BellaSugar

Straighten Your Hair at Home With KeratinPerfect

BellaSugar — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:10:42 PDT

Dealing with unruly, frizzy hair is just about as fun as getting a root canal, except the root canal stops when the procedure is finished. The hair? That just seems to get harder to cope with as time goes on. So it's no wonder that keratin-based straightening treatments are a hit at salons around the world since they tame even the wildest of locks for months. The problem is, they can be pricey - ranging from $150 to $300 in some cities. That's why we jumped at the chance to try one of the newest at-home keratin treatments, KeratinPerfect, to see whether it lives up to the salon versions. Watch our video to see!

Here's Why You Should Never Heat Your Flat Iron All the Way Up

Miriam Lacey — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:16:00 PST

My flat iron at home lets me heat it up to all kinds of ultrahot temperatures, but according to trichologist Iain Sallis, you should never heat an iron up above 180 degrees Celsius (or 356 degrees Fahrenheit). Beyond that you can potentially damage your hair's cuticle. Cuticle damage roughens your hair, frizzes it out, and exposes the hair shaft's internal structure, leading to split ends and eventual breakage. But keeping your iron low isn't the only way to save your hair. Want to see more clever tips from Sallis and other professionals for keeping your hair in good condition when you're straightening? Then just keep reading.

Biggest Headlines of 2010: Natural Hair

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 04:00:29 PST

Ever since Good Hair premiered at the end of last year, there's been much more open and positive dialogue about respecting and loving your natural hair texture. Lots of women were already going natural, but making the changeover has really gathered steam with the advent of the keratin controversy and a concomitant wave of support for natural hair's beauty, culminating in Sesame Street's adorable "I Love My Hair" song. While it seems that the number of women going natural, combined with the recession's ill effects, may be putting some African-American salons out of business, it's also heartening to see so many people embracing and celebrating the beautiful hair they were born with instead of trying to fit a narrow normative standard. Hair is still a hot-button issue for many women, regardless of their texture, but hopefully this is a signal of more self-acceptance to come.

Biggest Headlines of 2010: The Keratin Straightening Controversy

Jaime Richards — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 04:00:36 PST

Trouble for a popular hair straightening treatment, the Brazilian Blowout, started brewing back in September when Oregon's OSHA released alarming results of its study. While Brazilian Blowout products are advertised as formaldehyde-free, OSHA found higher-than-allowable percentages of the toxin in all samples tested. A similar study by the Canadian government also concluded the solution had "unacceptable levels of formaldehyde."

Everyone from the state of California to Cosmetologists Chicago has chimed in since then. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review is holding a panel to discuss the issue in the next few weeks. The makers of Brazilian Blowout, however, claim the testing methods were flawed. We're guessing this issue won't be straightened out before 2011.

Would You Get a Brazilian Blowout?

BellaSugar — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 14:00:14 PDT

Curly-haired women who prefer straight and sleek styles will often go the distance to extend the life of their flat-ironed hair. Chemical straightening, a more permanent option, can help with the convenience of maintaining the sleek look - but at what price? Despite Oregon's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's recent report that the popular Brazilian Blowout contains 10.6 percent formaldehyde, some women are still opting for this straightening method. And heavy exposure to formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, could harm the health of salon workers. Knowing that even the "formaldehyde-free" formulas have more of the ingredient than is considered safe, would you still take the risk for straight hair? (For the record, we wouldn't.)

Brazilian Blowout Found to Have Formaldehyde Galore

Annie Tomlin — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 08:00:25 PDT

File this under "bad hair news." The Brazilian Blowout, a popular hair-straightening treatment, has been found to contain formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. After stylists at Portland-area salons complained of symptoms such as nosebleeds and difficulty breathing, Oregon state officials tested the formulations in question. Even those advertised as formaldehyde-free contained from 4.85 percent to 10.6 percent formaldehyde. (Brazilian Blowout has released a statement.) We've long been wary of straightening treatments because of possible health risks, and this news is just one more reason we'll stick with the styling iron for now.

