3 Head-Turning Hair Dos for the Holidays!

This fall and winter seasons you can weave your way into the hottest hair trend—braids. With simple tips from the Italian born Pirri brothers to create three head-turning dos, you can sport the latest trend, both low maintenance and easy to style for the everyday look.

Fun Fishtail Side Pony
Apply Pirri Elements Lava Glaze Smooth & Relaxing Serum (www.pirrihairgroup.com), and depending on time, blow or air dry your hair. Loosely tie an elastic hair tie an inch below your neck for a loose braid. You can leave a few strands of your hair out in front to get Fergie’s look. Separate your hair in two equal sections. Begin the braid by taking about an inch of hair from your outer right side and crossing it over to the middle section (towards the inside of the left side). Repeat with the left side. Continue braiding down, taking sections and repeating the mentioned steps— while pulling your hair towards the right side to create a side braid. Tie with your hair tie, once reaching the bottom. Gently remove the elastic hair tie you loosely tied at the top, and finito!

Twisted Glam Fishtail Braid

Swing your loose locks to one side of your shoulders, after styling. Section off about two to three inches of your hair from the middle. Secure with an elastic band, and fishtail braid down to the bottom. To do so, separate your hair in two equal sections. Begin the braid by taking about an inch of hair from your outer right side and crossing it over to the middle section (towards the inside of the left side). Repeat with the left side. Continue braiding down, taking sections and repeating the mentioned steps. Grab a glam hair brooch and secure it to your hair, on top of the elastic band. To finish off the look, take your curling iron and create loose waves around your fishtail braid for an ultra glam look.

Bohemian Chic

Apply Pirri Elements Nature’s Breeze Detangler & Leave-In Conditioner (www.pirrihairgroup.com) prior to blow drying your hair to manage fly-aways. Section your front right and left side locks into two half inch pieces. Section the right side into three pieces and braid all the way down. Loosely tie the braid with an elastic band. Repeat steps on left section. Remove hair tie on right side, and tie right and left braids behind your head with an elastic band. Section off another half an inch section at the end of the connected braids, and braid the bottom into a new weave. Continuing the braid down to give you a total of three connected braids—an additional twist to Lauren Conrad’s pictured look.

About the Pirri Brothers, Piero and Luigi


Born in Italy, the Pirri Brothers first developed hair styles for the elegant salons of the southern town of Calabria, then moving to London to continue their education for advanced technical skills. Being surrounded by Europe’s most prominent talent, in a city with sharp and constantly evolving style they possess the essence of Europe at their fingertips and have created and conceptualized trend setting styles that have graced fashion and beauty magazines worldwide.

Fast forward to 2009, the Pirri brothers now have two successful salons in Greenwich, Connecticut and Eastchester, New York; and have launched their own product line, Pirri Element (www. pirrihairgroup.com).

With over 20 years of experience, the Pirri brothers want to share their knowledge and technical skill with the hairdressers of today and tomorrow. The Pirri Education Academy was designed to work with the individual to elevate their skills for cut and color to the next level.

Content and photos provided by: www.kmrcommunications.com

*hugs*
Denice

Don't Get Fired by Your Flat Iron!

Information courtesy of Barbara Abbasi, founder of the Ferrum Professional Styler (www.ferrumiron.com) and owner of American Beauty Hair Salon in California www.abhairla.com.

A flat iron is the fastest and, if used incorrectly, the most damaging way to straighten hair. It allows women who have super curly corkscrew curls or those with just wavy hair to get the stick-straight style that they want. Barbara Abbasi, the founder of the Ferrum Professional Styler (www.ferrumiron.com) and owner of American Beauty Hair Salon in California offers some useful tips for clients before they run to their local drug store and begin straightening away.

The Heat Factor
Flat irons expose the hair to a significant amount of heat . Barbara cautions that, “If flat irons are not used properly, you can severely damage your hair. When you start straightening your hair, especially if you do it everyday, you should switch to a thermal protection shampoo, like Thermasilk. This will help protect your hair from excessive heat damage.”

