Friday, May 24, 2013

Summer Hair Trends

Every year trends change. Whether they are for hair, make-up, nails, or clothes, you always need to be in on what's hot and what's not. The summer time is when people let lose and have fun, but it is also when you can make a great statement when you go out. This summers hair trends have been done before, but there are ways that they have been refreshed to make them new again. Here are some of the latest hair trends for this summer.

Super Straight Hair.
Having super straight hair can take a lot of work for some hair types, and can cause damage. You should first make sure your hair is in good shape. Start by using daily treatments to build up your hair strength. Once your hair is in good shape, you can straighten it. First use a heat protecting spray. This will help to keep your hair from receiving extra damage. After you have applied the spray, straighten your hair from roots to ends, using small one inch sections. Keep your flat iron under 400 degrees. After you have fully straightened your hair, lightly apply an oil over it. The oil will help to restore some moisture into the hair, and give your hair an added shine.
To change up the straight look, you can move around your part and try something a bit more dramatic, or you can pull part of it back and pin it.
   

Great Blow-outs
Great blow-drys are achieved by using good shampoo and conditioner as well as the right products for your hair type. To achieve a great blow-out, a stylist will apply products of there choosing to freshly washed hair. Different products work for different hair types, and it is best to use products that your hair dresser recommended for you. Then they will ruff dry the hair at the roots. After the ruff drying, they will section your hair into smaller sections, and use a round brush that best suits your hair to round brush your hair. The end style could be straight, flipped out, flipped under or have a wave to it but all styles will be smoothed down, frizz free, and long lasting.
Change up your blow-dry from what you normally get. If it is always straight, add some curl to the ends, and if tend to keep your hair flatter, have your stylist add a volume booster and give you lots of volume and movement in your hair. You can also change up your part, to create volume on top and a different look.
 

Low Buns & Ponytails
Putting you hair in a high ponytail or a messy bun is the easiest way to style your hair while always on the go. While they may look cute for some occasions, they are not cute for all. Try to change it up a bit. Pulling your hair back in a sleek ponytail is good for any job interview, or even for an everyday look. If you always put your hair in a ponytail, try a sleek bun. All you have to do is wrap the hair around the ponytail and secure with a hair tie. It is really simple and easy. You can change up the bun, if you are going out to a nice dinner or to a special occasion like a wedding by creating your own bun. Put your hair in a ponytail and secure. Lightly tease small sections of the ponytail, but make sure all of the teasing is underneath. Take the hair and form a bun by tucking it underneath the ponytail and securing it with bobby pins. Make sure the hair is smoothed. Add a light coat of hairspray to help smooth fly away's. You can also add braids to your hair to make it more of a relaxed feel.
 

Fringe or Bangs
Having bangs is great to hide imperfections people may see in themselves. If you like more of a softer look, try a side swept bang. You can make it really soft by keeping it choppy or more dramatic by having a deep angle. If you have strong features and want something more daring, then a shorter straight across bang would be a good look to enhance your features. If your not sure you want short bangs, go for the side swept grown out bang. They are longer so you can wear them down or pull them back depending on what you want.
  

Hair Accessories
Hair accessories are an easy way to add a little something extra to any look. If your wearing your hair down or in a simple bun or ponytail, dress it with a head scarf to add a pop of color. If you want to add a little bling, use a rine-stoned headband. To glam up an everyday look, add a big bow for a headband. It is a cute way to combine together your hair and outfit. If you are going to have your hair in an updo, set it off by adding a rine-stoned clip or even some flowers to really make your hair stand out from all the others.

Braids
You can never go wrong with a braid. They can add class to any look, and go from casual to classy in a matter of minutes. For a low-key look, go for a side hanging braid. If your want to add a little something to an up-do, braid a section before doing the up-do. If you want a look that is good for any occasion, add a rope braid or french braid in your bangs, and curl or straighten your hair. It is a look that can be casual or for a special occasion and it works great for short hair. 

  

Short Hairstyles & Cuts
Short haircuts are making a comeback. From the pixie cuts to a bob you can have a short hairstyle but still feminine. If you want something edgy and easy to style, go for a pixie cut. You have a bang in the front, but the rest of your hair is short. If you want something a bit more girly try a bob. A bob can be any length from just above your shoulders to right below your ears. They are easy to style, and it still looks good at the in-between stages. To make the cut a little more edger, get an angled bob. In the angled bob, the hair is shorter in the back and longer in the front. You have to keep up on the look and get it cut every 6 weeks. The short cuts all look really cute paired with bags.
  

Fun Colored Hair
The last big trend of the summer is having fun colored hair. Whether you want to try something  new that's permanent or temporary adding bright or pastel colors can give you that change you are looking for. The favorite colors for the summer are lavender, blue and mint green. If you are really daring, you can go for the all over color. If your not sure about the whole head, add some highlights or low-lights. If you just want a touch of a different color, try a peek a boo. A peek a boo is a small section of hair that is colored differently then the rest. 
  

Head to your nearest and best hair salon to try out one of these fun summer trends on yourself. You will stand out from everyone else, and make a statement. Remember to take good care of your hair. 

