Want to change your hairstyle without drastically chopping your locks? Before you shell out major cash for a fresh style, consider modeling a new do with a simple variation on the way you part your hair.
Though there is not necessarily a good or a bad way to part your hair, several mainstream options are easy to achieve. What matters most is that you are comfortable and confident with the style you choose. If you cannot immediately decide on your preferred style, try the following, or make up your own!
A very common method of parting the hair involves the natural part, which runs right down the center of one's head. If this is your current style and you are ready for a change, try to form a new part a bit to the left or the right of your current part.
Parting your hair on your own is a cinch! If you aren't familiar with doing so but want to try a new look, first comb your hair as if you are going to throw it back into a ponytail. Then take a thin comb and trace a straight line along your scalp where your hair meets your forehead to the back of your head. Separate the hair on either side of the new part and gently brush or comb it down until it lays smoothly. If you find difficulty with this, you may want to introduce a small dab of a non-sticky styling product to your hair to calm it down. Also, if your hair is very accustomed to a certain style, you may have to "train" it to respond to the new part by brushing in the desired direction and adding styling products when necessary.
To keep hair healthy and strong, it is important to schedule a trim regularly (or trim it yourself if you are scissors-inclined!) to prevent split ends. If you choose to have your stylist trim your mane for you, she should ask how you part your hair if she does not already know. It is important to "cut with the part" to keep your hair even and natural looking.
If you only want to change your look for a night, a chic zigzag part will stand you out from the crowd. Using your comb, simply trace the part back and forth from your forehead to the back of the head. Then separate the sections so that they lay evenly on either side of your head.
Though you already have a comb on hand, a handy, inexpensive tool makes the zigzag process a bit easier. The "Part Pizazz" is a tool with a point on one end and arms that swing open to separate the sections of hair when you are finished. To design the zigzag you merely trace the desired pattern on your head as if using a pen or pencil and a sheet of paper. Hairagami® produces the "Part Pizazz."
Whether you are enjoying your new look indefinitely or just for a night, remember not to run your hands through your hair too much as it may disrupt the style. Be bold, be conservative-be YOU-have fun and make a statement. Make sure you are confident in your new style as you sport it in public. Then bask in the glow of attention as those close to you notice something is just a bit different about you. Switching your part can make you feel fresh, energized and sexy.
Enjoy it!
No Fail Blow-Drying for Smooth, Shiny Hair
Want that silky, touchable hair that Pantene Pro V products claim their shampoo will give you? Look no further-you can have that flawless look by spending only a few extra minutes blow-drying your hair! Ditch the designer hair products and follow these simple instructions to give your hair the same beautiful look and soft feeling:
Materials:
- Towel
- Hairdryer
- Brush / Comb
- Claw-Clip or barrette
- Your usual styling products or a small amount of hair gel for touch-ups
These may not be necessary after you try this tip.
Step 1: Twist hair up into a towel in order to remove excess water. How long you keep it wrapped in the towel is up to you-my hair is long, so time permitting, I keep it like that for about 15 minutes.
Step 2: Comb out any tangles and part hair as you wish.
Step 3: Gather hair and twist except for a thin layer at the base of your head. Pin hair atop your head with the clip or barrette.
Step 4: Begin drying the loose hair. (You can use a lower heat setting if you do not have a time restriction.) When hair is complete dry, turn off hairdryer and brush or comb hair.
Step 5: Remove clip and take another section of hair to be dried. Re-twist your hair and replace pin.
Step 6: Repeat step 4 as necessary. For thicker hair, you may need to separate hair into sections several times. My hair is of a medium thickness but long, so I separate it into 3 sections.
Step 7: Once hair is completely dry, brush and style as you wish, or leave it down, as it should be less dried-out and more manageable. If your hair is not completely frizz-free and cooperative, rub a small amount of gel in your hands (a nickel's worth or a quarter's worth) and gently smooth over your hair, paying close attention to the ends.
Drying and styling time will vary based on your hair's thickness and length. Though I do not always have enough time to use this drying technique, it works wonders for my hair for those special occasions!
Approximate Time Required: 10-20 minutes, depending on thickness and length of hair.
Stylish Updo Hairstyle with a Twist
For a stylish up-do, try these simple steps!