What To Do Before You Use Any Flat Iron

•First of all, wash your hair properly. Flat irons are less effective on dirty and oily hair.
•Do not use any hair spray or gel on your hair after washing.
•Dry your hair completely, right from the roots to the tips.
•After you hair has been dried, apply a straightening balm to it. This will help eliminate any frizz and also protect your hair.
•Since an iron subjects your hair to high heat, it is advisable to use a heat protection spray beforehand.
•Heat your flat iron. In most cases, it will reach the desired temperature in a matter of minutes.
•Comb your hair properly and remove any tangles.
•Divide your hair into four sections, two in the front and two in the back, and hold them together with hair clips.
•Straighten sections of hair no more than 1 inch wide.
•Once your hair is completely dry, draw thin sections of you hair through the flat iron slowly all the while keeping the iron moving. Be sure to straighten slowly from the root of the hair to the tip. Never keep the flat iron a piece of hair for too long. This can cause severe damage to the hair.
•Comb hair smooth after each section of hair is straightened.
•Try not to flat iron your hair every day. If you do, before long your hair will start looking fried and your hair will start breaking off easily.
•Repeat the procedure with the other sections of your hair.

How to Use a Flat Iron
Many people end up damaging their hair because they do not know how to use their flat iron properly. Barbara Abbassi offers a few simple tips that will help you to use your flat iron correctly:

• Flat irons have been known to cause major drying and frizzing to the hair. Before you blow dry your hair and straighten it, make sure that you apply a frizz control product..
•Before you straighten your hair, make sure that your hair is completely dry. Even slight moisture can result in damaged hair and a damaged flat iron .
•Remember that flat irons are very hot and that they should be handled with care.
•Once your hair is completely dry, draw thin sections of you hair through the flat iron slowly all the while keeping the iron moving. Never keep the flat iron a piece of hair for too long.
•Comb hair smooth after each section of hair is straightened.

Here are some items Barbara suggests to achieve optimal results with your flat iron

•Straightening balm
•Heat protection spray
•Comb
•Hair clip

Barbara Abbasi developed the Ferrum Styler because she was not entirely happy with the results she saw with other flat irons on the market. What Makes Ferrum Different? The answer lies in the technology of the VSS System which is a combination of a non-heated padded fabric element and a tourmaline coated ceramic plate. The real distinction of this tool is the fabric padded side. The fabric is a combination of lightweight, anti-static polymers that allows the hair to "breathe" while straightening. In combination with the pad, the styling result most closely resembles blow-drying; which tends to give hair exponentially more volume than flat-ironing. Since the fabric padded side is non-heated, the Ferrum styler doesn't burn all the moisture out of the root of the hair giving it a much more vibrant, "bouncy" look.

A typical flatiron will fry and dry out your hair between two solid hot plates. The Ferrum styler will allow your hair to rest on glide on a soft surface, allowing hair to breathe and retain more of its natural moisture, shine and volume. Think of a flatiron as "frying" and drying out your hair between two solid hot plates. Allowing your hair to breathe and rest on a softer surface allows for a much healthier styling experience.  With the Ferrum Professional Style, women do not have to merely make the choice between frizzy and flat. Although Ferrum is not to be used to make wet hair dry, once hair is dry the tool can be used to achieve a pin straight look without losing volume. It can also curl the hair or give it gentle waves. For those who want or need to use a heated styling tool daily, the best news is that the Ferrum will not break the hair. You can read more about Barbara here.

Thanks to our friends over at KMR Communications for sharing this with us!

*hugs*
Denice

*NOTE: I have not tried/reviewed this product. This post is informational only

Eyebrow Threading...Yup, I'm Addicted!

I recently had lunch with my cousin and her new baby girl.  We met at the beautiful Victoria Gardens Mall and enjoyed a great lunch, accompanied by great conversation.  Yes, the children were with us, so it was not a peaceful, quiet lunch, it was a little more exciting (thank you Cooper). 

