How To Get Natural-Looking Curls or Waves

The Curling Wand

Immediately after curling...

No, I do not have any extensions in... this wand creates full curls that hold in your actual hair.

Do you have a problem with your hair holding a curl?  If so, we are in the same boat.  My hair always falls flat... or always did until curling WANDS were invented.

The next morning, after sleeping on my hair...

Exactly what I wanted... loose, wavy curls that were ok for the day time!

Although there are different kinds, I like tapered wands because they give your hair more of a natural, wavy look instead of ringlet curls.  You can see from the pictures that the bottom isn't exactly curled under like a curling iron would do... this is because you are holding the end of your hair as you wrap it around the iron.

How are curling wands and curling irons different?

• a wand does not have a clamp like the curling iron
• most wands get hotter than curling irons, which supposedly is healthier for your hair because you use it probably half the time on each section of hair (your hair isn't exposed to the heat as long)
• they give you different types of curls (ringlet curls v. beachy waves)

Is using a curling wand difficult?

• No way!  I think wands are easier than curling irons... you literally just take a section of your hair and wrap it around the wand (starting at the thicker end or base of the wand), hold it for a few seconds, then let the curl fall.

What kind do I use?

• The Hot Tools Curly Q Tapered Curling Iron (yes it says "curling iron" but typically a wand means that it doesn't have a clip... this is a flipperless curling iron)
• I love, love Hot Tools products... they are professional grade, but at a reasonable price and with a 1 year warrant... although every Hot Tool product I have owned has never quit on me!

PURCHASE:

Of course, I found the best price out there for you guys with Free Shipping:

• Hot Tools 1 1/4" Curly Q Wand (I paid $59 at Ulta... you can purchase there as well!)

The Best Hairdryer I Have Ever Used: The Elchim Classic Professional Hairdryer

Is an expensive hairdryer worth the money?

Lips: L'Oreal Colour Riche Colour Caresse Wet Shine Lip Stain in Pink Perseverance

The answer is YES!  

Although you can get a hairdryer for fairly cheap, you will probably be amazed at the difference a professional hairdryer will have on your hair... Not only does it dry your hair a lot faster, for some reason your hair just comes out a lot better.  Plus, it has different heat settings, pressure settings, etc...

Elchim 2001 Professional Hair Dryer (Elchim Classic) Reduce your drying time by 50% with the high pressure Elchim Classic Professional Dryer. Less time drying means healthier shinier hair, every day.

As usual, I was a skeptic until I tried it- ha!  My mom purchased this Elchim hairdryer and after using hers I had to get one immediately.

Always one to find the best bargain out there, I found it for almost half the price she paid (she purchased hers at a salon).

I've had mine for a few years now, and it still works just as perfectly as it did the first day out of the box. Plus, it comes with a concentrator nozzle for directing the air... perfect for doing blowouts.

With the Elchim Hairdryer and my Wen Cleansing Conditioner, I really don't have to straighten my hair... if I do, it's only a few pieces!  The above photo of me-- NO STRAIGHTENER, flat iron, what have you... just used plenty of Wen, brushed out my hair while wet with my Wet Brush, then dried with the Elchim.

(If I do straighten my hair, I use the flat iron seen here.)

Purchase with Free Shipping:

• Elchim 2001 Professional Hair Dryer 

***Because this is a "4 Stars or More" Product, it is 20% off

 right now on Folica.com.  Use the code STARS at checkout.***

Best of Beauty: Wen Cleansing Conditioner (My Secret to Healthy Hair)

By far, the largest percentage of emails I receive from you guys is about hair... so, here it is- what one of my "hair secrets" is:

WEN Cleansing Conditioner:

I had only heard of Wen from the infomercials, and as tempting as it was... I just wasn't going to use something sold on an informercial.  Well, my mom's friend ended up giving me a bottle to try... after one use I was amazed.

Wen is designed to be both a shampoo and conditioner.  Just one product for both of your needs.  Problem is, you have to use A LOT of it to get this result.  It's supposed to replace a shampoo because shampoo can be damaging on your hair.  Unfortunately, I just cannot go without shampoo.  My hair will get far too greasy without it.

HOWEVER, I use Wen as my conditioner.  It does wonders for your hair.  It makes your hair so thick, soft, shiny, manageable.... you will love it.  If I use Wen and blow dry my hair (I let it air dry most of the time), I really do not have to straighten my hair at all.

The biggest reason I love Wen is that it makes my hair easy to detangle!  If I had 2 hair products I could not live without- it would be Wen and my Wet Brush.

I also use it as a leave-in conditioner.  I almost always use atleast one pump of it on the ends of my hair before I begin to brush it out with my Wet Brush.

I use the Lavender Cleansing Conditioner.  I have not tried the other scents because I'm so in love with that one, but as far as aromatherapy- this stuff is awesome.  Your shower will smell divine... it really has a spa-like smell.  And your hair... it will smell heavenly as well!

I buy all my Wen products at QVC- buying directly from the Wen site I think you have to sign up for a re-order or something.  Plus, if you order a big set, QVC offers their "easy pay" options that let you split up the payments, which I love to do.

• Purchase Wen Cleansing Conditioner and see what other great deals on "super size" beauty products QVC is offering right now!  (If you want to look at all the Wen products, search "Wen" in the search box at the top of the page)
• Let me add- I love the styling creme as well!

