HAIR POWDER ANYONE? THIS GETS MY STAMP

Do you want to use hair powders? I give them my stamp of approval. But their is a lot of conflicting information online about hair powders. After my research, I realized that a hairstylist’s point of view was needed to give you a real sense of what it is you may be committing to. As with any product, we either love it or hate it. This is very true with the Bumble and Bumble hair powders.

Hats off to this company for stepping up and supplying the need to improve a product which has been used for many years. They not only improved the content, they packaged it so it comes in two sizes: a travel size and a larger package. It also now comes in different colors and is easy to use.

This product is for you if;

You have fine hair, oily scalp, and are tired of shampooing every day.

You sometimes need a quick lift without wetting or blow drying or having to commit to stiff hair sprays.

This product is not for you if:

You run your hands through your hair a lot and like the feel of clean hair because you can feel product in the hair a little.

If you have problem scalp. (I would recommend allowing your scalp to recover first before using this product.)

Do not expect to fall in love with this right away. Buy a small can to try first. I remember working a wedding on a client that had fine black hair that was thinner on top. I was asked to do a very classic updo, but the hair at the front was a little see-through when I created lift there. I took my black hair powder and sprayed the scalp a little. It worked. It created the illusion of thickness at the hairline by lightly covering the scalp. So, please try it, and good luck. No this is not for the man with the comb over, I am just sharing a trick.

I must give this my stamp!

© 2008 Antonio Gonzales

Posted by Unknown at 8:11 AM - 0 comments

AFG STAMP OF APPROVAL

I love this part. Here are three products that I have used and will compare to give you the one that is affordable and worth the investment.


The first is John Frida Frizz-Ease

I hated it! Not only is this product every-bloody-where, but I can tell when a client has it on there hair without even asking. How do I know ? First, I consult, shampoo, cut and dry. As I am drying, the room is full of what seems like smoke coming from the hair. In my experience, roughly 80% of the time I’m told it’s this product when I ask. It is heavy and is difficult to shampoo out of the hair, so it builds up on the hair shaft.








The second is Bio Silk by Farouk.

Well, I should be careful not to speak too badly about this product before one of its many fans jump me on the street! So, what can I say except that it works. Not only is it light, it’s great for shine and for frizzing, and can be found in all drugstores across America. It can be used before blow drying. Use a tiny bit before flat ironing, then a pea size at the end. When you’re done and getting ready for the night, you can even put a little on your legs. You heard me right! That's what the advertisement said. Now, do I hear a lip gloss poppin', Mama?








What is the third? Think Rolls Royce (this makes BioSilk a Mercedes)!

Semi Di Lino Diamante is another great product by Alfaparf. It is a light weight serum that moisturizes incredibly well and is great for all hair types. I use this on curly hair at the end of the styling, whether wet or dry. Also, I use it before blow drying, and I find that it’s especially amazing to use a few drops prior to flat ironing. Just look at that packaging child! Get one now, you will thank me for it.




Copyright © 2008 Antonio Gonzales, All Rights Reserved
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Posted by Unknown at 8:00 AM - 0 comments

I AM HAVING A BABY ( THE END)

Now that we've discussed women's hair coloring during pregnancy, I want to talk some more about the safest way to color your hair from a vegetable-derived color with no ammonia or peroxide. I must be honest. Because there are so many semi-permanent hair colors on the market and an increasing demand to color grey hair, we the hairstylists have become more dependent on grey blending. This leaves us using some chemical. I remember back in the ‘80's when grey blending was not so important. Don't get me wrong: people were still hating great hair then. But, this did not begin at such a young age.

This point brings me to one product: Cellophane's. For those of you who don't know what I am talking about, this is a temporary color that is made by Sebastian. When I visited my first hair show in New York in 1989, one of the companies I came to know and love was Sebastian. Wow! Talk about great hair product and a creative show to make your jaw drop. For some reason, this product just slipped away from us. I am here to say that it’s one of the safest products for pregnant women.

The benefits of this product are;

1) It is safe for all hair types.

2) It conditions and gives great shine.

3) Because it is non-toxic, it is absolutely safe for pregnant women.