After lunch we took a stroll around the Mall.  It is so beautiful there, I recommend checking it out if you have not.  While walking around, we came upon Ziba Beauty. What is Ziba Beauty you say? Well, let me tell you, it is my new FAVORITE place. They do Eyebrow Threading, and other beauty treatments.

I was a little intimidated when I walked in.  I had never heard of Eyebrow Threading, nor had I ever seen it in action.  I was a little...ok, a lot, nervous about of having it done.  My cousin encouraged me to try it, so I caved, but I had her go first.  I watched and I was amazed at how the lady was doing it.  It was WEIRD!

The lady held a string(s) in her mouth and moved around the brow area.  How she did not thread the whole eyebrow off is beyond me! The whole process took less than 5 minutes.  I was up...YIKES! I sat in the chair and the lady went to town on my ungroomed brows (yes, they had been neglected for quit some time).  By the time she was finished (a little more than 5 minutes on me), I was not teary eyed at all.  I thought for sure it would hurt, but I was surprised that it did not. It did feel weird, but not painful.

My brows looked AMAZING!!!  I have had so many people ask me what I have done differently with my make up...I laugh.  There is nothing different, you can just see my eyes now because my brows have been tamed!

I recommend checking out Ziba Beauty.  They are fabulous, and not expensive at all.  My brows were about $11 (plus a small tip).  They also sell skin care product, do make up application, Bridal services and Mehndi tattoo's.  According to the Victoria Gardens web site description:

Ziba Beauty Center

Ziba Beauty is the respected leader in ancient beauty techniques. This includes The Art of Threading, a non-invasive, ancient hair removal technique used primarily for brow shaping with the use of cotton thread, The Art of Mehndi, a traditional art form using natural henna to give the body a temporary tattoo effect and many other beauty secrets.

Ziba Beauty has locations all though out Southern California...Do it, check them out, you will not be sorry.  I'm going back...SOON!  Click here to see some youtube videos to see how they do Eyebrow Threading. Have fun!

Let me know if you try it or have tried it and what your thoughts are. 

*hugs*
Denice

Photo Credits: Ziba Beauty Web Site

Hair Do or Don't?

Your wedding day is quickly approaching, how are you going to do your hair? You want to look glamorous, but not too over done. You want something that will stand the tests and trials of the day (all the hugs, kisses, and poses). There are no re-do's here, this is your BIG day and you only get one shot at it, so make sure you keep reading to get it RIGHT!

I received a great interview from my friends over at KMR Communications, Inc., so let me introduce you to Latrice Strader, master hair stylist & owner of Washington D.C. based salon and spa, Destiny De’ve. She knows all to well how stressful an up do appointment can be, and offers a few simple tips to make sure your up do’s don’t turn into do up don’ts!

* Down and Dirty: There is some prep work that you should be aware of before getting your up do. You may want to be fresh and clean when you go to the salon, but try to resist the urge to wash your hair the day of your up do. “Hair that’s a day or two old is easier to work with,” says Latrice. “When hair is too soft, it doesn’t hold curls or tease as well.” When planning for a glam hair style, forget the rule “lather, rinse and repeat!”

* Avoid a Wardrobe Malfunction: Wear a button-up shirt or a top with a loose fitting neck when you go in for your appointment. There’s nothing worse than trying to maneuver out of a small neck hole while keeping your tresses in tact! “Some women are so distracted with everything else on their mind that they don’t think about the shirt they are putting on over their head the morning of an up do,” says Latrice. Stick with an easily escapable top, or you might end up having to cut yourself out of one of your favorite blouses!

* Think Total Package: Make sure you consider your entire look when selecting an up do. Although choosing a hairstyle based on your face shape or hair-type are both effective techniques, don’t forget to factor in what you will be wearing for that special occasion. Think about the top of your dress and what would flatter it the most. “Strapless gowns generally look nice with some romantic waves or loose curls hanging down, whereas dresses with busy tops would look the best paired with a French twist or sleek pompadour ponytail,” advises Latrice. Do a run-through by fixing your own hair as close to how you want it as you can, along with trying on your complete ensemble (shoes, bag, jewelry, the works), to see the whole picture. You may discover everything doesn’t fit together quite like it does in your head, and you’ll want to be able to rethink things ahead of time.