Note: Works best with wet or slightly damp hair.
This hairstyle has seen me through business class presentations, mid-summer's outings in sundresses and casual "bum" days in jeans and sweatshirts. It is a great style with a unique twist!
To replicate this relatively easy hairstyle, gather these materials:
- 6 to 12 mini-claw clips (Or, failing that, lots of bobby pins!)
- Elastic Band / Ponytail holder
- Brush and Comb
- A hand mirror (So you can check out your style as you create it.)
- Styling gel (Spray gel works best.) or Hairspray
Note: If you do not already have these items, it is not necessary to go out and purchase them. Simply get creative and improvise!
Step 1: Remove excess water from your hair. Hair should be damp, not drenched.
Step 2: Using brush or comb, pull hair back and up, into a smooth, "high" ponytail and securely fasten.
Step 3: Pull a small section of hair away from the ponytail and twist whichever way is more natural/comfortable. Fasten the twist to your head with one of the clips.
Step 4: Repeat Step 3 - fasten each twist so that they start to hide the elastic band. By the time you are finished, a ring of twists should have concealed the band.
Step 5: Arrange the twists however you like them best… Feel free to experiment with the dynamics of the hairstyle. Try fastening the twists closer to the elastic band, or considerable farther away from it. Add more twists or try the style with fewer, thicker twists. You can create many different styles out of this single, basic technique.
Step 6: The ends of the twists should peek out from the clips. You can easily alter the length of these ends by merely changing the position of each mini-clip. For longer ends peeking out-a wilder style-rearrange the clips with more hair outside of the twist, just sticking out where the clip meets your head.
Step 7: Once you are pleased with the result, lightly spray the twists and the ends.
This style can be flirty and fun, or professional and sedate, depending on how you manipulate the twists and clips. Play around, have fun with the style and the many varied end results you can create in minutes!
Approximate Styling Time: 10-15 minutes.
A Recipe For Healthy Hair
Forget hair revitalizing shampoos, great nutrition is the most effective way of getting awesome hair!
Shiny, healthy hair is a reflection of a healthy body, so it's like two for the price of one. Just like your body, your hair needs a balanced, nutritious diet to stay healthy. So follow this recipe for healthier hair, and be amazed at the difference it makes!
Water
Water makes up one-fourth of the weight of a strand of hair. Moisture makes the hair supple, so make sure you get plenty of fluids. A key point is NOT to wait until you're thirsty. If you're thirsty, it means your body has already lost more water than it should have, and it's urging you to fill up the tank. Water not only hydrates your body, but helps keep your hair silky and shiny. Ideally, you should drink between eight and ten glasses of water a day.
Protein
Protein is the building block of hair, so a diet for healthy hair contains an awful lot of protein! Protein will give the shaft of your hair more strength, and will reduce the likelihood of dame through snapping and splitting. You can get protein from foods like fish, meat, milk, cheese and cereals.
Minerals
- Iron helps to carry oxygen to the hair. Without enough iron, hair and its follicles get starved of oxygen. This means that the 'goodness' in the root of your hair is much less effective along the length of the strand. You can increase your iron intake by eating red meat and dark green vegetables, or by iron supplements.
- Zinc builds hair protein which helps to prevent hair loss. Meat and seafood are the foods highest in zinc.
- Copper is involved in the pigmentation of hair. You can optimize your natural color with a diet with plenty of copper. Who needs hair dye and fake color! Shellfish, liver, fresh vegetables, nuts, seeds and meat are all high in copper.
Vitamins
- Vitamin A will give you a healthy scalp, because it's great for the skin! You can get vitamin A from foods like vegetables - in particular, in carrots. (So it's good for the waistline too!)
- Vitamin B and C are important for good circulation, hair growth and hair color. If you ensure that you have enough vitamin B and C, you'll have strong, supple strands of hair that do not split. You can get these vitamins from eating foods like fruit, vegetables, cereals, eggs, milk and bread.
So follow this healthy guide… be sure to add in a hefty dose of daily exercise to keep that blood pumping… then add proper hair care on the surface! Go ahead! Try it!
Soon enough you'll be turning down offers to do shampoo commercials!
