Hair Issue: Slow Growth

So many women complain of slow hair growth, so I've turned to Will Williams, Director of Education for Sofn'free to help shed some light on the situation and provide a trick to help speed up the growth.

Will says, "If there is life in the follicle, kick-start it to grow strong and healthy."

Here's how to do it!

Step 1:

· Select a small, soft brush to massage and treat the scalp. A silver-dollar size saddle soap brush used for polishing shoes is perfect, since the bristles are malleable and the surface area is small enough to concentrate on specific parts of the scalp. These brushes are sold at most any shoe shop.

· Saturate the brush with Sofn'free GroHealthy Really Deep Conditioning Treatment, which contains stimulating menthol. With circular motions, gently scrub the scalp in affected areas. Let the treatment set for 10 minutes, then wipe it away with a soft cloth.

· Clean the brush with water only for the next step.

Step 2:

· Apply a few drops of rosemary oil to the scalp, and massage it in with the brush using gentle, circular motions. Let the oil set for 10 minutes, then rinse the hair and scalp with warm water.


Step 3:

· Apply a dime-size amount of Sofn'free GroHealthy Three-Layer Growth Oil to entire scalp.


Why this works: The menthol ingredient in this Sofn'free GroHealthy conditioner stimulates circulation of the scalp, while the complete formula serves as a co-wash to cleanse away excess buildup, dirt and sebum. Rosemary oil stimulates healthy hair follicles, encouraging further hair grow. Triple-Layer Growth Oil applied to a clean scalp helps to regulate and prevent the overproduction of sebum.

Get Great Hair with Biosilk

Written by Liz Q. for The Anti Hair Slave

One of the first things a man notices when a lady is sitting at the bar is her hair. When the light catches, and your hair is shining and soft – that’s when you get him! However, nowadays when all we ladies do is straighten, blow dry, curl or in other words, damage our hair with heat, it’s difficult to keep our hair shiny and healthy. Biosilk Silk Therapy has been one of the best products I’ve tested so far. I have thick, wavy hair and all I do is apply a small dab of the serum on and comb through. My hair becomes so silky and soft, but not overly shiny as to be greasy. I get so many compliments! Just be sure not to apply on the roots as that will definitely give a more unfavorable look! I got my Biosilk hair products from Image Beauty simply because it’s a little cheaper and when I order enough stuff, I can get free shipping. However, I’m sure they’re available at your local brick and mortar cosmetics store!

Also, since my hair is thicker than most and I only use a tiny bit, I’m not sure how this would work on fine hair. Have any of you finer hair ladies tried it?

Protect Your Highlights This Summer

Highlights are hands down one of the prettiest ways to update your look. Zoe Kravitz stepped out at the New York premiere of X-Men with some of the most summery highlights ever. I think her hair color looked amazing, but I know it must take some serious up-keep and protection during the summer months.  To help you guys get the most of your highlights this summer, I've asked Natasha Sunshine, Pureology Colour Ambassador and owner of Byu-ti Hair Therapy, Pureology’s flagship salon to share a few tips for protecting your highlights from the two biggest threats, the sun and the pool this summer!

Natasha says, "Prevent your hair from fading by using products that have sunscreen UVA an UVB protection like Pureology's EssentialRepair ColourMax spray. Use it before every blowdry or even spray on before hitting the beach. And just a hot tip, every Pureology product, even their stylers have a special AntiFade Complex for longer lasting hair color in them so the more Pureology you use the better the protection."

Planning on spending a lot of time in the water this summer?  Natasha gives us a tip on how to protect your hair color from the pool.  "Protect your color in the pool by loading your hair up with a heavy conditioner before getting in and pull hair back into a low bun. This will help create a barrier against the chlorine. The tight bun prevents the chlorine from getting to your ends, the most porous part of the hair. Follow up by using Purify shampoo by Pureology to pull any chlorine residue out."

Have that dreaded green tint to your hair?   Natasha has a remedy for that!  "Put six Aspirin in a bowl filled with two cups of water and soak for 15 minutes. It'll pull the green right out of the hair."

Kerastase Travel Sizes

Kerastase is one of my favorite high end hair care brands, so I just had to share the news that they have travel friendly sizes. Now that means if travel sized products make it in your luggage for trips, you can conveniently carry your favorite Kerastase hair care products along too. Kerastase offers 12 travel-sized versions of their most coveted products to cleanse, treat and protect your hair.

