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ASK SARAH

August 13, 2010 By

Dear Sarah,

What can I put in my hair after sleeking it down to keep it from getting frizzy in this humid weather?

Thanks, dear reader! One of my favorite insider tips (often seen backstage fashion week or at a fashion photo shoot) is to spray a flexible hairspray directly onto a Mason Pearson brush (or flat brush with a mix of boar-bristle and nylon bristles) and then smooth out flyaways.  By spraying the brush first, it creates a movable product that smooths out frizz and prevents hair from getting too stiff. Hope this helps!

Dear Sarah,

What would you recommend for coarse thick hair during this humidity? My hair usually ends up looking like a mushroom by the end of the day/night. Thanks Summer festival Hair

One of the best pieces of advice that I can give is to follow the pattern of your natural hair and do not fight it, especially in humid weather!  For coarse, thick hair it is all in the foundation.  Start by spraying a leave-in conditioner, like Aussie’s Sun-touched Shine Conditioning Shine Spray. This will create a protective barrier between the cuticle of the hair and the humidity in the air.  The next step is to lock in your style by spraying flexible, heat-protectant hairspray on each section before you style!  By combining the heat with the polymer in the product, it will fight against the humidity.  Try Aussie’s 12-hour anti-humidity hairspray.

Dear Sarah,

I just cut my hair to about shoulder length. My thick hair has straightened out  and i would like to know if you have any styles for a straight or curly style. Will the 3 minute miracle still work ok in my hair?

3-minute miracle is a great product for all hair types and lengths, just use a smaller amount for your shorter hair and focus on the ends.  It is always important to add moisture to your hair, especially if you are using hot tools to style your hair.  Check out the hairstyles section of the website for some great styles. I love to create a slight wave (as seen in the loose waves video) on shoulder-length hair.  It creates great movement and adds style to a shoulder length style.

Dear Sarah,

So i am Hispanic, Mexican to be exact. I have curly hair but I would like to have to even curlier. I actually would like to have a curly fro type hairstyle. I do not know if that is possible because I heard that you cannot perm hair that is already curly, is that true? I do not know if perming would be the best way to achieve the look I want. Please give me some suggestions of alternative methods.

Great question! You can create any style with the right process, but it is always a great idea to test out the look before committing to a (perm)anent solution.  I would suggest getting a very small (1/2″) curling iron without the clamp (called a curling wand) and testing the style by wrapping small sections, starting at the root, and wrapping to the ends to create lots of height and texture.  Another great idea (to get an even tighter fro style) is to wrap your hair tightly around a small object, like a pencil, and flat iron the section.  This will give your hair the texture you desire.  After completing the entire head, brush out to add height and flow between the sections.  Wear this style out, take pictures, and see how you feel.  Then consider taking the photos and the size of the rod into the hairstylist to use the right perm rods. And, yes, perming curly hair is possible.

As always, if you have a question, submit it here and Sarah will answer it!

To shop some of the products Sarah recommends, check out the following:

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TEXTURED HAIR

August 5, 2010 By

As seen in Real Simple, Sarah gives us some insider tips on how to style textured hair!

It’s smart to work with your natural texture most days; save straightening for special occasions. Curly hair usually looks its best when cut to a medium length―not too short, not too long. “To keep your curls shiny and healthy, shampoo less,” says Sarah!  Choose a formula tailored to your scalp, not your hair, and apply to your scalp only. Let the suds rinse down the rest of your hair, which will get it clean but won’t dry it out. Condition every time you shower. Most important: Keep your hands off your hair as it dries. Too much touching can exacerbate frizz and distort the shape of natural waves.

Curly Textured Hair: If You Have 2 Minutes

These twists are even faster to create than braids. They also disguise roots when you’re due for a shampoo but don’t have the time. Separate the section of hair closest to your face on either side of your natural part. Divide the section into two pieces and twist them over each other, all the way down to the ends. Repeat on the other side. Secure the ends of each twist with two bobby pins that crisscross at the nape of your neck. Bury them in your curls so you can’t see the pins. Secure the ends of each twist with two bobby pins that crisscross at the nape of your neck. Bury them in your curls so you can’t see the pins.

