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As much as I love hair – styling, cutting, coloring – everything about it; there is some hair that I don’t like. It is on my chin or on my lip or an excess of fine hair on my cheeks.
I have found that as I mature, this hair becomes more noticeable. This is the hair that has to be removed regularly. I am going to tell you about two gadgets that are great for removing that irritating and unwanted hair. Both gadgets are safe, fast and easy to use. The Micro Hair Trimmer by Cricket is a tiny battery operated clipper. It is the perfect size for those hairs that regular sized clippers, trimmers and shears can’t get at. The Micro Trimmer is small enough to trim those pesky nose hairs and gentle enough to get those fine soft hairs that can cause the fuzzy face look on women. The Micro Trimmer trims the fuzz off, leaving your face feeling smooth and soft. (Those soft hairs are always very fine, do not grow back heavier and do not feel bristly when they do grow back. So don't be afraid to use the trimmer.) The Micro Trimmer comes with a guard attachment that makes trimming eye brows or a man’s mustache or beard easy. Use it without the guard to shave the hair on the back of your neck. One AAA battery runs the Micro Trimmer for quite a while, giving it enough power for any job I have found for it. Smooth Away This product uses no chemicals but removes unwanted hair while it also exfoliates the skin. This leaves skin feeling very smooth. The effective area of the Smooth Away is a pad covered with superfine crystals that actually buff away the hair and the dead skin. Smooth Away comes with two rubber applicators that disposable pads are attached to. The large applicator is large enough to slide three fingers into and is used for areas such as legs, arms and under arms. The small applicator is one finger size and is used for small areas such as the upper lip and the chin. Each applicator comes with four adhesive backed replacement pads. Just peel off the old pad and stick on a new one. It has often been my habit to skip the instructions and to charge in using new gadgets but in this case be sure to read all of the instructions before using the Smooth Away. The instructions are important. They will tell you to cleanse the area and dry it thoroughly without using creams or moisturizers prior to using the Smooth Away. This is important. It won’t work without following this step. To remove the hair, gently buff the area in circular motions – first clock-wise and then counter clock-wise. Be firm but gentle. Pressing too hard can cause irritation. Remember that the pads are covered with tiny crystals that remove the hair and exfoliate. If your skin is sensitive, it is wise – and suggested on the package – to use it on only a small area and then wait 24 hours before proceeding to see if irritation occurs. When used correctly, Smooth Away does exactly what it claims and makes shaving, waxing and chemical depilatories unnecessary (I purchased both of these products with my own money and was not paid to review them.)
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 Always glamorous, often soft and even child-like in appearance; blonde hair is one of the most desired hair colors in almost every country. However, those who have it often find that they want a change. The following suggestions are subtle, natural looking ways to enhance the beauty of your blonde hair and give you an updated fashion.
Dry, cracked and old looking feet are sure to make you feel unattractive. You can hide them in shoes and socks and ignore them but sooner or later,
you are barefoot and there they are. You can put on the prettiest sandals and even paint your toenails but if there is whitish looking dead skin around your heels and on the sides, the look screams “old and neglected.” Pampering yourself with regular professional spa pedicures is a great remedy and a nice treat but it can be very costly. Professional pedicures are an unnecessary expense because keeping your feet soft and youthful looking at home is easy. Keeping your feet beautiful takes only a few minutes each day in the shower and about 10 to 20 minutes every other week.
Brazilian Smoothing treatments are one of the hottest products for smooth silky hair.
I decided to try Keratin Express Brazilian Smoothing Treatment because the literature states that it has no formaldehyde. Keratin Express is a conditioning treatment that only takes about 35 minutes and lasts about 6 weeks. I was told that it bonds keratin (keratin is the protein that hair is made of) to the hair to condition, repair and smooth. I was most interested in its ability to prevent frizz by locking out humidity. I was told that after the treatment I could wear my hair either straight or curly and it would be smoother and have less frizz. My hair is very curly. I sometimes wear it curly but most often blow it out and use a flat iron to wear it straight. In the winter, with low humidity and the use of serums and smoothing creams my hair will stay smooth and silky. However, in the summer, in higher humidity, with the use of lots of serums, smoothing creams and lots of work with the flat iron, I can smooth my hair but frizzy ends develop as soon as I get out into the weather. The Keratin Express treatment was a simple process:
Keratin Express gets an A+ from me. (I purchased Keratin Express with my own money for my personal use and was not paid for the review.)
There was a time when someone with fine to medium textured hair was afraid to use any type of oil on their hair. Even though oils cut down on frizzy ends and added shine, they were heavy and often left the hair feeling ‘oily’ and looking flat. Today, oils are refined, light and work wonders on all types of hair – including fine textured hair.
