Is Co-Washing Right for Your Hair?

Shampooing your hair every day can rob it of its natural oils and cause it to become dried out and difficult to manage. Hair stylists generally recommend shampooing every two or three days. Some women are going even further and not using shampoo at all. Co-washing, or washing hair with conditioner only, can help make certain hair types healthier and easier to manage.

Benefits of Co-Washing

Co-washing can be beneficial to your hair. It allows the natural oils from your scalp to cleanse and moisturize the hair and scalp. It can condition your hair and can provide mild cleansing with the agents in the conditioner.

Co-washing can also make your hair easier to style. When hair has just been washed, it can be limp and difficult to hold in place. Co-washing can help you keep a complicated hairstyle looking how you want it.

Hair Types That Can Benefit from Co-Washing

Co-washing produces the best results when the technique is used on thick, coarse, dry, or curly hair. These hair types need extra moisture and can easily become dried out and frizzy if they are shampooed too often. If your hair is thin and fine, co-washing will not add texture; it will make your hair look flat and oily. If your hair tends to get dry in the cold winter months, co-washing can help. It can replenish moisture and reinvigorate your hair.

How to Co-Wash Your Hair

In order to minimize buildup on your hair, you should use a conditioner specifically designed for co-washing. Start out with a light conditioner and use a heavier formula if necessary. If you are prone to dandruff, use an anti-dandruff conditioner to keep your scalp healthy. Start out by applying conditioner on the ends of your hair and then work your way up to the scalp. If you worked out and your hair is sweaty, you should use shampoo.

It may take some time for your hair to adjust to the new routine of washing with conditioner only. Your hair may feel oily after the first few days of co-washing. You should start the new routine gradually to avoid shocking your hair and give it time to adjust. Hair stylists generally recommend co-washing once a week to reduce the effects of over-shampooing without shocking your hair.

Make an Appointment for a Haircut at The Beauty Bar

Co-washing can keep your hair moisturized and healthy and make it easier to style. You can also keep your locks in good condition by getting regular trims. If you are due for a haircut, make an appointment at The Beauty Bar in Southington, Connecticut. We can help you maintain your current look or choose a new style. Schedule your appointment today.

How to Take Care of Color-Treated Hair

Millions of women dye their hair. Coloring your hair can make you look younger, but if it is not cared for properly, dyed hair can fade or become damaged. Here are some tips to protect your color and keep your hair healthy.

Keep Your Hair Moisturized

Dyeing your hair can make it more porous, which can make it absorb and release more moisture. That can cause your hair to slowly lose color every time it gets wet, which is why it is essential to maintain moisture in color-treated hair. Make sure your stylist uses a professional hair dye that will condition your hair for several weeks after it is colored. Choose a hair color with natural oils and no ammonia.

Red Dye Is Most Likely to Fade

Hair that is dyed red is most likely to fade because red dye has the largest molecules. This makes it harder for the dye to penetrate deeply into the hair. If you want to dye your hair red, have your stylist use a dye that will give high definition without stressing the cuticle.

Washing and Conditioning Your Hair

One simple way to prevent your colored hair from fading is to shampoo it less often. After you get your hair dyed, wait two or more days before you shampoo. Wash your hair two or three times a week, and never more than once every other day. This will help your hair color last longer and keep your hair healthy. Wash your hair with lukewarm or cool water. Hot water can strip hair of color.

It is important to use the right products on your color-treated hair. Use color-protecting shampoo and conditioner. Avoid products with sulfates because they can strip away moisture and make your color fade. Only use a clarifying shampoo before you color your hair.

On days that you don’t shampoo your hair, keep your hair dry when you shower. You can use dry shampoo to soak up oil. On some days you can skip shampoo and use only moisturizing conditioner.

Special Treatments to Keep Your Hair Healthy

Use a deep conditioning treatment once a week. Apply it to your damp hair and comb it from the roots to the tips. Put your hair in a bun or wrap it in a towel. Leave the treatment in for 30 minutes and then rinse it out.