Making A Blow-Out Last

*Had to share... definitely worth a try!

Article:     "How To Make a Blow-Out Last 3 Weeks"

from Refinery29.com

All I usually do is dry shampoo, but I guess a good wash of just your front pieces or your part could work just as well too- there is nothing like a blow-out right??

$25 Off Any Purchase Over $75 at Folica

offer ends 4/26/13

I always wait around for this offer and then email it to my friends when I get it- it's an amazing deal at Folica.com: $25 off a purchase of $75 (not to mention free shipping).

It is the best place to order hair tools or products- period.  They always have the BEST prices (and I would know... I will scour the web looking for the best price on anything and everything I'm looking to buy!).  I also love that they have "Top Ten" lists on flat irons, hair dryers, etc.

Here are some items I've posted about available at Folica:

• The Wet Brush
• Frederic Fekkai Full Blown Volume Shampoo & Conditioner
• Solia Tourmaline Flat Iron
• Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo
• Haven't posted about it yet, but I also bought my hair dryer from Folica.com- I currently have an Elchim Classic Professional Hair Dryer... yes, it's a lot for a hair dryer, but a good hair dryer most definitely makes a HUGE difference on your hair!  

Click the following link or above image to use the coupon:  (starts today... ends 4/26/13)

• Get $25 Off your order of $75 or more plus Free Shipping at Folica.com. 

This Product Changed My Life

The Wet Brush

Ok, ok... maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but this brush is HANDS DOWN the best purchase I've ever made in my life.  Every girl knows that detangling and combing out wet hair is impossible absolutely miserable.  This brush was being sold at my hair salon about 6 years ago.  It was a joke between my stylist and I that after washing my hair in "the bowl" (aka those uncomfortable hair washing stations in salons), she would usually hand me a comb and go take a break until I combed out all the tangles.

Then one day, she said she had a solution- The Wet Brush.  Yes, we've all heard you aren't supposed to brush your hair when it's wet... but this is why it is called the WET brush!

We were both shocked at how easily it got the tangles out of my hair, especially after being in "the bowl"!  I purchased it that day.  Back then, I paid $30-$40 for it... it is now available for the BARGAIN price of $8.99 on Folica.  Since that day years ago, this brush has never left my sight... when I let a friend borrow it, they always end up buying one.

Trust me... it will change your life as well!

• Purchase The Wet Brush

ph: folica.com

Spring/Summer Hair Inspiration

With warm weather approaching (please get here soon!), I'm getting excited about new styles... including clothes AND HAIR!

ph: http://pinterest.com/laurenklipscomb/pins/

The Best Dry Shampoo

I've tried several out there... Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo is my favorite for a few reasons...

Numero Uno- it has a pointy tip. It is a powder, so this tip allows you to squeeze out the product into your roots only.

Number 2- it absorbs all visible oil!

Number 3- it is also available in a small travel size that you can keep in your purse.

The only downfall is that it has kind of a medicine-like smell... but whatever... it works!  And for someone who hates to wash their hair... I need this stuff!

• Purchase Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo Spray

Hair Tip!!!

ph: Hanna Morris, Caliber Magazine

Ok so you know how when you go to the salon they shampoo your hair twice? Do it at home too!

Until recently, I hardly ever did so.  (Umm...I pretty much hate washing my hair but obviously it must be done!) 

Although I cannot say I do it EVERY time, I try to if I'm going to actually dry my hair and go somewhere. (I rarely dry my hair with the blow-dryer besides that... most of the time let it air dry at night.)

It makes a huge difference in how lightweight your hair is... it really has more of that blow-out from the salon feel... plus you will have more lift at your roots!

The Best Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner

Since I posted the other day about my flat iron, I've been getting a few emails about what hair products I use.  I pretty much change it up as far as whether or not I use products.... or what products I use... Because I believe good hair all starts in a great shampoo & conditioner.  I discovered Fekkai shampoos awhile back, and I love them!

Good hair is all about having some fullness... I LOVE Fekkai Full Blown Volume Shampoo.  First, it smells amazing... second, it gets my hair so, so clean and it creates a rich foam while I'm shampooing, which I love.

It definitely makes my hair fuller and lighter.  And it gives my roots some lift- yay!

I also love the conditioner- it makes my hair really soft while still being light.  It doesn't weigh my hair down.

Purchase Fekkai Full Blown Volume Shampoo & Fekkai Full Blown Volume Conditioner.

The Best of Beauty: My Favorite Flat Iron

Midsummer night in New Orleans humidity- and yes, my hair is still straight!

For someone like me with super long hair, I make sure I have the best products/tools to take care of this mane of mine.  A tool that I need to make sure my hair is always shiny and stays in place is my flat iron.  In this Louisiana humidity, it does the job to keep my hair nice and smooth.  I don't find it to damage my hair at all, and it glides easily through the length of my hair.

I use the Solia Tourmaline Ceramic Ion Flat Iron.  Use that link to get a GREAT deal on the Solia Flat Iron- only $79.99 ($89.99 for a colored one) on Folica.com right now, and it comes with a heat-proof pouch.  Plus, you will get FREE SHIPPING with a purchase over $50.00!

(Did I mention it comes in fun colors?? I have hot pink seen below...)