BellaSugar

Definition: Keratin

BellaSugar — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:00:57 -0700

Keratin is a strong, fibrous structure of proteins that are found in skin, hair, nails, and teeth. It is made from amino acids that bond together and form a protective layer. If damaged, skin, hair, and nails commonly become weak and unhealthy looking. This is why you will often find keratin in hair products (to help strengthen the hair shaft and give it resiliency) and in skincare treatments (to help with moisture loss and firmness).

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The Liquid Keratin Diaries: Part II

BellaSugar — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:00:45 -0800

It's 48 hours later, and I'm back with a Liquid Keratin update. After the requisite two-day wait, it was time to use the provided shampoo and conditioner. I still had zero lather with the shampoo, but the conditioner did noticeably detangle my waves as I left it in for a few minutes.

The biggest part of this step was coating towel-dried hair with the leave-in conditioner spray, once again in that awkwardly shaped bottle. It said "style as usual," but didn't say anything about adding other products. Eek, an rule-follower's impasse – what to do?

Follow my logic and next move when you read more.

Since Step 1 explicitly said not to put anything else on your hair, the editor in me assumed they would have used the similar wording if the same was true for this step . . . but didn't want to take any big chances. I added a tiny amount of my favorite styling product (whether wearing curly or straight), but significantly less than I would normally. While I didn't have stick-straight results, my hair combed easier with less pulling than before and dried straighter but became fuller than usual. Much fuller. Not exactly the look I was going for.

My conclusion? At nearly $70 for 30 days, Liquid Keratin is a commitment that I wouldn't make again based on my results, but my reaction may be biased. If I had tried this before I dove into light-poo and plopping, I wouldn't be comparing this product to that noticeable difference and feeling; I just like the plopping. I can see the product working better on people with finer hair - my chemically-altered, thick texture definitely didn't maximize on its potential - but there were no life-changing results for me. If any of you have tried this product, please share your take in the comments below.

The Liquid Keratin Diaries: Part I

BellaSugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:00:08 -0800

I've had Liquid Keratin ($69) on my to-try list for a while now, and its time has come. If you're unfamiliar with this product, the 30-day home treatment starter set should smooth, strengthen, soften, and give you frizz-free manageable hair that lasts up to six weeks . . . according to the box, that is. All of that sounded fantastic, so I was ready to test it out on my chemically relaxed tresses to see if those words rang true.

The first step requires washing hair only with the provided shampoo and spraying the treatment on damp hair afterward. After letting this sit for 30 minutes, hair must be blow-dried and flat-ironed to activate and seal in the treatment with heat. This was a change for me, as I usually commit to adding product and air-drying or blow-drying, so I was expecting my hair to get bigger by the moment. It actually was less poofy than it would have been normally so that's a good sign, right? Instead of taking you through all the notes I took along the way, find my major pros and cons from step one when you read more.

Pros:

Its mild, soapy smell was pleasant but not overwhelming.
The product is safe for colored, chemically treated, and different hair types and textures (with no formaldehyde).
My hair was noticeably softer afterward.

Cons:

The treatment bottle's raindrop shape causes the pointy part to hit right between my thumb and forefinger while spraying . . . which meant after about a minute my hand was throbbing.
Sadly, for my hair texture, "softer" translated to fluffier with more flyaways. I can't say for certain if that's unique to my texture - I have thick but not coarse biracial hair - or just because of the variation from my normal routine.

A couple points to note: You can't put on any other products when blow-drying hair (heat protectant is built in) but this can be difficult if you're used to the serum-smooth look. So far my hair's looking OK, but nothing outstanding yet. However, you must wait 48 hours before washing hair again to neutralize the treatment and start to see the real results, so I'll be updating you again then!

Best of Bella

BellaSugar — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 07:00:43 -0700

15 different ways to wear bangs
Bella's March must haves
Whose beauty deal saves more: Saks or Neiman Marcus?
Seven tips to lay off the foundation
Do you love or hate Scarlett Johansson's really red look?
Blowout tips from the pros
Did Liquid Keratin work for me?
Biore Preservation Skincare Collection for "in-between" skin comes soon
Does Jennifer Aniston use Botox?
Test yourself on the ABCs . . . of beauty vitamins

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When Not to Wash Your Hair

BellaSugar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 07:00:36 -0700

"Isn't it the first cardinal rule of perm maintenance that you're forbidden to wet your hair for at least 24 hours after getting a perm at the risk of deactivating the ammonium thioglycolate?" - Elle Woods

That the entire plot of Legally Blonde comes down to someone washing her hair at the wrong time is telling. For those that manipulate their color and texture, timing is everything. Getting your hair wet in salt water after a Keratin treatment can end in disaster, and dipping blonde hair in chlorine can yield unintended punky results. Here, a list of times when you should not wash your hair. Come on, that's what Psssssst is for! For the full list, read more.

Before you dye it. The natural oils in your hair can protect it from the chemicals in dye. Don't wash your hair for a day or so before you color.
Before you go to the salon. As much as it might gross you out to subject your stylist to your dirty tresses during the consultation, washing your hair twice in one day can be damaging.
Before going to the beach, unless you love beach hair with a passion. Your hair will likely have sand and salt water in it and you'll want to wash it when you shower.
After you get extensions. Sources say you should wait two days after getting hair extensions to wash, and even then there are special techniques and products you might want to use. Consult your stylist.
After any hardcore retexturizing treatment. If you get a Keratin treatment, perm, Japanese straightening treatment, etc., there is probably a special shampoo you need to use, if any. Don't forget to ask!
After Botox. If you choose to get Botox, your doctor should tell you not to wash your hair for a certain amount of time to avoid bruising, headaches, or unintended results. If he or she doesn't, it's a bad sign.

