Summer hair can be wicked!

Summer hair texture can change in a flash from smooth and sleek, to a poufy, frizzy unmanageable mess and it happens in a flash! It’s like the famed ‘horse of a different color’ in the Land of Oz . . . you know what I mean, when you step out the door in the height of summer’s heat and humidity and your hair takes on the attributes of a whole different species.“Summer Hair
Tune Up Tips”

My summer hair, when left to its own demise, hardly resembles my normal hair type at all, at least that is for the remaining three seasons of the year. This appears to be true for the majority of people and the higher the humidity where you live, the more you can relate!

Ahhh . . . but all is not lost and you are not destined to tout the Rosanna Rosanna Danna do’ throughout summers end! Just because your summer hair has a mind of its own, doesn’t mean you can’t outsmart its mischievous ways! When summer’s heat and humidity get wicked and you feel like just burying your head in the sand . . . take a deep breath, regroup, take the path of least resistance and . . .

GET RID OF OLD GROWN OUT ENDS

Great looking summer hair starts with a fresh hair cut. We get out more in summer; it’s the time of year to’ see and be seen.’ There’s so much more to do in summer, more people to see and more places to go, so don’t delay getting a hair cut to clean up your ends. Damaged hair never looks pretty and trimming is the only way to get rid of those ragged, damaged ends.

CONDITION, CONDITION, CONDITION

This most important step will strengthen damaged hair and keep healthy hair from getting damaged. Condition your hair to add moisture and deep conditioning the hair to strengthen and add body and shine.

DIY HAIR COLOR? CONSIDER A PROFESSIONAL HAIR COLOR SERVICE

Think about it! In the sun’s brightest light, your hair color will either be your shinning crown of glory, or . . . not! Seriously, at garden parties, the tennis court, the golf course or the beach, your hair color is right up front with nowhere to hide, (except under a flirty summer hat, which by the way, should be part of your summer hair protection plan.)

Find a professional hair colorist, they are well worth their weight in gold. How many times have you seen it . . . lines of demarcation, the wrong hair color, hair color too light or dark, uneven or just a dull, dried out hair color? Now, in comparison picture great hair color like that of Jennifer Anniston, Kate Middleton, Kate Winslet, Jessica Alba, JLo, or Helen Mirren. If you’re going to color your hair, get it right and be lovely!

LET IT BE

Allow your summer hair type to be what it is and find ways to work with it, not against it. Consider the Buddhist philosophy of non-resistance and go with the flow, no fighting, no worries, be happy! If heat and humidity is in the air your hair will react and . . . it will prevail. So, why fight it?

For wavy and curly hair types – layer the hair for a wash-n-go shape that fits your face shape and your hair style. Wavy or curly hair whether long, medium or short, will look best when cut to let it air dry and styled into shape with fingers.

Wear more updos like, ponytails, braids, high buns, and twists. Summer is the perfect time to change your look with these fun, quick and easy hair styles. One or two hair care products are all you need to define your curl and keep it shiny and pretty. We like: Ouidad Moisture Lock Leave-In Conditioner, Paul Mitchell Sculpting Foam and Moroccan Oil Treatment.

For straight and fine hair types – shampoo to keep the hair squeaky clean. A daily shampooing with a product formulated for your hair type will allow for the most shine and fullness. Add a favorite dry shampoo for a quick hair refresher when unable to shampoo. Wear plenty of updos, braid it, wear a variety of ponytails, buns and chignons and don’t forget headbands, barrettes, scarves, hats and other hair accessories that allow for style options.

We like: PureOlogy Hydrate, TIGI Rockaholic Dirty Little Secret

Barb Quinn on Google+  

Got a question, war story or comment about this topic? Click on the "Leave Your Comments" link at the very bottom of this article. Some of my best ideas for future articles come from reading reader comments. I'd love to hear from you!

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Hair Products

Best Hair Products Should be Prescribed by a Hairdresser

I’ve had a horrible “cold” for well over a week, that just wouldn’t go away. The doctor did a thorough examination to investigate my symptoms and concluded that it was allergies and not a cold. I asked which over the counter drug would be the best and she said, “Well, with how bad you’ve been feeling, I’ll prescribe you a medication that I know will work.” After just a day of taking what can only be described as a miracle prescription, I felt much better. All it took was the right product!“Best Hair Products Come From Hairdressers”

Hairdressers are a bit like medical doctors; just a different kind. Hairdressers prescribe hair products that suit each individual’s needs, hair type and hair texture. And the perk, is we don’t have to go to medical school!

Often times I have clients insist that they hate their hair and I should “just cut it all off.” After talking them off the ledge, a good hairdresser will talk some sense into them and go through a thorough hair consultation to find out what is really the problem.

Usually what they’re experiencing is one of three things: they are misusing their hair products, they’re using the wrong hair products, or they aren’t using any hair products at all (GAHHH!). The vast majority of the times, new clients come to a hairdresser because they are looking for solutions to their chronic problem of bad hair days. I must confess – a lot of those bad hair days are a result of a bad haircut combined with the wrong prescription for hair products; they work hand-in-hand.