I’ve found several new products containing oil that have proved very useful. They add shine, get rid of frizzies and moisturize ends. Moroccan Oil Gold Glimmer Shine contains Argan oil. It is derived from the nuts of the fruit of the Argania Spinose tree in Morocco. The cosmetic grade of this oil has been used for centuries by women in Morocco to naturally enhance their hair, skin and nails. It gives a luminous shine and is said to have UB filters to protect your hair. Gold Glimmer Shine is in a spray form. I found that it did indeed impart a great natural shine to my hair – not oily looking. It was light in weight, helped to get rid of fly-aways, but it did not weigh my hair down. Use one drop of Moroccan Oil Treatment (emulsify between your palms and run your hands through your hair) to condition and calm frizzy ends. Use Moroccan Oil Light Treatment for very fine hair and pale blonde hair color. It’s a 10 Miracle Shine Spray contains Noni oil. Noni oil comes from the seed of the Noni plant in Southeast Asian It has been used to moisturize sensitive skin and to seal moisture in. Miracle 10 Shine Spray can be used on either wet or dry hair. It shines, softens coarse hair, locks in moisture and gives thermal protection. When I used it, the first thing I noticed was the great smell. The second thing is that it gave a nice shine and did not feel heavy on my hair. Lippia Tea Hair Oil by Zosimos Botanicals is an all-natural handcrafted oil made from the Lippia Tea from Ghana. I used just a few drops to stroke through my hair to calm frizzie ends. It is strong enough for ethnic hair and can be a bit heavy on fine hair if too much is applied. This is not a spray. You use it by drops. It is a moisture treatment that can be used as a treatment before shampooing. Real Control Mineral Elixir by Redken uses Shea Butter and Ceramide to lock in moisture, block humidity, smooth split ends and fight frizz. Shea butter is a yellowish or ivory-colored natural fat that is extracted from the fruit of the Shea tree. It is widely used as a moisturizer in cosmetics. Ceramide is a natural-derived plant fatty acid. Real Control Mineral Elixir is applied at night and used as an overnight treatment. I was hesitant to use Mineral Elixir, being afraid of oily pillows, but I found that the Elixir absorbs instantly so it doesn’t transfer. It can be shampooed out the next morning or left in for more conditioning and control. The search for a new hairdresser can be one of life’s more stressful experiences. All you want is to find a stylist who listens to what you have to say, suggests new styles periodically, lets you know what is flattering to you personally and, ultimately, does your hair the way you want it done. Sounds easy, right? Wrong.
Women will stay with an unsatisfactory hair stylist for years just because it can be a disastrous experience trying someone new. Finding the great hairdresser is not easy, but with a little patience and some prior planning, the process can be rewarding.
And one last piece of advice, examine your motives. Be careful about being impulsive. Times when it is not wise to change your style are:
Is your hair dry and lifeless? Hair color, perms, blow-drying, irons, wind and sun can all lead to stressed out hair. Once a month take time out of your busy schedule to pamper your hair and pamper yourself at the same time.
This will take off the build up of old styling products and prepare your hair to receive the nutrients.
What do the ingredients mean to you as you shampoo your hair?
You may see the letters USP (United States Pharmacopeia.) This means that the ingredient is rated to be of the highest grade. Not all ingredients are rated.
Water
Lets start at the beginning. Proper washing is the first step to great hair and the process begins with the water you use. What comes out of your tap isn't always the best. I recommend using only naturally soft or softened water on your hair. Water that is hard will leave mineral deposits behind that will coat each hair and dull its appearance. Hair needs to be clean and free of these deposits to be shiny. Oil Each hair follicle has its own oil gland that keeps it lubricated and healthy. Unfortunately, this natural oil can cause dirt to stick to your hair. It will take some type of soap or detergent product to wash away this oil and dirt build-up. Cleansing Not very long ago, everyone always used soap. A drawback to soap is that it may leave behind calcium and magnesium residue. We often call that soap scum. Besides the left over residue, soap solutions are alkaline in ph, which cause the outer layer of the hair to swell, lift, feel rough and appear dull. This is why Grandma always followed her hair washing with an acidic lemon or vinegar rinse. The acid in the rinse dissolved and removed the soap scum. It also caused the structure of the hair to lie flat making her hair shiny and smooth. (The outer layer of the hair is called the cuticle. It serves to protect the inside of the hair. It is made up of tiny scales that are similar to the shingles on a roof with each shingle overlapping the next. Those scales should lie flat so that they offer protection and reflect the light.) Ingredients The first ingredient in almost any shampoo is now detergent. Using detergent may sound like harsh treatment for your delicate hair, but it tends to be a good choice for cleansing. Ingredients that increase lather are often included in new shampoos. These are for appearance rather than effectiveness. Sudsing isn’t necessary for cleansing but it does make us feel better about the cleansing ability of the shampoo. There may be many other ingredients in your bottle of shampoo. You may find vitamins or herbs or other additives with long strange sounding names. Read the ingredient list on your bottle of shampoo. While a long list of ingredients does not always create product of higher (or lesser) quality, there are some interesting ingredients such as herbal extracts that you may want to try. I have included a list of common and not so common ingredients along with their purpose to help you make an informed shampoo choice. You will find a link to this list at the bottom of the page. Take the list along with you on your next trip to shop for a new shampoo. Claims You will find shampoos that make claims to cause your hair to be fuller, thicker, smoother or straighter. Each claim requires its own special ingredient list in order to accomplish the purpose. Shampoo for fuller hair contains ingredients that will plump up the hair shaft slightly and will increase the volume. Thickening shampoo usually coats the hair shaft to cause each hair to feel thicker making you feel like you have more hair. Smoothing shampoo contains moisturizers and emollients that keep it from frizzing and cause the hair to relax and appear smoother. Clarifying shampoos remove build up, such as from styling products. They include special cleansing agents and can be used about once a week to remove any build-up that dulls and weighs your hair down. They should not be used at every shampoo. You may find shampoos that claim to shorten drying time. These are great for those of us who have thick hair or hair that retains water. The rapid dry shampoo sometimes coats the hair with polymers that cause the water to drip off and evaporate faster than with other products. Or - they may contain ingredients that cause the hair’s outer layer to lock down flat, minimizing water absorption. Using these shampoos can cause the hair to dry up to twice as fast as with other shampoo.
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AuthorLynne Chapman served as Hair Site Editor of BellaOnline.com for fifteen years. She is a professional stylist and colorist of more than forty years. Categories
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