Why Shampoo is the Enemy!

Shampoo is just one of the many ways we women abuse our hair. It's the enemy because it's undercover – most of us think it's actually GOOD for our hair. We may be aware that blowdrying, dying, teasing and perming our hair is bad, but how many of us could have thought that SHAMPOO was the enemy? I didn't, not for most of my life anyways.

But now I do. Watch this video, which I think explains it better (and funnier) than I could. The video was created by Lorraine Massey (author of Curly Girl) and is targeted to curly-haired women, but the lessons about shampoo apply to ALL of us.

PS - I am NOT endorsing the products that are advertised at the end, I just like the video.

If you want to learn how to stop using shampoo but do not want to spend a fortune on sulfate-free products... sign up for my mailing list and stay tuned. I'll be sending out a Special Report on ALTERNATIVES TO SHAMPOO.

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Humans & Hair - A Brief History

“…Why does the human female grow such ridiculously long tresses? In an ancient, tribal world, such an exaggerated, swishing cape of hair would prove to be a serious encumbrance, reminiscent of a peacock’s tail. What was the evolutionary advantage of such an excessive development?”
- Desmond Morris, Human Behaviorist

Excessive, indeed. While Desmond Morris offers no definitive answers as to why we humans evolved long hair on our heads, the most likely explanation is that it acts as a “species flag,” or a way to distinguish humans from other species.

Humans’ distinct hair pattern makes sense when you consider that human beings tend to be highly visual and there was a need, early on in the evolutionary process, to distinguish humans from other (long gone) “close relatives.”

On top of that, within the human race hair serves as a differentiator between men and women. Men have dark facial hair while women do not. Why? Most likely because human females evolved to physically look more childlike, and children do not have dark facial hair.

This concept of “neoteny” (possessing childlike characteristics) may also explain the fascination with blonde hair. Blonde hair is naturally much more common in children than in adults, thus, having blonde hair tends to connote youth.

For almost as long as we know, lightening hair has been a major industry. So much so that at times the bleaching of hair has become associated with exaggerated displays of femininity – in ancient Rome, for example, prostitutes were required by law to wear blond hair!

Blonde hair is not the only hair that has been regulated by law. Whether consciously or subconsciously, hair is a powerful sexual signal and exhibiting it has often been prohibited or regulated. From mild social conventions, like hat-wearing in church, all the way to extreme ones like strict laws requiring women to hide their hair under head coverings (or even shave it!), hair concealment has a long history.

And so does hair decoration, styling and ornamentation. For as long as we know, hair has been bound, braided, brushed and styled. Even Stone Age carvings show distinct hairstyles.

Hair invites more experimentation than any other part of the human body precisely because it can be altered so easily and to such extreme effect. Hair can be enlarged (teasing, perming, moussing, and wearing wigs) or it can be minimized (braiding, binding, and cutting) to achieve completely different looks.

And these different looks can project different images. Long, loose, flowing hair can connote freedom, sexuality and femininity, while short, close-cropped hair can signal restraint, control or masculinity. Of course these stereotypes are not universal, but most would agree that they have a basis in reality.

So what do you want your hair say about you?

Bad Hair Day Updos - The "Holly" Step-By-Step

The fact is, having a great hair day can mean having a great day, period. It's amazing how different my mood is when my hair looks great.

Luckily, thanks to my "hair transformation," I don't have many bad hair days anymore, but when I do, I find that wearing my hair up is the answer. I've discovered and adapted so many great, easy updos that I actually wear it up on good days too!

One of my favorite updos is one I call "The Holly" (because it reminds me of Audrey Hepburn's Holly Golightly in "Breakfast at Tiffany's"). I wore for the first time in a while this week, and almost every woman I came across wanted to know how I did it. They were worried that it was really hard but it's actually easy – and once you've got the hang of it, you can even do it without a mirror.

Below are step-by-step instructions (text, pics and video) so you can do it yourself.

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The Holly:
For long hair (at least shoulder-length). Video instructions at the end.








What you need:

• An elastic band, the kind with no metal parts and that doesn't damage your hair
• A comb fastener, like one of these below. If there's a detail or decoration on the top, even better as it will show.

Step one (see below): Gather your hair into a high ponytail - but on the very last loop (usually of two or three), don't pull your hair all the way through. Instead, pull partway through, enough so that a "roll" is created, and the ends of your ponytail are sticking out of the bottom. You want the roll itself to be neat and smooth, don't worry about the ends yet. Pull the sides a little to tighten, if necessary.





