BellaSugar

More Tips For Making Curly Hair Gorgeous

BellaSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:00:19 -0700

Years ago, when hair expert Keneesha Hudson allowed her curly locks to go natural, it proved to be a positive experience. "I feel a great sense of freedom wearing my own hair," she told me. "It definitely has a much more organic feel to it. It doesn't hold me back from any activity - from anything," she added. As owner of Urbanbella salon in Atlanta, Keneesha educates women about embracing their own curl. She's already offered us tips on taking care of curly locks, as well as taming unruly strands, and now it's time for tips on cuts and styling. To find out her sage advice, just read more.

Got Kinky, Curly, or Wavy Hair? Read This.

BellaSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:00:16 -0700

As owner of Atlanta's Urbanbella salon and apothecary-style store, Keneesha Hudson has learned a thing or two about hair - particularly when it comes to kinky, curly, and wavy textures. That's why I consulted with the leading expert in the category on how to tame those unruly curls; and now, I have more of her helpful tips. No matter what kind of curl texture you've got, if your hair has some type of wave to it, this post is for you. Just read more.

Perk Up Unruly Curls With This Easy Fix

BellaSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 06:00:09 -0700

As owner of Urbanbella, an Atlanta apothecary-style salon and store that caters to women with kinky, curly, and wavy hair textures, Keneesha Hudson has mastered the art of the curl. The two major complaints she hears most frequently are the appearance of unwanted frizz and increased dryness, particularly during the cooler months. And while sometimes the bedhead look is hot, other times, that dryness and frizz can get in the way of having an amazing hair day. So I asked Hudson what tips she gives her own clients on getting a quick fix for unruly curls, particularly when rolling right out of bed when the hair tends to be at its most uncooperative. To find out what she had to say, keep reading

Can't Do Bedhead? Try These Five-Minute Curls Instead

BellaSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:00:31 -0700

For times when the sultry bedhead hairstyle or tousled beach waves aren't what you're going after, why not play up the sexy side of curls with something a bit more mellow? You can still rock a come-hither look, without going the route of the old-timey roller set-style, either. At Milan Fashion Week, Hilary Swank looked stunning with waved hair that avoided being too prim and proper. What I like most about her loose, softly rolled curls is that they're not perfectly pouffed, but they still have that sensuous factor without being too in-your-face sexpot. This is a look I do about once or twice a week when I've got about five extra minutes in the morning, and by nighttime, it's perfectly tousled for cocktail hour. To find out some tips on how I do it, just keep reading.

Do You Use Hot Rollers?

BellaSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:00:00 -0700

The other day, while finally cleaning out my closet, I discovered many things about my style over the past few years. Some of them questionable - is pleather ever really a good idea? - and one of them being that my barely used, decade-old set of hot rollers could use a little love. I'm not sure why it's been so long since I've busted out this reliable old-school styling tool, but maybe I should. They are, after all, amazing for creating lots of volume and twisted textures, and you can't beat flattering curls with minimal effort. Tell us: Do you use hot rollers, and if so, what are some of your favorite techniques?

Would You Use This Double Detangler?

BellaSugar — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 04:00:18 -0700

Ouidad, the brand that specializes in products for curly hair, has come out with a comb called Double Detangler ($24). They say that the comb is a "next generation tool" that helps prevent hair breakage and makes combing easier, and also saves you time because two combs = hair detangled twice as fast. I'm not sure about the actual logic of that statement, but I'm curious to see how it works. Have any of you tried this comb? And would you? $24 is not cheap, but if it works it could totally be worth it.

Curly Bella Gets a Shampoo Science Lesson

BellaSugar — Thu, 21 May 2009 09:01:58 -0700

Lo-poo, plopping, drip dry - I've pretty much got a good rhythm going on for my curly mane. But, since I'm still sensitive to keeping my relaxed hair as healthy and breakage-free as possible, I'm constantly tweaking my products. Although I could rattle off the reasons for going sulfate-free, I've got a new obsession: balancing my hair pH levels. I put on a figurative lab coat and started my chemistry research . . .

You may recall from our lye and no-lye relaxer talks that pH is a scale from zero to 14 that measures acids and bases. The greater potential a substance has for freeing hydrogen (H) ions, the smaller its pH value is. So, the greater the degree of acidity, the lower the pH reading, and the greater the degree of alkalinity, the higher the reading.

If you're loving the science so far, find out how this applies to shampoo when you read more.

Even though gals with relaxers are typically the ones exposed to those super high pH levels, low pH shampoos can help balance anyone with dry, frizzy, chemically treated or heat-damaged tresses, too! Often it's "reconstructing products" with a lower pH, so many stylists (mine included) recommend choosing shampoos around 4 or 5 to help temporarily close the cuticle and protect against damage. (Side note: Generally, most shampoo should have a pH between 5 and 7. While higher pH levels may soften the hair, they do so by opening the cuticle, which is not hydrating for already damaged locks.)

