11 LIFE-CHANGING PONYTAIL HACKS

Later boring pony! Take your ponytail game to the next level, with these super-easy tricks and upgrades.

1. Wrap small piece of hair from the bottom of your ponytail around the base to conceal your elastic. Use bobby pins to secure. 

2. Use a flat iron to flip the bottom of your pony out, creating a retro style. 

3. Wrap small sections of hair from each side of your head around the base to get a cool, twisted look. 

4. Use dry shampoo to add texture to your 'tail. 

5. Prop your pony up with two bobby pins for max height. 

6. Create a sideways bow by making a loop with your tail and wrapping a piece of hair around the middle of it. 

7. Twist your hair over to one side for a cute twist on the side ponytail. Use bobby pins to hold into place.

8. Tease your crown before pulling your hair back for a modern bouffant.

9. Braid or twist side pieces in the front before pulling hair back to keep shorter layers from frizzing or falling out.

10. Fake a longer 'tail by stacking two or three ponytails on top of each other. 

11. Amp up a basic high pony by wrapping a hair elastic every few inches going down the 'tail. Pull apart the sections lightly making a messy-chic look. Experiment with different color elastics for a fun vibe.

QUICK CURLS DIRECTIONS

Hello gorgeous! With Valentine's Day around the corner you're probably already planning your perfect outfit for your special night out. Have you thought of a fabulous hairstyle to go with it yet? I'm a sucker for soft curls, but truthfully they can take me a while so I tend to put them off; that's not the case recently since my beauty guru Olivia Smalley shared the "Quick Curls" with me!

What I loved so much about these curls is that they gave me volume, which is something I'm always missing when I do my own curls. So grab your curling iron and give this a try for your next night out! Your man will be sure to do a double take!

QUICK CURLS DIRECTIONS

1. Gather all hair from the back and create a ponytail at very front of your head.
2. Figure out where you would like to part your hair; if it is in the middle you would take the ponytail and split it in equal parts, if it is off to the left, the right side would have more hair, etc.
3. With a 1-inch curling iron, wrap the curls away from your face and continue until the entire pony is curled.
4. When curls are cooled, release then from elastic. Shake out locks and spray with a flexible hold hair spray.

Tip: For added volume tease roots and add a waterless hair spray. Allow hairspray to dry before brushing and perfecting the completed look.

Long Hair vs Short Hair

When you have long hair you want short hair and when you have just had your hair cut you decide to grow it long. When will we ever make up our minds? As children our parent’s decided how we were going to wear our hair and we were so busy playing we barely gave a thought to our locks. Now as adults we want to look our very best at all times, especially when we dash out on a moment’s notice. We don’t want to spend hours primping in front of the mirror, but still want to look like a movie star - as if we were born that way.

The advantages of long hair are the versatility of so many styles offered. You can wear your hair up in a myriad of ways. Or, you can wear it half up and half down. You can fashion it like the Queen of Sheba or be the picture of a rock star bedazzled with glitzy jewels and scarves. Braiding can be classy surrounding a smooth updo appropriate for a Princess. Braids upon braids can achieve a sophistication desired to influence others. A fluffy bedraggled look gives the impression of just getting up in the morning. Men love its sexy appearance. A multiplication of attention can be gained through foiling your long strands blonde, strawberry blonde and copper red over light or medium brown hair. Golden hues would also look flattering on any warm browns. Oh so lovely when up or down. You will feel like dancing!

“Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your hair!” cried her friend, as he looked longingly to her. So long was her hair supposed to be, one could climb up the side of the high tower to get to her and so the story goes. Is long hair for you, though? Would it connect with your lifestyle and make the most of your face and body?

As women age most of us gain a little weight and become gray (I like to call it platinum). If you are overweight and have long hair, chances are you aren’t looking your best. Long hair puts weight on you when you look into the mirror. Have you ever noticed how hard it is to look neat with long hair when you are trying on clothes? There aren’t too many of us who are older who look good with gray or tinted hair hanging around their shoulders. Let’s face it, we aren’t 20 anymore, but on the other hand we don’t have to look our complete age either. Long hair can be - oh, so hard to give up. We love our long hair don’t we?

If you have thin fine hair, keeping it long will only make it look thinner and stringy at the ends. Cut bluntly, into a bob not quite touching the shoulders, or shorter, will give the awareness of thicker hair and will feel fuller as well. Use a good volumizer to complete this potential. Everything today is product and more product. If you have long thick hair, shaped into slivered layers will give you several options whether it be straight, wavy or curly. The world is yours.

Enter short hair. There is more maintenance, although an easier task. Short hair will take off at least 5-10 lbs on a good dress. Perfect shaping from a good visionary stylist who knows what you need will do wonders! Short hair is so healthy, you never have a chance to get split ends because a trim every six weeks will be in order. You use less shampoo and conditioner and depending on your style, you will look younger and neat all of the time - no matter what you are wearing.

