Duck Bill Clips for Healthy Curls

Perfect for summer...a curled style that doesn't require a hot curling iron!  You know those silver clips the hair salon always uses?  If you head to your nearest Sally Beauty Supply or beauty store, you can grab a package for yourself and create stress free curls for your hair.  If you set them damp and let them air dry, you'll get a casual and cool look or old hollywood style finger waves.  Give it a try, following these three simple steps from Self Magazine.

For Casually Cool strands

1. Mist clean, damp hair with a salt-based texturizing spray to get that full, rumpled look and to keep strands from falling flat, says Jen Atkin, a stylist for Clear Hair in Los Angeles.

2. Lift top sections, spritzing underneath at the roots. This gives hair "windblown" body without the help of actual wind.

3. Secure hair in two low pigtails. Divide each in half and twist the two pieces around each other, tying ends. Wind; pin twists against head. (Check out this picture at the right -- this is how your mane should look. Tip: Try securing strands with fabric hair bands, which won't leave weird ridges.) When hair's dry, unravel and run fingers through it.

For an old hollywood feel, follow these three steps:

1.  Rub a quarter-sized blog of medium hold hair gel between your hands, then rake fingers through damp strands, starting an inch below roots and pulling to ends.  Create a side part.

2.  Twist 3-4 inch sections of hair around your index finger, pinning coils to your head with duckbill clips until all your hair is up.

3.  Let hair air-dry, then remove the clips and "brush" through the coils with your fingers, pulling gently to loosen the curls.

I Tried It: Silky Sexy Hair's Conditioning Styler & Soy Renewal Argan Oil

As part of my ongoing quest to repair and strengthen my hair, I tried two new products: Silky Sexy Hair Conditioning Styler Lite and Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Argan Oil.  I'd used the agran oi for a couple weeks and then swapped it out with the silky sexy product for a few days to see how I liked it.  And of course, I used the "lite" version for my thin tresses.  Here's what Sexy Hair says about both products:

Conditioning Styler Lite is a lightweight leave-in conditioner with styling properties for fine/normal hair types.  Its silk-infused formula delivers a lightweight hold and conditioning properties to leave hair soft and silky.

Soy Renewal is a nourishing styling treatment made with Moroccan Argan Oil that addresses moisture, frizz, smoothness, elasticity and shine concerns.  Also protects from environmental stresses and reduces drying time.

The verdict?  I liked them both, but the conditioning styler not as much as the argan oil.  It's easy to use and glides on easily.  It also works well with other products and doesn't build up a residue, but it just didn't feel as nourishing as the soy renewal.  It's really nourishing and helps with frizz and the same time, although is can be greasy, so I'm always careful to apply only a small amount.

Both products would be great for giving your hair an extra dose of tlc.  Which one do you prefer?

Healthy Hair Swap: Hairpins instead of bobbi-pins

If you've been following the blog this year, you know I've been undergoing a "hair repair challenge," in an attempt to get healthier, happier locks.  You can check out the rest of the healthy hair posts here.  The major rules were no wet updos and no more bobbi pins.  According to Patrick, bobbi pins smash hair follicles by clamping down on them which causes breakage.  Using them on wet hair amplifies the bad effects, which was the bad habit I was used to doing: Hi, I'm Kirsten and I'm a bobbi pin addict.

So what was this updo loving girl to do?  I made a healthier hair switch - to hair pins.  Those little "U" shaped open pins that are a wig and hat attaching necessity back stage work pretty well as a bobbi pin substitute.  It took some getting used to, but they do work and feel much better when sliding them into your hair.   For things like buns, they actually work better and give you more control while pinning up a curly, loose style is a snap.

Patrick gave me the all clear to use a bobbi pin or two, so on occasion I'll pop one in if I'm having trouble keeping things in place.  Mini bobbi pins work wonders too if you only need to tuck a small section, but hair pins have made me happy.

So next time you're at the store, grab a package and give hair pins a try if you're looking for a healthier alternative to bobbi pins.
~Kirsten

I Tried It: A (Healthy Hair) Pinterest Updo

As I've been embarking on my Hair Repair Challenge, I've been trying to wear my hair down as much as possible, but as I was headed to ballet class, I needed an updo.  Since I created a Pinterest board to help me with some healthy hair style and updo inspiration (check it out here) and I decided to take a stab at creating one of my pins.  The style (shown at left) seemed simple and looked great.  Here were the instructions that came with it:

Try this. 2 elastics. 1 at the scalp: high pony second at the end of the hair. Join the ends into the center of the first and pin. Do this all too often, get compliments all the time.

Seemed easy enough.  So I grabbed two elastics and some hair pins and got started.  After drying my hair I used an anti-frizz serum and spritzed the pony tail with some dry shampoo and a few sprays of beach spray to give it some texture, then did a touch of back combing at the base with a small, packed bristle brush for volume.  I used five hair pins (the open, "U" shaped kind, NOT bobbi pins...Patrick has banned me from those).  Since I would be dancing, I wanted it to stay in-place, but if you're creating this look for "normal life" you could get away with one or two at the point you tuck it in. Then I sprayed the crap out of it with hair spray.  It was easy enough to create, but didn't look as fabulous as the photo.  I think the model in the photo was blessed with MUCH thicker hair than I (at least that's my 
excuse). 

