Friday, November 27, 2009

Black Hair / Black Friday / Black Brush

Great Solution to FIA ( Flat Iron Addiction)

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The holidays got in the way of 2 stories I have been wanting to share with you. It rarely happens that I will be excited about a new product for hair, but it happened twice in one week. I ended up trying both of those products on myself and loved both even more - - - even more rare.

In my never-ending quest to abolish use of the Flat Iron, I bought a new fangled brush thing-a-ma-gig from one of my Hair Reps. The photo of it looked like a killer concept, but I never expected it to work as well as it did. From the example of clients of all hair types whose rear-ends were in my chair, I have learned slowly but surely that the flat Iron is just not a great hair tool and it truthfully creates more problems than it fixes over time. I have nothing against any product that will make your hair look better (which is what I said when hair extensions first appeared for the public), but that product …no matter what it is…{I feel} …must not destroy the hair in the process. What I have noticed with the gradual over-use of flat irons is that while it does smooth the cuticle at the beginning of a clients ownership over time the continued use and over-use of these irons takes the hair into the “burned or frazzled” stage which causes even more frizz and is very difficult to recover from without cutting it off. I ask if they have been using a silicone serum and while silicone is the one and only product that truly protects hair from heat – it is by no means a total solution to the heat of two flat plates at 250 degrees smashed together on the hair strands….I hope I have not misled you on that one, to me its common sense.74057949

When people would come to me for the 10,000 Heads Regimen, which usually meant they had trashed their hair beyond recognition – and I put them on a strict “diet” of all the things that got them there – many times just taking away the Flat Iron, would solve 50% of their problems. That’s a LOT, especially when you consider that there are 14 Steps ( and over the years there has always been over 10) It finally got me thinking…what would happen if just the Flat Iron was subtracted from peoples regimen ? ? You see, I realize the Flat Iron is a fairly new tool to many of you . . . but I had one when I was in Hair Academy and that was 16 years ago…so my clients have ALWAYS had flat irons …I wasn’t doing hair when they didn’t exist. sb10069425q-001

My assistants would take names/photos of volunteers for a 90 day Flat Iron Challenge from my clients about 1/2 way thru. They would receive one free hair color if they participated, with a lot of college kids from Pepperdine…. I had many volunteers. Well, the results were mind boggling – none of us could believe the difference. What we figured out was, that the temperatures of the irons kept going up & up each year as the companies that made them would listen to customers requests. Of course, the customers loved the concept and loved the Irons ( At the time so did I) – but thought if they worked so well, why not make them go hotter and hotter. For the first 10 years all Flat Irons were black and were only 1 temperature – super Hot. In the last 6-7 they have gotten all tricky…leopard, zebra - print, multiple temps., ceramic plates, tourmaline, ionic - - BIONIC…I mean its gone ape-shit-crazy!

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Around Halloween I spotted this funny looking brush… bought one – & its been sitting around here for month. Finally this past week my one client is having a helluva time with the condition of her hair lately… showed up and with the crown of her hair just trashed. She is a long time client – we’ve had her hair in terrific shape and in poor shape, just depends on her styling regimen, her Thriven, Gleam, Secret Supplement use ( she is off of that now – which is a big mistake) but after the color and cut is complete is the time when I finally can tell exactly where her hair stood, she was right…it was bad. Really bad, she was in the middle of “the change” and was complaining of her hair feeling like “old lady” hair. I agreed her hair had never felt like it did that day, and she had quit using the Flat Iron a long time ago. Unfortunately its just her age and it seems to happen to everyone once they reach their 50’s, just want you all to be prepared.

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Well check out this little gem. Its a brilliant hair tool and the results were nothing short of spectacular and that is because of how brilliant the inventor of this is – its so simple but to me it completely solves many of the problems of the Flat Iron. The bristles are short and are very stiff so the tension on the hair can be pulled… it holds the hair very tightly so you are able to stretch the hair tightly while drying. Stretching is the perfect answer to drying kinky, curly or wavy hair.82267938

There are vents to let the air from the blow dryer THROUGH the hair strands , so the heat has a place to escape from…

Denman Thermoceramic Straightening Brush provides a fast and simple way to straighten all types of medium to long hair during blow-drying.

Features and Benefits:

  • Thermo-ceramic plates with vented design allow warm air to circulate more freely for fast blow-drying performance
  • Adds condition and shine for a silky, lustrous finish
  • Smoothes the cuticle, minimizing breakage and split ends
  • Velvet-touch handle for added comfort during use
  • Made with interlocking rows of pure natural boar bristle
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Directions:

Wash hair with sulfate-free shampoo, towel dry. Use Ecoly detangler comb to gently smooth out any tangles. Set hairdryer to MEDIUM heat and start to blow-dry until hair is half-dry. Start from the nape of the neck and separate hair into sections. Clamp hair between bristles and gripping firmly, pull the bristles down the length of the hair section while directing warm air from the hairdryer. Repeat this process until all the hair sections have been straightened. Apply gloss serum or mist with shining spray for extra shine. IMG_0805

One of the most interesting results one gets from this brush is from twisting and turning it as well… the volume it creates, both at the root as well as through the lengths. I mean this little, very well priced brush, made this woman's hair look like it was 20 year old hair, I was just so impressed. The reason? the way it made it easy to ‘stretch’ it changed the coarseness of her hair as it will yours.

Its just the smartest, cutest and well priced little styling tool I have come across in a very long time. You must try one – click right on over to the Killer Strands Store http://killerstrands.myshopify.com/ and check it out, you may request a sample of the FLUFF with your order as well ( a small batch has been made)

Killer Chemist

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Color Me Dark: Hair Shades from Burnt Toffee to Raven Black

There’s a Shade to Suit You

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Level 9 & 10 Drips on a level 3 Violet Brown –DEElicious

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Happy Thanksgiving Boys and Girls

I am forever Thankful for the sweet and wonderful people I have met through this adventure known as Killer Strands Hair Clinic.

Peace

LOVE

and Harmony

KillER CHEMIST

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Homeward Bound.

The Incredible Hair Journey

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I apologize immensely for not writing any new posts for quite a while…my little terror on the home front is now over. Just this evening my girlfriend and I were reviewing the Identity Theft I just lived through ( I don’t know how). She made me see the positive side of it and she is right, usually I am the one pointing this out to her. So, you see even that was a new learning experience.

I give thanks to her, to Andre, to my new employees and to all of you for finding patience to put up with this small hiccup.

I have 2 posts, half written . . . and the first will post tomorrow. 1 on a new and improved WELLA hair color that I used both yesterday and today with amazing - - no, I take that back, AWESOME results. I can’t wait to share them with you + they are for darker hair, something I must try to work on supplying more of.

I performed a fantastic new color and found the most killer new hair “tool”….I can’t wait to show you and tell you about it – I’m not exaggerating  +  it is the most exciting new tool to come along in years and its under $20.00! Yee Haw!sb10069425q-001

Again, many thanks   KC