4) The product deposits safely on the hair.

5) It comes in 17 shades.

I also prefer it to other natural hair colors, like Henna, because it gently leaves the hair in several weeks without long-term staining. To describe this product I want you to think of Cellophane paper. If

you place red Cellophane paper over any surface, it becomes a red tone. The effect is the same when using this product on the hair. If you have black hair and you use red Cellophane's, the hair is still black, with a soft red tone. And, did I mention Shine? Your hair will glow from the heavens, I tell you!

I know the question you are asking: Does it cover grey hair? No, it does not. if you have dark hair with a few greys, it will cast a light temporary shade over the grey strands. Also, if you are one of the color fans that still want to use chemicals on your hair,well, this product can be your best friend too. It’s a great color for enhancing any beautiful redhead or blond after color service. If you have any questions on this product, please feel free to write me at the email above.

I give this my AFG stamp of approval!

Put ‘em to the test baby!

Copyright © 2008 Antonio Gonzales, All Rights Reserved

Posted by Unknown at 5:41 AM - 0 comments

MY PICK OF THE WEEK

Kerastase Nutritive Oleo Relax Smoothing Serum Controlling Care Rebellious, Frizzy, Dry Hair 4.2 fl oz 125 ml
I love this product on fine-curly hair,try it you will love it!
http://www.kerastase-usa.com

Posted by Unknown at 5:28 AM - 0 comments

LADIES YOU MUST READ THIS!!

Is your man's hair getting you down? Do you feel a little defeated by his old hairdo? Do you think he needs to be a little refreshed? Well, have I got the solution for you? Yes, I do! In addition to a new ‘do, a new hairdresser may do the trick.

Ladies, I too have dated that special someone in the past with the hairdo from hell. Can you imagine how hard it is for me as a hairstylist to walk around with someone who sports a back-to-front mullet!? Can you feel my pain? In some cases, especially in a new relationship, you may not want to rock the boat too soon. But there are also the long-term relationships, which is when you can be downright honest. Either way, here are a couple of winning lines and tactics to get the boys on the right track:

1) “Honey, I saw this guy at work today and his hair looked so good. He had hair like yours. Should we find out who does his styling?”

2) “I saw my stylist cut this guy’s hair today, You should try him. He is great with men's hair.”

3) “Munchkins, how long have you had that haircut?” (Then, follow with silence.)

4) General rule: Find a celebrity (a good-looking one) who he looks like and mention the similarity, particularly the hair.

5) Get him a gift certificate for a good salon. Men love surprises too.

6) Accidently pour a can of paint over his head. He will have to get all of it cut off. (I’m just kidding, you crazy girl.)

7) Visit his current hair dresser down some dark alley and pay him or her off to leave town. (This time, I’m serious.)


The above was outlined for beginners. For those of you who know your man well enough, do as follows:

YOU:

Honey, you know I care about your appearance as you do mine. I really feel that it’s time for you to start seeing someone new for your haircut. I know you can look so much better.

HIM:

But, I have been going to the same person for so long, I would feel so guilty.

YOU:

I know, honey. Let’s do what I did with my stylist when I dumped him: I sent a card with some chocolates thanking him for his years of service, and it was all fine. (Then, smile and count to 10)


Child, if that fails, you need to hire a hit man. (Again, I’m just kidding. Don’t you dare spend that hairstyle money on a thug!)

Girls, for more boyfriend tips, have a look at my advice for men @ http://www.ugo.com/lifestyle/hair-stuff-for-tough-guys/

Cheers!

Copyright © 2008 Antonio Gonzales, All Rights Reserved

Posted by Unknown at 7:48 AM - 0 comments

BEFORE AND AFTER

Copyright © 2008 Antonio Gonzales, All Rights Reserved

Posted by Unknown at 4:38 AM - 2 comments

BEFORE AND AFTER

Copyright © 2008 Antonio Gonzales, All Rights Reserved

Posted by Unknown at 8:00 PM - 1 comments

ARE ORGANIC PRODUCTS A MYTH

As a hairstylist, I see all the hair types, textures and challenges that my clients may have on a daily basis. These can be anything from growth, to color, to cut. From my point of view, there is another approach to healthy hair. That is choosing the right person behind the chair to create a healthy environment where the client feels comfortable enough to express themselves. The salon experience has changed and is changing; clients want their moneys worth, and deserve it. A calm and clean environment, sanitized hair brushes and combs, a delicious, organic green tea… these are just a few elements I provide for my clients. Then, I answer their questions. You all deserve an educating experience, so ask away.