Creme of Nature Argan Oil

Creme of Nature is just one of those classic hair care companies that you know and love, but what makes CON stand out is that they are changing with the times and adapting to their customers new needs and wants.  A while back Creme of Nature discontinued a shampoo from their line that left a lot of loyal customers really upset and wanting their shampoo back.  I remember reading on one of the hair forums about a few ladies (who will remain nameless) that stalked their local Beauty Supply Stores and drugstores buying up every single bottle of the old formula that they could find.  Anyway, the main problem with the new shampoos was that they had SLS in them, while the old formula did not.  Well, CON was listening and they have release a brand new shampoo and conditioner duo and the shampoo is Sulfate Free!  The Moisture & Shine Shampoo and Intensive Conditioning Treatment.

Keep reading for the full review!

Pantene Pro-V Casting Call

Pantene, known for providing women with healthy, beautiful hair for more than 60 years, is seeking five African-American women to star in its upcoming 2012 print advertising. The search will take place at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans.  Remember the lovely ladies from last year?  Well, now it's your chance!

Friday and Saturday, July 1st and 2nd, 11:00am - 5:00pm at Morial Convention Center 2nd Flr. Room 226, 900 Convention Center Blvd.

Sign-ups begin at 10:00 A.M. and are limited to the first 200 people

Callbacks will be held on Sunday, July 3, 2011

Important Note: Women with relaxed and/or natural hair are able to participate, however those with extensions or weave will not be considered. The winners will be featured in Pantene’s print advertisements beginning in 2012 and will receive an all expense paid trip to the print shoot location. Winners will be announced at a later date.  So LEAVE your WEAVE at home!

Summer 2011 Wedding Updo: The Top Knot

Summer wedding season is among us!  Even if you are not the bride or a bridesmaid you still want to look your best.  Kevin Mancuso, Nexxus Creative Director, has a bold yet polished look that works with any fashion look and keeps your hair off your neck and shoulders.

“Give an updated twist to a classic style, like a chignon, by placing it high on your head. This polished, sophisticated look will carry you through wedding season in style.”

– Kevin Mancuso, Nexxus Creative Director

Create this chic look at home with products from Nexxus® Salon Hair Care and the below tips from celebrity stylist and Nexxus Creative Director Kevin Mancuso:

PREP

• Start by washing hair with a moisturizing shampoo, like Nexxus Therappe Luxurious MoisturizingShampoo.
• Follow with Nexxus Humectress Ultimate Moisturizing Conditioner to add hydration and dimensional shine to your style.
• Apply Nexxus Mousse Plus Volumizing Foam Styler to damp hair to help create body and volume.
• Blow-dry hair, using a large round brush to smooth the ends.

STYLE

• Gather hair at the top of your head and secure in place with an elastic.
• Spilt hair into four sections and wrap each section around the base one at a time, making the style as loose or tight as you desire.
• Fasten sections into place with bobby pins to secure your style, making sure they are hidden under the bun.

FINISH

• Finish the look with a misting of Nexxus Maxximum Super Hold Styling and Finishing Mist for long lasting hold.

Davines + The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation - Sustainable Beauty Day

Luxury hair care brand, Davines, and The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation have joined forces to create the first ever Sustainable Beauty Day. Built upon a perfect balance of beauty and sustainability, Davines’ commitment to minimizing their environmental impact spans from the ethically sourced natural ingredients they choose to their eco-friendly headquarters in Parma, Italy. In keeping with their dedication to environmental responsibility, Davines has joined forces with The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, a unique charity that benefits impoverished communities through the planting of fruit trees. By planting fruit trees in communities worldwide, The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation elevates an environmental project to the level of social sustainability—a beautiful fit for Davines.

Sustainable Beauty Day calls for salons that are closed on Mondays to open their doors on June 20, 2011 and offer their clients cut and styling services free of charge. Each client will be encouraged to make a $15 minimum donation for the service and 100% of the proceeds will benefit The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation. Davines and The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation strive to raise $20,000 to fund a new fruit tree planting initiative called Sustainabilitree in the Sofala Province of Mozambique, Africa. Sustainabilitree stands to alleviate world hunger, combat global warming, strengthen communities, and improve the surrounding air, soil, and water quality.