Here's what I ended up with.  See, the blonde chick above has WAY more hair than I do.  But, it's not too bad don't you think?  Have you ever tried a hairstyle you found online or on Pinterest?  How did it go?  Leave a comment and let me know! 
~Kirsten 

Hair Repair Challenge: Week Three

Photo from

So you've made it through the first two week's of Kirsten's Hair Repair Challenge!  Congratulations.  Pat yourself on the back, buy yourself something pretty, then dive into week three!  Need a product refresher?  Check out this post.  

Week 3 Schedule

Day 15 - Use Masque to clean and condition, use the CAT for 3-5 mins. Use Anti Snap and Iron Repair cocktailed and blended together as a leave in and style as usual.

Day 16 - Go without cleansing and conditioning. Leave hair dry and utilize the dry shampoo.

Day 17 - Go without cleansing and conditioning. Leave hair dry and utilize the dry shampoo then add [NEW PRODUCT ALERT] a dime size of Healthy Sexy Hair's Soy Renewal, emulsify the Soy Renewal and place on scalp and through midshaft and ends.

Day 18 - Go without cleansing and conditioning. Leave hair dry and utilize the dry shampoo then add a dime size of Soy Renewal, Emulisfy the Soy Renewal and place on scalp and through midshaft and ends.

Day 19 - Use Masque to clean and condition, use the CAT for 3-5 mins.

Day 20 - Go without cleansing and conditioning. Leave hair dry and utilize the dry shampoo then add a dime size of Soy Renewal, Emulisfy the Soy Renewal and place on scalp and through midshaft and ends.

Day 21 - Go without cleansing and conditioning. Leave hair dry and utilize the dry shampoo then add a dime size of Soy Renewal, Emulisfy the Soy Renewal and place on scalp and through midshaft and ends.

A note from Patrick: By this time your hair will be used to not having used detergents to cleanse. You will find after the 4th week, that it will be very hard to go back to using a detergent to cleanse (Shampoo). Once you have gotten to the 5th week, we will revisit and provide you with an alternative to use inplace of regular shampoo and conditioner.

How is it going for me?  Well.  I haven't really been as disturbed by not using shampoo and conditioner as I thought I would be.  There's only been a couple days I've felt my hair wasn't clean enough and I love the Pureology Masque!  It's been a challenge to find new and exciting hair styles as I'm discovering how thin my hair is.  Plus the intensive routine is adding tons of extra time to my morning makeup and hair time, but I feel my hair getting healthier!  Hopefully when I check in with Patrick he'll think the same thing! 

Are you taking the challenge too?  How's it going for you?
~Kirsten

I Tried It: Goody Spin Pin - Spiral Hair Pins

As you know, I'm venturing on a hair repair challenge, ie - operation anti bobbi pin, which means I can't use bobbi pins anymore.  So Patrick handed me a box of these spiral hair pins to try.  He said it's the clamping action of the bobbi pin that makes them bad for hair, so these would be just fine as long as I used them on dry hair.  I'd seen the Goody Simple Styles Spin Pins before but never been tempted enough to try them since I had been successfully creating buns with bobbi pins for year, but I decided to give them a go.  

Here's what they claim to do:

The Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin allows you to easily achieve three chic updo styles.  Simpley twirl your hair up and spin the two spin pins in for a perfect undone bun, side bun or double bun!  Does the work of 20 bobbies.

My verdict?  A fail.  Here's what I managed to create with them:

While I was able to create a small bun and get it to stay in place with the spiral pins, it didn't stay that way for too long.  It definitely doesn't do the work of 20 pins...more like 2-4 pins worth of work.  I'll give them this though, they stayed in place, it was just my hair that slid out.   I have fine hair and even though I dry shampooed and beach sprayed it, after about an hour my hair just slipped out into sort of a limp, lame, non-puffy bun...and all I did was go to the grocery store.  It definitely wouldn't have made it through a dance class!

What I did like about them?  They're textured and incredibly easy to slide in.  Maybe some of my thick haired friends will have better luck.  I wouldn't recommend buying these to anyone with thin or fine hair, but with some thicker hair or lots of product and teasing they could work.  Maybe I need to try the mini size?

Have you tried the spin pins?  What did you think?

~Kirsten

Hair Repair Challenge: Day by Day Instructions Week Two

Congratulations!  We made it through the first week of our Hair Repair Challenge!  Are you participating?  Make sure to upload your photos to Patrick's facebook page so we can see how you're doing!  As for me...my hair is feeling softer and silkier already!