You should enjoy your salon experience, which brings me to the topic of HEALTHY HAIR. I would like to give you my opinion as a hairstylist as you approach your healthy hair issue. From my experience, I often have clients who consume an all natural/organic menu and want to do the same with there hair: to use all-natural ingredients. It's very obvious with food, but is this possible with hair products?

As we all know there are chemicals in most hair products. But, there are all-natural products as well, some of which I highly recommend. It really depends on you and your challenges, maybe dryness, frizzing, lack-of volume, or even oily scalp. If you have virgin or chemically treated hair, go right ahead and find a natural product that works for your hair. The organic product lines available are multiplying fast. These products do work, but sadly not for all hair types especially for chemically treated hair. Honestly, I wish it did. In fact, if it did, I guarantee you I would sell it!

If you choose to use a non-organic shampoo for your hair and go with some chemical, the one chemical to be aware of is Sodium Laural Sulphate. This is an ingredient that creates “sudsing” (bubbles) in shampoos. During the past 10 years, I have seen more and more people that are allergic to this ingredient. The negative reactions are scalp dryness and flakiness. Sometimes, the effects are mild. But, they can be severe. There are many product lines that have shampoos without Sodium Laural Sulphate. Some that I have worked with and recommend are Mop Organics products, and most recently is Alpha Parf semi de lino shampoos, which comes in a hydrating and volumizing product. Keep in mind a huge percentage of the population is not allergic to this ingredient. As for conditioners the organic/natural approach is safe, but is it moisturizing enough? From my research, this can be challenge, so be sure to find something that works and has enough moisturizing agents to make your hair shiny and strong.

For chemically treated hair—even the all natural hair colors—the natural hair products may not be sufficient. Remember Color treated hair is very different from virgin hair, so be careful not to work against your investment. When you color your hair, you add a pigment that is being placed into the cuticle. So, the question is how to keep color from fading while hydrating at the same time. I remember working in a salon in L.A., and there was an essential oil counter in the salon. They would mix all these lovely oils and create body oils/creams and perfumes. What we also did was use the same oils to remove unnecessary color build-up off of the hair and it worked, and, yes… they were using stronger potions than normal. But, the fact is that you need to be aware of the effect the oils have on your color. Even the smallest amounts can release color molecules which will cause fading. This is why we also reccommend not washing your hair 48 to 72 hours after getting it colored.

As for styling products, go ahead and use all-natural ones. They do work. Realistically, there is something for everyone. However, it’s a proven fact that the healthier approach is better for you and the environment, so the choice is yours.

Antonio

Copyright © 2008 Antonio Gonzales, All Rights Reserved

Posted by Unknown at 7:16 AM - 0 comments

ASK ANTONIO

I must admit, I enjoy sharing my growing knowledge of my profession with you. It feels good to see that people are enjoying writing their beauty secrets and their beauty questions to my personal email: hairbyantonio@gmail.com. Please keep the questions coming, and I promise to share all of my knowledge with you.

I decided to start writing this blog because as avid readers of beauty information, my friends and I sometimes feel a disconnect with what we're reading. We often wonder if we're alone. As my clients and I chat about our products and our hair, we've realized that the information out there is not only overwhelming, but some of it isn't realistic. Information should feel reachable to everyone, regardless of how much money they make. As I do with my clientele, it's important that one give a wide-range of advice, keeping in mind that we're all talking to real people with very different beauty challenges. It's important as consumers for us to own our individuality without selling our souls to use the Q-tip that a celebrity uses. Know it's just a Q-tip, and it has nothing to do with the celebrity.