Believe it or not, there are many styles you can wear for short hair. Real short hair shingled up in the back will not look good on a heavy lady who has a thick neck. A nice fringed affect that laces around the edges would look much more feminine. Neither do you put a mushroomed bob on a heavy lady.

This will only cause her to look shorter and heavier. However, a cut about 1 ½ inches away from the head and blown upward will lessen the droops, sags or wrinkles. Bring everything up with the lower part of the hair cut a little bit closer. Half waves and large curls will bring a much needed softness around her face up and down. The upper part of the hair goes up and the very lower part is fluffed down, but not smooth.

Just because you’ve chosen short hair doesn’t mean you’re going to be a clone. You are unique and original. Your hair should fit your personality as well as your body image. If you are athletic, a smart cut close to your head, with golden/reddish highlights, over a lovely brown would shimmer in the sun. Without a care, heads will turn complimenting your energy.

Perhaps you are older and have arthritis and cannot fix your hair like you once could. With a good shaping you could have a very light wave that wouldn’t be any work for you. Dampen your hair, comb and push it into the relaxed curls that look like you were born that way and voila! Everything stems from a good haircut. You can have the best color and a great permanent but if you didn’t get a good shaping it won’t bring out the best of what you have.

Whether it be long hair and you decide to wear it up as you get older or short hair, the important thing is for you to listen to the desire of your heart but not be afraid of change either.

Of course, like they say “It will always grow back.”

Highlights & Highlighting

The wind, surf and sun make her hair glisten with golden highlights as she strolls lazily on the beach. She was a college girl vacationing from her studies. Here, with her girlfriends, they all had hair that radiated several shades of blonde, with long thin streaks of strawberry blonde, platinum blonde and red over light and medium brown giving the appearance of being au natural, but, with the fine tune of costing her hundreds of dollars. Every week millions of women go to the salon of their choice to have foils. This is part of their life. They set up a budget and realize they are high maintenance ladies. Coloring their hair isn’t an option, but a necessity in their lives. As they service their hair about 2 or 3 times a year, their stylist/colorist becomes a confidant and friend as she shares her life story.

          To lift your hair up one level or five depends upon the color of your natural hair. If you are a dark blonde, your colorist can easily mix up a formula to lift your hair a few shades lighter without applying bleach. If you have light brown hair and apply a high powered blonde formula there will always be a certain amount of reddish blonde brought up and deposited because all browns have a certain amount of red. Reddish blonde is beautiful on some ladies and can look quite flattering with the proper complexion. If you are a dark brown and have always dreamed of having highlights, here is something for you to think about. When blonde is brought up out of the dark, there will always be red involved because of all the levels the process has to go through. The red/orange can be toned down with the proper toner to deal with this. Light blonde strands running through dark brown isn’t exactly the most complementary look on anyone though. I’ve heard some call it the “skunky look”, others, an oreo cookie. The contrast of light blonde and dark brown/black is way too drastic. There is hope. Why not bring your hair up to a rich golden? Not orange, but a shimmering gold. The dramatic effects could be dazzling. If you are daring and would like to be lighter still, put another color along side your gold and brown, like a rich coppery red. This would bring you three festive shades, discreetly, of course. The best time to do this, if you want this to be kept secret, is be serviced at a good reputable salon while you are on your holiday. One would think you’ve biked for miles in the sunshine, when they admire your mane. If you are a redhead and desire some highlights, this can be easily obtainable, foiling your hair up one or two shades. Strawberry blonde enriches the whole head over a true redhead and you’ll be ready to go anywhere with confidence.

          Highlighting covers up gray and makes you feel a little bit younger. For those already young, it makes them feel much more attractive. Whether long or short hair, highlighting is here to stay. My observation has statistically been that 98% women tint their hair for fun or to cover up the gray, highlight or do both to their hair.

          Is highlighting for you, though? If you have silver hair and want to cover up the gray by highlighting, chances are it will only make you look older. How can this be, you might ask? Because, if you already have gray hair it will then, look yellowed and washed out from the sun. You won’t be fooling anyone and will look exactly like what you’ve just done, “highlighted” over gray hair. Because of this, many tint their hair first with an attractive light brown/dark blonde color and then, highlight. Or, you can ask your hairdresser about putting in some low lights along with the highlights. This will take care of the yellowish grayish blonde. Low lights can range in shades anywhere from chocolate brown to a dark blonde for contrast and will do more deposit then lift. The rule of thumb is to remember as you age to go lighter, not darker. Some want three shades and decide upon a red too. When we age not only does our hair gray but it appears our facial skin does too. We seem to “gray out” everywhere. Color does help us along this journey. If you are fortunate enough to have silver hair mixing in with your brown, believe it or not, you already have the most appealing color for you personally, unless your hair is not ultra fine and difficult to work with. Then, color is in order for you. Another thought towards covering the gray and having golden highlights without all of the cost is to purchase a golden blonde/brown color and tint your whole head. The gray will be golden with automatic highlights without all the expensive cost and your natural color should be about 2 levels up with just a little bit of reddish tones involved. The secret isn’t so much to look younger but to look attractive and well kept at your age. Ask your hairdresser if there are other ways to cover your gray besides highlighting and perhaps suggest what I’ve given.

