Was Your Favorite Hair Product Discontinued?

I think most of us can relate to having our favorite hair products be discontinued without any warning. As a hairstylist I'm annoyed, so I can only imagine how you feel!

I recently had this experience with a shampoo and hair mask from one of my favorite brands. I have talked about Age Recharge Shampoo and Mask more than I talk about my significant other. I can safely say that very few protein masks and shampoos can live up to the standards of Age Recharge. I love the smell, the results are incredible and my clients feel the same way.

So when it was replaced with Age Premium, Bain Substantif (shampoo), Lait  Substantif (the conditioner) and Masque Substantif, I was surprised. I quickly started to familiarize myself with it.

Results...

I'm not impressed. The mask leaves hair too soft and the shampoo does not feel as good. The reality is when a great shampoo or conditioner hits the market like Age Recharge and has a "long run”, sometimes it's "too long". At the end of the day it seems like it’s all about sales and profits for companies. Why keep something that works well, but may have dropped in sales? When you can create hype around a replacement product that’s supposed to be better and hopefully produce more sales.

Sadly this strategy does not always work So go online and buy as much Age Recharge as you can, stock up baby!! Oh and they’re making changes to the entire Kerastase line so beware.

Posted by Unknown at 7:43 AM - 0 comments

A Guide To Hair Oils.

Trinidad is home to multiple ethnicities and races, resulting in an incredible variety of hair textures. 

 My niece (in the middle) and her friends in Trinidad and Tobago.

Despite the differences, there was one unifying hair ritual across the island. Everyone rubbed oil into hair to keep it healthy and shiny. From coconut oil to Vaseline to Crisco (well…maybe not Crisco), everyone dutifully oiled his or her hair. However, as the years passed, we realized that oil actually stifles the scalp, i.e. - it can’t breathe which results in hair loss.

The Evolution of Oil-Based Products

With the introduction of hair masks, it became common knowledge across the industry that moisture came from water-based products, not oil ones. Hair masks took the market by storm for years leaving oily treatments in the dust.

Silicone, an oil substitute, was introduced to help women fight the good fight against frizz. But once low-grade silicone products flooded the market, interest in them began to wane as over use left hair super limp. 

 When Moroccan oil products entered the market, ladies went crazy!! In Trinidad and Tobago, to this day, you can’t keep them on the shelves...

  Moroccan oil is wonderful for hair. But like anything else, if it’s overused it will have the reverse effect. (A lightweight oil is now available which helps…)

Don’t Do This…

The challenge with oil is…it’s not made to be used everyday, not even every other day. When it’s overused, the hair absorbs too much, which leaves it limp. Some people apply oil every time they style their hair with a flatiron. That's too much. Think of when you pour oil on a piece of fabric. It’s hard to remove right? Hair is similar; it holds on to oil.

The Correct Way to Apply

Always start with the smallest bit of product. Less is more. Work from the ends up, avoiding the scalp.

Last time I was in Tobago, I had my niece put Moroccan oil on her hair prior to swimming in the ocean. When she came out of the salty water, her hair was gorgeous!!

 Avoiding Build-Up

Use an oil-based product only after shampooing. When applying oil, it’s important that hair is clean. Make sure your shampoo is strong enough to remove any excess build-up. If you’re using a Moroccan oil moisture base shampoo, beware it can make the problem worse by adding more oil.

I recommend using Sunday shampoo by Bumble and Bumble about once every two weeks. This will leave the hair and scalp clean allowing you to start with a fresh canvass.

  If your hair is fine, you should be very careful. Moroccan oil is intense and may not be for you. If you have thick hair, you’ll still need to be careful. Remember the idea is for your hair to be soft and shiny with life. Not an oil slick!

Safe for Color-Treated Hair?

If you dye your hair, don’t use oil as it can remove color. I worked with a hairstylist in L.A. who only used natural oils to remove hair color…seriously!

Antonio Gonzales

Posted by Unknown at 7:40 AM - 0 comments

A Wetsuit For Your Hair.

Before another sweltering, summer day passes, let me help you protect your hair from its main elements: strong sunlight, pool and salt water.

Check out Kerastase Soleil Gelee Aqua-Proof Filtre UV. It gives your hair the ultimate protection it needs on a day like today! It not only acts as a UVB filter, but will also infuse your hair with moisturizing agents. As an added bonus, it's water-resistant for all you who put in the summer hours at the beach.

This product comes as a gel. I recommend first applying it to damp hair (towel dried), then comb through to spread the product evenly. Your hair will have a wet look, which is fine because you are on the beach anyway right?

After combing your hair, you can style it into a bun, a braid or just keep it loose. Feel free to frolic and swim.

After coming out of the pool or ocean, I highly recommend rinsing your hair with water if you'll be laying out more.

At the end of the day you should use the shampoo, Bain Après-Soleil. It's designed to remove the gel.

And now Kerastase has a new product on the market, Aqua Seal Leave In Conditioner. Is a waterproof fluid-cream for sensitized hair. With protection against harmful UV rays it also provides protection against the salt water and chlorine. It leaves the hair feeling great after swimming, tames frizz and is light and creamy. 

Stay tuned for more tips on how to maintain gorgeous summer hair!

Posted by Unknown at 9:05 PM - 0 comments