Fantasia Salon / Spa and Wig Specialists

We’ve talked about fashion faux pas, how about some hair faux pas? Your hair looks great when you leave the salon. But it’s how you care for it on a daily basis that makes the difference. You can have a fantastic cut and it will look bad if you mistreat it. Here are some common mistakes.

Washing your hair way to often. Sometimes daily washing, drying and styling is just not necessary. For one thing, if you color your hair, washing it too often causes the color to fade away. Plus it strips away your hair’s natural oils. Try every other day for a change, that’s a good start.
Not getting regular cuts. You are trying to grow your hair out so you haven’t been to the salon in months. By continuing to get your hair trimmed it will look fuller and healthier.

Too much conditioner. Excessive conditioner weighs down fine hair. And, even dry, coarse hair looks dull and lifeless with a residue of conditioner on it. Concentrate on applying your conditioner on the ends of your hair, where it’s needed.

Overheating your hair. Constantly curling and drying your hair can fry it. You might be literally burning your hair. Use products made to protect your hair from heat. This will help seal the cuticle and keep the heat from damaging the hair strands. Get rid of brushes with metal paddles or bristles, they heat up and singe your hair.

Using the wrong products on your hair type. Just like selecting the proper skin care, you need the right styling products in order for your hair to look it’s best. If you use heavy styling cream or silicone products on fine hair it will look limp. Thick, coarse hair needs more than just a little spritz of spray gel. Used products specifically designed for your hair type and style. Your hair stylist will point you in the right direction.

More is not better. You may have the right products but be using too much or too little. If you use too little, your don’t get any benefit from the product, too much can make your hair harder to style. Start with a little and add as necessary.

A ponytail with any old elastic. If you are using uncovered rubber bands, you run the risk of damaging your hair. It can snag your hair causing breakage and damage the hair follicle. Covered bands will protect your hair.

Are you stuck in a style rut? I always think of a woman from my church who, to this day, has the Ellie Mae Clampet (Beverly Hillbillies) look going on. Look at a photo from 10 years ago. If your hairdo is the same, it’s time for a change. An outdated style may not be flattering and can make you look older.

Brushing your hair too much. While brushing twice per day is a great way to stimulate your scalp and distribute oil down the hair shaft, too much can have the opposite effect and will leave your hair vulnerable to breakage. It’s never a good idea to brush wet hair. Use a wide-tooth comb instead, when you get out of the shower.

Fighting your hair’s natural texture. You can be spending a lot of time and energy trying to straighten your curly hair or curling your straight hair. Try to wear it natural, after-all, if it’s humid, once you step outside it’s going to revert back to it’s natural shape anyway!

Ignoring your scalp. If the hair follicles (or factories) aren’t clean and healthy, they will not produce strong, full, healthy hair. Massaging your scalp when you wash your hair is a great way to stimulate it. Make sure to rinse all product away before you leave the shower so there is no residue to clog the hair follicles.

Pulling out gray hairs. Not a good idea! They will grow back and they will come in wiry and short and stick straight up until they grow in. If you have more gray than you like, it may be time to start coloring your hair. Getting your hair colored, once you start to go gray, can immediately take 10 years off your look. And let’s face it, what woman wouldn’t be excited about that?

Here are some tips for keeping your crowning glory, your hair, healthy. Some you may already know about, some perhaps not.

To keep your hair healthy, book an in-salon deep conditioning treatment. This will help smooth out your cuticle and make your hair shiny and soft. Follow up with good salon styling products at home. Rub the product into your hair when wet.

If you don’t have time to wash the oil out of your hair and you need a quick fix, all you need is some hairspray, a brush and a blow dryer. Spray a small amount of hair spray into your hair use the blow dryer and brush together and blow your hair with the brush. Repeat as necessary.

Use thermal protectors or silicone products mid-shaft to ends prior to heat styling and avoid brushing hair when wet. Your hair is most fragile when wet and should be treated with care. Use a wide tooth comb to eliminate tangles, hand dry moisture from your hair first, then finish with your favorite boar bristle brush. Healthy hair is beautiful hair. Take time to deep treat your hair at home and have seasonal hair and scalp treatments at your salon. Avoid hot water on your hair. Shampoo and condition hair at the beginning of our shower and leave the conditioner on until the end. Avoid aggressive rubbing with your towel. Pat your hair dry instead.