So on Monday, June 20th, consumers will be able to go into select salons and receive cut and styling services for a minimum donation of at least $15.  100% of the donations will benefit impoverished communities in Africa through the planting of fruit trees.

To view the list of participating salons in NY, NJ, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut keep reading! For all other areas please visit the Davines website:

Carol's Daughter Monoi Hair Care Collection Review

Finally, I am reviewing the Carol's Daughter Monoi Hair Care Collection.  I say finally because I've had the products in my possession for a while now and I've been trying them over and over to get the results promised.  Carol's Daughter claims that hair will be 13x stronger after one use and there will be 96% less breakage.  After several uses my hair felt slightly stronger and I noticed a few less strands in the comb after I washed, conditioned, and deep conditioned.

My absolute favorite thing about this collection is the scent.  The scent is worthy of a perfume bottle!  It features the luscious, heady scent yet tropical scent of Gardenias and after one sniff you'll be tempted to buy the entire collection.  If there was a best hair care collection scent, this product would win hands down no questions asked!  Yes, it's that good.  But before you go out and snatch the entire collection up based on scent alone, read the rest of the review after the jump.

Innovative Beauty: HairMax LaserComb

For the first time in over twenty years, a new home-use treatment for female hair loss is available. Lexington Intl, LLC, is excited to announce they have received historic and groundbreaking FDA Clearance for marketing for the HairMax LaserComb® Lux 9 to treat female hair loss and promote hair growth. Included as a key part of the submission was a multi-center clinical study proving the efficacy and safety of the HairMax.

“Hair loss amongst women is a growing concern”, says Dr. Matt Leavitt, Medical Advisor to Lexington. “In the past, women had only one FDA Approved drug ingredient to treat their hair loss. Now they have a clinically proven viable alternative. Upon review of Lexington’s extensive clinical studies on female hair loss, the FDA has granted Clearance to this exciting new treatment option. I believe the HairMax will be able to offer help to the millions of women suffering from hair loss.”

The last hair loss treatment for women to be approved by the FDA was minoxidil, which came to market for females in 1988. The HairMax is now the first non-drug, home-use OTC medical device cleared to treat the estimated 80 million men and women suffering from hereditary hair loss.

Colette Malouf Hair Style Sketches

60's Top Sweep

Accessories Designer & Hair Styling Expert Colette Malouf has created fun, colorful sketches detailing how to style your hair using some of her best accessories!

70's Ponytail 

Help Spread the Word

We've added some new buttons at the end of each post that will help us spread to word about The Anti Hair Slave.  If you love a specific post that we've written please feel free to share with your twitter followers, Facebook friends, etc.  Plus, there's a new button in town - the Google +1 (far right on the tool bar) basically if you like the post all you have to do is click the +1 button and google will give us a +1 (similar to a thumbs up).  

As always you can find us on Twitter @antihairslave, we have a new Tumblr Page and a new Facebook Fan page!  Our goal is to interact with you guys as much as possible!

Ayurvedic Practices for Healthy Hair Care

Are you wondering what all the talk about Ayurvedic Hair Care Practices are all about? Wondering how you can incorporate some of the ingredients like Shakakai, Alma, and Neem into your current hair care regimen? Well you've stumble to the right place! We have a bunch of articles to get you started.

Shikakai + Amla Powder = Healthy, Great Hair. This article dishes about benefits of Shikakai and Amla Powder, plus guides you on how to mix them and how to apply them to you hair. How more detailed instructions on how to use Shikakai Powder check out this article, Shikakai Powder Hair How-To. Worried about the mess these powders might make? Check out how to mix and package your powders, while keeping everything Neat & Clean!

If you have questions about Ayurvedic Hair Care Practices, ask away in the comments section or shoot me a line on Twitter!

Hair Care Regimen for Swimmers

Since the summer is here and I've been getting tons of emails asking me about swimming and hair care I figured I should give you guys a sample hair care regimen for swimmers. Here is something you might not know about me, I was a swimmer as a child for my town, in high school and I did a short stint as a diver in college. The one thing that always boggled my mind about swimming was not my hair, instead it was why the swim season is in the winter! I digress, anyway, back to hair care and swimming.