Over the years, part of our culture, or should I say the world, has become very celebrity-driven. I would like to share problems and solutions that are real and that happen every day to us all. Do I really need Sarah Jessica Parker's endorsement of baby wipes to help me figure out which one to use? Actually, my own clients come in with questions and great remedies that I trust for all types of products! So, I hope you enjoy my topics, finds, and personal stories and look forward to hearing yours.

Copyright © 2008 Antonio Gonzales, All Rights Reserved
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Posted by Unknown at 7:09 AM - 1 comments

Up DID & I DOs (RECENT WEDDING SHOT)

Copyright © 2008 Antonio Gonzales, All Rights Reserved

Posted by Unknown at 6:33 AM - 0 comments

BEST FASHION TIPS FROM ELAINE ARM STRONG

Summer Fashion in the City

Now that summer is almost officially begun in these parts, I thought I would share with you some quick observations about summer dressing in the city. I have been walking and observing through different areas of Manhattan on typical weekday mornings, uptown, downtown, etc., and here are some thoughts about the fashions I have seen “going to work”.

I have 3 words: boobs, boobs, boobs. I have not seen so much cleavage since my last trip through the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas. I am astounded by the proliferation of cleavage that is parading around the streets (and presumably in the offices) of NYC. I know that styles of late have some lower necklines, but please, I am not a prude, but for a sense of decorum, please put a black or white tank top under that revealing top. It’s really difficult for your fellow office mates to concentrate and take you seriously when your poitrine is out there in full view. Rein those girls in! I don’t care if you take your shirt off after work, but while in the office you should project a bit more modesty.

Guys, that goes the same for you. I know that you worked on that chest all winter and are now ready to show it off, but please leave the low cut V-neck T-shirt and muscle T for the jitney after work on Friday!

The flip flop pandemic: For some unknown reason, the otherwise fashion- minded of NYC have chosen to walk in this ridiculous plastic foot wear. I am not talking about the thong sandal. The thong sandal will always have a place in summer attire. I am talking about the $5.99 version with the white plastic sole that you get at Duane Reade or Target. I saw a gentleman waiting for the bus the other day and he had it totally pulled together for the summer; beautiful white linen shirt and pants, Prada sunglasses, the perfect leather bag, gorgeous grey hair, and THERE THEY WERE, the plastic flip flop! He had this great look going on and in my mind he ruined it with the plastic foot wear. I would take a “Reef” style sandal or a woven leather sandal over the plastic. Plastic flip flops are made for the shower. They should stay there.
Bag awareness! Be conscious of what your “bag” is doing to your attire: during the summer months, some women dress in shorter skirts or skimpier tops. (see above!) More than once this week, I have seen someone walking down the street with their bag draped crosswise across their body. Everyone does this, it’s a comfortable way of carrying a heavy load, but through the natural process of walking, the garment being worn becomes twisted and rides up well past the point that it should, giving passers- by a fashion view that the wearer never intended! This is one time that checking yourself out in the reflection of the buildings
pays off!

Peace to All,

Elaine
egarmstrong@msn.com

Posted by Unknown at 6:16 AM - 0 comments

DID SOMEONE SAY THE P WORD ? [PART 1]

“What is that smell?”

This is often the reaction from clients when the sickeningly sweet smell of Perm solution is in the air. My reaction is always: “It's a hair salon. What the hell do you expect, to smell Roses?” :)

Frankly perms have always gotten a bad wrap (get it), and do you know who's to blame? Hair stylists and clients. From the get-go perms always smelt bad and always will. So now that we are over that hurdle let’s talk about its purpose: it is designed to create curls, body, and texture. What happens after that is really up to the people behind the box. Education on perms has come a long way; we now know that not everyone wants to look like Shirley Temple on acid, with curls that are just not appropriate for public viewing. It was also a big relief once the 80's passed and the need to have tight curls and big hair faded with Dynasty shoulder pads… well, I actually miss the shoulder pads.

It may surprise you but perms are still being done in salons today; even I still do perms. The quality of perms—like everything else—has improved: they are far more gentle on the hair. Even color-treated hair can be permed without clients wondering if they are going to hear the sound of more than a dozen perm rods hitting the sink with the the hair still in them (believe me… it has happened). No, now the conditioning perms that are on the market are really turning heads, so everyone’s perming again.