   Blonde over blonde equals blonde. Why foil when your hair has become blonde all over? At that point all you need is a touch up. If you are serious about a contrast, in which case you are a good candidate for low lights. Remember, highlights and lowlights are detail work and should be left up to the pro, this work can take many a tedious hour. It will save you money in the end. Many a colorist has worked to repair messed up colors.

          Have you ever heard the term “less is more?” That is especially true when it comes to coloring. Subtly is much more attractive, than a head of hair that shouts “I am blonde!” Mystery is magical, not obviousness. Be a wonder. Let their imagination’s puzzle over the charisma of your locks. Be an enigma. With a good attitude, the right color and cut, your hair can influence all those around you. You won’t have to shout “I am a blonde.” All heads will be charmed when you walk into a room.

          There are many types of bleaches out there today to use with your foils. There is still the powder bleach but now they contain special ingredients to prevent drying out and flaking, oil bleach, crème bleach and a combination. I prefer the oil and crème bleach to do any high lifts, because I look for ways to keep hair in good condition. They are gentle on the hair in comparison to the powdered bleaches. A long time ago there were only high powered harsh bleaches that left the hair like straw if you weren’t careful. We didn’t have the deep moisture conditioners that we have now, only crème rinses and oil treatments. Everyone wanted to be a Platinum blonde and many of us had to have double processes to bring the hair up to that level. Our scalp would be burning as we’d madly fan our head. By the time we had our hair up to the proper pale yellow, we then had to turn around and apply the toner to have the color we desired. The double process was a one time thing in the beginning, but a nightmare to go through at the time. The fun part with such a light color, I could choose any shade of blonde I desired, and would go through a touch up once a month. It would be unthinkable for anyone to see my dark roots, albeit I knew I wasn’t hiding the fact that I bleached my hair (yes, I shouted blonde!,). Today, it’s almost fashionable to sport a couple of months new growth and reveal an inch or two of your natural hair. Colorists do not find this appealing at all.

          There are many pathways you can take if you are serious about highlighting your hair. Be open to what would look best on you and be agreeable with your lifestyle and personality. You might be blonde right now but have the personality of a saucy redhead. There isn’t anything like a beautiful red hair. Color and cut is everything. Do not give up or be discouraged, your unique color designed just for you is just waiting for you.

Emo Hairstyles for Girls

Emo hairstyles are very popular these days especially with the teens. The term ‘emo’ is actually derived from a genre of music which has merged both the punk rock and alternative. Yes, it is the music scene which made this type of hairstyle a big hit these days. 

Emo hairstyle is more about expression of one’s characteristic and individuality. Hence, it cannot be said that there is just one generic cut and style for this. However, there are basic aspects which characterize the emo hairstyle. It is all just a matter of finding the styling technique which would look flattering on your face and would resonate your personality.

Here are the key characteristics of emo hairstyle:

Bangs: The emo hairstyle usually comes with bangs. Do not think that this is the ordinary shower bangs which reflect charm and neatness. Keep in mind that the emo haircut is all about being wild than tame. The bangs can be swept to the side or just right on the forehead. The cut is not straight nor is it symmetrical. In fact, the bangs for emo hairstyle is created by cutting the hair into several layers. It is usually longer than the traditional bangs to so that the eyelids and even the side of the cheek bones can be partially covered. The bangs does not have to be tidy and straight. In fact, making it a bit messy can add more impact to the style.

Layers: If you are opting for the emo hairstyle, forget everything about getting straight and perfectly cut hair. This involves creating multiple layers. For example, a popular example of the emo hairstyle is the mullet. This means that the hair on the crown area of your head is cut much shorter than the rest. Cutting the layers often involve the choppy cut. This further defines the varying lengths of the style. Emo style also gave a whole new definition to the traditional bob. For an emo bob, the front hair is much longer and becomes shorter and shorter towards the back. Some even keep their bangs and front hair longer and then shaves the back part of their head.

Color: This aspect makes the emo look even more defined. Rich black and deep brunettes work best for this type of haircut. Then these darker shades are accentuated with highlights of different colors like green, blue or red. Others opt for bleached streaks that allow the lighter color to pop amidst the dark strands.

