BellaSugar

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.

Source

Last Night a Hairbrush Saved My Life

BellaSugar — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:00:11 -0700

Readers, I have fallen off the wagon. I have a strange desire (during this particularly humid week) to blow-dry my hair straight. I know it's not the best thing for my hair, but this time I got a reinforcement: I bought Conair’s Infiniti Tourmaline Brush ($12.99) after realizing I no longer even owned a round-barrel brush.

I've had blowouts in swank salons where they hold a round brush upright at the end and pull it straight down to create a perfect wave at the bottom of your hair. The spiral openings in this Tourmaline-infused brush some how make it possible to do that yourself, without getting one strand of hair caught on the bristles (OK, or handle. I have a lot of hair). Do you guys have a Holy Grail hair brush?

Products to Perfect Your Blowout

BellaSugar — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:00:09 -0800

I am all about embracing natural beauty, but sometimes it's fun to change up our everyday look, especially for a special occasion. If you happen to have wavy or curly hair, getting a sleek blowout is a surefire way to feel fancy. To help you get this look at home, I've put together a list of must-have products that will help eliminate the damage to your hair while achieving the look.

Frederic Fekkai Technician Mask ($35) is the most moisturizing mask I've ever put on my hair. It protects against damage by closing and sealing the hair shaft. I won't let a blow-dryer near my hair without using this first.

Dove Advanced Care Heat Shield Styling Spray ($5) is a heat-protecting leave-in, and products like this are essential for a silky blow-dry. This thermal protecting spray will coat your strands and absorb the heat from your styling tools so that your hair follicles don't.

For two more hair helpers, read more.
I'm a fan of the T3 Tourmaline Hair Dryer ($200) As I've said before, the T3 dryer really is worth the splurge. It reduces the length of time your fragile hair is exposed to heat, and it blasts your hair with negative ions to smooth the cuticle and eliminate frizz.

Finally, you might want to check out the Chi 1-in. Ceramic Flat Iron ($80). Ceramic irons actually lock moisture into your hair, rather than drying it out. Like the Tourmaline dyer, the ceramic plates seal the hair cuticle so that it is resistant to humidity and frizz.

Why Different Hair Textures Tangle (Or Don't)

BellaSugar — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:25:40 -0700

Oof. I just looked in the mirror and wondered how sitting at a desk all day manages to turn my hair into a rat's nest. And now I know! Jean-Baptiste Masson, a French researcher, has found that straight hair tangles more than curly hair does. As it turns out, it's a matter of physics.

After observing a group of 212 people over the course of three weeks, Masson created a mathematical model to explain the phenomenon. As News in Science reports:

Although curly hairs are more likely to come into contact with other hairs, he says straight hairs tend to have bigger angles between them when they connect. This second factor turns out to be the most important when it comes to tangles, Masson reported. It's the angle at which hair meets that most determines its likelihood of tangling.

You may wonder why a physicist would be studying hair. Masson's work was inspired by a field of science called polymer dynamics, and his findings may help other scientists develop Velcro-like products-and more likely than not, some new hair products, too.

Source

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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New Product Alert: Sephora Professional Cordless Straightener

BellaSugar — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 07:35:18 -0700

Well, we may not have flat irons in public bathrooms like they do the UK, but now, you can straighten your hair just about anywhere else with this awesome purse-sized Sephora Professional Cordless Straightener ($225). This 7-ounce flat iron is great for travel or a long night out, but just because it's small doesn't mean it can't pack a punch.

The high-end tool is made from ceramic, which is much better at smoothing cuticle than metal, and it warms up in under a minute with three different heat settings. It takes about three hours to fully charge and even comes with a car adapter, so you can recharge the battery in your car. Better yet, all this on-the-go straightening is safe: The Professional Cordless Straightener has a sensor to prevent overheating and an automatic shutoff after 30 minutes.

Beauty Byte: UK Bars Offering Bathroom Hair Straighteners

BellaSugar — Fri, 25 May 2007 09:00:55 -0700

First came condom machines, tampon dispensers, and even perfume spritzers. But the latest bathroom vending trend is just plain weird: coin-operated hair straighteners and curling irons. (Thanks to Beauty and the Blog for the tip.) Strange, but true: A British company called Beautiful Vending has created a hair-straightening vending machine called Straight Up.

Found in nightclubs, bars, malls, and gyms, these wall-mounted machines offer GHD flat irons for customers who need a quick fix for misbehaving hair. According to the Beautiful Vending web site: "Your customer’s bad hair days are now a thing of the past, and they will thank you once our Beautiful Vending machine is installed."