You can use a leave-in conditioner to prevent tangles and protect your hair from heat styling tools. Choose a leave-in conditioner that is made for color-treated hair.

A hot oil treatment can make your hair shiny. Wash and towel-dry your hair, apply the treatment, and cover your hair with a shower cap or plastic wrap. Apply heat with a hot towel, hair dryer, or by sitting in the sun. Let your hair cool to room temperature and then rinse it with cool water.

Two weeks before you are going to have your hair dyed again, use a mask and deep conditioning treatment to prepare it to receive color. Use a clarifying shampoo right before your appointment.

How to Prevent Heat Damage

Avoid using heat as much as possible because dyed hair is more likely to become damaged. If you use heat to style your hair, use a fortifying leave-in conditioner and make sure your hair is completely dry before you straighten or curl it. Use a protective hairspray to finish your look.

If you are going to be out in the sun, use products with SPF to protect your hair. If you go in a pool, wet your hair first and apply a leave-in conditioner or cover it with a swim cap.

A Healthy Diet Can Give You Healthy Hair

A healthy diet can keep your hair shiny and healthy. Lean meat, fish, low-fat cheese, egg whites, spinach, soy, fruit, vegetables, nuts, and grains can keep your hair healthy. If you don’t get enough vitamins from food, you can take supplements.

When to Dye Your Hair

Coloring your hair too often can cause it to become damaged. You should only dye your hair every five to six weeks at most. You can touch up the roots in between colorings. Don’t get other chemical treatments at the same time you color your hair. If your hair is damaged, you should get it cut or trimmed regularly.

Make an Appointment at The Beauty Bar

If you are thinking about changing your hair color, come to The Beauty Bar in Southington, Connecticut. We can help you choose the right color and give you tips on how to take care of your hair to keep it shiny and healthy. Schedule an appointment today.

Where You Should Store Your Beauty Products

Most women have a collection of makeup and skin care products that they use every day. These are usually kept in the bathroom because that is generally where people get ready every morning, but many women also keep some products in a purse or even in the car. These might not be the best places to store beauty products. The temperature and humidity can cause damage to products and make them wear out faster than they should. Here are some tips on where you should store your beauty products instead.

Where to Store Your Makeup

You should keep your makeup well organized. You can put it in a set of stackable drawers so you will be able to easily find everything you need.

You should keep your foundation, liquid makeup, lipstick, and cream products stored in a cool, dark place. An interior closet that is not near an outside wall can be a good choice. If those products are exposed to sun or heat, they can dry out. The natural oils in the products can also separate, which can cause the makeup to spoil. This means leaving your makeup in the car on a hot summer day is not a good idea.

Powdery products, such as eye shadow, blush, powder, and bronzer, can be kept in any dry place. You should avoid keeping them in the bathroom because the humidity from the shower can cause them to become saturated and cakey. It is best to store powders in an exterior closet, rather than the bathroom. Keep them away from heat sources.

Where to Store Skin Care Products

Skin care products, such as eye gel or a face mask, should be stored in the refrigerator. If you use natural beauty products, they can also be kept in the refrigerator. Check the expiration dates. If you keep paraben-free products for too long, they can become toxic.

Get Your Makeup Done for a Special Occasion at The Beauty Bar

If you need help doing your makeup for a special occasion, such as a holiday party or a wedding, make an appointment at The Beauty Bar in Southington, Connecticut. We can help you choose the right colors and products and give you tips on how to do your own makeup at home. Schedule an appointment today.

How to Prevent Helmet Hair from Your Motorcycle Helmet

If you’re a motorcycle rider, you know just how frustrating it can be to arrive at your destination with a nasty case of helmet hair: that flat, matted, or even somewhat disheveled look you get after taking a trip on your bike.