Whether your hair is relaxed or natural the most important thing about swimming and taking care of your hair is you must get the chlorine or salt water out of your hair. All this jazz about pre-rinsing or putting conditioner on your hair before you swim is fine if that's what you want to do, but the bottom line is that your hair will get wet and chlorine will get in there so make sure you get it out! With that being said, you do not need to shampoo it out. A nice co-wash or plain old water rinse will get it out, I just prefer (by 100x) to co-wash.

What I use to co-wash: VO5 Moisture Milk Conditioner

During the summer when I'm swimming a lot, I do not change up the number of times I wash my hair with shampoo. I stick to washing my hair once a week with shampoo. Usually, I try to use a shampoo without SLS or I just use my Shikakai Shampoo Bar. My rule is that I do not shampoo my hair more than once a week, even if I'm not swimming and it's just hot and I feel like my scalp needs refreshing before the 1 week mark, I just co-wash.

Since I tend to live in the pool when it's hot, I like to step up my conditioning regimen. Instead of deep conditioning just once a week, I try my hardest to deep condition twice a week. Plus, whenever I swim if I co-wash I treat that as my shampoo, meaning I use a separate conditioner after I co-wash. My choice is almost always an "instant" conditioner, instead of a deep treatment type of conditioner. I only use a deep treatment conditioner twice a week.

Styling is the biggest issue I face. For the most part I just put a little extra conditioner on my ends and then put my hair into a low bun, especially if I know I'll be swimming the very next day. If not, I might do something relatively easy that requires no heat like two strand twists. I stay away from heat styling because there really is no point for me, why bother with that when we all know too much heat causes damage? The easiest thing to do is air dry, if you have issues with air drying click that link and read my tips for air drying.

Do you have more tips? Leave them in the comments section.

Giveaway Alert - Aquaphor Lip Repair

New Giveaway! We've teamed up with Aquaphor to give 2 lucky readers the lip essential of summer 2011! Aquaphor® Lip Repair seals in moisture and relieves dryness, all with a single swipe. Made to add just a hint of glossy shine, it‘ll leave your lips both soft and smooth all season long. Contest starts June 11, 2011 and runs until Friday June 17th!

Enter using the contest machine below.

Need a Hair Miracle? Try this!

Black 15in1 Miracle Hair Treatment is a cutting-edge hybrid that's part styling product and part leave-in treatment, boasting fifteen hair-altering benefits that include shine, detangling, moisturizing, body enhancing and heat and color protection. Clinically proven to garner results for some of the most fussed-over hair issues, black 15in1 dramatically improves hair woes in as little as seven days.

In a recent clinical trial, over 70% of subjects reported that their hair was significantly less frizzy after using the product for one week. Nearly the same percentage claimed that the product immediately softened and smoothed their locks, with this number jumping to an impressive 97% after only a week of using black 15in1.

That's enough to get me to try it ... I'll keep you posted! It's available in a TSA-approved size of 100ml for $20.00 and a 30ml travel size for $10, black15in1 is available online at www.black15in1.com and salons across the country.

Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony Resort '12

For the Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony Resort '12 Runway Show at Old School Gym on June 7th in NYC, Thomas Dunkin and the Sebastian hair team were on hand backstage styling the models' unkempt skater-chic waves to complement Chloe’s ‘80s “teen dream” street wear-inspired collection.
A nod to the street wear of her youth, Chloë’s Resort 2012 collection evokes the nostalgia of '90s skate culture and explores the interplay between complementary opposites: dark and light, black and white, provocative and chaste.

Rock the Hair Look:

• Start with a clean base by washing hair with Light Shampoo and Conditioner.
• Spray damp hair with Potion 9 Lite (or apply Potion 9 depending on hair thickness) and tousle to air-dry until 70-80 percent dry. For added texture and lift at the roots, apply a small amount of Whipped Crème to damp hair.
• Wrap 2-3 inch sections of hair around three fingers and blow-dry until dry.
• To create imperfect, wavy texture and soft pieceiness, apply a small amount of Matte Putty to the lengths of the hair.

