Straightening Steps For Temporary Sleekness

If you want to wear your naturally curly or wavy hair straight for a special day or evening, let me suggest that you go for the temporary straightening options.

It may not be as easy as you might like to accomplish but it does minimize long term risk to your hair. If you are trying to grow your hair longer it is not a good idea to utilize a blow-dryer for anything but occasional experiences. However, if you do it right and deep condition after the fact, using a dryer to temporarily straighten you hair should prove minimally harmful.

Believe it or not, people with naturally curly hair have emailed me after a straightening experience to ask for their curls back. Sorry. Once they are gone, only growing will restore them. It is also important to remember that thinning or fine hair may not turn out as stick straight as you like.

STEP 1 - Shampoo your hair with a clarifying product or shampoo formulated for normal hair. Avoid heavy moisturizing shampoos since they tend to weigh hair down. This prevents hair from achieving fullness and movement.

STEP 2 - Avoid using a rinse out conditioner unless your hair tangles easily or you have damaged ends. If you need a conditioner, use as little as possible of a light conditioner and concentrate its use on the ends or damaged parts of your hair only.

STEP 3 - Rinse shampoo and any conditioning products well. Finish with a cool to cold water rinse. This will help to close the hair cuticle and help the hair attain natural shine.

STEP 4 - Be prepared to "layer" hair care products. Use a light detangling spray on any dry or damaged ends and any part of the hair that naturally tangles. Spray the detangler into the palms of your hands and then smooth lightly over the tops of your hair, on the damaged tangle parts or on the ends. Go lightly with the detangler to avoid weighing the hair down unnecessarily.

STEP 5 - Start at the front of your head, near the forehead and part your hair towards the back of your neck. Using a wide-toothed comb or large pick, carefully part and separate your hair into 4-6 equal parts of hair thickness.

Special Tip: If you have thin and/or fine hair, you will probably only need 4 sections. If you have thick and/or full hair, you will probably need 6 sections.

STEP 6 - Next, coat each individual section of hair with a good temporary straightening aid, such as Flat-Out Relaxing Balm or similar hair product. Be sure to apply the balm or gel to your hands first and then apply with your fingers to get an equal distribution of the product. Apply a little more straightening lotion on the curliest or waviest parts of your hair.

STEP 7 - After you have applied the smoothing lotion secure each of the individual hair sections with a fat jaw clip. Separate your hair on each side of a part into two top and tow bottom chunks. It is important to wind your hair sections into small tight twists. The hair twists will retain moisture and thus prevent your hair from air drying and becoming unruly. The tighter the twist, the more moisture your hair holds. This process guarantees maximum blow dryer straightening potential and even drying.

STEP 8 - Use either a small round or paddle style boars head brush to straighten each individual section. Use a blow dryer set on a warm setting. Avoid using the hottest setting to minimize hair damage. Carefully work on each individual section of your hair at a time. Use the brush to pull the section of hair straight at the ends. Keeping the airflow directed downward, move the blow dryer back and forth to prevent directing hot air to any part of your hair for more than a few seconds. This will also minimize any potential heat damage.

Special Tip: As you blow dry your hair, always be sure to direct the air flow of the blow dryer from the roots down towards the ends. This will smooth the hair cuticle and help it remain straighter.

STEP 9 - For extra hair shimmer add a tiny drop of shine product to the palms of your hands and then glide carefully over the newly dry section. Softly and loosely clip the dried section into place to hold its shape.

STEP 10 - After every section of your hair has been dried and allowed to completely cool, use either a straightening iron on each section to guarantee total sleekness. If you prefer you can use large hot or Velco rollers (at least 3 inches in diameter) to lock in some body and movement. Remember, whenever you use hot hair tools, avoid direct scalp contact to avoid potential burns. Do not place heated appliances right next to your scalp.

STEP 11 - If you use hot or Velcro rollers be sure so spray a light setting lotion on each section of hair before you wrap it around the roller. Lock the roller in place and let them cool while you finish getting ready. Wait until the last possible minute to remove the curlers.

Hot Mama! Beauty Tips for Expectant Moms

How to fight stretch marks and skin problems

Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful times in a woman's life, however, you might not feel so gorgeous when you're battling a few of motherhood's downfalls, including stretch marks, and skin problems. Here we run down a few solutions to typical pregnancy problems.

Problem #1: Stretch marks

If you are genetically prone to stretch marks, there's not much you can do to prevent them. Stretch marks occur when skin grows too fast for its fibers to handle. These can tear, leaving violet-colored marks. To help improve your skin's elasticity, you can rub your belly several times a day in a circular motion with creams or oils that contain cocoa butter, vitamin E or sweet almond oil. (A big fave with pregnant celebs is Bellamama cocoa butter, bellamama.com.)
Once the baby is born, you can treat stretch marks with StriVectin-SD, perhaps the most well-known product for marks.

Problem #2: Brown spots

Pregnant women are susceptible to splotchy pigmentation. These brown spots are caused by hormones and sun exposure and are aggravated by the sun. To prevent brown spots, use a sunscreen with at least 15 SPF. To lighten dark patches you can try topical vitamin C serum under moisturizer. Trish McEvoy makes an amazing vitamin C product.

Problem #3: Lifeless Hair Color

While it's true hormonal changes during pregnancy will make hair stronger and shinier than ever, hair benefits usually kick in after the first trimester, according to Marie Claire's, "Hair & Makeup" book. In the first three months, oil can be oily due to overactive sebaceous glands. To battle oily hair, Marie Claire suggests washing hair daily with a mild shampoo. Some women experience dry hair during pregnancy. Using a moisturizer daily and a deep conditioning treatment weekly will help.

Many pregnant women avoid getting their hair colored during pregnancy, however, medical experts agree it's safe to color your hair after your first trimester. Consider highlights over a full color. Many women opt for vegetable dyes during pregnancy. The fewer chemicals to touch your scalp, the better.

Problem #4: Dry skin and acne

These problems are also effects of hormones. The only thing you can really do is moisturize nd exfoliate daily. Keep in mind that this is NOT the time to use products like Retin-A, salicyclic acid or benzoyl peroxide.

Problem #5: Sore muscles

Prenatal massages are great for expectant moms but wait until after the first trimester. Massages relax both mom and baby. You can expect work on your lower back.

Problem #6: Varicose veins

The American Institute of Preventive Medicine offers these suggestions to help prevent them from forming: wear elastic support stockings, elevate legs when resting and take long or short walks every 45 minutes during long flights or car rides. Avoid standing for long periods and don't cross legs when sitting (like you can do this when heavily pregnant!).

Problem #7: Aching legs and feet

To ease foot soreness, soak feet in a cool bath sprinkled with a capful of Epsom salts, then follow with a foot cream with menthol. You might also invest in special medical socks that keep fluid from buiding up.

Q. Does drinking 8 glasses of water a day keep my skin moist?

A. No. Despite years of having this drummed into our heads, this is not true. It is good to keep your body, including your skin, hydrated, however the outermost layer of skin does not absorb water since it is made up of dead skin cells. Moisture level of skin is not determined by internal factors, but rather external ones, such as cold or hot air, dry heat and by the number of oil-producing glands you have. So if you want to hydrate your skin, exfoliate it weekly with a sea-salt scrub or other exfoliator to remove dead skin then apply a rich moisturizer while skin is still damp. Want to hydrate your insides then by all means, drink your 8 glasses of water a day.