Step two (below): Take those ends that are sticking out, and tuck them through the side of the roll, so that they are nesting inside. You might have to take start over at this point, once you realize how much hair you need to nest inside the roll (because I have layers, I leave about 1/3 of the hair hanging out the back to tuck into the roll).

















Step three (below): Now take your hair comb and insert it – upside down and back to front – into the top of the roll. Upside down so that the backside of the comb is facing the ceiling and the front side is towards the floor. When you insert the comb, be sure to insert the teeth of the comb above the elastic, not through it or underneath it. I usually have to stab a few times to get the right amount of hair and get the teeth in the right place before flipping (next step).

Step four (see right and below): Now, with the teeth of the comb in place, slowly rotate the comb over the top of the head, which will make the entire roll move up and forward and the teeth are now straight up and down. Then stick it in straight down, against your head. This might take some practice (I suggest watching the video). I often have to do this a few times to find the "sweet spot" for where to stick the comb into.





Step five: Adjust!! I usually have to reinsert the comb 2 or 3 times to get the right height and the right tightness. If I grab too much hair in the roll, then it hurts. Too little and it either doesn't hold the roll or looks messy.



Variations:

• Pulling more or less hair through the elastic when you create the roll will create a bigger or smaller hairdo.
• Instead of using the comb, take a pretty butterfly clip (I have some with crystals) and clip it onto the back/bottom of the hairdo to "push it up" and hold it in place.
• Try it with your hair slicked back and hairspray for a formal event
• Use tiny butterfly clips to decorate – they can also help if you have hair that falls down the back of the 'do.

Below is the video version:

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Let me know how it goes, and post pictures of your variations on The Holly if you like. If they're good, I might them in my upcoming book – with your permission and credit, of course!

Have a Dream Hair Day,

Michelle

From Frizzy to Fabulous - My Story

I'm obsessed with my hair.

Unfortunately, I was cursed with what kids in kindergarten not-so-affectionately referred to as “mop-head.” To make matters worse, in 2nd grade I got hold of my dad's hair dryer with brush attachment and after several weeks of unsupervised blow-frying (not a typo), burnt my hair to a crisp.

My mother had all of my long unruly hair chopped off (and didn't warn me when she took me to the hairdresser – a term I use loosely – but that's a whole other trauma altogether).

I looked like I was being shipped off to boot camp. That was the same year I first saw Blaire Warner and her glorious mane in "The Facts of Life." I'd found my Dream Hair.



I vowed that one day I would have Blair Warner hair.

In the 20 or so intervening years, I did get a handle on my hair. I learned to use a clever combination of products, tools and techniques to get gorgeous (though brown) Blair Warner hair.

Growing up for several years in the Dominican Republic, I learned about the "Dominican Blow-Out" (more on that in a later post) – which was a lifesaver for me. People stopped me to ask me about my hair. Senior Year in High School I was voted "Best Hair." The Glory Days of my hair lasted a good 10 years.

But a few years ago, another nightmare started. My hair started to turn prematurely grey (hey Dad thanks for those genes!!!). As I began to experiment with color, my hair got even drier and frizzier than ever before. Despite my best efforts, I could no longer get my Dream Hair, it just didn't look or feel the same.

I became desperate to turn my hair around and get my long, flowy Blair Warner hair back.

I'm happy to report that I have successfully accomplished my own hair transformation - in spite of continuous coloring and highlighting - and I've also been able to help my girlfriends take control of their own hair nightmares.

I have learned exactly what works and what doesn’t when it comes to attaining Dream Hair, because I've got mine. And now my friends affectionately refer to my hair as “porn star hair," a high compliment indeed (I think). To me it will always be Blair Warner hair.

And now I've decided that I want to spread the word and educate a wider audience of women. Whether your hair is naturally frizzy (as mine originally was) or fried from damage, you can turn it around. For some it happens faster than others - depending on the causes of the frizz. But in almost every case, you CAN get the long, flowing, fabulous hair you've dreamed about.

I'm now a firm believer that you can do almost anything with your hair, it's limited only by what your willing to spend in terms of time and effort (and sometimes money) to maintain it.

If you want more FREE info, sign up for my bi-weekly "free-zine" full of great tips and tricks. Every once in a while you'll also get access to a "Dream Hair Secret Special Report" – also free – like the one I'm working on now called: "How You Are Sabotaging Your Dream Hair: The Top 5 Things to Stop Doing IMMEDIATELY." If you sign up, you'll automatically have access to the Report when it's ready.

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My objective is to help you achieve and maintain long, gorgeous, healthy, Dream Hair.

Have a Dream Hair Day!

Michelle