Beat the Heat with Braids

When it's super hot outside the last thing I want is my hair on my neck, back, and shoulders. Bohemian braids are a great way to keep cool and still look great, plus this style works on both relaxed and natural hair.

VO5 has provided the how to for this easy to do Bohemian inspired braided updo.

1. Work in Perfect Hold Styling Mousse dry hair.

2. Section off a 1-inch section from the front of the hair line and create a French braid from one ear to the other, tucking in the ends with a bobby pin

3. Section off another 1-inch section behind the original French braid and create another French braid in the opposite direction, tuck the ends in with a bobby pin

4. Create a bun with the remaining hair and finish with Perfect Hold Styling Hairspray

Selita Ebanks New Hair Do

So it looks like Selita Ebanks switched up her hair style again! That Carol's Daughter Monoi Hair Collection must be really good because this is a totally different color than what we saw at that event and we all know how harsh hair color can be.

Now, you all know I hated that red bob she was wearing about a month ago but this color and style I love!

How about you?

Keri Hilson @ Women of the Year Glamour Awards

Keri Hilson is one of those celebs you love to see out and about because you wonder what they will be wearing, how their hair will look, and what makeup look they will be rocking. For the Glamour Women of the Year Awards in Central London, Keri showed up with a very blonde bob with a heavy bang and some strange side tail.

One thing I did love was her jewel toned eye makeup. It looked fantastic against her tanned up skin.

What do you think? Do you love the look?

Beauty Break: Aloe Beauty

All my fellow AHS readers know all about the benefits of Aloe Vera juice for hair care, but now it seems like the mainstream cosmetic companies are picking up on the benefits of Aloe Vera and including it in their products.

Aloe vera deep cleanser ($30 at olehenriksen.com): This powerful yet gentle cleanser with invigorating foaming action effectively calms skin, while aloe vera, chamomile, and vitamins soothe skin to prove you can have ultra-clean skin without stripping and dehydrating. Also known for treating oily or blemish prone skin, the cleanser works as an effective astringent while healing and soothing the face.
L'BRI's Smooth n' Firm Eye Repair Gel ($28 at L'Bri.com) is the perfect summer eye cream, and actually instead of being a heavy cream this is a light gel, which is great. Plus, it features Aloe Vera Gel to help heal the skin and prevent fine lines and wrinkles.

Liz Earle has a fabulous array of products that I love, but the newest product to catch my attention is the Sun Shade Aftersun Gel ($25.00 at LizEarle.com) The rehydrating gel cools, calms and nourishes sun-exposed skin by replacing lost moisture. Premium high-altitude lavender is soothing and cucumber refreshing, while antioxidant natural source vitamin E helps counteract the damaging effects of the sun’s rays, plus of course it has Aloe Vera in there.

Tips for Air Drying

Now that the weather is finally nice, I can start air drying my hair more often. I personally, love to air dry during the summer months because it's easy and gives my hair a break from heat. I've been getting a lot of emails requesting tips on how to air dry their hair so here we go.

Air Drying Dilemma: Do I have to use a product? If so, which one?

The biggest mistake when trying to wash, condition, and then just try to air dry. You need to apply some type of leave-in conditioner whether it's a spray or a cream or an oil, do not try to air dry your hair 'naked'. In fact, sometimes I use all three first a spray to help detangle if any tangles are left after rinsing out the conditioner. Then I use a little bit of a cream moisturizer mainly to the ends and finally I seal that with the oil and proceed to air dry.

Air Drying Dilemma: Air dry up or out and loose?

This is really up to you and how you want your hair to look and what you are going to be doing while you air dry. You can do some two strand twists, bantu knots, one big bun, or just leave it alone. This is really based on preference, but one thing I always do is apply some type of gel to my edges (all the way around my head, not just the front) and then tie a scarf on like a headband to hold it down. Unfortunately, I don't have those edges that just lay like fine little baby hairs so I have to control that.

Air Drying Dilemma: I air dried, now what?

After air drying my hair is so big and full that I love creating cool looking low buns or down 'dos. I twist it, make little braids, and just try different things when creating a unique looking 'do. Please note, if your hair feels dry moisturize it! Don't worry that you've already used products, dry hair is never a good look.

