Choosing a Hair Care and Styling Routine

Choosing a Hair Care and Styling Routine

 

We all have different hair, which obviously means that everyone will need to take care of their hair and style it differently. Taking good care of your hair will not just keep your hair looking fabulous, but also keep your scalp healthy. And, having a healthy scalp means your hair will be healthy, too.

 

With healthy hair, you can create all the hairstyles you want to try. But where to start? Well, before you even think about styling your hair, you’ll need to be in a good hair care routine.

 

If you’re not sure where to start with taking care of your hair, the first step is most likely washing it regularly. Get your hair completely wet, then use a small amount of shampoo (a squirt about the size of a quarter is good) and massage it into your scalp. Once your hair feels nice and clean, rinse out the shampoo.

 

If your hair is prone to looking dry, you can also use a conditioner. Be sure to only use it on your hair. Unlike shampoo, you should not use conditioner on your scalp, since it can dry out your scalp and even make it easier for your hair to quickly get oily. An easy way to condition your hair is to get a conditioning spray that you can use when you get out of the shower.

 

After you’ve rinsed off your hair, gently dry it with a towel. We’d recommend using a microfiber towel or a T-shirt. Towels are usually heavy and made of rough material that can damage hair—and wet hair is especially prone to damage. T-shirts and microfiber towels are usually more lightweight and do a great job of soaking up water. When the excess water is out of your hair, carefully comb out tangles with a wide-tooth comb. Don’t use a brush until your hair has had time to dry (remember, wet hair is very easily damaged). Once you’ve combed your hair, let it air dry if there’s time.

 

Obviously, washing your hair is pretty important. But how often should you do it? A recent trend has been the encouragement to only wash hair every other day or even only once a week. This is a good idea to keep in mind, as over-washing your hair can dry it out. However, the frequency with which you need to wash your hair depends more on what it’s like and what you do throughout your day. Usually, straight or thin hair gets oily very easily and needs washed more often, while curly or thick hair can go a few days between being washed. If you exercise a lot or use a lot of products in your hair, you’ll probably need to wash it more. It might take some time to figure out a good schedule for washing your hair, so have fun with it! Try new shampoos and conditioners, or test out a dry shampoo.

 

In addition to washing your hair, it’s also important to protect it. You might think the sun can only damage your skin, but it actually can impact your hair, too! We recommend wearing a hat when you go outside to prevent sun damage. Hair can also be damaged by chemicals like chlorine or even hair products. Be sure to wash your hair after swimming and thoroughly wash out any products you put in. And, if you can avoid it, don’t use gobs of product in your hair.

 

Some other ways to protect your hair are to use a protector spray on your hair if you use a hair dryer, curling wand, or flat iron often. And, while brushing your hair is important, it’s also possible to brush too much, causing split ends and frizziness. So, only brush until your hair has a nice shine.

 

One last great way to take care of your hair is to get it trimmed regularly—every six to eight weeks. This will help keep split ends to a minimum and gives you a chance to switch up how you style your hair.

 

 

So you’ve got some hair care strategies—now what about style?

 

Like hair care, hair style depends on your type of hair and what you’re doing throughout your day. You probably don’t want an elaborate hairstyle if you’re on your way to the gym, and if you have completely straight hair, a style with tight curls just might not work. But the key is experimenting! Try a few different styles to see what fits with your “get-ready routine” or works with your style.

 

Here are a few ideas:

 

If you want to add volume to straight, thin hair:

Try beach waves! There are a few simple ways you can do this. The first is to throw your hair in a ponytail. Then, divide your hair into sections and gently wrap each section around a curling wand. Once you’ve gotten to every section, carefully remove the ponytail.

 

Another way to quickly get beach waves is to first, use a sea salt spray on your hair. Next, divide half of your hair into two sections. Twist both of these sections, then, twist them together. Grab a hair straightener and, starting at the top of the twist, clamp down for about two seconds as you move down to the bottom of your hair. Do the same thing with the other half of your hair. Let your hair cool down completely before un-twisting it.

 

If you want to straighten thick, curly hair:

First, grab your favorite hair protecting product and apply it to your hair. Take the top half of your hair (maybe the top two thirds if you have very thick hair) and put it up in a clip or scrunchie so it’s out of the way. Then, use a flat iron to straighten out each curl on the underside of your hair. Once you’ve finished straightening the bottom half of your hair, take out the clip or scrunchie and work through the top half.

 

If you want to add length and volume:

Unfortunately, there’s no way to magically make your hair grow longer or thicker, but you can try a hair extension. You’ll be able to choose from a great range of colors and lengths.

 

You can also get a few different kinds of hair extensions—some you can put in yourself, and some require a visit to a hairstylist who can install them for you.

Clip-in extensions are easy to put in on your own. Just clip up the top half of your hair and slide the clips into the bottom part of your hair. Most clip-in extensions come in sets, so after putting in the first extension, you’ll let a bit of your hair down and put the remaining ones in wherever you feel your hair could use the volume.