Styling: To complete the emo style, it might be necessary to twist some sections of the hair together to create spikes. In some cases, the bangs has to be pulled down to the face with a slight sweep towards one side. To create this hairstyle, it is necessary to use strong hold wax or mousse. For the bangs, do not apply too much so that it would still move along with you. For other parts like the crown, sides or back, you need to apply generous amount so that the style can be maintained for the rest of the day.

Ponytail and Hair Length

How long does your hair have to be, before you can tie it back in a ponytail?

A: Well, at least this is a simple question. In order to tie the hair back into a ponytail, it has to be long enough that the hair furthest from the point at which you want the ponytail to be located will reach beyond that point.

      For example, if you want to have a ponytail at the nape of the neck, then the hair at your forehead has to be long enough to go around or over the skull and reach that point in back and extend a little past so that you can secure it with an elastic band. The hair at the back of the head in this case doesn’t have to be as long as the hair in front, but should still be long enough that you can direct it to and beyond the point at which you form the ponytail.

      The length of the hair at the various points on the head will determine the finished look of the ponytail, of course. If your hair is shorter in back and long enough in front to pull back into a ponytail you’ll end up with a stubby, short ponytail. If your hair is all uniform lengths all over the head and you pull it back, the ponytail will taper to a point at the end. And if the hair is long and blunt cut in an angle (longer toward the front) you can end up with a ponytail that is blunt-ended.

      Just remember that you need to use snag-safe ponytail elastics to prevent pulling and breaking the hair. This will keep you from having ragged looking hair after wearing the ponytail.

How To Maintain Curly Hair

Care and Maintenance of Curly Hair

      I’m often stopped and asked by women (and men) who have very curly hair how they can better care for their hair. The most common complaint is about the lack of manageability in many curly hair types. The hair is unruly, prone to frizz and tangles, and generally seems intent on doing only what it wants to do.

      Usually, after discussion it turns out that many of the styling techniques used are only adding to the problem. It’s in these areas that my advice can be most helpful.

      So let’s take a look at some tips on Caring for Curly Hair. We’ll start with basics, then move on to specific problems and some solutions, all while including professional tips to deal with curly hair.

Basic Care:

      We’ve said before that the hair needs only to be shampooed when it becomes soiled, but that it should be conditioned every day. We’ve also explained that most rinse-through conditioners are alkaline enough to remove the minor amounts of soil from most people’s daily routines. Curly hair especially can benefit from a cleansing-conditioner routine, since it helps to maintain high levels of moisture and emollients in the hair to improve manageability, tame frizz, and give shine.

      Luckily, modern advances in hair care offer us special formulations of shampoo and conditioner specifically for curly hair in order to help create smooth, controlled curls. Many of these contain additives and ingredients that help smooth the cuticle layer to seal in moisture and offer definition to the curls.

      Yet the treatment of the hair after shampooing or conditioning is just as important when dealing with curly hair. The process of drying the hair should never include “rubbing, or buffeting” the head with a towel, especially not when dealing with curly hair. The hair should be carefully wrapped in the folds of a clean, dry towel and gently squeezed to absorb the water.

      With shorter lengths, press the hair against the scalp, or squeeze it with the fingers through the towel. Once the majority of the water has been wicked away, use a second clean, dry towel to wrap the head in turban fashion and let the hair continue to be wicked of moisture while you do other things in your routine.

{Professional Tip: One trick many stylists use when dealing with curly hair is to dry the hair using paper towels. These disposable towels are highly-absorbent and perfect for removing excess moisture without roughing up the hairs and leaving frizz. As an added bonus, the paper towel is perfect for targeted removal of moisture – from the scalp area, or from the ends – anywhere that is needed.}

Styling Care

      Curly hair is generally styled in limited fashion. Unless it is physically reconfigured by such methods asbraiding, or held in ponytails or clips, styling curly hair is usually a matter of making careful use of the natural wave. This generally means drying the hair with a diffuser and trying to avoid creating a puffball.

      Yet any time you plan to use heat styling tools (and a blow dryer IS a heat styling tool) on curly hair, you want to make sure to use a protective product to help prevent damage to the hair. This may be a leave-in conditioner, an anti-frizz serum or perhaps a protective balm, as you prefer. Follow this by making sure to use the proper settings for the dryer with diffuser attached: low-heat and high-air flow. The goal is to allow the air to circulate through the curls and evaporate the moisture, using the fingers to gently lift and scrunch the curls to help them retain their shape.

      Occasionally, an individual with curly hair will want to reconfigure her curls to a slightly different size, or to encourage a specific direction of the curl. This can often be done with a curling iron if there is a limited arrangement of curls to be worked, and with a wet roller set if you need more “all-over” manipulation of the curl.

