Everything in moderation--except HAIRSPRAY!

I suppose it is no mystery that I may be slightly obsessed with hairspray, but for good reason! Hairspray is the secret behind many styles. Those with curly hair or who scrunch on a regular basis know that the last step is always a spritz of hairspray. Hot rolling fanatics like myself know that the key to making the curls last is, well, hairspray! While many women (and men) believe that hairspray is all the same and can only be used in certain ways, there is much more to it. Today I will demystify hairspray, and give some good news as to where to find it.

1) The stuff your stylist used on your prom hairstyle can be used outside of prom-- A prime example is Kenra 25. If you are looking for a "no buts about it" hairspray, this is it. Kenra 25 is a volumizing hairspray. You can lift pieces of hair up, spray the Kenra, let the piece fall, and the roots will be noticeably boosted. This is a perfect spray for a night out on the town. Kenra will hold your curls or contain your frizz and flyaways through dancing, humidity, and anything else the night may hold. Word to the wise, however, this truly is serious stuff. If you tend to hate the crunchy feel, this may not be for you!


2) Some hairsprays are made for the styling process, not just the final touches. InfraTexture by CHI is a great example of this kind of spray. Truthfully, any lighter hold hairspray can be used while creating curls with a curling iron, or even with hot rollers. Simply spritz one spray on the section of hair ready to be styled, and then proceed with curling. 

CHEAP TIP-- Buy Suave Volumizing Hairspray at the grocery store for this reason. This is a great item to have around when you just want a little bit of control, but don't need to bust out the Kenra. Plus it retails at about $2!


3) Not all hairsprays smell good! If there is one thing I have noticed about women (including myself) we like to smell everything first before we buy it. From face wash to our beloved hairspray, we make sure it smells pretty. If you are looking for a hairspray that particularly smells good, (hair perfume with some hold?) check out the Herbal Essences hairsprays. I currently have the blue "Set Me Up" kind and it smells like the original Herbal Essences shampoos in the yellow bottles with the daisies on the bottle. Boys do notice hair that smells good!

4) Hairspray is essential to teasing-- If you like to tease your hair, you should know this already. If not,  your teasing abilities are about to get much better. After you tease a section of hair, spray that hot mess down! If you fail to use hairspray, the teasing may not last at all! There are sprays out there that specifically were designed for this use. Big Sexy Hair has a spray called What a Tease that is meant for this purpose. It is stronger than Kenra 25, but has no added benefits such as shine. It is simply glue for the hair.


TIP-- When applying hairspray to a section of teased hair, allow the spray to dry first before letting the hair down! Use the actual hairspray bottle as a tool! Place the bottle as close to the scalp where you just teased and sprayed. Leave the bottle there for 30 seconds, and release! This will create more of a volumous shape.


5) You can overdo it. Sadly but surely, most hairsprays do contain alcohol. That being said, overdoing the hairspray can lead to some very  dry hair if the hairspray abuse continues. While many styles and situations require a lot of hairspray, make sure you are using a clarifying shampoo and a deep conditioner once a week if you are a hairspray abuser. Make sure to get a trim every 4-6 weeks! 

MEGA TIP-- If you live in Greenwood, Indianapolis, Avon, or Carmel, check out the Beauty Brands Annual $6.98 Hairspray sale if you will be home for religious holidays this weekend! Big Sexy Hair, Redken, Chi, AG, Matrix, Tigi, Brocato, and many other awesome brands of hairspray will be available for $6.98 at Beauty Brands locations through April 25th. Check out www.beautybrands.com/locations for more info!




Big Hair Love,


Vanessa

Fight the FRIZZ!

The very sound of the word "frizz" can make many women have flashbacks to bad hair days. Days marked by random little curls sticking out of an otherwise flawless ponytail or patches of stringy hairs sticking out from the top of your favorite style. The good news is, there are many cures for this "disease." Here are some of my favorite products to ban frizz from start to finish!

Shampoo/Conditioner

1)Super Skinny, Paul Mitchell

This shampoo/conditioner combo is a favorite of many! The fresh kiwi scent and high "suds-ability" of the shampoo make this a product enjoyable to use as well as beneficial in overall effect. According to Paul Mitchell, the system smooths, softens, and reduces dry time.

2)Sleek Look, Matrix

If there is one product I can guarantee will reduce frizz from the start, it is Sleek Look by Matrix. This stuff smells fresh, produces great suds, and leaves your hair feeling silky smooth after the first rinse of the conditioner. You should only use about a quarter size of the conditioner as to not leave the hair greasy looking.

Serums/Lotions/Leave-in conditioners

1) Darn Straight Leave-In Lotion by Straight Sexy Hair

This is lotion made for hair! The fruity smell and weightless texture make this a good choice for people with less severe cases of frizz. It is perfect for a straight or wavy style. Apply to damp hair and style as usual.