 

Some important things to remember about clip-in hair extensions:

• Once they are in, you can style them just like you would with your own hair!
• You should take care of them the same way you’d take care of your own hair
• Remember to brush them before and after each use with a soft bristle brush. This will ensure the hair is smooth and tangle free
• You should wash the extensions every 15-20 wears, or when the hair feels like product has started to build up. Use a gentle shampoo and lots of conditioner, being sure to rinse thoroughly and lay flat to dry
• Deep condition the extensions every week or every other week
• Store extensions flat in a safe, dry area

 

Tape-in extensions and weave-in extensions are considered semi-permanent, and you’ll need to go to a stylist to get them installed. Tape-in extensions take 45 minutes to an hour to install and are pretty easy to maintain, though you may need to be careful with using conditioners as they can loosen the tape. Usually, people with very thick hair use weave-in extensions. They can take a few hours to install because they are literally woven into your hair. If you aren’t used to thick hair, the weight of weave-in extensions can feel heavy and uncomfortable. However, this type of extension is the most long-lasting and you won’t have to worry about it sliding out.

 

Some important things to remember about semi-permanent extensions:

• Take care of them the same way you’d take care of your own hair
• Like clip-in extensions, you can also style semi-permanent extensions just like you would your own hair!

 

 

Regardless of how you decide to style your hair, you’ll probably need a tool (or two, or three) to get the hairdo you want.

 

One of the most important things is a good hair brush. They usually are curved with rounded plastic bristles and are great for flipping hair under or out. For example, if you have bangs, you would wrap damp hair around the brush and use a hair dryer to blow it dry. If you get extensions, you might want to get a hair brush specifically designed to reduce frizz and gently tug out tangles.

 

You’ll also need a good heat protecting spray. This is another very important thing to have because it’s kind of like sunscreen for your hair—it will keep your hair from getting damaged by hot air from a hair dryer or by straighteners or curling tools.

 

The first tool everyone should have is a great hair dryer. If you are in a rush and don’t have time to break out a straightener or curler, a hair dryer is great for adding some extra volume. A good dryer will have different heat and speed options, and should also come with a concentrator (to streamline the airflow) and a diffuser (to spread out the airflow—the diffuser is great if you have curly hair).

 

If you are primarily looking for a way to straighten your hair, you might need a flat iron. We recommend hair straighteners made with titanium plates as they are lightweight, durable, and glide smoothly over your hair. The great thing about flat irons is that they can be used to curl hair, too, so you get a very versatile hairstyling tool.

 

If you have very straight hair and no need for a straightener, you’re probably looking for a curling wand or curling iron. What’s the difference? Curling irons have clamps that will hold your hair in place after it’s wrapped around the wand, creating tighter curls. Curling wands don’t have clamps and are usually used to create looser curls. Both curling wands and curling irons come in different widths. Wider wands create bigger, looser curls, while thinner wands create more corkscrew-type curls. Some curling wands feature “bubbles”along the length—these types are perfect for creating those beach curls we talked about earlier. You can even get a curling tool with several interchangeable options, so you don’t have to style your hair with the same types of curls every day.

 

 

Your hair care and styling routine will be as unique as you are, but we hope this helps you get started on developing that routine! 

source https://bombayhair.com/blogs/hair/choosing-a-hair-care-and-styling-routine

NATALIE @KINDAVOGUISH - PLATINUM TAPE-IN EXTENSIONS INSTALLATION

Check out these fabulous tips from Natalie (@KindaVoguish) installing her new Bombay Hair tape-in extensions! She shows us step-by-step how her hairdresser put them in her hair ~

Here is her blog post!

 

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Hair Extensions 101: 5 Tips to Get You Started

I remember the first time I ever got hair extensions. I was 17 years old and I’d scrimped and saved to get them done at a local salon. It took over 6 hours to get them installed, and when all was said and done, I absolutely hated them.

My hair was cut quite short at the time, and I’d had 18 inch fusion extensions applied– not really the best option for fine hair, but unfortunately, the stylist didn’t care enough to tell me that. So I basically looked like I had a weird mullet until I finally got them removed a few months later.

Since then, I’ve experimented with many extension styles. On my wedding day, I wore a sew-in/weave. My hair looked amazing, but it was super painful and I ended up with horrible matting afterwards. A few years later I tried tape-in extensions and loved them, despite my poor choice of quality hair. Those came out pretty quickly (literally- they fell out in the shower because they were cheap and improperly applied).

Right after that I got pregnant with my first son, and that’s when I discovered clip-ins: super easy, but definitely not mom-friendly. And after having my second kiddo? Ain’t nobody got time to spend 15 minutes just getting those suckers clipped in. Plus, wearing them every day was actually really damaging my own hair.

So, in an effort to cut back on my getting ready time plus still feel somewhat put together, I decided to try tape-ins again. I’d heard great things about Bombay Hair, so I was thrilled when they agreed to partner with me on this post.

 

But first, here is my sad, fried, and extension-less hair BEFORE…

 

… and AFTER!

Y’all, let me just say- the rumors were TRUE. I’ve had them in for a month now, and they are the softest, most real feeling extensions I’ve ever tried ( Lord knows, I’ve tried so many). I absolutely love these Bombay Hair extensions! Not only do they blend in seamlessly with my hair, but they’re sleek and don’t frizz like so many others. Because no, all hair extensions are NOT created equal.