~aphrodite







Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Protecting Yourself From UV Exposure

Now that the warmer weather is here, and you are going to be outside enjoying it, remember that you are being exposed to UV rays. UV exposure can be harmful to your skin and your hair. UVA rays are aging rays that cause wrinkles in the skin. UVB rays are burning rays that cause sun burns and skin cancer. Preventing damage to your skin and hair is much easier than reversing the damage after it has already happened. Here are some ways to help prevent sun damage to your hair and skin.

Body
When you apply sunscreen to your body, be sure to apply it to your entire body. Even the areas that are covered by clothing can get skin cancer. You should apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside, the spray kind is the easiest to use. Avoid sun exposure after applying perfume. Some of the chemicals in perfume can remove the sunscreen, which can lead to a sunburn. Re apply sunscreen every 2-4 hours you are outside. Water and sweat can help to remove sunscreen, so it is best to always reapply after being in water or performing a physical activity.

Hair
Many people do not protect there hair when they go in the sun. The suns rays over a period of time can be just as damaging as bleaching your hair. The most common way to protect your hair is to wear a hat. If a hat is not your style, make sure to apply sunscreen to your part and hairline. Before you go in the sun, use a deep conditioning treatment, preferably one that has vitamins a, c, or e in it. They are essential to keep your hair strong and healthy. Do not use hair spray, it sits on your hair and offers no protection. Instead find and use products that soak into your hair. Do not wash your hair everyday, but when you do, if you have spent a lot of time outside use a deep conditioning hair mask to re-hydrate your hair. 

Face
When you do your daily face cleaning routine, include a moisturizer that has an SPF in it. The extra SPF will help stop damaging sun rays from aging your skin. Before applying sunscreen, apply an antioxidant serum. It will add a layer of extra protect onto your face. Apply the sunscreen on your face, but avoid your eyelids. The skin on your eyelids is so thin, that the sunscreen can actually soak right through it and cause damage to your eyes. If you are going to be wearing make-up while outside, use mineral make-up that have ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc in them. The titanium dioxide acts as a sunscreen, and the zinc helps as a healing device for sunburns and other skin irritations. On your lips, add a layer of lip balm with SPF in it. It helps prevent dryness, cracking, and sunburn.

To insure the best protection from the sun, check to make sure your sunscreen has not expired, that you limit your exposure time between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm, and that you are constantly reapplying sunscreen while you are outside. Skin cancer is easily treated and prevented. Avoid going outside without sunscreen, and tanning beds to lower your risk of getting skin cancer. Follow these tips to healthier skin and hair.

~aphrodite

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

What Your Skin Needs At Any Age

At every stage in life, your skin needs something different to keep it healthy, break-out free and glowing. There are different products and things you can do to keep your skin healthy at any age. Everyone should have a skin care regimen that they use everyday. This will tell you what you need to keep your skin looking great at any age.

20's. In your 20's it is the prime time for skin care. What you do now will effect how your skin looks from here on out. The number one thing to do is to use sunscreen on a daily basis. An SPF of 20 or higher is best. Sun screen will help to reduce anti-aging and help to prevent skin cancer. Also, use a light weight moisturizer every day. It helps keep your skin from getting too dry, and helps maintain a healthy level of moisture in your skin. You also need to exfoliate your skin. For normal skin exfoliate 2-3 times a week, but if you have oily skin, try to exfoliate everyday to help cut down the oil. It is also important to wash your face twice a day. Washing your face clears your skin of dirt and bacteria which cause breakouts. The better you take care of your skin now, the better it will be in the future.

30's. In your 30's your skin becomes much drier. The drier your skin, the more you can see fine lines and wrinkles. The best thing you can do is to update your moisturizer to one that is more hydrating. The more hydration to your skin, the better it is to help decrease your fine lines. In your 30's you also tend to get dark under eye circles. Use an under eye cream to help smooth out the lines, and decrease darkness. Look for products like caffeine and ginseng because they help to reduce puffiness.

40's.  The main thing you need to concentrate on for your skin in your 40's is anti-aging. Start using anti-aging products on a daily basis. You may see that your skins natural glow is beginning to fade, this is because the skin cells are not coming off as quickly and are more flaky. Go get a mild glycolic peel on a weekly basis. It will remove the dead skin cells off of your face, and having it looking better then ever.

50's. Once you hit your 50's, your estrogen level begins to drop, which causes your skin to produce less of its natural oils. Instead of using a light moisturizer, switch to a heavier cream. Look for products that have a hyaluronic acid. The hyaluronic acid pulls water to the skins surface, giving it a plumper and glowing appearance. Not only is dryer skin a problem, but so are fine lines and wrinkles. The most prominent place for wrinkles is a round the mouth, which is caused from smoking, drinking through a straw, and talking. Use a firming cream. It is effective but not a permanent solution.

60's. In your 60's, you will notice that your skin is much thinner and dryer, this is from the lack of your skins natural oil production. Your skin is now more sensitive to certain products. When washing your face use a mild, soap and fragrance free cleanser to prevent irritation. Your skin also begins to sag, and instead of getting injections, use a plumping sebum. It will not give you the full effect of the injections, but it will help to firm and tighten the loose skin.

As we get older, our skin begins to loose moisture and firmness. If you have a great beauty regimen and are using the right products, it will help your skin stay in great shape. You should also get facials about once a month to really get great skin results. 

~aphrodite