Specific Curly Hair Problems:

My curly hair is coarse, dry and unruly, and I need it to calm down. What can I do?

      This is a pretty standard problem hair type, and frankly, aside from the usual “high-moisture” routine in hair care, the best solution is the application of fruit oil to help soften the hair and smooth the curls into some semblance of control. I recommend Argan Oil.

      Argan Oil can be found in a preparation at your local beauty supply store and can be used as a hair dressing and as a periodic hot oil treatment. For your regular use, apply a liberal amount to the palms and spread it over the fingers then work it carefully through damp hair. This can be done before using a diffused dryer and can serve as a protective treatment for the hair. Simply dry the hair to a “mostly-dry” state, but not fully dry.

 To use the oil as a hot oil treatment, you can immerse the bottle in a bowl of hot water for 5-10 minutes until the oil is warmed, then apply the oil to the hair and scalp, and cover with a plastic cap. Allow the oil to remain for 30 minutes and then rinse the hair with warm water. If you feel the hair is too “oily” after, you can shampoo as normal. The result should be soft, smooth curls. Just try to allow the hair to dry naturally after the hot oil treatment to ensure the maximum benefit of the treatment.

My curly hair seems to get knotted heavily at the ends, so that even a wide-tooth comb will not pass through easily. How to I stop this from happening?

      Well, my first recommendation is that you look carefully at the ends of your hair for signs of split ends. Many curly-haired individuals find that their hair is prone to split ends which because of the random direction of the curls easily get snagged upon the ends of the hairs next to them. The result is a high instance of tangles and snarls at the ends of the hair that only serve to damage the hair further.

      To treat this, you first need a trim. Contrary to the claims made by many hair care products, NO product will “restore” split ends. The best that you can hope for is a “repair” of the split ends, which is akin to using glue to mend broken pottery. It is still broken, but it looks whole. To be rid of split ends they have to be removed. The way to remove them is by trimming the hair.

      Once the split ends are removed, the next step is making sure to PREVENT them in the future. Use the above mentioned oil treatment and hair dressing applications of Argan Oil (or another smoothing product as you desire) and then remember that your hair is a natural fiber.

      Imagine taking a silk blouse and raking a brush down the front of it 50 to 100 times every day. You’d expect to start seeing it fray and look haggard after a couple of days, right? Of course you would. Well, the hair is just as delicate and yet, we often brush and comb our hair with wonton force, never thinking that we could be doing more harm than good.

      You only need to brush or comb the hair until it is free of tangles. Excessive brushing and combing can actually damage the hair by putting added stress on the ends of the hair which roughs up the fibers causing fraying and splitting of the ends.

Teenagers and Gray Hair

Gray Hair and the Agony it can cause Teenagers

Gray hair and teenagers is not synonymously intertwined, as those golden years when childhood gradually merges into adolescence, gray hairs protruding through supposedly ‘youthful’ and ‘buoyant’ hair, could not be further from a teenager’s mind. Because of the distant associations between gray hair and teenagers, for a minority of youths who are unlucky enough to be plagued by the premature onset of gray hair, life can be sometimes excruciating.

Why do Some Teenagers Have Gray Hair?

Two main factors contribute to a teenager’s hair turning gray, illness or genetics, with the latter being the most likely cause. When youngsters start to produce gray hair it is known as “premature graying” or “canities”. A cell biology professor from a university in England described our hair as containing a “melanogenetic clock”, which is genetically predisposed to decrease or completely stop the amount of melanin being produced in our hair. When there is a lack of melanin activity, it means the hair follicles are lacking pigmentation, which then causes the hair turns gray. Typically this does not start to occur until we reach our 30s, but occasionally a reduction in the production of melanin can begin as early as during teenage years, and is a result of nothing other than our genes being programmed to do so. How quickly the gray hair engulfs the whole head is also determined by genetics, and can be a long and drawn out process, which can take many, many years, or it can develop more rapidly causing a person to be ‘completely gray’ in no time at all. Either way, if a teenager is faced with any amount of gray hair which is visible to their ‘peers’ it can provide for a source of ridicule and can consequently result in misery.

Some medical conditions can also affect teenagers’ hair and cause it to become gray. As a young person’s body fights some diseases such as neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder which affects the nervous system, and other rare conditions such as Vogt-Koyanagi syndrome, the antibodies created destroy the pigment melanin, causing the hair to turn gray. Vitiligo is a disorder of the skin which can also cause a teenager’s hair to turn gray or even white, as can hyperthyroidism, which slows down the melanin activity in the hair follicles. One common symptom of a deficiency in vitamin B, which is often linked to anemia amongst teenagers, is both the hair turning gray and the hair falling out.

Certain drugs, herbs and supplements, such as Echinacea and vitamin E, have also been linked to causing gray hair amongst teenagers.

