Category Archives: Educational

Is your Hair too Hot too Handle?

March 7, 2017

We all love the option of having the best of both worlds. From beachy waves to smooth sleek strands, any style is possible with the right hot tool. Hot tools make our hair look amazing but too much of anything can be bad. Right? Too much heat overtime can leave our hair dull, lifeless, and damaged. Yuck! Heat protectants are not an option they are a must. I mean unless you’re cool with jacked up hair. You’re not? That’s what I thought. Here are a few of my favorite products for guarding your hair from the heat demon…

Davines Melu Shield $36

Whether you’re blasting the blow dryer or smoothing strands with a flat iron, this nourishing spray defends against thermal damage and is perfect for all hair types. Enriched with lentil seeds and panthenol, it repairs strands, enhances shine, & adds much-needed moisture. Plus, the multi-benefit formula even cuts down blow drying time.

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Cutler Protectant Treatment $24

A weightless spray for all hair types that moisturizes while it adds a barrier of protection between heat and hair. This weightless styling spray contains heat-activated polymers that will detangle, protect and treat hair from styling and sun damage. The multi-active polymers, panthenol and avocado oil deliver manageability and shine.

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Mizani Therasmooth Smooth Guard $34

Lightweight, leave-in thermal protecting serum for natural hair. Buffers against heat styling damage and facilitates the use of heat tools by providing extra glide for easier manageability. The advance C3 Smoothing Complex with cationic polymers is designed to shield and polish while hair is being smoothed.

You’re beautiful hair deserves to live a long healthy life. Treat it and pamper it by investing in great products and tools. We get few chances when it comes to retaining the health of our hair. If you get to a point where you have trashed your hair, your only option is to cut it off and start over. No amount of Olaplex can work that type of miracle!

If you are a flat iron lover check out this amazing in depth study my friends at Reviews.com conducted. They tested 132 different flat irons and picked the top 3 so you don’t have to waste time searching!

Pretty awesome if you ask me!

Tips for Glossy Hair

August 4, 2016

As Fall approaches we are constantly searching for our new look. Scrolling through Pinterest and Fashion magazines you will notice hair looks glossy and polished as the cooler weather rolls in. Here are a few tips to get your mane in check for the new season…

Alanna Arrington/ Next models LA “Davines MELU shield was used to protect her strands from the heat & to add shine during the styling process. ” -Kristen Linares

With the help of award-winning hairbrush brand Tangle Teezer here are some tips for getting that model worthy glossy hair!

Diet

The heath of your hair, just like your complexion and physique, can be improved by a good diet. You need to eat healthy, rich fats, such as the ones found in eggs and olive oil, alongside a healthy diet to encourage growth and keep the hair moisturised. Don’t have time to cook? Blend super foods such as Kale and blueberries in a smoothie with Coconut Milk! It’s quick and delicious.

Drink lots of water

Water has hundreds of benefits, including on the muscles, on general fatigue and on digestion, so it’s no wonder that upping your water intake will have a positive impact on your hair. H2O helps to hydrate the hair, which in turn stops breakages and frizz, making your hair glossy and luscious. Aim for 6-8 cups a day.

Think before you brush

Pulling ineffective brushes and combs through your hair could cause a great deal of damage and breakages, which in turn can leave your hair feeling dull and lifeless. Choose a high-quality brush suited to detangling, such as The Original Tangle Teezer, and try not to brush your hair too often.

Go smart with the products

If you want to up your hair’s gloss-factor, the products you choose will go a long way to boosting it. You can purchase specific glossing treatments, some of which also give your color a boost, while adding shine and increasing your hair’s smooth appearance. To add shine to dull hair, a serum is a great choice – and just because it’s oil, it doesn’t make it oily! Alternatively, you could try using shine spray. Shine spray is a lighter product, which is well-suited to finer hair that might not be able to handle a heavy product.

If circumstances dictate, take it to the kitchen

You don’t have to always go all-out with products to get the gloss you’re looking for. Coconut oil, which has been a foodie sensation for some time, can work wonders on your hair. Massage a small amount of unrefined coconut oil through your hair, paying close attention to the ends of the hair and working your way up. Wrap hair up for 30 minutes, rinse, then wash as normal. You’re sure to feel the difference!

Keep it cool

It may well surprise you just how much a blast of cold on your hair can impact its glowing appearance. When you’ve finished washing your hair, rinse with cold water and, when you’ve finished drying, blast some cold air. If you can take it, we implore you to give it a go.

What is Dimensional Haircolor?

July 12, 2016

Ever feel confused when booking a service at the salon? These days there are so many different names for the same techniques. Babylights, balayage, highlights, lowlights, color melting, all over color, and the list can go on and on.