Hair Record! Most haircuts in 8 hrs

Cricket Company had its cable TV close-up! As the hair sponsor for "Jerseylicious" on My Style Network, Cricket's shears, aprons and hot tools were used by the energetic and eye-catching team of stylists in every scene at Gatsby Salon.

In the season premiere of "Jerseylicious" on Sunday May 15, the Gatsby Salon did a Cut-athon to break the Guinness Book of World Records for most quality haircuts in eight hours. The previous record was 201 and they shattered it by doing 246. The stylists depended on quality tools from Cricket Company including Centrix Q-Zone Dryers, Friction Free Slim and Sleek Irons, Silkombs, Carbon Combs, Technique and Friction Free Brushes, AmpedUp Teasing brushes, Centrix M-Series Shears, and stylish Zebra and Leopard capes to help clients look their best. Cricket's high-performance tools played an essential part in helping Gatsby Salon earn its World Record.

Father's Day Gift Guide

Our sister site, Beauty Blvd. is running a Father's Day Gift Guide, so if you're stumped and need some inspiration head over and check out the suggestions!

Fall 2011 Hair Must Haves

At-Home Products A Girl Should Have This Fall

• A great round brush is essential. All of the stylists at Timothy John’s Salon use the Olivia Garden Pro Thermal Line. No girl should be without one.

• Products with luxury ingredients such as cashmere, diamond dust and crushed pearls. These products create a multi-dimensional shimmer, adding depth and richness to color while conditioning and protecting the hair.

• A great “Finishing Product.” We love S Factor Creamy Molding Wax which is lightweight and water soluble and adds great texture and definition to the season’s fall hair.

Fashion Week set the tone for fabulous fall hair and as the months are flying by, runway looks will soon be coming to life. Timothy John, owner and head stylist/colorist at Timothy John’s Salon in NYC gives some insight into this fall’s hair trends and makes them easy to replicate.

Though we did see a lot of straight hair on the fall runway, let’s not forget the curl! “Curls are as hip and happening as ever,” says Timothy. Be it loose curls, wispy tendrils or natural waves; curls are here to stay. “Many clients have come in asking for the ‘drop perm.’ The top of the hair remains straight and loose, soft curls begin around the ear or slightly lower. Use a diffuser or scrunch and air dry for a curlier look. Blow-dry with a smaller, round brush to create soft waves.”

In regard to fall color, “highlights to accentuate your natural color, but not necessarily change it is huge,” says Timothy. Clients want that subtle POP. Additionally, with the economy turning around, clients want to get back into the chair for color. Yet, they are still looking for low-maintenance color that lasts longer, doesn’t take as much time and is still light on the wallet.

Summer Hair Favorite: Leonor Greyl's Palm Oil

The summer can be one of the roughest times on hair, but with the help of some of my favorite summer hair care favorites I am able to keep my hair in good shape throughout these blistering summer months. Leonor Greyl's Palm Oil is a product that I was introduced to last year and I quickly made it a staple in my pool bag.

“Healthy and glamourous hair using natural products” has been Leonor Greyl's motto since its creation in 1968 and we couldn't agree more.

This pioneering Brand was the first ever to use the healing properties of palm oil and has been using them to protect hair since 1970 and although Leonor Greyl already used organic quality Palm Oil, faced with numerous controversies surrounding the intensive cultivation of palm trees and their damaging effects on the environment, now each bottle gets stamped with “100% organic palm oil”. It is therefore an organic quality palm oil that the Brand currently favours, harvested in a region in Colombia where its production poses no threat to the environment.

Read the review here!

Bigen Brand Ambassador

I have awesome news ladies! I am now a Bigen Brand Ambassador, remember back when I dyed Gram's hair using Bigen and it covered her grey hair amazingly well? If not, go see. Anyway, we've been using Bigen Permanent Hair Color off and on since then and she loves it. Now while I don't actually dye my own hair (I use henna, remember?) I'm responsible for dying my mom and gram's hair regularly so I'll be posting on that, so if you've been dying to dye your own hair stay tuned for product giveaways, reviews, how-to videos, and more!

In the meantime, be sure to check out @BigenHair on Twitter. Plus you might want to friend them on facebook, since they just launched the Bigen Big Apple Sweepstakes, where Bigen is choosing one person plus a friend and offering one of four awesome NYC prize packages. The sweepstakes is running until June 26th so get on it!