Smoking

Smoking has also been associated with causing “premature graying” amongst teenagers. Youngsters, are not only continuously exposed to peer pressure, but they are also extremely impressionable, and often the lure of ‘looking cool’ and being part of ‘the ‘in crowd’ by smoking cigarettes, surpasses any feelings of being sensible or wanted to look after their health. Whilst many ‘scaremongering’ tactics are employed to deter teenagers from smoking, the link between gray hair and smoking is often ignored. If teenagers were better informed about the aesthetical downsides of the habit and knew that cigarettes are associated with gray hair and may have the potential to turn their luscious locks brimming with youth and vitality, into hair that resembles an old age pensioner, they may think twice before jeopardizing their appearance in order to ‘be cool’.

Ways in which Teenagers can Overcome Gray Hair

If a teenager is genetically destined to having gray hair by the time they reach their 18th birthday, there is little that can be done to prevent this inevitable misfortune from occurring.

There are certain steps however to help minimize the severity of the gray and prolong the process of becoming partially or completely gray. As mentioned above, refraining from succumbing to peer pressure and avoiding starting smoking will bring a multitude of benefits to a teenager’s health, including reducing the chances of their hair turning gray.

There are also certain natural remedies which may help to prevent the onset of premature graying. Taking a daily supplement of 15 mg of zinc with 1mg of copper is proven to have beneficial affects in delaying the arrival of gray hair within younger members of society.

Whilst stress and gray hair are not intrinsically linked, it has been suggested that stress and anxiety can augment and intensify hair which is beginning to turn gray on teenagers. Adolescents can be under types of stress which is unique to their age, and is essentially different to ‘adult stresses’. Whilst teenagers may not feel under pressure to find money to pay the bills, or worry about being made redundant, they can be subjected to stress invoked by bullying or not conforming to teenage ‘rules’, and at such a young age they do not know how to deal with it. Finding a gray hair as they look in the mirror will certainly cause anxiety and amplify any already existing stress. Learning to relax and cope with stress can only have positive repercussions on teenagers trying to deal with the worry that their hair is turning gray.

Some teenagers become anemic, which leads to a deficiency of B vitamins. A lack of vitamin B12 particularly has been linked to causing gray hair within teenagers. Taking a B complex supplement will help to boost this much needed vitamin and subsequently may help to reduce “premature graying”.

Ways for Teenagers to Disguise Gray Hair

Prevention might always be better than cure, but if a teenager, who is desperately trying to obstruct the gray which is emerging on their head, but is losing the battle, a ‘cure’ or a ‘disguise’ may be their only option to thwart the school bullies from relishing in those who have fallen victim to premature graying, misfortunes. Teenagers, at least are extremely talented in ‘bending the truth’ and concealing their gray strands of hair from the view of others should not be too difficult. Nonetheless, there are several ‘established conventions’ which both teenagers and adults alike can take to conceal their graying mane.

Dye Gray Hair

Dyeing hair another color is the most popular and arguably the most effective way to disguise any impending gray. Gray hair is disguised more effectively by dyeing it with a lighter color, as re-growth will not be as noticeable as it would with darker colors. As teenagers who are affected by gray hair typically just have partial gray and not a full head of gray, blonde highlights can be a good solution for achieving a more natural looking head of hair, which will not be a drastic change. For teenage boys however, the prospect of having gray hair may be preferable over having blonde highlights. A full head of dye a shade or two lighter than his natural color may be the best solution for teenage boys to cover gray hair.

Reminex GH

Reminex GH is a Hair Color Restoration Vitamin, which is made from only natural ingredients and is a suitable product for both adults and teenagers to help and restore their hair back to its natural color. Reminex GH comes in tablet form and consists of different ingredients proven to combat premature graying hair, including Saw Palmetto extract. The fact that Reminex GH is available in the US without a prescription makes it a popular choice for teenagers, as they can avoid the embarrassment of going to the doctors to discus their ‘delicate’ problem.

Gray hair, at any age, is a disheartening symbol that youth is not an eternal gift. But when gray hair rears its ugly head on a person who is still in their youth, the physiological effects can be tremendous, as there is nobody quite as sensitive and responsive to any ‘abnormalities’ as teenagers.

How to Apply Hair Color

We've had discussions about haircolor and talked about the rules for choosing the right color for you. We've even talked briefly about the risk of taking your hair to levels that are too light. But the best way for me to show you the results of improper color selection is to demonstrate the application of a haircolor on manikins with two very different color levels.

Step One:

    We begin with two manikins: a blonde manikin whose hair is at level 8 (light blonde) and a brunette manikin with hair at level 3. Both manikins were shampooed, and because the blonde has had her hair lightened previously we gave her a deep conditioning treatment prior to the application of the haircolor, to prevent any damage from the color process. Afterward, both manikins were blown dry and ready to color.

