Popular Hair Styling Tips For Guys

The concept of hairstyling for men is often very different to a man than it is for a woman. While it seems as though women have a plethora of hairstyles to choose from to fit their unique sense of overall style, guys may think that their options are limited. The masculine element of the male psyche tends to hold back the average guy from realizing that there are in fact numerous hairstyling options available. Skilled hands, an eye for the latest hair cutting trends and the right tools can offer plenty of possibilities for guys.

The modern guy can easily have a hairstyle that fits his persona as uniquely as his favorite blazer or pair of designer shoes. One of the most popular hairstyles which can be attained with any adept stylist and a trusty set of professional hair clippers is the "messy" style. This hairstyle, popularized by a good number of celebrity males in most cases requires a good length of hair and a willingness to experiment.

The hair is usually stiffened or spiked with gel or hair spray in a nonuniform fashion upwards and outwards from the scalp. While it may look like you just rolled out of bed, if you do it properly, the casual observer will know you put time and planning into your hairdo. The origin of the "messy" hairstyle look is often attributed to the new age rocker look from the eighties.

For the balding male, hair styling can be a sensitive subject. If you are balding down the middle, the comb over is always an option. It is important to realize that the comb over in general is pretty obvious and may not be the best option. Experiment with keeping your haircut extra short, or perhaps just doing away with it altogether. The completely bald look may actually work better then partially bald.

Popular with military and law enforcement personnel, the high and tight hair cut offers an authoritative and professional look. Although not necessarily the most unique style, it easily portrays a traditional, clean cut image appropriate for casual and formal environments. Even though closely shaved back and sides are the most common attribute often associated with high and tight, variations can also include gradual fading without the shaved look.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jershon_Teigh

Hair Styles For 2010 - What You Need to Know About the Hottest Trends

New colors, lengths and styles for hair are introduced by the fashion industry every year. People look toward celebrities for hair styles and colors that are really going to be popular this year. At the end of 2009, celebrities like Rihanna and Lady Gaga made the biggest headlines and this year too is considered to be interesting for hair styles. There are three elements color, diversity and versatility that should be taken as a base say top hairstylists and fashion designers.

You will feel great if you have a beautiful hairstyle and this will help you to find more joy in your life. No matter what type of shape your face has, there will be cuts that will look best on you in the year 2010. Here is a quick guide to show what to adopt and what to avoid.

Colors look set to be in extremes this year. Vibrant red and silver highlights are set to be popular this year. Different conditioners and hair products can be used to create this look. Your hair style should be diverse as in the case of celebrities who sport a wide variety of popular hair styles. There are people who like long hair and some also like short hair but this year's trend will be diverse. The hair style should be versatile as well. You can sport different styles with medium hair length. So, with minimum hassle you can get edge looks quickly.

A little shaggy and layered hair style is considered to be the perfect hair cut. Layering is the key in this case as the best layers are left to the front and are meant to frame the face. But you should never go above your eyes in the case of short hair or above earlobes in the case of long hair.

There are many factors which need to be considered while adapting for short hairs. You should consider all the variables such as personality, body shape, hair texture, face shape, lifestyle, skin tone, eye color and hair density.

Here are some suggestions from professional stylists so that you can pick the perfect haircut when you are considering changing your hair style. For a triangle shaped face, the short and medium hairstyles are best suited while for a pear shaped face, layered hair with fullness are recommended. Layered bob and choppy cuts are best suited for oblong shaped face.

A hairstyle that has sleekness in the wider part of the face and width at top with chin length haircut with temple to temple fringes is best for a diamond shaped face. For a pear shaped face, the haircut should have symmetry with the narrow forehead and wide cheeks. The fringe area brings sleekness at the jaw line and the cheeks. Curly haired woman should head straight for an expert as they are very difficult to manage as the curls may not grow in the right direction.

