BellaSugar

Do You Want to Hear More About the Brazilian Blowout Tests?

Miriam Lacey — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 12:15:10 PST

By now, you've probably heard all about the Brazilian Blowout controversy, but the OSHA testing that found formaldehyde in the straightener is only the first salvo in what promises to be a much longer conflict. Brazilian Blowout's manufacturers have filed an injunction to prevent OSHA from disseminating its test results, saying they're "false" and "misleading" despite similar findings in tests by Health Canada. I don't want a company ruined for no reason, but it does seem unethical to limit public knowledge about a product. Do you want to hear more about these tests, or is it only fair to wait until the definitive results are in?

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.

Mom Hair: Expert Tips For Managing Postpartum Tresses

babysugar — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 07:00:00 PDT

Hair loss is the pain after pregnancy! It often occurs in the months after a new mama's hormones adjust. From the clumps of hair found in the shower drain to the baby wisps that sprout up, mothers have much to deal with after delivery. We asked Paul Lebrecque from the eponymous salon for some tips in managing postpartum hair.

Don't be afraid to keep hair long. Paul agrees that the 47 percent of LilSugar readers who have kept their hair long are making life easier. Long hair gives moms more options, including ponytails, chignons, and updos.
Consider a Keratin treatment. The Brazilian straightening treatment makes blowouts fast and easy, lasts for up to three months, and is safe for use on nursing mothers. Paul does recommend that moms should pump and dump their first batch of milk the next day as a precaution.
Keep popping prenatal vitamins. The same vitamins that give expectant mamas thick manes and strong nails can help combat hair loss. Paul tells his clients to stay on the pills for three months after their tots have weaned.

For more of Paul's tips,

Bella Bargain: $48 Keratin Straightening Treatments

BellaSugar — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:59:47 PDT

If you've been thinking of treating your hair to a keratin treatment, here's an opportunity to do it on the cheap. The treatment, which de-frizzes and straightens hair, usually costs hundreds of dollars. But if you're willing to go to a beauty school, you can save about 80 percent. Through June, Empire Beauty Schools will be giving the treatments for $48.

If you have reservations about having a student work on your hair, here's the deal. Only advanced students are allowed to perform keratin treatments - so you won't get a nervous newbie on her first day - and all services are closely supervised by educators. There are 96 schools nationwide, the formula is formaldehyde-free (some aren't), and the price is right.

Definition: Keratin

BellaSugar — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:00:57 PDT

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).

Source

5 Things About: Your Nails

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:45:00 PDT

Watching my little one bite her fingernails prompted me to do some research, and I started with just the basics. I just wanted some fingernail facts so I would know something about the different elements of her new habit. So here are 5 things about your nails, fingers and toes, that I thought you just might like to know.

Fingernails and toenails are made of keratin - a protein made of dead cells, which is also the main protein found in hair. In fact, structurally nails are modified hair. Cutting your hair and fingernails doesn't hurt because they are dead - makes sense right. Horse hooves and bird feathers are also made of keratin.
Contrary to popular belief your nails do not grow after you are dead because your nails are already dead (see above). Nails appear to be growing after death since the skin around them shrinks. Urban myth dispelled.
Fingernails grow more quickly than toenails and men's nails tend to grow more quickly than women's. Women's nails DO grow faster during pregnancy, it is not the pre-natal vitamins it is the hormones.
Light trauma, like typing on a computer, stimulates nail growth. Or you could think of typing more like a massage for the nails - it sounds less traumatic.
Fingernails have no feeling. But the fingernail extends deep beneath and behind the skin of the cuticle, and nerves on the back of the finger around the cuticle sense forces transmitted from the tip of the fingernail. The brain integrates the sensations from the nerves of both the fingertip pad and cuticle to give a complex enhanced perception of pressure and shear at the fingertips.

Source

3 Common Hair Dilemmas Solved

Guest Writer — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:00:00 PST

Tabatha Coffey, the star of the much-loved series, Tabatha Takes Over, is known giving the most spot-on hair advice around. And over the next few months the talented hairstylist is sharing her top tips and tricks right here on BellaSugar. We're thrilled to present to you her first post! Take it away, Tabatha.

Hi everyone,
I got so many emails and questions on the below topics after I appeared on The Dr. Oz Show, I thought it would be great to write about them in my first blog. Here are some of my favorite products and tips for combating the hair-problem blues. See more when you keep reading.

What We're Sweet On: The Deepest of Deep Conditioners

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 14:45:03 PST

Sometimes, bad things happen to your hair. Whether it gets burned on a flat iron, fried by a bad perm, or reduced to string by a too-high lift bleach, the (literal) fallout can be extremely depressing and super frizzy to boot. Enter Global Keratin's deep conditioner ($36), which makes even totally destroyed hair look nice and shiny again. It's a long conditioning pack - 20 minutes with a cap on, running a hair dryer over your head to keep it warm - but the results are well worth it. We used it twice over the holidays, and it made our totally destroyed strands look soft and sleek again for about three days. It's not cheap, but a tub of the stuff should last you until your hair's grown out a little, and it's great to have for special occasions when you need to have some semblance of a healthy mane.

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!

5 Natural Secret Ingredients For Great Skin

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:12:03 PST

There are a ton of creams, serums, and cleansers out there designed to help your complexion, but some of the most potent (yet gentle) ingredients might be in your fridge right now. See some of the best skin care you never knew you already had after the jump.