Showing posts with label haircare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label haircare. Show all posts

My Haircare Routine



Ok, so this post has been a long time coming, but the wait is over, yay! Continuing with last week's beauty theme, I decided to finally do a q&a post answering some of the frequently asked questions I get about my hair. If there's anything that I didn't answer in this post, leave it in the comments below, or send me a message on social media, and I'll be happy to answer it! Ok, let's dive in...

Where do you get your hair done?
I love the team at Nuovo Salon, and get my cut and color done there. My stylist is Scott, and he's one of the best in the industry! When looking for a good stylist, be sure to mention what your typical routine is like, your hair needs (volume, texture, moisture, etc.), and what you're looking for in a good cut or color. Read all about my salon experience at Nuovo here.

How do you curl your hair?
My favorite way to curl my hair is to use a clipless 1" barrel wand (regular, not tapered). I start by putting half of my hair up, and will take 1-2" sections of hair and wrap them around the wand, away from the face. If I'm going for more of a wave, I'll leave out the last 1/2" of hair to keep it straight, giving it a beachy look, rather than a more glamorous style curl. Once the bottom layer is done, I section the top layer off into 4 sections, leaving the front pieces for last since I don't do those in as tight of a curl. The important thing to remember is to not let the pieces immediately drop off the wand when you release. I usually hold the curl in my hand for a few seconds after taking it off the wand to allow it to start cooling in the shape. This technique helps keep my curls in tact for hours. Once everything has been curled, I'll decide to either flip my head over to loosen up the curl or run a wide-toothed comb through them. A quick dab of dry oil on the ends, a spritz of shine spray, and a light mist of hairspray helps to keep them in place.

What hair dryer and brushes do you use?
I've used many different dryers, some high end, and others from the drugstore, but I keep coming back to this one from Revlon. It's super simple, has a retractable cord which is great for storing when not in use, and I always use the additional attachment that it comes with. My hair's texture is very curly, so I dry it using a big round brush to give it smoothness and manageable volume. Typically, I let my hair air-dry for about 15 minutes before I start working on it with a dryer. Before I dry my hair, I always use this leave-in conditioner, a little heat protectant, and run this tangle-taming brush through it. If my hair needs a little extra smoothness, I use this and this from the Aveda line that helps to keep things from getting frizzy or wild.

Do you get highlights or base color? What color is your natural hair?
I don't get a base color, but I do get highlights! My hair is naturally blonde, but over time it's gotten darker, so I keep my natural color as the base and get a partial highlight to keep things looking light and bright!

What shampoo & conditioner do you use?
I love Aveda products and use both the Blue Malva and Color Conserve lines. They keep my hair looking and feeling healthy and strong, and as a bonus they smell SO good. If you are a blonde, Blue Malva will be your best friend! I highly recommend it! Typically, I'll use the Blue Malva once a week, just to keep the color in check and avoid any brassiness, and the other times I'll stick with Color Conserve.

What dry shampoo do you recommend for light hair that doesn't look super chalky?
Dry shampoo is the best, especially when you've got limited time in the morning, or want a quick refresh after a workout. After trying a few, my favorite is by Batiste. It is lightweight and doesn't leave behind a chalky residue on your strands. The tropical scent has a slight hint of coconut and isn't overpowering. To salvage my blowout after a workout, the trick is to quickly dry any sections that may need it, section the hair off, spray dry shampoo on the roots, and leave it for about 5 minutes before using your fingers to massage it into the hair. Do a simple brush through the strands to finish blending it and voila!

As I mentioned, if there's any additional questions, leave them in the comments or send me a message on social media! I've linked all the products I love and use below for you! Here's to good hair days ahead! ;)




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Summer Cut & Color














One of the most frequent questions I get asked is, "Where do you go to get your hair done??" For many years growing up I disliked my hair, but now, thanks to my wonderful stylist, Scott, and the team at Nuovo Salon, I love it. It's amazing to see how having a great cut and color can really add such confidence! Recently, Nuovo invited me to come in for a fresh cut, color and makeup session for summer, so I wanted to bring you along for the experience! The attention to detail, impeccable service, and overall standard of excellence in the salon is evident from the minute you walk in the door, and I always leave feeling beautiful.

When I first started coming to see Scott back in 2011, I had recently dyed my hair a deep shade of brunette (yikes), and was looking for the best stylists/colorists in town to help get my hair looking healthy and back to blonde again. I had gone to Nuovo salons before, knowing they were some of the best in the business, and after being booked with Scott, I knew this was going to be a perfect fit. We have a great time coming up with a new vision for my cut and color each visit, and I always love the results! It can be a challenge to find someone who understands both your vision and your hair's needs. When you find a stylist that not only brings talent, but true artistry, knowledge, and passion to their work, you know they're a keeper. Over the years I've recommended so many of my friends to Nuovo who now love their stylist and hair.