In addition, what has changed is the fact that we now know we can’t depend on a head of tight curls to save the day. We tried. The results were disastrous! Ok, I will stop recounting how bad it was, as I’m sure you get the picture. (LOL!) Now, when we perm hair, we do expect it to be wash-and-wear. We also know that to have versatility, some work is needed. After all, why should we go through all this trouble for you to walk around with hair that, well, is just curly. Have fun with it! As an example, I have some clients that perm once a year, mainly in the summer. It’s the perfect solution for fine flyaway hair during the heat.

[To be continued in PART 2…]

Copyright © 2008 Antonio Gonzales, All Rights Reserved

Posted by Unknown at 6:50 PM - 0 comments

SHAVING FIVE YEARS OFF YOUR FACE

In the five years that Stephen Kazanjian has graced my chair, we've had so much fun sharing tips back and forth. I know hair and he knows everything else. Now Stephen's agreed to share some of what he knows with you. This is the first post from Stephen, enjoy and learn how you can take five years off your appearance in preparation for that special event. Honey when I heard this, I knew that this was a match made in heaven.

Thanks darling.



I have always been very conscious of my physical appearance. I think it stems from the time when I was quite young and asked my mother if I was attractive. In true motherly fashion, her response to me was that I had a lot of friends and was loved very much by her and my father. This told me her answer was no. Consequently, I decided to do something about the way I looked and over the years have devoted significant time and effort to maintaining my appearance. There are those outsiders (and some insiders) who might say this stems from being extremely vain. Absent years of extensive counseling to delve into my level of vanity, I tend to think my desire to stay as attractive as possible stems from the fact that I feel much better about myself and the world around me when I look my best. I don’t think I am alone in this regard which is why the phrase “a bad hair day” means so much to so many.

Given my desire to look my best, I am frequently asked how I have maintained my appearance throughout the years (I admit to being 45). My response is “There is a highly trained team of professionals, consultants and advisors on call 24 hours a day to make sure I look flawless whenever I am out in public.” In reality, it is all done with mirrors (and various products). I am in no way a trained professional on this subject but I have developed several skin care regimes that seem to work well at delaying the march of time as it crosses over my face. As a result, when Antonio asked me to write an article for his blog about a product I like, I could not say no, especially since Antonio is one of the highly trained team who probably feels like he is on call 24 hours a day.

Given the number of products I have tried over the years, I found it difficult to write about just one. Since my claim to fame (aside from making the perfect martini) is being able to help any man’s face look at least five years younger with my beauty regiment, Antonio and I decided this would be the ideal topic for an article. While my perspective is for a man, the process can work on women as well. Women’s skin tends to be more sensitive than men’s so I suggest women be more careful and alter the products for those that are for a woman’s complexion.

This procedure can be done no more than once a week, involves a few relatively easy and painless steps and takes about one hour. I typically start with an unshaven face. The first step includes a thorough cleansing of the face and neck area. According to Victoria Principal, your complexion does not stop at your chin so why should your beauty regiment. I like to use both Biore Warming Anti-Blackhead Cream Cleanser and Kiehl’s Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion. The Biore has a slight texture to it which removes surface dirt and then the Kiehl’s is able to get deep down dirt. First I wash my face and neck with the Biore product like I would with any soap. I then use the Kiehl’s product on a large cotton (not cosmetic) ball. I apply a slight amount of pressure as I am rubbing the cotton ball over my face to really clean out my pores. You may see dirt on the cotton ball, so I recommend replacing the soiled cotton ball with a fresh one until all of the dirt is removed.

The next step is to exfoliate the face and neck to remove a layer (or two) of dead skin cells. My new favorite exfoliation product is Kiehl’s, Facial Fuel Energizing Scrub - Skin Buffer for Men, although I have also used Freeze 24/7’s Ice Crystals Anti-Aging Prep and Polish with great results. With both products, apply a small amount to a wet face and rub in a circular motion for two to three minutes, avoiding the area around the eyes. Rinse thoroughly after finishing.