    We used the same haircolor on each manikin. The only difference in the color mixture was the developer we added. For the blonde, we used 20 volume peroxide, and with the brunette we mixed the color with 30 volume peroxide for added lift. The color used was Clairol 72R (Sunberry - light strawberry blonde) a level 9 color with a red-orange base color, because both our brunette and our blonde manikins had hair color with a red-orange contributing pigment. Therefore, there was no chance of unfortunate color results.

  


Step Two:

    We start the color processes with the blonde manikin first. In order to make the color change most visible, we did an all-over color. Now, when you are coloring hair that is medium length or longer, you want to apply the color to the middle of the hair shaft first, about 1 inch away from the scalp and stopping two to three inches from the ends of the hair, starting in the front on one side, then the other and work your way back to the nape of the neck. Then you return to the starting point and apply the color to the scalp area. Once the scalp color is applied, then you pull the color through to the ends of the hair. The reason for this is that the hair at the scalp will process faster because of the heat of the scalp, and the hair on the ends is more porous and will also process faster, therefore, to assure even color, you want to begin coloring with the middle lengths of hair.

    However, because the manikin's hair is so short, we began by applying the color to the scalp first, and continued to add color until it was worked through to the ends of the hair. After the color was on, we took a wide-toothed comb and combed the color through the hair to distribute it evenly. Once evenly distributed, all that was left was to wait for the color to develop.

    It's important to work quickly when applying haircolor, because once you mix the color with a developer, you have about 30 minutes before the color mixture becomes inert and will no longer color the hair. The longer the haircolor is able to sit on the hair and process, the better color results you will get.

 Next we applied color to the brunette manikin, but instead of doing all-over color, we wanted to use the Sunberry as a highlight color. We mixed our haircolor with 30 volume peroxide for extra lift. Using a freehand technique called balayage we brushed swaths of color in various areas of the hair (as shown by the photos) and allowed them to process. The idea was that the highlights would show up better against the starting brunette color.

Step Three:

    After allowing the haircolor to completely process, we rinsed the haircolor from the hair, by first rewetting the manikins' hair and massaging the hair to a lather then rinsing the color and following up with a good conditioning shampoo. Both manikins were then blown dry and styled as shown.

Results:

    As you can see, our blonde manikin's color turned out perfectly. We took her from a level 8 with a pale honey color, to the level 9 strawberry blonde without damaging the hair. The color is rich and even, with natural highs and lows giving the overall effect depth.

    Our brunette manikin, however, shows no change from the original color except for a little more red in the color tone. This was expected. As we stated at the beginning, our brunette manikin was a level 3, and we used a 30 volume developer which only offers a maximum lift of around three shades. Basically, we added as much color to the hair as we would have dispersed with our peroxide, and the result is hair that shows no appreciable difference in color.

    We did this on purpose, to show you that haircolor is often difficult to work with unless you pay close attention to the levels of color you start with and add to the hair. If our intention had been to really give our brunette manikin the strawberry blonde highlights, we would have needed to use a bleaching agent first, in order to lighten the highlights to a level around 8 or 9, then we could have used our Sunberry color and gotten the effect we were telling you to expect.


    So, now you see both the results of a good color selection, and what can happen when you don't pay attention to the color level. Training and experience are what allow your stylist to know what will work best for you, but knowing what to expect will help you communicate better with your stylist to get the results you want.

Going Blonde

 Have you been turning your head every time you see a blonde with long straight hair walk by you? In fact, now as you lay upon your bed at night; you’re starting to have thoughts of going blonde yourself. Hey, slow down and let’s think about whether this would be a good choice for you.

      Admittedly, if you are thinking about lightening your hair; you are definitely positioning yourself up for a change in your life. Boredom coming from the reflection of the mirror can easily bring some dissatisfaction and discouragement. Ask yourself, what is the significance for thinking this way? One thing to consider is, you may admire that willowy blonde that walks by, but try as you could, you will not be able to look just like her. Your DNA is unique just as hers is and you do not need to copy anyone.

      Here are a couple questions to ask yourself before you dive into the kingdom of blondes:

      What true color is my hair now, and is it complimenting me or taking away from my looks?

      What is the real reason, I have become so dissatisfied with my color?

      Would blonde go with the color of my eyes and my skin?

      Do I want a natural looking blonde?

      Am I seeking to cover my natural color because I feel my gray is unbecoming? 

      Whatever the reason, it is a good idea to ask yourself some balanced questions. What does a good friend of yours say about your idea? Usually, they are our best critics and see you differently than you do yourself.

      Blonde is not for everyone. It is amazing when I see someone who has been a blonde for years suddenly appear with a warm golden brown. The improved difference is quite striking; I have always wondered why they didn’t do that in the first place. But, there is an old saying “once a blonde, always a blonde,” and don’t you believe it for a second.