Ever wonder what the best hair styles are for different face shapes? Here’s a simple rule of thumb:

• Oval - lucky you, every hair style works!
• Round - hair below the chin with a center part like long one length hair.
• Square - hairstyle should soften the sharp angle of your jawline; think face framing layers.
• Triangular: Any style that narrows your chin and widens your forehead, such as a boxed bob.
• Heart shape - Softer curlier style
• Oblong - Style that adds width and fullness to the sides of the face, mid to long length.
• Diamond - Most hairstyles work.

So, now you know some tricks of the trade and perhaps why your stylist has recommended a particular style for you.

Are you aware that in America, more than 19.5 women are afflicted with hair loss? Unfortunately, the “Donald Trump” comb over does not work well for most women. With hair loss being such a prevalent phenomenon, lets talk about some more tricks for masking those thinning tresses.

Wet hair damages very easily. Therefore, after showering, always dry the hair with care. Never rub, pull or handle your hair in a harsh manner. Gently dab a towel a the head to absorb moisture without manipulating the hair strands. At Fantasia, we sell a chamois- like towel that absorbs the moisture from your hair - it is wonderful! Wet hair should be groomed with a comb as opposed to a brush. De-tangle the hair using a wide-tooth comb. Forget about brushing you hair 100 stokes per day, that is a myth and can further damage your already fragile hair. The only brushing you should do is enough to style it and no more.

Condition your hair properly. Creamy conditioners, oily hairdressings, and heavy gels only weigh the hair down. And, they draws attention to an already diminishing, slender hairline. Instead, opt for leave-in conditioners which will replenish the hair follicles and enhance the overall appearance of the hair.

Easy on what you are doing to your hair. Lots of chemical treatments can contribute to hair loss. Back off on the coloring and perming and go for a more natural look. Stay away from small rollers and tightly coiffed hair as this can be a recipe for hair loss. The more you “pull” on your hair, the more likely it is to fall out.

Before combing wet hair, add styling products or a leave-in conditioner and use a volumizer to dry the hair. For an easy and fast style, scrunch hair to create natural, wavy look. This will give the illusion of a thicker, fuller head of hair.

And, should the time come that you can no longer hide the problem and are having self confidence issues, talk to your hair dresser about thinning hair solutions, they would be happy to assist you as helping you look good helps them look good!

Heat and humidity can be tough on the hair, especially if your hair is dry and has been colored. Here are some tips which can help to prevent brittleness, split ends and faded color.

• Start the season off with healthy hair. Get a good cut now to remove any split ends. If your hair is dry, consider having a deep conditioning treatment. This will be a small but worth while investment.
• Stay conditioned by using moisturizing shampoos and conditioners several times per week to fight the dryness caused by the sun. Leave-in conditioners are good choices for days you know you will be hanging out at the beach or the pool.
• Be protective by selecting and using shampoos, creams and other products that contain sunscreens. Hats and bathing caps can also safeguard your hair.
• Skip the heat. In the summer season, when styling your hair, try to avoidthe use of blow dryers, hot rollers and curling irons as much as possible. If you must use one of these, apply a heat-activated styling product to guard against too much drying.
• Don’t be tight. Pulling your hair back, especially when wet, into tight ponytails on a regular basis causes breakage. Try looser styles using headbands and clips.
• Wash you hair after swimming. At the very least, rinse your hair after getting out of the pool. If you are a frequent swimmer, try an anti-chlorine shampoo.
• Put off coloring. Color treated hair often fades and dries quickly when exposed to direct sunlight. Consider waiting until Fall for your new color. Otherwise, wear hats or wraps and shop for shampoos and styling products containing vitamins such as A, C and E to protect colored hair.

Some of these things may seem simple. But, several simple things, if practiced regularly, can yield dramatic results! Enjoy your summer!