So, are you thinking about getting extensions? Regardless of the style you choose, here are FIVE tips to get you started:

 

1. Choose the right type of extensions for your lifestyle. Are you wanting something low committment to jazz up date nights? Then you can get away with clip-ins. Looking for something more semi-permanent, but struggle with fine/thin hair like me? Tape-ins will be your best friend. Is your hair naturally thick, but you’re looking to add length? Sew-ins, Fusion or Micro Beads could work for you. Bombay Hair carries all of these in multiple lengths and colors!
2. Choose a quality brand. I cannot state it enough: quality, quality, quality. Do NOT cheap out when it comes to hair extensions, and here’s why. Cheap hair is poorly made, which means that it will frizz, break and someday sooner than later you may find yourself staring at a couple wefts on the shower floor. Read the reviews, ask friends you know have experience with extensions (like your truly  ), and when it doubt, you can always count on Bombay!
3. Choose a licensed and experienced stylist. I get it; hair services can add up quickly, so it’s tempting to look for ways to cut corners. But half of the success of your extensions literally depends on the skill of the person installing them. So no, don’t put them in yourself and don’t see someone who doesn’t regularly install extensions. Take it from someone who’s learned this the hard way. Gigi at Siren Salon does a fantastic job!
4. Stock up on the right haircare products. Extensions require a little extra love, but don’t let that scare you away. If someone like me- who didn’t learn to braid until recently- can do it, so can you! My must haves include a sulfate free shampoo, deep conditioner, thermal heat protectant spray, leave-in conditioner and a hair oil. Remember that your extensions don’t receive natural oils like your own hair does, so it’s super important to keep them from drying out.
5.  Sleep with your hair braided or pulled back in a ponytail. Sounds kind of silly and insignificant, right? But I promise you won’t want to skip this easy step. Again, since your extensions don’t receive the natural oils your real hair does, it’s a lot easier for them to tangle. Braiding them or pulling them back into a loose pony helps prevent this and ultimately contributes to your extensions lasting a long time.

 

And there you have it! Not too overwhelming, right? All it really takes is a little research and TLC. If you have any tips you feel I’ve missed or want to share your experience with hair extensions, let me know in the comments.

Xx

https://kindavoguish.com/hair-extensions-101-5-tips-to-get-you-started/

source https://bombayhair.com/blogs/hair/natalie-kindavoguish-platinum-tape-in-extensions-installation

Hair Styling Tools

You probably have straight locks and you are looking for methods to twist your hair, there are options and strategies available. So that you can get stunning luscious curls, you can attempt to use a curling wand or curling iron. While both provde the curls that you want, it typically comes down to non-public preference. Although both would possibly look the identical as a result of they have an analogous shape, they're nonetheless considerably different. However what are a number of the distinctive features of curling wands and irons? How do they differ? Listed below are a few of them: 

Features of a Curling Iron

When it comes to heating speed, a curling iron generates heat in a few minutes. The barrel can get heated inside minutes, and after then you can give your hair the curls that you simply want.  Curling irons also usually have only one heat setting, however there are nonetheless others that carry such feature.

There are three sorts of supplies used for heating plates. These are: ceramic, tourmaline, and metal. Sometimes titanium is used. It is usually doable to use a combination of two or more materials. For barrel size, narrow barrels Blow Dryer give smaller curls, and huge barrels give bigger curls. There are curling irons that have interchangeable barrels. You can change barrels in response to your preference. This manner, you can get various curls from the identical iron.

Features of a Curling Wand

Typically, curling wands warmth up sooner as in comparison with curling irons. The form of the curling wand is skinny and long. This results to tighter and smaller curls. Curling wands additionally don’t have holding clips. Because of this, curls are smoother and way more even. As there isn't a clip, there aren't any marks left on your hair. Curls from a curling wand have a tendency to stay longer because of the robust heating.

Some Advantages and Disadvantages

Curls from a Curling Iron

If you're involved about velocity, you might be higher off with a curling want. Then again, if you wish to go for smooth and glossy curls that keep longer, then you possibly can go for the curling iron. Your curls will keep on longer with a curling iron as a result of it presses your hair for an extended time. Curling irons additionally often have non-stick clothing. This brings a few shine to your hair.

Curls from a Curling Wand 

If you want curls that get smaller towards the tip, you can use a curling wand. You'll be able to obtain curls that gradually get smaller towards the ends strands of your hair. A curling iron cannot ship completely different ring sizes as a result of the barrels are already measured.

Which is Higher?

Let’s be honest, it can be fairly difficult to choose between these two sorts of curling tools. As beforehand talked about, if you want quick outcomes, but curls that final long, you need to use a curling wand. That is when you don’t care a lot concerning the shine of your hair. However, if you need shiny curls with great finish, you possibly can make investments more time and use a curling iron with a purpose to obtain the mentioned look. You can use a curling iron during special occasions, or in case you are attending a giant event.

At the finish of the day, all of it comes down to what you prefer. Do you care more about time? Or do you want a professional look? Do you worth your hair and don’t want to broken? Most importantly, what do you need?