Textured Hair: If You Have 5 Minutes

A swept-up style gets your hair off your face and neck in a snap, and the look spotlights your curls instead of flattening them out. Pull the back section of your hair into a ponytail at the crown of your head, leaving the pieces around your hairline loose. Secure with an elastic. Twist the ponytail upward and anchor it to the back of your head with bobby pins. Sweep the front section of hair back toward the twist. Pin with bobby pins (a few tendrils may fall out). Slip a pretty comb into the hair.



Curly Textured Hair: If You Have 20 Minutes

Straightening your hair requires some work, but if it’s done right, the look can last for at least three days. The key: Go light with the styling products. Dry damp hair in small sections, using a blow-dryer on medium heat and a flat brush with boar and nylon bristles (this combo grips hair best). Smooth out stubborn fuzzy bits with a small flat iron. Run a pea-size dab of styling cream over the hair’s surface to reflect light. Then mist with a fine hair spray to block out curl-inducing humidity,

All images courtesy of Real Simple.

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QUESTIONS ANSWERED: PILLOWCASES + HAIR

May 5, 2010 By

1) Can your choice of pillowcase really affect how much breakage there is in your hair? What about frizz? How, exactly?

Yes, it is possible to have the material of the pillowcase affect the health of your hair. First, here are the structural differences between the materials used to make pillowcases:

a)             Cotton- all-natural, made from the fiber that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant

b)             Satin- blended (different materials like silk, nylon and polyester)

c)             Silk- all-natural, made from cocoons of silk worms.

The difference in the structure of the material can create various forms of friction between the hair and the pillowcase.  When viewed microscopically, cotton has a rougher texture that can create friction. Silk, which has an extremely smooth finish, will cause the least amount of friction.  Silk will also prevent the hair from tangling.  Satin, depending on the materials used, can have a slippery or polyester feeling, that can potentially cause friction, while a silk-blend satin could be a cheaper option when desiring a silk pillowcase.

Friction can cause the cuticle, or the outer layer of the hair to open up, which will appear in the form of frizz and could eventually lead to slight breakage patterns in the hair based on the way you sleep.

It is also important to wash (cotton) or dry clean (silk, satin) the pillowcases and use a soft detergent in order to wash away any build-up of oil or product.

2) I’ve recently read that cotton pillowcases can also rob hair of moisture, and that silk are better for dry hair. Is this true? Would cotton then be better for oily hair?

Cotton has qualities of absorption, which could aid in reducing the oil build-up on the scalp while sleeping, but dry out hair that actually needs the scalp’s oil (people with dry hair).  Silk pillowcases would definitely reduce the absorption of the scalp’s oil, making it much better for someone with generally dryer hair and scalp.

3) Can sleeping with your hair in a pony elastic lead to breakage? Is it better to leave hair loose or pin in a bun while sleeping?

Yes, absolutely!  Due to the fact that I cut hair dry and straight, I have noticed that many clients have a pattern of breakage in their hair, especially along the nape (lower back of the head) area.  This can be caused by always wrapping your hair in the same direction at night, securing it with the same tight elastic that creates tension, or by sleeping on the same side every night.

I recommend switching up your routine at night, whether it’s wearing your hair down, using a loose hair pin (not bobby pin) to wrap a bun or multiple buns, or wearing a soft braid to bed. The key is to not create a pattern that can, over time, create friction and lead to breakage and/or frizz.

4) Can not getting enough sleep make your hair/scalp more dry or more greasy? If yes on one of those, please explain for us!

Not getting enough sleep causes many side effects that can alter the structure of the hair and more specifically, the scalp.  Sleep-deprivation can cause high levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, as well as lower levels of human growth hormone.  Stress can cause the hair follicles to weaken by not getting enough nutrients and oxygen.  Studies have shown that stress has a more direct link to hair loss, but sleep deprivation can also cause overactive sebaceous glands (produce sebum, or oil, in scalp and face).  The scalp can then sweat and produce more oil with less sleep, which can make your hair appear more greasy.

5) There are so many overnight hair conditioners these days. Can you name a few ingredients that would be especially effective when left on overnight?

The most important step in wearing a deep conditioner overnight is the process of applying it.  Start by washing your hair and focusing on the scalp.  Using warm water will open up the cuticle and allow the moisturizers to seep into the cortex (or middle) of each hair strand.  Then apply the deep conditioner with a large toothed comb to evenly apply throughout the hair.  Wrapping the hair in saran wrap will keep your sheets clean and your hair together.  In the morning, make sure to do a cool rinse, which will guarantee to lock in the moisturizing ingredients you spent the night soaking in!