2)Super Skinny Serum, Paul Mitchell

As you can see, the entire Super Skinny line is a tried and true "go to" product for frizz of all kinds. Once again, the fresh, kiwi scent and the benefits of smooth hair that dries faster makes this a great pick for all frizz issues. Apply a quarter size amount to hair, concentrating mostly on the crown and below. Coat the scalp very sparingly to avoid a greasy look. Blow-dry and enjoy silky smooth hair! This product also comes in an extra strength version for more sever frizz cases.

3) It's a 10 Leave-In Conditioner Spray

As a sales associate, I was asked on a daily basis if my store carried this product. We did not carry it, so I found it elsewhere-- curious to see what all the rage was about. The entire "It's a 10" line is marked by having 10 benefits; repair, shine, detangling, frizz control, hair color protection, split end prevention, silkiness, natural body, and thermal protection. It has a scent reminiscent of a woman's perfume. While the price is a bit steep, $17.50 for a 4oz. bottle, it lasts a long time and has become the saving grace for many women! On amazon.com reviews, every user rated this spray  five stars. One woman said her only complaint is that she wished they made it in greater quantities. You can find this product online or at select Krogers and other beauty supply stores.  

                                                    

Last but not least-- Final touch sprays

Smooth and Seal Aerated Anti-Frizz & Shine Spray-- Straight Sexy Hair

This may be my all-time favorite product! (Other than Kenra 25 Hairspray of course!) This spray comes in a tall can and comes out like hairspray, minus the stickiness! It is an aerated light oil spray that lightly weighs down fly aways and adds shine. It smells fresh like baby powder, and can be used on any style. This is especially wonderful to have in the summer. If there is any product I could most suggest, it would be this!

I hope this has been helpful. Check out these products and enjoy beautiful, shiny, frizz-free hair!!

Big Hair Love,

Vanessa

Beach Hair-- Perfect for Spring Break!

While I personally will be job hunting this Spring Break, I hope all of you are headed south and hitting the beach! As we all know Spring Break is a time to let your hair down, so today's tip is dedicated to the scrunchy beach look! The good news is that this is an easy look, especially when guided by salt water, sun, and humidity!

-If you are fresh from the pool or ocean, wring the excess water out of your hair. If your hair tends to frizz, apply a nickel size of your favorite anti-frizz cream or serum from roots to ends. 

-Next, spray a wave enhancing spray all over your damp hair. John Frieda's Brilliant Brunette Starlit Waves spray is a good, inexpensive and easy to find wave spray. Despite the name, it is safe and effective for all hair colors. On the more luxurious end, Aquage makes an awesome sea salt spray that retails around $24. Flip your hair over and make sure the product is evenly distributed. Run your hands through your hair in a scrunching motion to encourage waves.

-Lastly, enjoy the sun! Let the wind and humidity do the rest. If you are seeking extra definition, add one or multiple braids throughout your hair, and release them once the hair is dry. 

Tip: Apply a small amount of anti-frizz cream or serum to frizz or flyaways once the hair is dry for frizz-free, foxy waves!

Have a happy and safe Spring Break!

Big Hair Love,

Vanessa

Hot rollers 101-- A crash course

       Possibly the quickest and easiest way to long lasting body and curls is by use of hot rollers. There are varying sizes of hot rollers, but all are put in the same way. Smaller rollers are good for tighter, more formal styles, and big rollers are good for looser, wave-like curls. A decent set normally runs about $30-$35, and can be found at any Target, Wal-Mart, or hair supply store such as Sally's. I personally use a Revlon set that I believe is from Target.


Pre-Rollers: The curl holds best when there is product already in the hair. Some people have the fortunate quality of being able to use hot rollers on dirty hair. If you're like myself, nothing holds when my hair is greasy and dirty. Thus in my case, combing mousse or gel throughout damp hair before drying it is sufficient. Feel free to use a root lifter or any other daily styling products you may use. 


TIP-- Make sure your hair is completely dry before you attempt to hot roll it. The curls will either not hold, or will frizz out. 

Step One: Now that your hair has product in it, and is completely dry, you are ready to roll! As you can see in the image, the proper way to curl the first piece is to grab the area of your hair above the forehead, and pull it straight out in front of you. Lay the roller on the top of the section at the very ends. Use your fingers to hold the hair to the roller, and roll up towards your head. When you are finished, secure the roller with a clip. Make sure it is secure to your head and is not falling out. 


TIP-- For the face-framing sections, do not use standard roller clips.. they tend to leave crimpy marks. Instead, use a claw clip or a simple wire roller clip.


Step Two: Now grab the section of hair right behind the first section, as though it were your second location of bangs. Pull this hair straight up above your head, and place the roller underneath the ends. Roll the roller toward your head and secure it. Roll the section of hair right at your crown the very same way. 


Step Three: Now that you have done the top, the easier part begins. Grab the section of hair closest to your face on the left side, and pull it out to the side of your face. Place the roller underneath the very ends, and roll towards your face. Do the same with the section of hair closest to your face on the right side.