Here's what's on tap for week two:

Day 8: Rinse hair very well and then use the Anti Snap and Iron Repair cocktailed and blended together as a leave in, style as needed

Wed- Leave the hair dry and use the dry shampoo

Day 9: Use Masque to cleans and condition, use the CAT for 3-5 mins. Use Anti Snap and Iron Repair cocktailed and blended together as a leave in and style as usual

Day 10: Rinse hair very well and then use the Anti Snap and Iron Repair cocktailed and blended together as a leave in, style as needed

Day 11: Use Masque to cleans and conditon, use the CAT for 3-5 mins. Use Anti Snap and Iron Repair cocktailed and blended together as a leave in and style as usual

Day 12: Rinse hair very well and then use the Anti Snap and Iron Repair cocktailed and blended together as a leave in, style as needed

Day 13: Leave hair dry and use the dry shampoo

Day 14: Rinse hair very well and then use the Anti Snap and Iron Repair cocktailed and blended together as a leave in, style as needed

Need some inspiration?  Check out this horrifying photo of a damaged hair strand:

Inspired yet?  
How are you doing?  Following any of these tips or using any of these products?
~Kirsten

Hair Repair Challenge: Day by Day Instructions, The 1st Seven Days

Are you ready to get healthier hair?  Do you want to go on Patrick's hair repair challenge with me?  Then get ready to get started!  As a recap, here are the rules: No bobbi pins, no wet hair styling/updos, no shampoo, and limited heat styling.  Above, a little hair care inspiration board to keep me motivated.

We talked about products on Monday, so using those, here are the first seven days worth of instruction:

Day 1:  Get an awesome blow out and styling from Patrick!
Day 2:  Enjoy yesterday's awesome blowout using a little dry shampoo as needed.
Day 3:  Use your Masque to clean and condition followed by the CAT for 3-5 minutes.  Rinse out then use Anti-Snap and Iron Repair cocktailed together as a leave in and style.
Day 4:  Rinse hair very well and use the Anti-Snap and Iron Repair cocktailed and blended together as a leave in, style as needed.
Day 5:  Use Masque to clean and condition, the CAT for 3-5 minutes, rinse, follow with Anti-Snap and Iron Repair as a leave in.  Style.
Day 6: Rinse hair very well and then use the Anti-Snap and Iron Repair together as a leave in and style.
Day 7:  Leave hair dry and use dry shampoo.

So far so good, I haven't broken any rules and am figuring out how to style my hair without it being wet and pinned up.  And although sometimes I forgot to mix the products together and the extra shower time gave me dry skin, I think it's going pretty well!  At left, my 'do from day two.

~Kirsten

Hair Repair Challenge: Products

My quest to renew, refresh, and lengthen my locks has introduced me to a slew of new products!  To get me started on my hair repair challenge, Patrick gave me these four products to get my hair repaired, with strict instructions that this was a lifestyle change, not just a product quick fix.

Redken Extreme Cat- To reconstruct and recondition.  Patrick says, use this in the shower or when you shampoo and condition. Leave on 5 mins then rinse.

Redken Extreme Anti Snap- Provides heat protection, reduces friction from brushes and helps precent breakage and split ends.  Use as a leave in.  It smells like delicious candy.

Redken Extreme Iron Repair- Helps reinforce and restructure distressed, dull hair.  Patrick says, use it as leave in when you are using hot tools.  It's fruit scent makes up from its weird looking texture.

Pureology Essential Repair Restorative Hair Masque- For immersing distressed hair in a rich masque.  This giant jar is full of creamy, rich looking nano technology.  Patrick says to use it instead of Shampoo and Conditioner for 3 weeks.  Use a quarter size amount just like you would a shampoo: apply, massage well then let it sit for at least 5-8 mins. When rinsing, leave about 15% of it in the hair. Style as usual. 

I'm happy to report it's day four and I haven't broken any of the rules yet.  Need a refresher?  Here are the rules:

• No wet updos
• No bobbi pins or bad for you hair bands (more on the later quest in an upcoming blog post)
• No shampoo/conditioner
• Minimal heat styling

I know I'll never have Kate Middleton hair, but a girl can dream, right?
(Maybe if I saw Patrick every week...?)
~Kirsten

Tune in soon for day by day instructions!

Hair Repair Challenge: Operation Anti-Bobbi Pin

I went to see Patrick yesterday for some color touch up, and having looked through some old photos of myself I decided I wanted to go longer with my hair.  So I inquired about getting more length and Patrick informed me it would be a long, difficult journey.  Why?  My bad hair habits.  I'm Kirsten and I use too many bobbi-pins.  Plus, I usually wear my hair up and style my updos when my hair is still wet.  These two things are apparently B.A.D. for my tresses.

Uh oh.

But Patrick said all is not lost.  With a lot of tlc and some habit changes, I could restore my hair to its former glory and start the process of growing it out.  Since it's still early in 2013, I'm going to give it a go.  So Patrick gave me some new products to try (at left) and strict instructions: no more wet updos, no more bobbi pins, and invest in better hair ties (flat with no braiding or ridges).  It's going to be a challenge...but if you to want to give your hair some TLC, I invite you to come on a journey with me!  Kirsten's hair repair challenge!

Check back soon for instructions, products recommendations, and nice for your hair styling.  I promise to be totally honest.  Case in point, it's 9pm on Tuesday night and I'm dying to pin my hair back in a bobbi-pin!  It's going to be a long journey!
~Kirsten