Restore Hair’s Strength and Shine with Moroccan Oil

A Trip to Morocco…
Touted as a revolutionary styling and finishing product, Moroccan Oil is one of the latest in innovative, healthy hair treatments. Just apply a few tiny drops to clean damp hair from roots to tips and you’ll immediately notice a natural, silky softness in your hair’s texture without that greasy, heavy feeling you might find with other hair serums.

With just a few drops, Moroccan Oil instantly goes to work seeping deep into your roots, repairing all of your split ends, while nourishing your scalp with beneficial antioxidants and Vitamins E and F. This super serum works well on all hair types and is especially good at making tangles and those tiny knots disappear with ease – no more tugging and breakage! And the smell is yummy! A a fabulously subtle, incense-y scent that leans more towards a spicy-Caribbean coconut than a sugary tropical aroma. Very nice!

Moroccan Oil promises no build up (and it didn’t!), protects against UV damage and other environmental pollutants, and provides unbelievable shine. I really like the shine without oil factor, even though it’s an oil base, it isn’t greasy. 

 It also claims to speed up your drying time by 40%… I didn’t notice a significant decrease in styling time, but I definitely noticed more manageable, healthier strands after one use. If you’re looking to reverse your daily hair damage, go for Moroccan Oil, the healthy shine alone will make you a believer. Click here to buy it now at StyleBell!

GHD MK4 Flat Iron Review

With so many flat irons on the market, how do you really know which one is right for you? I’ve been testing them out to see how each one works, and why. Today I’d like to share my review of the latest wonder from GHD, the GHD MK4 1″ Ceramic Flat Iron. Touted as one of the best flat irons on the market, I absolutely loved it.

Incorporating state-of-the-art styling technology, the GHD MK4 Straightener and Styler looks very similar to a lot of flat irons out there, but that’s where the similarities end. It’s different, and really, it’s better. All of you CHI fanatics take note, if you ever try a GHD, you’ll see what I’m talking about, and if you currently use a ‘drugstore variety’ flat iron, you’ll be amazed.

The MK4 has a rounded barrel for improved curling and styling, and let me tell you, it curls as easily as it straightens, giving you the ultimate in versatility. You should know that most flat irons will produce curls, but with this iron, it was easy and the curls were nice. I chalk that up to the way this ceramic iron smoothed my strands. It took out all the texture. It didn’t just ‘flatten’, it smoothed. And curled. Major props for that.

The GHD MK4 also has advanced ceramic heaters that are designed to sense the porosity of your hair type to apply and maintain the perfect amount of heat with every glide. That’s cool. Really cool. The iron stayed hot the whole time – no damaging ‘hot spots’ like some other brands – you know who you are! But honestly, it didn’t need to stay hot so long because it straightened my hair super-fast.

The ceramic plates that promise smooth, static free glides took out all my frizz in no time. Some flat irons have been known to create static on hair – especially ones with Tourmaline – so static-free was a huge plus. This iron also had an extremely good grip of my hair while styling, which is very important when choosing a flat iron, because it usually translates into quicker styling with less passes down the same section of hair. Additionally, the ghd MK4 has great tension control, which means I didn’t have to give myself carpal tunnel squeezing the plates together super hard as I straightened each section of my hair. Minimal tension worked just fine thank you.

This iron comes nicely packaged with a step-by-step DVD included in the box which is great for you newbies, but obviously you can always catch a styling video here on our blog if you need some extra help – check out Flat Iron Styling with GHD.

This iron gets two snaps up in Z formation. Watch out competition (ahem CHI), there’s a top player in town, the GHD MK4 has arrived and it’s fabulous! I hope more people get past the pricey price point and give it a try, it really is worth it.

P.S. The ghd MK4 also has an awesome auto adjust feature for international voltages so I can style my way around the world, if I ever get to do that…

A Dramatic Wedding Day ‘Do

Nothing creates a more dramatic look than a classic Audrey Hepburn-ish updo complete with a tiara and fresh roses. In this video you’ll see a quick recreation of this romantic and elegant updo by Tolga Ackay for Joe Carol’s and Brides Magazine. We’re talking 100% drama, 100% romance, 100% elegance. It’s your special day, why not?

Hair Dryer 101 with Conair

How well do you know your hair dryer? Conair, makers of some of the best hair dryers on the planet, answers some frequently asked questions about our favorite hot air blowing friends.