Let’s simplify this for you. You have two choices when it comes to color. You either want dimension or you don’t. All over color is one solid color all over the head and Dimensional color means just that, adding dimension throughout the entire look. I highly recommend booking a consultation before booking a color appointment, especially if it’s your first time with the colorist. Most colorists offer complimentary consultations. This allows them time to look through your hair and see if there needs to be any corrections made before creating the color of your dreams. I feel safe saying about 80% of new clients who come in for color and show me their “balayage pinterest board”, need a corrective service before their color dream is even possible. Haircolor is complicated people! You can’t just slap something on and expect it to not only look exactly how you envisioned, but also magically styled in long flowing waves when in reality your hair is shoulder length and you can wrap a hair band around your ponytail 20 times.So please. I beg you. Book a complimentary consultation 🙂 Your colorist will help you find the most flattering placement for you and your hair type.

Now let’s talk about the different levels of dimension. It basically ranges from subtle/ low contrast to bold/ high contrast. Leave the actual technique up to your stylist to achieve the look your going for. Just because you think you want balayage doesn’t mean that’s actually what it takes to get there.

Here are a few pictures of my clients to help you understand the difference..

Low/ Subtle Dimension this was a mixture of balayage, base color, and foiling with a glaze aka toner

Low/ subtle dimension this was a balayage application on virgin hair (hair that hasn’t been colored before)

High Contrast Dimension this was highlights and lowlights in foils followed by a glaze/toner

High Contrast Dimension this color took two sessions to achieve. 1st session was an all over balayage with glaze aka toner. 2nd session was a mixture of foils and balayage application over the same pieces we did previously followed by a glaze/toner.

Do you feel like you have a better understanding now? Leave your questions in the comments below! I would be more than happy to answer any questions for you 🙂 If you are in the St. Louis area and want to book with me visit my website http://www.KristenLinares.com

Hot water is killing your haircolor!

March 28, 2016

Have you ever thought, “Hot water can’t be THAT bad for my hair.” Think again. As a Beauty Expert I decided to do a little science experiment that was featured on Great Day St. Louis this morning. Check out these results…

STEP ONE: All six wefts of hair were colored using Davines A New Colour with a level 6 golden copper.
STEP TWO: These wefts represent fresh haircolor however the left strand was rinsed using professional grade Davines NOU NOU shampoo and the right strand was Suave from Walgreens.

STEP THREE: These two strands were shampooed 5 times using extremely hot water. Left strand shampooed with NOU NOU and right strand Suave. This is the misunderstanding most people have. Most people think just using professional grade shampoo will maintain their color regardless of any other factors. The truth is professional grade shampoo will maintain the color and keep the hair healthy as long as you’re not abusing your hair with scolding hot water and hot tools. If your hair is trashed to begin with, professional products will help it feel a bit better but in all honesty the best thing for severely damaged hair that doesn’t hold color is a haircut. Bye Bye crap hair. Your hairstylist is dead serious about that “no magic wand” thing.
So does that mean you should go the cheap route since you’re not willing to sacrifice your lava shower? Hell no. All the more reason to use a high quality formula! Cheap brands will leave waxy residue and truly dry your hair out with prolonged use. The good stuff is in fact that, good. Professional shampoos not only contain gentle cleansers but also nourishing factors to make your hair healthy and bouncy. It’s like going in for a serious surgery and expecting over the counter drugs to help with the healing process. Haircolor is surgery on your hair and you will want “the good stuff”.

STEP FOUR: Now this is eye opening! These strands have been shampooed 5 times with NOU NOU (left) and Suave (right). Look at how little these faded in comparison to the hot water! The reason cool water is so much better is because cool water allows the hair’s cuticle to stay calm and in an almost closed state. Hot water and tools swell the cuticle allowing the dye molecules to slip out easily.

STEP FIVE: Watch my morning segment by clicking the link below to see how 400 degrees from your beloved flat iron strips the color right out of hair! It’s crazy! Keep your hot tools at 350 or below ladies and ALWAYS use protection. Heat protection that is 😉
http://www.kmov.com/clip/12319104/hair-confidential-fight-the-fade

Going Somewhere?

March 13, 2015

You’ll wish you packed these 4 multi-purpose products with you on your next trip out of town.

Amarté Daily ExfoliPowder
Suki Ultra-Protect Body Balm
SebaMed Coloured Anti-Pimple Cream
Jane Iredale Lip and Cheek Stain

Starting with a clean face, use Amarté ExfoliPowder to exfoliate and brighten. I personally feel like anytime you use an exfoliant your makeup should be mostly, if not completely removed. (Going in with a physical exfoliator can push makeup into the pores.) I usually suggest using something like this in the morning when you’re fresh faced!

Keep SebaMed anti pimple cream in your handbag! Pop it on at any time to not only treat a breakout, but to conceal and calm.

Suki’s all natural body balm is the ultimate multi-tasker. Moisturize, soothe dry, itchy, irritated skin, heal cuts and scraps and even use for relief on bug bites!

Jane Iredale’s cheek and lip stain in the color Peach is the perfect shade for everyone, as it adjusts depending on your skintone. Blend out on the cheeks for a pinch of color, and use as a hydrating balm for the perfect flush on the lips.

Comment with any questions!
-Amber Perry