It looks to be a very vibrant and outgoing year for hairstyles with celebrity styles leading the way. The slightest change in your hairstyle can cause a lasting impact. Find information about trendy and popular hairstyles and don't forget to take inspiration from celebrities.
Dave is a niche article writer for various websites for the past few years. His new website is about Back Hair Removal also you can check out more about Back Hair Removal Tips here.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Horvath

Hot Short Hair Styles For 2010

If you imagine that shortened cuts simply imply a single specific cut or length, you can start rethinking now.There are actually three categories by which you can classify short hair:super short,jaw length and chin length short hair styles.

The versatility of these styles goes well with added color and the chic and feminine effect is simply amazing. You'll know what I mean when you go over these hot short hair styles for 2010.

The Bob

This is one of the hottest items in the hot short hair styles for 2010 list. Bobs are so versatile it suits every shape of face. If your face is round, you can go for the longer cut. The effect is stunning because it elongates your face just a wee bit; and give it a slimmer look.

Do you have straight hair? Then Bob is ideal for you. To achieve that that appealing combination of girl-street-urchin-boyish, face hugging outcome, make sure that the longest strand of hair is just about one inch above the chin. If your texture tends to be on the wavy side, you will have to use a good straightener to achieve the desired effect because the Bob requires the hair to be very, very straight.

If you have very fine tresses, try blunt Bob as it will make volume seem thicker. Ask your stylist to create a few bangs and provide a blunted line just right above your brows. Watch that you don't get a more severe fringe because it can sharpen the overall appearance. Have a trim every six months and keep it in shape. You can always use a flat iron after you blow-dry.

Overall this design does not require long hours to manage and style. A simple blow dry and brushing (or combing) is so quick it only takes about 20 minutes or so, and you're done! Although the upkeep is quite minimal, you do still have to visit the hair salon at least once a month to ensure that the glow and enhanced appearance of your hair stays that way.

The Pixie

This hot short hair style for 2010, also known as "pixie cut" is trendy and on the rise this year. Its a distinct cut is named after a fabled mythology creature. It can only be achieved by trimming the hair very thinly alongside the ears; choppy layers are then snipped on the crown and the nape. This usually goes well with bangs or fringes swept to the side, which may be either short or long depending on preference.

Its not exactly a requirement but this type of hair style looks more fantastic on women with flawless skin. Acne and uneven skin tend to get more obvious as exposes the face and shows off the skin with the "open-face" style. It also looks better on heart-shaped face.

There are two ways you can go about this style.

Many women opt for the sleek and straight look, keeping the cut simply flat and make use of shine serums for extra gleam and enhanced body. Others choose a more natural air, letting their hair show its true texture sometimes with curls or waves.

For look enhancement, wax or gel is used to get the favored look. Whichever type of pixie cut you finally decide to have; they are both considered gorgeous, properly and appropriately styled. Another plus factor: it is a low-upkeep hair style that you can easily fix yourself; perfect for women on the go because of its manageability. However, it's not as convenient as bob hair in that it still requires styling, albeit minimal. You need put some hair product for pixie cut to really show off how much of a hot short hair style for 2010 it is.

Everything considered, this is one great shortened style to pick; still, ask yourself a million times if you really want to parade the "do" because once you decide to crop that long or medium length hair, it's going to take some time before it grows back!

Razored Punk

This is much more casual than the others. It is cropped so close to the sides while leaving longer strands of hair at the top, so that it gives an "edgy" touch to the style. You can get creative and do your own styles with the help of some extra mousse to hold it - you can even flaunt that "wild" look you've been dreaming to don! You can have any shape you want depending on what hair product you apply. One interesting styling option that those who are not much into punk look may prefer is the messy razored style. Some not-so-young women favor this style as it provides a youthful look.

Edgy Short Hair Styles

Don't confuse this with the razored punk. The most edgy versions of this hair style are slashed asymmetrically or cut in strong geometrical lines and goes well with bright colors. Because of its uniqueness, it seems to carry a personality of its own. Your hair needs to be really, really straight with this style though. Natural curls may work but will require a very meticulous cutting to achieve the desired effect. With just a little amount of styling products and a tweak here and there; you're good to go!