Get Beyoncé’s Sleek & Sparkling Grammy Hairdo: Celebrity Secret Weapon

BellaTV — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:54:02 PST

Beyoncé let a little Sasha Fierce out at the 2010 Grammy Awards - donning a touch of rocker glitz in her hair. Zelana asks Beyoncé’s hairstylist, Kimberly Kimble, to give us the inside scoop on products she uses to get the look. Featuring Kimble Hair Care Products and the finishing touch: Bella Via metallic ribbon strands!

Bella's BFF on Brazilian Hair Straightening

BellaSugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:00:16 PDT

Longtime readers will remember a post about Brazilian hair straightening. The technique relaxes hair by using a protein-filled solution on hair, then applying a hot iron to it. It's a little controversial, though, because the solution includes formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. Since I'm a hypochondriac, I run when I see the word "carcinogen," but that hasn't stopped the procedure from becoming popular.

As it turns out, my BFF Jen went in for Brazilian straightening this weekend. Naturally, I bombarded her with questions over instant messaging to get the scoop. Overall, she's still deciding whether it was a success. If you're thinking of having this treatment and want to get some unbiased opinions from someone who's just had it done,

Rather than bore you with the details of our IM conversation, I've created a guide that I like to call Jen and the Art of Brazilian Hair Straightening Maintenance. Here are her thoughts.

On the smell:
I stink.

On the scariest part of the procedure:
The "baking into my hair" part where there was actually poofs of smoke coming from the straightening iron she used? uhhhhh. . . I was freaked.

On her hair now:
My hair is in very good condition . . . odd. It's more shiny than before I had it done, which is kind of blowing my mind considering that my head was *smoking*. And my hair is about 2 inches longer. Genius.

On maintenance:
You can't wash your hair for four days, and you have to use a shampoo without sodium chloride. The stylist gave me samples for some shampoo called Aqualage, I believe. I doesn't contain the sodium chloride. Also, no ponytails, barrettes, anything for four days; that will cause a wave.

Would Jen recommend it?
I think it's a good alternative to the thermal, price-wise. [Jen paid $200.] Do I prefer it over Japanese straightening? We'll see once I'm able to wash it. It's not as fried, which is good.

It's Japan vs. Brazil in the Hair-Straightening Wars

BellaSugar — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:03:16 PDT

My best friend has thick, very wavy hair, but you'd never guess it from looking at her. That's because she goes in for Japanese thermal conditioning, a treatment that leaves hair straight for months. Now I have to tell her about a newer process from Brazil called escova progressiva. According to the New York Times, it can be used on most hair types, even color-treated hair. And now it has migrated from South America to the States.

"Right now, it’s blowing everything away," said Meryle Nemeth, the nuBest stylist who administered Ms. Epstein’s treatment, one of about 500 she’s done since February, when it became available at the salon [in Manhasset, NY]. "I've never seen anything take off like this as far as relaxing hair."

For details on this treatment,

Brazilian hair straightening takes up to four hours and costs between $150 and $600. The Times explains the process, which truthfully sounds a little... un-fun:

A stylist applies a solution made with active keratin, a protein akin to a component of human hair. Using a 450-degree iron, the hairdresser seals the formula onto the outer layer of the cuticle. The formula adheres to the cuticle’s inherently rough edges. Thus, it is said, it traps moisture, hydrating the hair, and adds a glossy veneer.

Buried deep in the article is this little nugget: "The formula often contains formaldehyde, a known carcinogen that can irritate the eyes and lungs if the fumes are inhaled." Yikes.

Are you interested in getting this treatment done, or are you happy with your curls and waves?

Source

5 Steps to Your Best Blowout Ever

Allure — Thu, 24 May 2012 06:05:00 PDT

We're happy to present this story from our friends at Allure:

It's not every day you get a lesson in blowouts from Alli Webb, founder of the Drybar blowout bars. Rule number one: If you've gotten your blowouts down to 10 minutes, you're doing something wrong. (Sorry!) Webb gave me the rundown on the other most common styling mistakes - and how to get the ultimate results. Get her advice when you read more.