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Archive for the ‘hair’ Category

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Beyond The Strands: Why You Need To Add A Scalp Exfoliator To Your Haircare Routine

In beauty, hair on February 3, 2021 at 8:30 am

Think your regular shampoo and conditioner is enough?  Think again.  Scalp exfoliation is a important and should be a regular part of your hair care routine.

Cottonbro via Pexels

You might consider yourself to be someone who has a good hair care routine. On a consistent basis you do all of the things that are necessary to have amazing hair: shampoo, condition, treat, moisturize, style, repeat.  You may also get regular trims (and color) as well. For the most part, your hair care routine serves you well but you may find that occasionally your routine, styling tools and products don’t yield the results you desire. Your hair may seem unresponsive: more dry, less shiny, and your scalp flakier than usual.  Not liking what you see, you start searching for possible solutions and come to the conclusion that maybe you need new shampoo and conditioner or a new hair oil or serum. That may help solve the problem temporarily but did you ever stop to consider that what you need is a scalp exfoliator?

When you think about it, a scalp exfoliator serves the same purpose as one that you would use for your face and body.  And like our face and body which becomes dry, flaky, dull, itchy and unresponsive to our usual beauty products, the same thing happens to our scalp.  When that happens, our beloved hair products don’t work as effectively.  Also, with more frequent use of dry shampoo and co-washing which can lead to scalp build up, it makes even more sense to exfoliate.  Healthy hair follicles mean healthy hair and when done on a regular basis, scalp exfoliation provides much needed stimulation which encourages cell turnover, increased blood flow, minerals, nutrients and oxygen – all the things your scalp needs to promote healthy hair growth.  Removing product build up on the scalp will also allow treatments and products to better penetrate the scalp to do their job, thus making your hair look, feel, and perform better.

Continue reading to discover an exfoliating treatment to add to your haircare routine:

Davines Solu Sea Salt Scrub Cleanser

Ouai Scalp And Body Scrub

Le Labo Scrub Shampoo

Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub With Sea Salt

Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo

Grow Gorgeous Defense Detoxifying Scalp Scrub

L’oreal Ever Fresh Micro-Exfoliating Scrub

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Need one on one consulting, customization or updates for your beauty and fashion questions and concerns, visit khalilahneals.com.

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11 Hair Ideas To Inspire Your Next Look

In hair on January 13, 2021 at 8:30 am

We’ve all been there:  You look in the mirror at your reflection and wonder what to do with your hair.   Should you cut it short or completely shave it off?  Should you color it? And if you color it, what color should it be and will you have it done professionally or will you do it yourself?  Or should you buy some hair from your favorite beauty supply store/online site and keep it moving?  Whatever the case, although you might have many questions, there are also many solutions available to you to bring some hair excitement back into your life.

There are many outlets (magazines, celebrities, social media) that provide countless ideas of hairstyles that one can try next.  Whether it’s a new cut, color, style or accessory, changing your hair is one of the quickest ways to switch up your look and put an extra pep in your step. Many hair looks, regardless of the length, texture or color your natural hair, can also be achieved with enhancements such as wigs, weaves and hair pieces, especially if you don’t want to do too much with your hair.  Keep reading to find out what hair looks, although not necessarily new, are still going strong for this season:

Bobs.  I love the various looks/styles that bobs offer.  The look can work on various face shapes since the cut and color can be customized to compliment one’s particular features.   Bobs also allow for maximum styling versatility because you can wear it bone straight, wavy or curly.  Consider a blunt cut bob, middle part, wavy, choppy or even a lob.

Pixie Cut.  There is nothing like a short haircut to show off amazing bone structure. And, with the right length, you can still have styling versatility.  Depending on the length, you can experiment with a side part, soft curls, spikes, and finger waves.  You can even experiment with accessories such as barrettes and headbands.

Middle Parts.  Although not necessarily a style, switching up a current  hairstyle with a middle part might be the way to go.  Parting your hair in the middle can lend itself to greater  styling  versatility and can work on a multitude of hair styles such as wavy styles, braided styles, bobs, braid-outs, twist-outs and locs.  If you aren’t comfortable with a full on middle part, move the part slightly off-center or just do a side part.

Braids.  Braids re-appeared in the biggest way last year.  Reminiscent of many childhoods (including mine) as well as the 90’s – think Poetic Justice circa 1993, braids have shown up and shown out in the most intricate and creative ways.  From cornrows, box braids, feed ins, crochet styles, twists and even locks: the styling options are endless. We will also continue to see intricate parting designs and bold color displayed with these braided styles, taking one’s look to the next level of slay.  To understand the significance of this craft in African and African American culture/history, start by reading this and this.