Given the granules in any good exfoliation product, they are hard to thoroughly clean from your face so after this step, I typically shower to remove any granules which may be left on my skin. After my shower, I shave. I know that men’s facial hair is all the rage right now but a clean-shaven face always looks younger than a face with a scruff, especially if your scruff has as many naturally highlighted (gray) hairs as mine does. After I shave I cleanse one more time with the Kiehl’s Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion on a cotton ball. This process removes any dirt that might have been hiding under a hair follicle and any bacteria your blade may have placed on your skin while shaving.

The next step is a facial mask to tighten the skin and close the pores. I prefer a clay mask as they tend to really tighten the skin, although I have used other types of masks. My current mask of choice is Yon-Ka Masque 103 Purifying and Clarifying Clay Mask. This is for normal to oily skin but there are other masks for dry skin. Apply a layer of the mask to a clean face and neck, again avoiding the eye area. Leave the mask on until it hardens completely (about 15 minutes) and try to avoid talking or making facial expressions while using the mask. Then remove the mask with a damp warm wash cloth. Make sure you get the entire mask off your face and neck. The last thing you want is to walk around with green clay on your face.

If your face has as many lines as mine has, you will want to use an anti-wrinkle cream. I recommend Freeze 24/7 Anti-Wrinkle Cream. Apply a small amount to the forehead and wrinkles around the mouth and on each cheek. Wait two to three minutes and then moisturize. Depending on the time and type of day, I have two products I like to use on my face for moisture. If I am going out during a sunny day, I use Kiehl’s Facial Fuel SPF 15 Sunscreen – Energizing Moisture Treatment For Men. My good friend, Anna, has always said that SPF is your face’s best friend. On cloudy days, and when I am heading out after sunset, I use Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Moisturizer. Both products leave my face with a matted finish and never feeling oily or looking shiny. Many beauty aestheticians are of the posture that a shiny face is a healthy face but I think it simply looks oily, especially on a man.

The results from this procedure vary depending on your age, how much damage has been done to your skin over the years and on your skin type. Antonio has flawless skin so it would be hard to help him look much younger but a mature man with a few wrinkles who has led an “active” life like myself can look anywhere from five to ten years younger. The effects on most men will last anywhere from four to six hours depending on how many cocktails are involved after the treatment is completed. Over time and with the proper care, the effects can become more permanent. If invited back to write again for Antonio, I will share some of my other secrets for long-term care, shaving and fighting problem skin.

Posted by Unknown at 6:42 PM - 0 comments

GREAT NEWS: I'M HAVING A BABY (NO, NOT ME!) [Part Two]

My niece Jasmine.


When it comes to haircolor, there are usually concerns for women planning their pregnancy. I am no doctor, so I leave the decision up to the client and their doctor to decide weather or not to color their hair. There are different options for women with grey hair versus women without. Here is a basic breakdown on hair color:

It takes permanent color with ammonia and peroxide to cover grey hair 100%. Demi-permanent colors, which have a low level of peroxide and no ammonia most times, are less harsh on the hair but will BLEND greys when used with heat. So, the safest is a vegetable-based color

like Sebastian Cellophane's which has no ammonia or peroxide, but, as a result, will not blend greys well. This color was big in the early ‘90s. One of my favorite choices was Redality. It comes in several different shades, gives great shine, and is even safe for kids.

If you have highlighted hair and are afraid of not being able to highlight during pregnancy, start introducing low lights into your color. Instead of going darker dramatically, you can ease into the process, while still having a lighter feeling. As you gain weight, putting lowlights around your face will have a slimming effect


Some of the demi-permanents I know are: Color Touch by Wella, Herbatint, Dia color by Loreal, Color Wear by Alfaparf, and Shaes EQ by Redken.









It comes down to this: consult your doctor, not your hairdresser, on this one.

Antonio

Click OLDER POST at the very end to see the complete page of my archive.

