Dull, discolored hair.

   One of my guests was in for a visit today and had an interesting question for me. She has decided not to color her hair but noticed recently that the white hair around her temples didn't seem as white as she remembered it being. It brought to mind all of the horror stories I've had to deal with throughout my career concerning discolored hair. Here are a few things to consider if you are experiencing the same problem.
   Check your water. Wether you live in a rural area and have a private water supply or you are hooked into a municipal system, there are chemical and mineral impurities in the water. They are deposited in your hair each time you cleanse. As the hair dries the water evaporates leaving behind any impurities that attach themselves to the cuticle layer of your hair which causes a host of problems, one of them being discoloration. The lighter your hair color the more noticable it is. Clarifying shampoos can help but if you are dealing with a major build up you need professional help. At Vincent's Hair Design we offer the finest in demineralization treatments for your hair. We use an ascorbic acid solution that we mix ourselves to gently rid your hair of environmental impurities and product build up while restoring the hair's Ph balance and returning your color to its normal state of being.

   After your treatment we recommend using a clarifying shampoo at least twice a week to help keep the deposition at a minimum. We carry two exceptional products for at home use. Redken's Hair Cleansing Creme is an excellent product for removind mineral deposits and product build up from the hair. Another great product is Kenra's Clarifying Shampoo. Its special formula contains extracts of grapefruit and witch hazel with amino acid chelators eliminate dulling deposits. This Ph balanced product is gentle enough to use everyday.

   One last thing to consider. If your hair is grey and you have decided to sport a natural look, it could be the sun, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors during the summer. Grey hair is not really grey. As we age some of our hair loses its color pigment. When it mixes in wiyh the pigmented hair it makes it appear grey. When the sun lightens the pigmented hair, the white hair takes on a dull, muddy, yellowish cast. The only way to save yourself from this fate is to keep your hair covered when you are in the sun.

   I hope that today's blog has been helpfull and informative. As always, we welcome any questions that you have concerning your hair and it's health. Here's wishing you a safe, happy and blessed day from Vincent's Hair Design where everyday is a great day.

It's Monday, back to business!

   Monday, time for a product revue.How about........Blown Away 09. This is a protective blow-dry gel that infuses hair with all day style memory and frizz control. Redken's Heat Endure Technology with ceramides smoothes the way for a faster, better blow drying experience for your hair while guarding against breakage and heat styling damage. I'm not sure if this will take the place of the venerable Contuor 08, the hold factor is comparable but has a much thicker consistency. It does leave the hair with a soft touchable feel after blow drying, I've not yet tried the product for air drying,so I'm not sure how hard and crunchy your hair would feel should you try it in this manner.

   For those of you who have not tried Redken because of its "old school" reputation, I urge you to give it a try. They were one of the first companies to bring professional haircare products to the masses and have always stood behind salons and the stylists that work in them. They are a true leader in technology and although there are a lot of new companies with a lot of fabulous new products, there is something to be said for the experience of a venerable, old company with a long history of success.

Pump vs. Aerosol Sprays

   There was a time when aerosol sprays were bad for the environment. It was an opoinion of researchers the the propelents used in aerosol sprays, at the time, were a contributing factor in the depletion of the ozone layer. In 1994 congress proposed legislature banning the use of CFC's in aerosol spay cans. Although it wasn't passed until 1996, many of the leading manufacturors in our industry responded immediately and began reformulating their products. Since that time aerosol hairsprays have been safe for the environment.

   As far as performance goes, here are some things to consider when you're shopping for hairspray. Non-aerosol (pump) sprays are wet when applied to hair, making them good for people that like to work with their finished style while they are creating it. Because they go on wet, I don't usually recommend them to people with fine, humidity sensitive hair. They are a good working tool but I don't like to use them to set in a finished style.

   Aerosol sprays go on dry and are perfect for locking in your finished look. This is the type of spray we use to finish special occasion hair during prom and wedding season. Because they are a dry product, they work well for people with fine, limp hair. So, there you have it, simple and sweet. Take this into consideration the next time you are shopping for spray and as always ask your haircare professional wich products are best for your hair.

Should I invest in "professional" appliances for my hair?

   Your stylist has just created a trendy new cut for you and you ease back in the chair, smiling, thinking how good it is going to look when it's finished as they apply styling products to your hair. You notice the smooth, powerfull sound of their blow dryer as they go about the business of scrunching and fluffing your hair into a finished look. It brings to mind the old dryer that you've had since your last year in college, how it whines and rattles anemically, doesn't seem to get as hot as it should and takes forever to dry your hair each morning. Their flat iron seems to glide effortlessly, smoothing out your tresses and you tkink to yourself "Hmm, if I had tools like my stylist had, life would be so much easier. Maybe it's time for some new hair appliances."

   Before you have your hairdresser special order "pro tools" for home use, there are a few things to consider. It is true that the apliances used by most working professionals are far superior to the ones you will find in your local Big Box store. They are built fom higher quality materials with stronger motors and heating elements to meet the demands of professional stylists that will use and abuse them for eight to ten hours a day, four to seven days a week.Most people don't need that kind of performance for use at home and will find that the tools available to them at the retail level will be suitable for their purpose. As a stylist, I would rather see you spend your money on good, professional shampoos, conditioners and styling products. You will see an immediate improvement in your hairs' condition and manageability, making it a far wiser investment of your hard earned dollars.