Hair Accessories.  Who said gems were just for earrings, necklaces and shoes?  Well they aren’t.  Hair accessories have been trending for quite some time and don’t show signs of slowing down.  Gem encrusted accessories have taken the lead and shows up in barrettes, headbands and hair pins.  In many cases, hair jewelry will allow you to get your bling on without breaking the bank.

Ponytails.  From high, low, and various textures as well as gravity defying lengths, there is nothing like a ponytail – the perfect choice for a sophisticated, yet sexy look.

Half Up/Half Down.  Consider this the ponytails’s cousin, a style that will allow you the playfulness of a ponytail while still allowing texture to take center stage.

Straight and Sleek.  You don’t have to just wear this style just straight down in front of or in back of your shoulders.  Have some fun with a middle or deep side part, with accessories, or bangs (try clip in bangs if you aren’t ready to commit to a bang for real). You can even have a little bit of tousled texture or wear it slicked back with bold earrings for an edgy look.

Money Piece Highlights.  An updated take on the chunky highlights of the 2000’s, money piece highlights are way less dramatic and more complimentary for the shape of one’s face and over all color of the one’s hair color.  It’s also a great way to maintain the health of your hair because the highlights are not used all over the hair – just in the front.  Those front pieces are lifted in balayage and toned separately as opposed to using foils which results in a more natural blended look.

Wigs.  Whether made of real or synthetic hair, the wigs of today come in a variety of colors, lengths, textures and styles.  Furthermore, they have become a fashion accessory for many.  They allow you to create multiple looks based on how you feel or what outfit you are wearing.

Head Wraps.  Turbans and head wraps, which date back centuries, are not just for bad hair days.  They are a look in and of themselves and are the ultimate accessory which can add color to any outfit and elevates any look.

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Need one on one consulting, customization or updates for your beauty and fashion questions and concerns, visit khalilahneals.com.

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8 Popular Beauty Myths You Should Stop Believing

In beauty, hair, makeup, skincare on September 29, 2020 at 10:26 am

When it comes to things like beauty, everyone has an opinion, a trick, and a solution for every beauty need and desire. Whether it’s information that has been passed down from your grandmother, tips and tricks from your friend, or your favorite beauty guru, there are many beauty routines and regimens that we have committed to for years that keep us looking our best. Or so it seems. This is because there are many beauty schools of thought that may actually be a myth.

Now if you feel that what you are doing on a regular basis is working for you don’t change. However, it’s still good to examine our thought process and approach to many of the things that we accept as fact. Below are 8 very popular beauty concepts that we have accepted through the ages that are actually myths.

You Can Make Pores Smaller/Go Away. I totally hate to be the bearer of bad news but pores don’t get smaller or go away. EVER. Also, I really wish that skin care and makeup companies would stop lying to those of us who have enlarged pores with empty promises of their magic pore shrinking lotions and potions. Now, everyone has pores. Everyone. It’s just that some people, usually those with oily, acne prone skin, have larger, more visible pores. Furthermore, pore size is determined genetically. For pores that “look” larger, they can be stretched when clogged with dirt and sebum. This is where appropriate skincare plays a role. Daily cleansing, gentle exfoliation, as well as using a detoxifying mask and things like peel pads can help pores look more refined. As far as makeup is concerned, there are certain primers have blurring effects that can also make pores look more refined. But again, pores don’t get smaller or go away. EVER.

Skin Adapts to Skin Care Products So You Have To Switch To Something New. Skin, which is our largest organ, is ever changing and evolving. What your skin needed 3 months ago may not be what your skin needs today. Think about why you bought a particular item for your skin, maybe to help with a particular concern that you had. Do you have that concern now? Not necessarily because the major skin changes might have already taken place so the results won’t seem as dramatic although the product is working the same way it always has. If you want to switch up your skincare, that’s totally fine but just know you don’t have to switch to a new product because your skin is “used” to your current products.

Wearing Makeup Daily Is Bad For Your Skin. Granted there are some makeup formulations that can irritate your skin, causing inflammation and breakouts. But makeup isn’t inherently bad for your skin. Also, skin doesn’t need to breathe because skin is not made up of tiny lungs. Now clogged pores – that’s another issue. Pores are tiny openings in the skin that release oils and sweat – not oxygen. Be sure to cleanse your face thoroughly on a daily basis and use the proper skincare formulation for your skin type. If you feel like you want to take a break from wearing makeup, that is never a bad thing. Have at it.

You Can Repair Split Ends. This is simply not true. You can use products to help improve their appearance but you will ultimately have to clip your ends and be mindful of things like heat styling, having a hair care routine in place and using the proper products for your hair on a regular basis. Also hair doesn’t grow faster when you cut it. Hair growth comes from the root. Not the ends. Snip Snip.