      There are several reasons why some stay as blondes, and one is because of seeing themselves with the blonde color has become a habit. They tell me jokingly, “I don’t even know my natural color anymore.” That just happens to be the truth too. Blinded by this habit, they do not realize just how much prettier they would look if their hair matched their brows and eyes. What a difference that makes.

      Many of the movie stars get away with dark eyes and blonde hair because of the entertaining they do that requires heavy make-up. This doesn’t make them more beautiful, classy or elegant than you, just more in the public eye. What kind of look are you searching for? Should you decide on a blonde, would it match the color of your eyes? Would it flow? Or, would it wash you out? Would you require more make-up than you are used to using, and if so; are you ready for this ritual every time you venture out?

      If you have brown eyes there would definitely be the contrast with the blonde hair. There could be attractiveness with that difference; with a goodly amount of make-up. Brown eyes could look good with blonde if it has the right tones. If it is too pale yellowish, you will look just like everyone else. Depending on your skin tone a strawberry blonde or a neutral blonde could be your answer. Either way, you will have to get used to wearing a little bit moremake-up. Even with gray eyes, you need make-up. Frankly, I haven’t seen anyone who doesn’t need the improvement of some make-up on their face. Gray eyes need color and if you put a bland pale blonde next to them, it could wash you out. Everyone knows that blue and green eyes go hand in hand with the color of blonde.

      If you are truly headstrong about going blonde, the best idea for you is to select a natural hair color. Take a visual survey as you go about doing your errands and at work today. Look at all those same color blondes. With a professional eye I can tell you, it is almost like wearing a uniform and joining the same union. Everyone looks the same. Many women have their color so extremely lightened there isn’t any color left in their hair shaft. Unfortunately, the majority have very dry and usually unhealthy. Something tells me you do not want to go in that direction.

      It is important to know that if you are comparing yourself to others? If so, you aren’t being fair to yourself. What is good for them may not be good for you. If God made you a banana, don’t try to be an apple. But, you can be the best looking banana in the whole bunch.

      What about your age? Have you already been covering up your gray with a light blonde? One mega mistake anolder woman can make is to cover up that gray with a lighter blonde. There isn’t any mystery to it and everyone knows exactly what you are doing. Instead, put some color into that blonde if you want to cover your gray up. Allow your colorist to put a dab of warmth into that blonde instead of any pale yellow. Besides, by now you are in need of color on your cheeks. The warm blonde or golden blonde will definitely help you out.

 Another big mistake many older women make in covering up their gray is to just foil over the gray. This looks like your gray is “yellowing.” This does not look like the sun has turned your gray into a sunny blonde. What you could do is to find a warm golden blonde/brown color and cover the whole hair with it. As it fades in the places where you are gray will look very golden. You will automatically have at least two different shades without the problems and expense of foils. Then, you are doing more depositing instead of lifting which is what you need.

      It is a good idea to go lighter when you are more “mature.” It takes away any harshness that has been added through the trials of your years. Lightness can bring a lightheartedness and warmth to your face. Sometimes, there is a graying process in our faces as we age, this is when we really need the warmth to help add blush to our cheeks and make our eyes seem much more colorful. One thing to remember though, pale blonde is just like gray and will not add anything to your face or eyes.

      Some of the best colors are developed over the process of time. For example: if you have dark hair that is touching your shoulders and can see the gray coming in or are already aware of your long streaks of gray and have decided on foils. You can begin with adding only two colors at a time. Add a light warm blonde and a deep fiery red. I say the rich red because this color will fade into a gorgeous rich caramel within one to two months. With about 4 foils over a period of one-two years, you will have a totally rich outstanding color to your hair. There are many options to going blonde and most of the time, blonde doesn’t look best or natural when it stands alone.

      One of the best things to determine is not only if the color blonde is for you; but are you ready for a new cut as well? Just going into a reputable salon and having that coveted blonde color will not be enough. One of the smartest and most sophisticated looks I’ve seen on blondes is when they wear a short bob. One that is clipped high to medium in the back with small layers just fluffed over it that moves up into the crown. The sides cover only half of the ears; while the top is much longer and flows onto the sides. This is a very chic, smart look for a blonde. Even if you are a bit heavy, this look will still look better on you instead of long hair flowing down your back. So, when your mind is made up and you walk into that salon, remember to get the whole make-over. Many of the better salons wouldn’t dream of giving you just a color and not a style as well.

      Consider the cost in more ways than money. I’ll be touching on the high maintenance that factor into being a blonde in "She’s a High Maintenance Gal." It is my hope this will help out with your decisions.

      As you reflect upon good knowledge and information, you will be saved from a world of heartaches, misfortune and trouble with your hair.