Some brands list numbers right on the bottle, but quick web research can uncover these levels or, if you're extra ambitious, you can buy pH test strips from your local drugstore and make a beauty test lab. If it's not yet science time at your house, check out some of my low pH shampoos as suggestions.

CHI Curl Preserve Low pH Shampoo 12 oz. - $11.99	John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Shine Release Shampoo - $6.49
Joico Silk Results Smoothing Shampoo, for Thick/Coarse Hair - $11.95	Redken All Soft Shampoo - $14.99
Phyto Phytocurl Shampoo 6.7 oz. - $25.95	Elasta QP Shampoo for Relaxed Hair - $2.59
PureOlogy Hydrate Shampoo - 10.1 oz. - $28.49	Louise Galvin Sacred Locks Hair Cleanser - $44.00
Joico Daily Care Treatment Shampoo - $11.99

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Keep Straight Styles Sleek With Four Wrap Tips

BellaSugar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:07:33 -0700

If you've got relaxed-yet-wavy hair (like curly Bella), you've probably at least heard of "wrapping." The technique can help breakage-prone or frizzy hair preserve sleek styles while you sleep or work out. Whether it involves chemically straightened, flat-ironed or blow-dried tresses, wrapping provides less stress on your hair and holds straightness through the night with a satin sleep cap or scarf. It's not a hard process once you get the hang of it, so see my steps to get started when you read more.

Divide the hair. Starting at the crown of your head, brush the front middle part of your hair – from top of head to forehead – over the front of your face with a boar-bristle brush. (Think of Cousin It). The back and side portions of your hair should be left down as usual.
Choose your direction. To begin the wrapping process, you'll want to brush the hair in the direction that you part your hair (e.g., if you part on the left side, you'll comb around your head going toward the right.) To get a strong start, place one palm on top of your head to hold the hair closest to your scalp down pat.
Keep it moving. Keep brushing hair repeatedly in the same direction around your head until all your hair wraps around it. If necessary, add pins to hold down any pieces that fall.
Top it off. Many people complain that satin wraps or scarves come off in the night. If you're into lasting results (and sacrificing fashion), grab a pair of clean pantyhose. Put the "top" part over your scarf/satin cap, wrap the "legs" around your head, and tie to secure. It ain't pretty, but it gets the job done.

Have any advice to add? Share it in your comments below.

Reader Review of the Day: Aussie Catch the Wave Sprunch Hair Spray

BellaSugar — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:00:57 -0700

If you have curly hair, it's probably taken you a while to figure out your perfect beauty regimen. Reader Ineedcaffeine uses Aussie Catch the Wave Sprunch Hair Spray ($3.30) in her daily routine, and here's why:

I have very curly hair, and I am very particular about my whole process. I often use different shampoos/conditioners/products each time I wash my hair, but Sprunch Spray is the only thing I use on a daily basis. I use it after I unwrap my hair from a t-shirt, before I go to bed, and before I leave the house in the morning. Just a couple of spritzes, and I get some serious body, hold, and delicious smell. I cannot recommend this product highly enough.

Now it's your turn to share what you like (and don't like) when it comes to beauty products. Head over to our Product Reviews site and submit your opinion. And mayyyybe you'll be featured on this daily post.

What Makes Curly Hair Curly and Straight Hair Straight?

BellaSugar — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:00:39 -0700

And wavy hair wavy? Well, as you may have suspected, it does have to do with genetics, but other factors influence hair growth as well. According to Proctor and Gamble, researchers do not completely understand why some hair twists and turns and some lays flat, but here are the most commonly accepted theories. Some are a little more scientific and others more commonsense.
Check them out when you read more.

Shape and opening of the follicle: If you have curly hair, your follicle is probably very flat in diameter. Straight-haired people have circular follicles. As for the wavy bunch? They have oval-shaped follicles.
The number of twists per unit length: Even the straightest of hair twists as it grows. The more twists, the more curl.
Humidity in the air: Hair, which is porous by nature, easily absorbs moisture molecules in the air, making the hair curl or frizz. Enough said.
Hormones and medication: Changes to the shape of the follicle caused by hormones and medication can alter the texture of your hair and the way it grows.
The position of the hair bulb in the follicle: The bulb is located at the bottom of the hair shaft. People with really curly hair may have a hooked end towards the bottom of the shaft, meaning their hair grows at more of an angle. Straight hair means little to no hook.
The number of disulfide bonds in the hair: Simply put, the way protein structures are arranged in each hair shaft effect how hair behaves. The more disulfide bonds that occur between hair proteins, the curlier the hair and vice versa. This explains why you can temporarily alter the texture of your hair with heat and/or water - just by breaking bonds.

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