cream Body Milk ($26), these goodies are best left in the shower - and not drizzled atop your Elvis-style peanut butter and banana sandwich. Made with organic honey to promote bounce and shine in the hair, these orange-blossom-scented products are also sulfate- and paraben-free. Will you get your buzz on?

12 Days of Holiday Beauty: A Partridge in a Pear Tree

Jaime Richards — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 08:00:33 PST

Traditionally, the 12 Days of Christmas begin on Dec. 25, and last until Jan. 5. That's a lot of celebrating, no? But since Christmas is just 12 days away, let's partake in a bit of preholiday revelry Bella-style. Using the classic tune "The 12 Days of Christmas" as inspiration for our anticipation, let's kick off this series off with the first day: a partridge in a pear tree:

Top off that fancy updo with Marc by Marc Jacobs Save the Birds Hairclips ($25) or the seasonally-appropriate Isn't It Pheasant Headband ($17). Get fruity (smelling) with Philosophy's Philosophy I'm Dreaming of White Pear Gel ($16) or Pre de Provence Apple Pear Soap ($7). And for a bit of glisten with a sweet finish, Love and Toast Prickly Pear Lip Balm ($17) or Kiehl's Lip Gloss in Pear Tree ($15).

Getting Steamy With Gilles Marini

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 07:00:51 PST

Gilles Marini may be best known for his successful foray onto Dancing With the Stars and his role as Luc on Brothers & Sisters. But he's also an expert shower-taker, as anyone who saw his turn as Samantha's sexy exhibitionist neighbor in the first Sex and the City movie knows.

I got the chance to meet Gilles a couple weeks back when he was in San Francisco. He's a L'Occitane ambassador, which makes sense: he grew up in Provence and even used to take lavender from the L'Occitane fields as a child. And now I know how he shortens his bathing time. Instead of using his shampoo and conditioner separately, Gilles says he makes his own two-in-one by mixing his products, lathering, and then leaving them on for two minutes. Why he would ever want to save time in the shower, however, is still a mystery.

You're My Angel: 6 Cheerfully Cherubic Beauty Finds

Jaime Richards — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 10:00:30 PST

Ding! Every time a bell rings, an angel gets her lipstick, er. wings. And since 'tis the season for angelic ways, let's take a look at a few cherubic beauty goods. It turns out that shades of pink and blue, along with metallic accents of silver and gold, seem to dominate the color schemes of what beauty product manufacturers seem to think these celestial beings embody. So blast Aerosmith's "Angel," and check out these discoveries below:

For your hair: Wash your locks (or body) with Philosophy's Snow Angel Gel ($16), give your style some hold with Nick Chavez's Angel Wings Light Hairspray ($22), and top off your coiffure with the delightfully sweet Giddy Giddy Angel Wing Felt Hair Clips ($16 for two).
For your body: Nostalgia Organics's Angel Kiss Peppermint Joy Soap ($8) will awaken the senses - and maybe even your spiritual side.
For your face: For a sweet touch, Boots No7's Stay Perfect Lipstick in Angel ($10) is a sweet pink accent. But every angel has its own set of problems, hence the Becca Fallen Angel eye makeup palette ($45), which includes a not-so-sinful opalescent peach highlighter, tawny peach lip and cheek crème, sheer peach gloss, and crème brush.

Thanksgiving Beauty With All the Fixins

Jaime Richards — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 06:00:06 PST

Hey pilgrim, there might not be as many Thanksgiving beauty offerings as there are December holiday ones, but that doesn't mean you don't have options. Behold, as there are a cornucopia of ideas on how you can add a bit of panache to your Thanksgiving weekend:

For your hair: Keep your style soft and shiny with Frédéric Fekkai's Apple Cider Clarifying Shampoo ($23). Then, add a dramatic touch with 2adorn's Detachable Brown Feather Hair Clip Fascinator ($35) or Charlotte Russe's Round Feather Headwrap ($6).
For your lips: Maybelline's Shine Sensational Lip Gloss in Cranberry Crave ($6) or Nyx's Lipstick in Pumpkin Pie ($4) each have holiday-worthy names and look great on practically everyone.
For the eyes: How about some coffee with that dessert? A smoky, spicy palette of warm browns will provide you with the perfect accent. Try Revlon's ColorStay Eye Shadow in Coffee Bean ($7).
For the nails: A cranberry-toned shade, such as Butter London's Nail Lacquer in Queen Vic ($14), or a shimmery bronze, such as Deborah Lippmann's Superstar Nail Color ($18), will both garner you lots of attention - in all the right ways, of course.