Just like the old adage say, your hair is your crowning glory. So make a smart, ingenious choice before you get the style you think will suit you. Because there's no going back once you cut your hair; not for a few years, anyway. But considering that hot short hairstyles for 2010 are the in thing today; they may just be the kind of perk you need to look sizzling HOT!
Visit Healthy Hair Plus online for the latest in Short Hair Products - healthy hair shampoos, conditioners, and styling aids. Keep up the with latest short hair styles, advice, trends and natural ingredients for healthy hair.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Faber

Looking for New Hair Styles or a Completely Different Look?

When it comes to hair styles, there are so many different options today to make changes. You can change your color, add highlights, add bangs, add layering and even add length or thickness with hair extensions. Makeovers are becoming more and more popular as television shows such as ABC's Extreme Makeover outline how a makeover is done and drastic changes that can be done.

Hair stylist, Gia Wood of Salon D in Dallas, Texas specializes in makeovers and hair extensions and is considered Dallas' makeover specialist. She has hundreds of clients locally and many clients that fly or drive in to Dallas for her services. One of her clients flies all the way from Spain just to get her hair done. Gia says, "I find that clients who are willing to drive or fly that far just to get their hair done are the biggest compliment and the proof of my success."

So what is this makeover fuss all about? Gia explains that most of her clients have either been the victim of an inexperienced stylist or have simply not thought enough about the change in hairstyle they wanted and they are now stuck with something they hate. Gia adds, "Most of my makeovers include color correction, which can be highlights, color, gloss or all of the above. Makeovers also include a haircut and style, along with makeup application. The total process can take around 4 hours to complete."

Gia says, "When dealing with color correction, the first thing every client asks me is '...how damaged will my hair be after a color correction?'" Believe it or not, color correction is not as damaging as it used to be. The old way of stripping hair color out with bleach is history. Modern day products allow hair stylists to remove 'artificial pigment' only, meaning that it will not open, damage, or split the cuticle of the hair in any way. This allows hairdressers to remove the most intense colors from hair, and allow it to be re-colored in the same appointment time."

Gia will also offer suggestions for change in color and style to fix any problems a client reports with their hair. "For example, if a client has a brassy blonde color, I will suggest a bleach highlight or an ash toner to offset the brass color." She explains.

Getting a successful makeover depends on the experience of the stylist. Gia further explains, "My previous clients and even new clients trust my experience level and let me do what ever I feel like with their hair. Most of the time when I'm doing a makeover, I am usually correcting another stylist's color or haircut. I usually ask my clients what or who they would like to look like and to give a firm example of what they like and don't like. And, even if a client loves the way her hair looks, they may be looking for a change to further improve their hair style."

Photos of styles the client likes are very helpful to hair stylists. Gia adds, "Clients and stylists have different vocabularies. For example, Bangs. There are a thousand ways to wear bangs." Gia recommends bringing at least three photos of the hair style you want so your stylist does not get confused.

Gia also keeps a computer at her work station to look up hair styles online (such as a past hair style of a celebrity) if a client does not have photos or cannot remember certain styles they like. The computer eliminates the need for bulky portfolio books.

"Once the client and I have decided on a style and color," Gia explains, "We discuss what it will take to get the clients hair to that hair style." Most of the time the exact cut and color are achieved in one day. But Gia mentions that some clients that are growing their hair out may take several months and appointments to reach their overall goal. Human hair extensions (human hair extensions are attached directly to the natural hair) are also an option for clients that don't want to wait for their hair to grow out.

Gia's makeover experience is well-documented on her website: http://www.hairbygia.com Many before and after photo examples of makeovers, including hair extensions can be seen for your reference. Gia is quickly becoming the talk of the town with recent appearances on the television show "Austin Nights" (Segment can be viewed on her website) for her hair extensions services. She was also interviewed for the Number One best selling E-book by Hair Resources, 2005's Most Popular Hair Extensions and participated as a Judge in their Nationwide Bridal Hair Style Contest.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Perriann_Rodriguez

Teen Hair Style Ideas

There is perhaps never a better time when you can pull off the very trendy and funky hair styles as when you are a teenager. The teen hair style, while always evolving and reflecting the tastes of the generation, always tends to be a trendy style that is hard for older people to imitate and still look great. From a ton of texture to funky and fresh color techniques, the teenage cuts are always at the cutting edge of fashion.