Helmet hair is experienced by men and women alike, but it’s a particularly acute problem for women, who tend to have longer, more delicate hairstyles. (Not to mention, men have an easier time opting just to buzz their hair off and forget the whole problem even existed.)

But don’t worry, you don’t have to choose between helmet hair and giving up your motorcycle. There are plenty of steps you can take to minimize combat and prevent helmet hair before it happens.

Helmet Hair Prevention Tips

Wear the Right Helmet

First thing’s first: If you want to avoid the worst of helmet hair, you need to make sure you have the right helmet. Choosing the right motorcycle helmet is first and foremost about safety, but if you’re also concerned about your hair, get a full-face helmet that fits snuggly, but not too tight. A full-face helmet that covers your entire head is not only safer than many alternatives, but it will prevent hair from blowing around in the wind while you ride.

Put Your Hair Up

If you’ve got medium length or longer hair, putting your hair up into a neat bun, or even just holding your hair neatly in place with elastic or fabric headband could keep it from becoming matted or frizzy over the course of your ride.

Style Your Hair with Your Helmet in Mind

It might seem a bit extreme to some to style your hair specifically to accommodate your motorcycle helmet, but no one ever said the biker lifestyle was for the faint of heart. A short bob or a similar cut will likely fare much better under your helmet than something with long and flowing curls. Go to a skilled stylist and explain what you like and what you need: They’ll be able to help.

Use a Little Product

A little hairspray can go a long way to keeping your hair in place underneath your helmet. But don’t overdo it; the last thing you want when you’re riding is hairspray running down into your eyes from your hair because your helmet got too hot!

Hair Styling from The Beauty Squad

If you’re in Connecticut and want to learn more about hair care or make a salon appointment, get in touch with The Beauty Squad in Southington today!

How to Repair Damaged Hair

Hair can easily become damaged by heat from styling, chemicals from dyeing and other treatments, and using the wrong products. Restoring damaged hair takes time, work, and patience. Here are some tips to help you nurse your hair back to health.

Get a Trim

One of the easiest ways to treat damaged hair is to have it trimmed. You don’t need to cut your hair short, but you can have the ends, which are the most likely to become damaged, cut off. After that, you will need to take other steps to restore your hair and prevent future damage.

Limit the Use of Heat

Blow-drying, straightening, and curling your hair can cause damage. You should avoid doing these things if your hair is already damaged. Let your hair air-dry if possible. If you need to blow-dry it, use the lowest heat setting. Use a fortifying leave-in conditioner and a heat protectant spray. Make sure your hair is completely dry before you straighten or curl it.

Avoid Chemical Treatments

Chemicals can damage your hair or make existing damage worse. Avoid dyeing your hair or using other harsh chemical treatments while your hair is recovering from damage. Look for alternatives that will be gentle on your hair.

Use the Right Products

Use a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner with natural oils and herbs to help restore your hair. Shampoo no more than twice a week if possible to avoid stripping your hair of its natural oils. You can use a dry shampoo between washings. Wash your hair with lukewarm or cool water to avoid causing damage and finish with cool water to close the cuticles. If you have product buildup, use a clarifying shampoo. Use a conditioner made for damaged hair.

Don’t use a lot of products to style your hair. Keep your style simple. Avoid products with a lot of alcohol or peroxide.

You can use a hydrating treatment or mask to moisturize and restore your hair. Put it on twice a week and leave it on for an hour covered with a plastic shower cap. You can also use an oil treatment to repair your hair.

A healthy diet can help you have healthy hair. Drink a lot of water and eat foods with vitamins and nutrients. You might want to take supplements.

Make an Appointment at The Beauty Bar

Repairing damaged hair will take time. Use the right products and avoid things that could cause more damage. Make an appointment to get your hair trimmed at The Beauty Bar in Southington, Connecticut. We can make your hair look better and give you advice on ways to restore it to health. Schedule an appointment today.

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