Lately, I've been wanting to switch things up a little, so this time we took some length off the ends and added in a little more playful texture around the crown. He balayaged (hand-painted) some pieces around my hairline to give me a beautiful custom, sunkissed look. I love being a light, bright shade of blonde, and my hair tends to be naturally thick, curly and dry, so when you add in color treatment on top of that, it is important to protect the hair from damage as much as possible. Scott uses Olaplex on my hair in order to obtain the beautiful color without damage, and I also get shine and moisture treatments to keep my strands looking and feeling healthy.

Speaking of health and wellness, I love the organic and all natural Aveda products that Nuovo uses, and the salon is on the cutting edge of environmental respect and care through it's reuse, recycling and water purification systems. It's the attention to these kinds of important details that make such a difference in experience. For my makeup application, I got a pretty, fresh-faced look for summer and loved the all natural cosmetics that felt and looked so great on my skin. If you're local, I highly suggest booking an appointment with the Nuovo team for your next salon experience; you'll be absolutely delighted with the results!

p.s. I'll be sharing some of my styling secrets & haircare routine on the blog next week! Stay tuned...

Thanks to Nuovo Salon Group for partnering on this post.
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Coiffure Class 101: French Side Braid


I've not done many hair tutorials on here, but after receiving some requests, especially over the past year or so, I thought it would be fun to show you (with a little help from my styling maven of a sister) how to create some of the styles I wear on a regular basis. First up, the French-style side braid. This is a simple twist on a classic summer look, and a favorite of many a camp counselor. Having invested many years in summer camps, this fun, oversized braid is a subtle, styling nod to those happy memories. It looks so pretty, and in the high temps, will also keep you feeling nice and cool! A few subtle tweaks take it from camp-style to chic in a matter of seconds. 

{Step 1}
Brush out your hair, and sweep all of it over to one side. For those of you with thin or extra silky hair, a spritz or two of texturizing or styling spray will help with a little extra grip. For added volume and fullness, I like to use Big Sexy Hair Powder Play, and for extra hold and to zap oil, Psssst Dry Shampoo is pretty fantastic. 

{Step 2}
Begin by french braiding*, starting a few inches back from the top, pulling hair across the back of your head to keep the braid on one side and not down the middle of your head. 
*If you need help french braiding, here's a good tutorial

{Step 3}
Finish braiding off the rest of your hair, making sure to keep the braid tight, and secure with a hair tie. 

{Step 4}
Here's where the magic happens! Start loosening up or pulling apart the braid to give a softer, fuller effect. Begin at the top of the braid and work your way down; this gives your braid the 'Disney Princess hair' effect. If you have super thick hair, this step will alleviate a lot of the pressure and weight that comes from braids pulled tight on your scalp. 

{Step 5}
Fluff up the end of the braid, as well as around the top and crown of your head. Tuck in any super loose ends, but remember, this looser-style braid will naturally have a few pieces that may stick out, that's part of the casual I always look this fabulous charm of the hairstyle. For those of us with lots of layers, myself included, you may need to employ the help of a few bobby pins to keep the larger, shorter pieces from falling out, but use your layers to your advantage to keep the style from looking too slicked back from your face. Your braid should look full and effortlessly glam, not sloppy. 

{Step 6}
I always pull out a few pieces around my face for a little extra softness, and because I think it makes the style look better and less 'done', if you know what I mean. After you've tweaked it to your liking, I always finish the look off with a spritz of natural hold hairspray and a bit of shine spray. I like to use Chi Enviro 54 Natural Hold and Mermaid Hair Shine Spray (It has the perfect hint of coconut, tames frizzies, and makes your hair super soft and shiny!). Voila! Enjoy your fabulous, french side braid!


Happy Styling!


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7 Tips to A Beautiful Summer

Hello! It's Dulce again from The Dulce Taylor Blog and today I'm bringing you 7 Tips for a Beautiful Summer! Let's get started shall we...


1. Make-up :: It is my personal opinion that summer is a time when we shouldn't wear a ton of make-up. I hate seeing a girl with sweaty globs of make-up running down her face in the middle of July. Instead of painting on thick layers of make-up this summer, show off your natural tan. Focus more on your eyes or your lips. Choose an eyeshadow or eyeliner that looks great with your eye color and make those babies pop! Or, you can do a softer eye and experiment with a bright pink lipstick. Have with it! Break away from your norm...


2. Sunscreen :: Always, always wear sunscreen if you are going to be out in the sun for a long period of time. Because burns just aren't pretty, and neither is peeling. But don't let that keep you out of the sun! Vitamin D is super good for you, and you can easily get some by being in the sun for at least a few minutes everyday. 



3. Swimwear :: Invest in a swimsuit you love! You will feel so much more beautiful and attractive if you feel great in what you're wearing. Also, think about the tan lines your swimsuit will give you. Anything with awkward lines might not look good later in certain clothes. Just think about that before you buy one...