When you should (or can) wash your hair:

When you have your period. There is an old wives' tale that dictates you shouldn't wash your hair when you are menstruating. Not true. Wash away.

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Back to Basics: The Best Base Coats

BellaSugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 07:00:10 -0700

Finding the right base coat is a critical first step in creating the perfect at-home manicure. If you use one that doesn't have a decent adhesive quality, then the color you've just applied is likely to peel off quickly.

An instant peel or chip on your freshly manicured hands feels like a big waste of time. Here are three brilliant base coats that I've been using for years - and as always, if you have a favorite of your own, please tell me what it is in a comment below.

As far as base coats go, I've always considered Nailtiques Nail Protein Formula 2 ($9.50) a treat because it's fairly expensive. Also, I think it's nothing short of a miracle worker on weak, peeling nails, so if I can muster up the self-control to let some actual white tips grow in, I reward myself with a coat of this keratin enriched base coat. If you're a first-time user, it is recommended to apply one coat every other day for a week without color, and then apply it as a base coat and a top coat to your next manicure.

Borghese Brilliante Base & Top Coat ($6.74) dries quickly while providing a thin, yet adequate base for your manicure. It contains granules of gemstones for added shine, proteins to help your nails grow stronger and it seals in moisture for healthier nails. Also, it's toluene, DBP and formaldehyde free.

For one more drugstore base coat option, read more.

Sally Hansen Hard As Nails ($2.75) is a product that I've been using since high school. It's always worked well to help strengthen my weak, bitten nails and it's so shiny that I often wear it alone. After continued use, my nails feel harder and they have less ridges. You can't beat the price or the super-long brush. If you've never tried this base coat before, I highly recommend it.

Trend Alert: Melon Nails

BellaSugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:00:42 -0700

Get ready to see many more melon-colored nails this spring. Check out Kristen Bell promoting her new movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall. While her fingernails are a quite bright, there are tons of varying raspberry and fruit-punch colored polishes to choose from. Here are three of my favorite juicy melon-colored nail lacquers.

L'Oreal Pro Manicure Nail Polish in Mango Get Em ($4.99) is a quick-drying, toluene- and formaldehyde-free polish that claims to last seven days without chipping. It also contains a strengthening pro-keratin ingredient and results in a high-shine finish.

For two other melon-colored nail polishes, read more.

Cantaloupe by Essie ($8) is a soft and creamy coral-melon color that is made from a chip-resistant formula. Two coats are all you need for a long-lasting, glass-like sheen.

Duri Nail Enamel in Beachy Peachy ($5) may not have a melon name, but this deep peachy coral color with hint of iridescent shimmer fits the bill.

Pastel Products, Part V: Lovely Lacquers

BellaSugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 10:00:22 -0700

Pretty pastel nail polishes are a fun way to lighten up any warm-weather beauty look. Pale pinks, sage greens, sunny yellows and light lavenders are beautiful shades to complement a special sundress or handbag. (And if you're still stuck with winter, they're a nice way to bring Spring to you early.) The colors come in an array of opaque formulas for you fearless femmes, as well as sheer versions for those of you who are still a little bit gun-shy.

View 7 Photos ›

L'Oreal Pro Manicure Nail Polish, Trust Fund Baby ($3.49) is a fun color with a catchy name. The polish is formaldehyde and toluene free - and since it contains pro-keratin proteins, it also strengthens your nails. I think this shade in particular looks best when you apply two coats.

Duri Nail Polish in Pistachio ($3.75) is a light, opaque lime green polish that lasts long, dries quickly, and imparts high shine along with streak-free color.

For one more pretty pastel nail polish, read more.

Essie Looking for Love ($8) is a soft and sweet, medium-hued lavender polish. The color is rich and long-lasting - and considering that Essie polishes are always at the forefront of fashion, you'll be ahead of the game for Spring.

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

BellaSugar — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:03:16 -0700

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, read more

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?

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Trend Alert: Cuticle Oil Pens

BellaSugar — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 11:00:00 -0700

This little contraption is becoming another one of my mess-free favorites! Cuticle oil pens are a great way to moisturize and correct, dry cracked cuticles. They are formulated with all kinds of vitamins, oils and nourishing agents to protect cuticles from becoming rough and dehydrated. The best part is that they absorb quickly too, so they won't leave behind a greasy trail.

This Sephora Cuticle Care Pen ($12) is a fast, easy and luxurious way to pamper your cuticles-and it smells great, too! It is made from essential oils and emollients to soften and protect your pretty paws.

To check out two more cuticle oil pens, read more

Dr. Haushka Neem Nail Oil Pen ($17.95) is an excellent remedy for damaged cuticles as well as for soft, brittle or bitten nails. It is made with keratin to strengthen nails and it also contains neem leaf to help prevent fungus from growing.

Sally Hansen Maximum Growth Cuticle ($5.49) is a cuticle and nail treatment to help instantly seal in moisture and revitalize your fingertips. Just twist the cap and apply for a no-spill and smooth application!