Oily Skin Doesn’t Need Moisturizer. The oil in one’s skin is not a moisturizer, which is something ALL skin types need. When someone with oily skin does not wear a moisturizer, the skin actually overcompensates for a lack of moisture by over-producing sebum, thus making you more oily and shiny. And even with all of that extra oil, your skin is still dry. It is best to use an oil free or mattifying moisturizer to help with shine as well as moisture.

Dry Skin Causes Wrinkles. Dry skin does not cause wrinkles. Overexposure to UV rays and other elements (aging, poor diet, genetics, smoking/drinking, etc) as well as the breakdown of collagen contribute to wrinkles. Dry skin can accentuate wrinkles but is not the culprit of said wrinkles.

Cellulite Can Go Away. Well not really but sort of through – measures like surgery. Anyway, although fairly harmless, cellulite can be an annoying occurrence that appears on places such as thighs, belly and breasts. It is more common in women than in men and can become more prevalent in aging, pregnancy as well as weight gain. Even those who are fit or slender may actually have cellulite. Cellulite is caused by fat deposits pushing toward of the surface of the skin. The use of creams, depending on ingredients, can offer a temporary reduction in appearance of cellulite. There are some things you can do to improve the appearance of cellulite such as: hydrate, exercise/eat a healthy well balanced diet and possibly dry brushing. When you stay hydrated, you are helping to flush toxins and keep skin looking healthy. When you are dehydrated, skin can appear more dull and cellulite can appear more visible. Exercising can help build lean muscle and burn fat which can help cellulite appear less visible. Eating a well balanced diet with healthy fats and lean protein can help you maintain your personal healthy weight. Dry brushing is thought to help with lymphatic drainage as well as helps with the appearance of skin.

Black Skin Doesn’t Need Sunscreen. Melanin is wonderful and all but it doesn’t protect against the UV rays that lead to aging (UVA) and burning which can lead to skin cancer (UVB). Also – ALL. SKIN. BURNS. For example, if you put white bread, wheat bread and pumpernickel bread into the oven and leave it in too long, all of the bread will burn. You just won’t see the damage on the pumpernickel as well as you would the white bread. But all the bread is damaged. Same with skin. So please, EVERYONE, wear your sunscreen.

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9 Tips And Products For Your Color Treated Hair

In beauty, hair on June 22, 2020 at 6:38 am

There is nothing more exciting than adding hair color to an already amazing hair style. Whether it’s a single process, highlights, balayage or whatever other magic hair colorists are out here creating, hair color puts an extra pep in the step and more sway in those hips. It can take you from cute to devastatingly sexy and illuminate the complexion in the most angelic ways. You find yourself giving more eye contact in meetings and with that person you’ve been crushing on. You feel triumphant in so many ways. A true winner.

While getting your hair colored is amazing and somewhat life changing, the truth of the matter is that coloring your hair can have a downside if you don’t take the proper steps to ensure that your hair color remains as vibrant as the day you got it done and that your actual hair remains healthy.

Whether you DIY or have your hair colored professionally, aftercare is extremely important. This is where many people stumble and fall and one wrong move can put you on a path of many very bad hair days in the form of dryness, dullness, split ends and even hair loss. We already know that the daily in’s and out’s of hair styling can compromise the health of your hair (heat styling, UV damage, brushing, etc). Adding hair color to the mix only makes hair more vulnerable.

If you don’t have the resources of time and money or just don’t care enough to put in the daily effort for hair maintenance, do not color your hair. Coloring your hair adds another layer into your hair care routine that you may not have anticipated, especially if you are new to the hair color game.

Some things to remember when you are considering coloring your hair:

  • Healthy hair is the best foundation for great looking hair color. Not only can coloring your hair compromise hair health, dry damaged hair will not hold onto color as well or as long as healthy hair does and that is money wasted.
  • Consider a trim when you do color your hair (or get any other chemical process for that matter).
  • If you use styling tools, be sure to turn down the heat. This also includes not rinsing your hair in hot water as that can also ruin your hair color. Use cool or lukewarm water instead and be sure to use a heat protectant before using heat tools.
  • Always use conditioner – even if you don’t shampoo. It’s a good idea to use sulfate free shampoo and conditioner for color treated hair.  Also consider using shampoo and conditioner formulated for your specific hair color.  Doing so can help to color correct and support the tones in the hair.
  • Air dry your hair whenever you can.
  • Although this may not be ideal, consider washing your hair no more than 2-3 times a week. Also, don’t wash your hair the day after you get your hair colored – wait 72 hours.
  • Try using a pre-shampoo or an oil before shampooing to add a layer of protection to the hair before washing.
  • Do not sleep on wet hair which can cause damage or breakage.
  • Don’t let chlorine touch your hair.

Consider the following products to help maintain your hair color:

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Need one on one consulting, customization or updates for your beauty and fashion questions and concerns, visit khalilahneals.com.