Step Four: Complete the same action for the rest of the sections of hair. Sections should typically be about one inch thick. 


Step Five: Leave the rollers in for 10-15 minutes. The longer you leave the rollers in, the tighter the curls will be and the longer they tend to last. However, once they are cold, they are no longer effective. 


TIP-- One of the best parts about hot rollers is that you have free hands! This is a great time to do your make-up or pick out your outfit!


Step Six: Remove the clips and rollers, and flip your hair upside down. Use your fingers to rake through all of the curls so that they have a flowy, full look. If you fail to comb the curls out with your fingers, the curls will be Shirley Temple style!


Step Seven: Flip your hair over, and arrange in how you like it. You can leave it down, or style as you please. For any crimpy marks that were left behind from the clips, quickly run a flat iron over the bumps to smooth them out. 


Step Eight: HAIR SPRAY! If your hair appears frizzy, use a light hold hair spray or a shine spray to smooth down the frizz. I'm a big fan of Kenra Platinum Silkening Mist for this step.


If you have any questions, let me know! 


Big Hair Love,


Vanessa

Ok, so what is the deal with these Bump-Its??

Have you ever rocked a Bump-It? Do you know what a Bump-It even is?

A Bump-It is another fascinating "As Seen on TV" invention that takes your average every day hairstyle to pageant queen status in seconds. The actual product is a package containing three different sizes of arched combs that can be placed at different places underneath the hair for serious, instant volume. Two of the combs are geared toward volume at the crown-- the classic bouffant look, and the other is to assist with the "pouf" look in the front of the hair.

I own a Bump-It, (shocker!) but I use it mainly for updo's and other   specialty styles. The Bump-It can be a valuable tool, but it can also be the cause of disaster. Bump-Its do not magically stay in the hair when placed in the desired location. While they are a substitute for teasing, they are not a total substitute. You must make sure the Bump-It will stay in the hair and even more importantly-- will not be visible.

Step One- Begin by deciding where you want to place the Bump-It, and then teasing the hair in that location. After you have teased the hair, secure the hold with a medium-hold hair spray.

Step Two- Place the Bump-It at the desired location, and pull the teased hair over the comb.

Step Three- Use a fine-toothed comb to gently secure any loose strands. The goal here is to cover the itty bitty combs of the Bump-It and put the less roughed up pieces in visible spots, covering both the Bump- It and the teased hair.

Step Four- Style as desired, or leave hair down.

Step Five- Hair spray that sucker into your hair!! Do not let it slip out while dancing, or WHATEVER else. This could cause for some embarassing explanation, especially to men :)

There you go! Rock your Bump-It with pride! For styling ideas with a Bump-It, check out www.bumpits.com.

Big hair love,

Vanessa

Volumizing shampoos and conditioners-- the truth

        As we browse the aisles of hair products at beauty shops, salons, and even grocery stores, we cannot help but be intrigued by the volumizing shampoos and conditioners. Visions of luscious body creep into our heads and we ponder purchasing the hope in a bottle. The reality? Volume doesn't come in a bottle of shampoo or conditioner. Volume comes from styling and styling products. Nonetheless, there are some shampoos and conditioners out there that can help you with your quest for volume via the shower.

• Shampoos- The goal here is to use a daily shampoo that will simply clean the dirt, oil, and product out of your hair. In fact, a good clarifying shampoo is ideal for volume because it removes all buildup and leaves you with a fresh start for styling. This may shock you, but even Suave daily clarifying shampoo will do the trick. If you color your hair, a sulfate free daily shampoo is all you need. I'm a fan of Color Savour by AG and Brocato Vibracolor Shampoo.  

• Conditioners- Think as light as possible. All of the moisturizing conditioners out there are great for hair care, but if you are looking for volume, seek the lightest conditioner you can find. My all time favorite volumizing conditioner is KMS Add Volume Gel Conditioner. It smells fresh and minty, goes on your hair literally like gel, and leaves your hair sleek, smooth, and ready to style.

More tips to come, but the general theory here is what's most important. Heavy products will weigh the hair down, so check out products that simply set your hair up for styling.

Big Hair Love,

Vanessa

Get out those teasing combs!

Hello everyone, and welcome to the Big Hair Blog! As a hybrid of a journalism student and hair fanatic, having a hair blog only seemed natural. From hot rollers to volumizing shampoos to hairspray to teasing combs, I'm your girl. As a former sales associate for Beauty Brands salon and spa, I commonly was asked to play the role of "hair doctor." Women would ask, "Will this actually give me big hair?" or "What should I do with this mess?" and I was to come up with the answers. Having read a product manual or two and being granted access to the treasure chest-- the bin of returned hair products, I gained some knowledge on what works and what doesn't. So here I am. Stay tuned for tips and tricks, pix and clips. Let me know if there is anything you want to know!

                                                     Big Hair Love,

                                                     Vanessa