When it comes to choosing a medical doctor, you wouldn’t go to a doctor who would prescribe a product that wouldn’t make you feel better – it’s the same thing with a hairdresser. I’ve been told that hairdressers are a dime a dozen. My rebuttal: maybe, but not all hairdressers are interested in hair malpractice – we don’t sell hair products, we sell solutions!

If your hairdresser does the same thing every time you see them, without ever asking if you want a change, chances are they aren’t interested in you! Without at least the opportunity to change (hair styles or hair products), you are missing out! You won’t have the chance to feel better about how you look because you won’t  know if there is a hair style more suitable for you – the real you or maybe even the you that you want to become.

For more related information you might read Barb’s article Get the Most from a Hair Salon Appointment.

Guest Blogger Nicole Greenhagen is a hairstylist professional with Hair Expressions in Arden Hills, MN

Got a question, war story or comment about this topic? Click on the "Leave Your Comments" link at the very bottom of this article. Some of my best ideas for future articles come from reading reader comments. I'd love to hear from you!

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Bobbed Hairstyle for Wavy Hair

Bobbed hairstyles for your hair type

Bobbed hairstyles like Scarlett Johansson’s layered bob, are the perfect mid-length hairstyle. The layered bob hairstyle fits all face shapes; round face shapes, oval face shapes, heart face shapes, square face shapes and rectangular face shapes. And even more impressive is how quick and easy layered bobbed hairstyles are to style, that is, as long as it is cut right to suit your hair texture. If you don’t have a hairdresser you have faith in, take the time now to find a good hairdresser!“Bobbed Hair Cuts for Every Face Shape”

Layered Bobbed Hairstyles

Bobbed hairstyles that are layered are perfect for wavy hair that is fine, medium or thick. Layering your hair will maximize your natural wave. The chipped-in layers like Scarlett Johansson’s bobbed hairstyle work especially well as a quick and easy hairstyle with summer’s heat and humidity. The layers are the right length and the shape of the haircut is perfect to achieve an undone, piece-y look with little to no effort.

To get the layered bob look:

A small bit of mousse and a little bit of scrunching will be all that’s necessary for most wavy haired ladies. I like Paul Mitchell’s Sculpting Foam with conditioners because it gives the hair a bump-up in volume, sets in the wave or curl just by scrunching and leaves the hair soft, not crunchy!

For a more finished look, use a curling iron, curling random sections vertically, starting at mid length, alternating curls towards and away from the face. (Leave ends uncurled for a more piece-y look like Scarlett Johansson’s.

Wedged Layered Bobbed Hairstyles

Wedged Bobbed Hairstyles

This bobbed hairstyle has a more edgy look to it with wedged layering that updates it with a geometric shape to it. Once again, all face shapes can wear these bobbed hair cuts by simply styling the shape into it that suits you best.

Wavy and straight hair types can wear this wedged bobbed hairstyle best! The interior layers work best with hair that has some natural bend. Curly hair types may be able to wear this bob if the hair is receptive to styling and you’re willing to shape it with a little hair care product.

To get the wedged bob hairstyle look:

Shaping layers around the perimeter using a light flat iron technique should be all you need. Shaping top and sides with fingers, backcombing where needed and finishing spray to hold, will give this bobbed hairstyle a definitive shape.

Jennifer Anniston's shoulder straight bobbed hairstyle

Straight Bobbed Hairstyles

Jennifer Anniston took the plunge and lopped off about 6 inches of her famous hair in Madrid when making her new film, “Just Go With It.” A cute shoulder grazing bobbed hairstyle was an easy hairstyle change for her to go to from her signature haircut on “Friends.”

This bobbed hairstyle will work well for oval, heart, round and square face shapes. An oblong or rectangular face shape may look too elongated with this bobbed hair cut, unless width can be created at the sides with styling. Curly hair types would find this bobbed hairstyle hard to work with and it would have a tee-pee type affect to it (think Rosanna Rosanna Danna.)

Both straight and wavy hair is easy to style with a shoulder length bob and chipped-in face framing layers. Wear it smooth and straight or with loose waves for a more casual look.

To get the straight bobbed hairstyle look:

Blow dry straight using mousse or a styling spray and a round brush. Apply a small amount of shine serum like Paul Mitchell Shine Drops, and smooth lightly with a flat iron. This length is long enough to be styled in a updo like a chignon, or a ponytail, for either a casual or a more formal event.

You might also be interested in my article: Hair Cut Styles for Every Hair Type.

For further discussion on bobbed hairstyles you might want to check out these other articles:

• Bob Hair Style Trend Alert
• Bob Hair Styles are Still Hot!Fashion in the 1920s, the Flapper Bob Hair Style
• Layered Bob Hairstyles Biggest New Year Trend!
• Short Bob Hairstyles
• Are This Falls Trendy Bob Hairstyles for You?
• The Bob Hair Style Part I
• The Bob Hair Style Part II
• The Bob Hair Style Part III

Barb Quinn on Google+