Copyright © 2008 Antonio Gonzales, All Rights Reserved

Posted by Unknown at 6:14 PM - 0 comments

MY FAVORITE CHARITY

Recently I was invited to share the company of a group of inspiring beautiful young girls and their mentors in order to share information on what I do best: hair. We sat in a circle and they all had questions prepared for me on their beauty challenges and concerns. We had so much fun! I fell in love with the idea that "girls change everything," and at the end of the program, I left with a sense that I had just left the company of strong eager girls that were willing to learn and make changes in their lives.

Thanks, girls.







The Girls Program

New Settlement's Girls Program provides a safe space and supportive yet challenging environment for girls and young women to gain leadership skills, express themselves creatively, explore college and career options, and learn to protect themselves against violence, unplanned pregnancies and STIs. All classes are free and open to the surrounding community, but participants who are accepted to the program are expected to make a serious commitment to respect each

other and instructors, keep their grades up, attend the program regularly, and actively participate in trips, performances and projects. High-school-age participants have an opportunity to earn a modest stipend for regular participation in our college-prep, sexuality, and health and financial literacy programs.

The Girls Program is made possible, in part, by the generosity of the Liz Claiborne Foundation, Pinkerton Foundation, New York Women's Foundation, Theodore Luce Charitable Trust, and the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development.

To learm more contact the program at 7187168000 Ext 133

Posted by Unknown at 6:03 PM - 1 comments

LOOK AND SEE WHICH PRODUCT WON.

I decided to put three products to the test and share my experience with you from a hairdresser’s point-of-view. The three products are: Alfaparf Cristalli Illuminating polish, American Crew Classic wax , and Garnier Fructis brilliantine shine wax.

After using the three, it was clear to me which was my favorite. I tried them on short, towel-dried hair, medium-length dried hair, and as a finishing polish on long blow-dried hair.

The Fructis shine was my first favorite. The hold was not as good, but, it smelled great. Also, it is water-based, so it’s easily removed from the hair, and cheaper too. As you already know, you can find this product at every corner.





The American crew classic wax was thicker than the first. The smell was not my favorite (which is just my opinion) and it had less shine. Also, it was not as easy to remove from my hair.





The Alfaparf illuminating polish had a great smell, was easy to apply, and worked great on short, fine, or thick hair. On short hair, it was great for creating texture without feeling like super glue. I also used a tiny bit on the ends of a blow dry: it was perfect! The shine was incredible, it was easily removed from the hair with one shampoo, and it’s not expensive.




So, Alfaparf: you get the AFG stamp of approval.

Copyright © 2008 Antonio Gonzales, All Rights Reserved

Posted by Unknown at 5:19 PM - 1 comments

MY STAMP OF APPROVAL

Over the years of using so many pastes for styling short hair, I have narrowed it down to three of my favorites. Enjoy!



The first is the fiber by American Crew. This product has been around for sometime now. It is made by a company that really took the male haircare market by storm long before most companies did. At one time, this was being used by a majority of my clients, especially men, as well as women with very short hair. The fiber is a paste that gives great hold to short and/or textured cuts. It was introduced at a time when a product like this was needed, and at that time, it was by far one of the better pastes. It worked well, but other companies started making their own pastes which were not as thick or dry. Compared to other products’ sales, American Crew was left on the shelves. Now, I think it’s time to re-vamp this product, American Crew.





The second is by Bumble and Bumble. This product line is hands-down one of my favorites. The Sumo Tec—unlike the fiber by American Crew—is not as dry, and the hold is great for more textured hair cuts, even long mens’ cuts. Frankly, I have seen it used on all hairtypes. The disadvantage with this paste is that one has to work hard to get it off their hands and onto the hair without having it looking like… bird poop. It’s better applied on well-towel-dried hair. Otherwise, it slides off the hair and stays on your hand. Don’t get me wrong: I still use it, but not as often.




Now, I have two words for you: Shaper Paste.

Shu Uemura recently launched there hair care line and I love it. The Shaper paste is nicely packaged, good for the hair, smells clean and a tiny bit goes a long way. I can use this on all hair types as well, even on damp hair. For me, most importantly, it can be easily applied, washes off easily, and delivers great hold. By golly, it works!


My newest product comparison:

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