* Don’t be afraid of hair accessories: Never underestimate the power of a well-placed accessory. If you see a piece in a store or magazine that attracts you, ask your stylist if it can be incorporated into your up do. Again, think total package. “If the rest of your look is simple, playing up your face with a stunning flower or sophisticated headband can add some high drama to your look,” says Latrice. But just don’t go overboard. You want one show piece that’s going to stand out, so don’t do this if you already plan on wearing an elaborate dress, necklace or other attention-grabbing piece. Simplicity is the key here.

* Inject some personality: You should still look like yourself (albeit an even more devastatingly beautiful version of yourself) for your special occasion, so try to incorporate some of your own personal style. “If you always wear your hair down, maybe try an up do with a part that has some face-framing locks falling down,” Latrice says. “This way it’s similar to your typical look, but with some added glamour.” You will have pictures from this event for the rest of your life, so you probably want to be able to recognize yourself in them. Not only is it important to look like you, but also if you have an up do that fits your personality, you’re more likely to feel beautiful, and therefore more likely to work it!

* Honesty is the best policy: If you are not 100% happy with your up do, don’t keep it a secret from your stylist (chances are he/she can tell just by looking at your face). Let them know how you really feel so they can make changes before it’s too late! “You may not want to sound rude or demanding, but your stylist would rather know if things aren’t looking like you imagined,” says Latrice. “They will be able to adjust the up do for you better in the salon than you will be able to do yourself at home.” That being said, keep in mind up dos are works in progress, and may look a little crazy at some points. Feel free to ask questions if something concerns you, but remember that an up do generally doesn’t look chic and polished until the very end, when the final spritzing and smoothing is administered.

Meet Master Hair Stylist & Owner of Destiny De’ve, Latrice Strader:
Latrice Strader, a native Washingtonian, is the owner/master stylist of Destiny De’Ve Salon and Spa located in the revitalized neighborhood of Columbia Heights in Washington, D.C. Latrice began her career as a stylist by enrolling in her high school’s cosmetology program. During the summer months she worked as an assistant to master stylists which help her to perfect her craft. Latrice graduated from high school as a stylist and began working on historic U Street. During her 12 year tenure, Latrice built a reputation for her expertise in multi-cultural styling and fashion forward styles that demand attention.

I hope this help you all!  Send us some of your favorite up-do's and we will feature you!

*hugs*
Denice

Photo Credit: Destiny De’Ve Salon

Big Day? Be Sure Your Hair Looks Great!

I recently received a new flat iron to try out from Prosilk. I am not much of a flat iron kind of gal. Don't get me wrong, I have used one in the past, but it is not something I use everyday. So testing this new ProSilk Gold Flat Iron was a little bit of a challenge for me...I had to remember to use it!

Well, I tried out the flat iron for a week, and I have to say, It made a real difference in my hair. It made it less frizzy and added more of a shine. It was easy to use. It heated up quickly and did not leave my hair looking over processed.

Here is the run down on the ProSilk Gold Flat Iron:
(1) Heats up in 7 seconds
(2) Automatic sensor control system
(3) Preserves moisture and shine to give smooth silky hair and provides volume
(4) Eliminates damaging hot spots
(5) 9 ft swivel power cord
(6) Scratch free plate
(7) Easy to clean inhibits bacteria and odor build up
(8) Light weight, Slim, Easy to handle
(9) Instantly heats up to 435F(225C)
(10) Ionic Plate

The ProSilk site does not offer much in product description, but I did some researching on the Internet and found a wealth of information on this site: lastheplace.com. I currently have a ProSilk hair dryer that I have been using for the past few years, and I love it, so I knew I would like the flat iron. ProSilks ionic technology helps lock in moisture and shine so my hair looks really healthy.

I totally recommend checking this out if you are in the market for a new flat iron. It is not to bad on the price either, at $79.95, it's attainable! I am passing this flat iron along to my sister to try, so look for more info on this!

*hugs*
Denice

Photo Credit: ProSilk