Now, I can see how this might be a nice feature in a locker room or hotel - much like the ubiquitous hair dryers - but nightclubs? It's hard to imagine women taking dancing breaks to line up and straighten their hair. So please, tell me: Would you use a straightening iron during a night out?

Source

Bella Brand: EasyStraight

BellaSugar — Tue, 22 May 2007 16:00:50 -0700

Come rain or shine, EasyStraight is a brand that anyone fearful of the frizzies should familiarize herself with. The haircare brand was founded in 2004 by Haime Munoz, a salon owner who was dissatisfied with anti-frizz styling products, most of which left behind a grimy residue and made hair look dull and flat. Munoz set out to create something affordable that would rinse out easily and protect hair from humidity.

EasyStraight products address three of the most common causes of frizzy hair: over-processing, natural frizziness, and environmental factors like humidity, weather, and sun. The line includes shampoo and conditioner, a finishing gloss, an ironing styler, blow-dry spray, and two at-home straightening kits.

Most recently, the company launched four new products, all of which can be purchased at drugstores and supermarkets nationwide. (To find a retailer closest to you, click "Where to buy.") The best part: EasyStraight products are priced from just $8 to $30 each. For details on the four new products, read more

Long-Lasting Frizz Remover ($15) is a straightening kit that is intended to keep your hair frizz-free for a month by repairing the cuticle and raggedy split ends.
Instant Silk ($8) is a light anti-frizz cream that helps to soften hair using silk and cashmere.
Climate Shield ($8) is a waterproof hairspray. Very cool. I have never actually heard of anything like this: It shields hair from weather and humidity while providing a strong hold./li>
Frizz Block ($8) is a serum made from flax seed, coconut, and cashmere extract that helps detangle hair and protect it from heat and breakage.

Let's Get Something Straight, Part III

BellaSugar — Wed, 09 May 2007 11:09:07 -0700

Welcome back to Let's Get Something Straight, my three-part series on products for straight hair. (For more ideas, check out part one and part two.) Since smooth sleek hair is so highly coveted, there are tons of products to help combat frizz and fly-aways. Just remember that whatever you choose to buy, please keep your hair protected from excessive heat and stay away from styling products that contain alcohol; that's the kiss of death if you want to keep your hair shiny and soft.

Göt2b Crazy Sleek Hot Smooth Iron & Blow-Dry Lotion ($5.99) is a straightening lotion that forms barrier on your hair to protect it from heat damage caused by blow dryers and flat irons. Spray on damp hair and work it through from roots to ends.

For two more hair straightening products, read more

Biosilk Silk Hair Therapy Smoothing Balm ($12.10) is a luxurious product suitable for all hair types. It will eliminate frizz, calm ragged cuticles, control cowlicks, and prepare hair for styling. It even provides a little bit of hold and will leave your locks feeling smooth and sexy.

TIGI Bed Head Control Freak Extra Extra Straight Hair Straightener ($14.95) is the ultimate way to achieve stick straight hair that has a silky soft feel. If the name of this product doesn't hook you, consider how easy it is to use: Simply spray it on damp hair sparingly and style as usual.

Let's Get Something Straight, Part II

BellaSugar — Wed, 02 May 2007 08:11:22 -0700

Hair straightening balms are really useful this time of year. Spring showers breed humidity and new found warmth in the air. Your frizzies, which seemed somewhat manageable in the cold winter, have now come back with a vengeance. Have no fear, these styling products will tame those frizzies, fly-aways and help relax unwanted curls or cowlicks. Apply to damp hair and blow dry straight. Enjoy!

Hang Straight by Aveda, $17.50, is a great product to help fight fly-aways and protect hair from humidity and frizz. It is made from certified organic marshmallow root and flax seed to smooth out hair and dramatically enhance shine. This product is perfect for super curly or wavy hair.

For two more straightening balms, read more

got2b Smoothed Over Straightening Balm, $5, is the solution to smoothing and straightening unwanted waves. Simply apply a small amount to the palm of you hand, distribute evenly throughout your hair, brush it through and blow dry. It is made with natural botanicals that not only smell good, but will help protect your hair against heat styling.

Brilliant Brunette Simply Sleek Straightening Balm, $6, is a hair straightening aid that also adds glisten and sheen to your rich brown locks. It has a lightweight, non-oily formula that leaves hair with a smooth, satiny finish. The good news is that it can also be used on your hair the next day for quick touch ups - bellissima!