What is the difference between a professional dryer and a standard dryer? How can you tell if you are getting a dryer built for a pro?
While many dryers have the title “professional” or “salon” in their description they may not be true professional appliances. A professional appliance has several features that allow it to withstand the stress of daily salon use. The three main features are:

• True professional dryers have an AC motor. This type of motor has a longer life than the motors found in consumer dryers.
• The design of the unit will usually feature a narrow barrel to help increase airflow.
• The cords are typically heavier and longer than those found on consumer units.
• In addition they will generally not have an ALCI plug as they normally are not used near water.

What is the cool shot button really for?
The cool shot is used to set the style in place at the end of drying/styling. The change to colder air temperature helps lock the style in place.

What do I use a concentrator nozzle for?
The nozzle attachment is used to concentrate and direct airflow, giving greater control during styling. The narrower the vent on the nozzle, the faster the airflow. Concentrator nozzles are generally used to create sleek, smooth styles. Faster, concentrated airflow dries hair fast and fights that frizz!

What does the rear filter do?
The rear filter will trap dust and hair, keeping it out of the dryer. To maintain optimum performance and prolong the life of the dryer, the filter should be removed and cleaned frequently. Remember a clean filter leads to a happy hair dryer.

What is a diffuser attachment used for?
A diffuser attachment is generally used on permed or curly hair to dry hair without removing the curl or creating frizz. They are not suitable for short hair unless they have “fingers”. Volumizing diffusers have long “fingers” that help direct the heat to the roots to create extra volume. Conair suggests all diffuser attachments should be used on the low heat setting unless otherwise instructed.

Conair hair dryers are probably some of the most recognized professional tools on the planet! Hair dryers like the Yellow Bird, Blackbird and Silver Bird are the industry standard in salons across the country, for good reason, they are long-lasting and provide professional results time and time again. Thanks Conair!

-StraightBelle

Hairstyle Gallery: Carrie Underwood

This hairstyle gallery features one of our favorite past American Idol contestants (turned Grammy award winning mega-star!) Carrie Underwood and her gorgeous, glamour girl hairstyles. Worn up in a bun, or with long, cascading curls, Carrie’s looks are always expertly styled with miles of golden hued, wavy hair extensions.

Hair Color Inspiration from TIGI

Feel like changing your hair color? Sometimes we all want something a little different! If you’re looking for inspiration, look no further than this video. The new hair color launch from TIGI features the latest hair color trends for the season. Warning, these aren’t your grandma’s colors, they are new, vibrant hues for when you really want to make a statement with your hair! Bye, bye flat color, hello brilliance. Thanks TIGI.

Dry, Dull Hair is NOT a Good Look

Be honest, is your hair dull and dry? Are those ends brittle (translation – scary!) and parched? Dry hair is not only lackluster and lifeless, it’s usually unhealthy too. We all know dull, frizzy hair is not a good look, so why not fix it?
 
If you are experiencing dull, lifeless hair, smooth things over with ABBA Pure Shine Drops. This super smoothing, shine enhancing elixir seals in moisture and adds a high gloss shine to every hair type with only few tiny drops. And in this case, less really is more – a drop or two does just fine! ABBA Pure Shine is loaded with Rice Bran Oil that restores natural luster to those dull strands and, my favorite feature of all – it fights frizz.

These drops are dedicated to improving manageability, and can be used on wet or dry hair. I like to use a tiny bit on the ends on wet hair to seal in the moisture, then I usually follow with an entire “once over’ with another two or three drops on my hair when it’s dry. This helps seal my strands and locks out the frizz factor.

It’s also extremely lightweight, safe for color-treated hair, and of course it’s from ABBA so rest assured it is 100% Vegan, Sulfate Free, DEA Free, Cruelty Free and Eco-Sensitive. All good stuff. Why wait? Go ahead and banish the brittle, dump the dullness, and fight the frizz for good with ABBA. You’ll notice the difference after just one drop.

Spring 2008 Hair Trend: Bangs are Back

We’ve spotted a number of celebs sporting fun, flirty bangs lately. If you’re looking to bang it out, it’s a great idea to go to your stylist armed with a few celebrity pictures for inspiration. Just remember, bangs this year are slightly curved under, not stuck to your forehead. Cleopatra bangs are so 80’s.