The most moisturizing ingredients are…

a) jojoba oil – softness, shine, and moisture

b) sunflower seed oil – nourishing, easily absorbed

c) aloe vera- strengthens hair

All threes of these ingredients can be found in Aussie’s Three-Minute Miracle.

6) How is conditioning your hair overnight different from doing so in the shower? Is it that much more beneficial? Why?

The even distribution is the most important factor and having it on longer, or overnight, allows the ingredients to slowly seep through and reach the cortex of the hair.  Deep Conditioners are formulated with more moisturizing ingredients and usually contain a more concentrated amount.  This allows for the hair to absorb and fully accept the moisture.  Due to the extensive amount of moisture, a deep conditioner should be used in conjunction with your normal conditioner to avoid excess build-up.  It is beneficial to use the deep conditioner overnight and evaluate yourself the benefits it has on your hair, since everyone has a unique hair type.

7) Is there any way to get stronger hair while you sleep? Shinier hair?

a) After getting your hair styled or doing a great “at-home” blow-out, the best way to wear your hair to bed is in a loose, high bun, secured with a 2” hair pin.  This will help maintain the volume at the root and the movement on the ends.

b) Try not to go to bed with damp hair (unless you are doing a deep conditioner that is combed through).  This will create limp hair with potential kinks and frizz.

c) Another great option is to sprits Aussie’s Sun-touched Shine Conditioning Shine Spray to the ends of the hair and brushing through before going to bed.  This will help direct the cuticles of each hair in the same direction, preventing frizz and adding shine.

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QUESTIONS ANSWERED

April 10, 2010 By


1. What’s the look for men, especially teens and college students headed to a formal?

For guys heading to a formal, the look should be a little more polished than your everyday hairstyle. My favorite formal look on guys is created when you try something new and do the opposite of what people are used to!! Here are pictures of the young star Hunter Parrish. In the first picture, he is wearing his hair the way it naturally falls for a casual, messy look. In the second picture, Hunter’s hair has been lifted off his face for a refreshing, fun new style. To create this look, spritz Aussie’s Sprunch Hairspray all over, while blow-drying the hair up. This simple trick will lock in the height for all night!

2. Which women’s styles and lengths fare best on a windy, hot, or humid day?

For a windy, hot, or humid day, the most important thing is that your look will last! A smooth ponytail or detailed bun is the way to go during rough weather conditions. Make sure to polish the look with Aussie’s 12-hour Anti-humidity spray. After you spray your hair, roll the bottle over the hair to lock in the smoothness.
3. Which styles are best for prom-goers who expect to be doing a lot of dancing?

My favorite look for a night of dancing is the half-up/half-down with height and curls or with braids. Polish the front of the hair by using a spraying a small amount of Aussie’s Aussome Volume Spray Gel. Secure half-up ponytail or braids with a clear elastic for all night support. Curls or flat iron the ends of the hair by spraying Aussie’s Opposites Attract hairspray before locking in the look. This will look great, have movement, and won’t fall apart or get in your eyes while you are dancing!

4. How far in advance of the event should you try out a new hairstyle?

Try out your new style at least 2 weeks in advance. This will give you time to think about your entire look and decide what’s best for the night!

5. What should you bring with you (your prom gown, shoes, jewelry) when you visit your stylist?

When it comes to doing a trial for the big day, make sure to bring all the accessories (hair accessories and jewelry) that you plan to wear. It is a good idea to also bring the coat or scarf you will wear (in case it gets in the way of a low bun!) and a photo of the dress and shoes. Don’t forget that the day of the trial you might want to show up with your make-up done, because a complete look is always best! And don’t forget; bring a camera so you can look at the style later. Once you have decided on a look, print that picture out and bring copies the day of your appointment. This will guarantee that the stylist gets it exactly like the trial!

6. What hair accessories (extensions, color streaks, tiaras, combs, etc.) are expected to be especially popular among high school prom goers?

Extensions have become really popular with Celebrities and have become very accessible to the public. In my opinion, clip-ons are the best way for a one-night look. They look great, are secure to dance with, and can clip right out at the end of the night! I have also always love vintage broaches and feather headbands as hair accessories. Try looking through your family’s old jewelry- you can always make a clip into a hair comb!

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