4. Natural Hair :: Like your make-up, your hair should look effortless and carefree. Find a good beach wave hair spray to give your hair that natural, wavy look.





5. Casual Wear :: Summer is the time to wear less clothes. Keep it simple with a patterned tunic, or a simple dress, or even a great pair of white shorts. I think summer is the perfect time of year to experiment with color. Throw a bright colored shirt on with a pair of classic denim jeans. Or wear a bright colored dress with gold shoes and accessories. Just keep it simple. If your outfit looks too put together, you lose the relaxed, summer-y effect. 



6. Accessorize :: While your outfit should be simple, your accessories should really stand out. Wear bangles on your wrist, or drape a bright colored scarf over your neck. Get a colorful bag that looks great with everything. And, of course, invest in a pair of sunglasses that look great on your face. Accessories can make the outfit, especially in the summer. Wear them wisely.


All pictures via Pinterest

7. Smile :: Nothing will make you more beautiful than a smile! It's summer! The sun is high in the sky and the weather is wonderful! You should never stop smiling. (Also, white teeth look great on a tan face...whitening strips are always a good idea!)

I hope you enjoyed these little tips! To read more from me, visit The Dulce Taylor Blog.


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Effortless Beachy Waves


Hello all! I'm Dulce from The Dulce Taylor Blog, and today I'm going to show you guys a quick and easy tutorial on a beach wave hair spray that will give your hair that just-off-the-beach look, not matter where you are! If you're like me, your hair is not straight and perfect. Summer is the time when we want to be doing, well, summery things, not fussing with our hair (do we ever?). Beach waves are the ideal summer look, but unless your hair is naturally and perfectly wavy, those waves can take time to get and may come with a lot of frizz. 

Thankfully, my crafty and beauty-savvy mother helped me come up with this awesome (and inexpensive) hair spray that gives my hair an effortless beach wave look. And it's super easy to make! Here's what you'll need to buy:

1. Epsom salt (look in the pharmacy section at Walmart)
2. Any brand of water-based hair gel
3. Spray bottle (I found this one in the Art section at Hobby Lobby)

You won't use all of the salt or the gel, but you will have some left over to use for extra spray when you run out! All together, this cost me $5.



1. Heat half a cup of water in the microwave for one minute. Then mix 3 teaspoons of Epsom salt and stir until dissolved.


2. Add 3 squirts of hair gel and mix well.



3. Pour into a spray bottle.



Just spray on your damp or dry hair and scrunch with your fingers. If wet, just let you hair air dry for natural, beach-y waves. Enjoy!

To check out more my blog, click here. To see my mother's blog, click here

xoxo,

Dulce
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Teatime Thursday

Back by popular demand, (and more time on my end of things!) here's this week's edition of Teatime Thursday favorites vlog style!


My favorites: (similar) comb, lipcolor, chapstick/miracle, scarf


Current Favorite: 
Spiced Chai

Teatime Thought:
"Come and share a pot of tea, My home is warm and my friendship's free."
 Emilie Barnes, Author

Fact of the Day: 
Afternoon tea (because it was usually taken in the late afternoon) is also called "low tea" because it was usually taken in a sitting room or withdrawing room where low tables (like a coffee table) were placed near sofas or chairs generally in a large withdrawing room.


Happy Thursday!
Don't forget to share some of your favorite things from this week with me!

-Candice
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A Secret to Perfect Hair

It's the start of a new week, folks! I'm off on a mini getaway today, and will be back Tuesday evening sometime. It's the perfect breath of fresh air to start off the new month!

I wanted to let you guys know about a product I've been loving recently. About two weeks ago, I was making a quick grocery store trip, and picked up the John Frieda Clear Shine Luminous Glaze hair treatment. It was sort of an impulse buy but it has quickly become one of my favorite hair products.
(image via)

As I've mentioned before, my hair is naturally thick and curly...add some humidity and then you've got quite a handful, so the solution has been to get Brazilian Keratin treatments which definitely help with the frizz control. Those do start to wear off though, and can be quite pricey.

The John Frieda clear glaze has the same effect on my hair as a freshly done keratin, so not only is it cost effective, but also smells great and delivers awesome results. It makes my hair super soft, smooth, really shiny, and almost completely fly-away free. (If you knew my hair, that's really saying something...) I cannot say enough about how much I love this stuff! The glaze can be used as often as you wash your hair, or as a once a week treatment. Personally, I like to use it about every two days. If you've got curly, frizzy or lackluster hair, you should definitely try this out; for less than $10 you can have the effect of a Brazilian blowout! I could totally see a huge difference even after the first use.


It's also:
  • Ammonia, dye and peroxide-free
  • doesn't damage hair
  • doesn't change hair color



I just love it! Have you tried it out before? Let me know!


P.S. If you haven't heard already, my beautiful friend Angie has a great giveaway going on for her 1 year blogversary! Check it out!!
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