The funky teenage hairstyle always looks like it has been taken straight off the runway. Infused with rich, trendy color, it does a lot to capture an era completely. Just think about all of the famous teenage styles, of the past. Complete generations have been defined by the trendy hairstyles worn by the teenagers of that time.

Today, top teen styles are trendier than ever and cover a wide range of shapes, lengths and textures. Perhaps for the first time, the teenager's hair style is a reflection of the person within instead of the popular teenage cultures without. I mean just think of how many popular teenage styles there are to choose from. We are no longer like the cookie-cutter generations that came before.

While there are a great deal of styles to choose from and numerous variations of each, it can be hard to find the perfect hairstyle to reflect your personality and tastes. So, if you are a teenager, here are a few ideas for your next hairstyle.

The short teen hairstyle

Hair has never been shorter. In fact, many teenage girls are now wearing their hair shorter than the boys. But one thing is always sure; the short teen style is always a trendy one. Full of texture and interest, short is never dull.

Probably the most popular short teen hair style of today is a variation on the pixie cut. Only about 1" to 1 ½" in length throughout, this style is heavily textured and can be worn in several different ways. From rigid spikes and soft funk to close-to-the-head tresses, this teen hair style accommodates a wide range of tastes.

The textured teen hair style

No matter what length your locks are, texture is needed to pull off a trendy hair style. This texture can be created through cutting and razoring techniques, it can be natural as in the case of natural curl, and it can be created chemically through perms and relaxers or thermal styling tools.

As mentioned before, today's teenage hairstyle is never boring. Not only does texture liven up your hair, it can also take a popular style and make it uniquely your own. Take for instance a simple layered style. Falling about shoulder length, this type of hairstyle would be dull if left to hang straight. But if you take the same cut and add pomade to texturize the ends or add spiral curl with tube rollers, you could really create a different look each and every day.

The teen hair style and color

Every trendy haircut needs color, and the same is true for the teenage hairstyle. Adding color can be as simple as a few highlights or lowlights or it can come in the form of dramatic changes such as dark colors for the Gothic look. Color can also be a statement of itself. Just look at the colors worn by Pink and Christina Aguilera. Their most popular teen hair style cuts were not really anything that unique, it was their color that set their teen hair style apart from others.

When choosing color for your hair do not be afraid to try something funky and unique. This may be the only time in your life that you can get by with blue highlights. Also, do not become wrapped up in choosing the same color for your teen hair style that you have seen worn by other people. Stay unique, venture out, be brave and you will always have a teen hairstyle worthy of envy.
Michael Barrows' website gives great advice for good hair. Get your free ebook packed with hair style and hair care tips and advice, visit the great hair styles website

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Barrows

Hair Cut Pictures! UPDATED

Well, it's been a year since I last got my hair cut. It's been growing out from a chin length bob, and thanks to my fabulous stylist (who, incidentally, does cut it dry), it grew out very well. But it was getting way to long for me to handle. I just don't feel like I look my best with long hair. It takes too much product and too much work and takes too long to dry. I've had short hair my entire life, so there's only so long I can put up with it.

So this morning, off I went to my salon (this was my 3rd visit to this place and I've loved each one) with my boyfriend in tow (because it's in the city, and he can parallel park...and I cannot). My stylist, Stephanie, dry cut my hair (which was styled with Spiral Solutions products), then washed me (Deva stuff), then styled (with Angell and clippies), then dryed (big hard hat dryer contraption). She took off a good 6 inches when it was stretched straight. But I know that hair cut posts are really all about the pictures, so without further delay:

BEFOREAFTER
*a note about the after: stay tuned to see how it looks when I do it. The curls are waves because I was out all day and they weren't tight when she styled them anyway because Angell by itself doesn't give me enough hold to last all day and be picture worthy. I will update this post tomorrow with pics of how it looks when I style it myself
UPDATE: It's been one day since I got my hair cut! I still love it (good sign). Here are some pictures from today's styling:

Spiral Solutions Firm Hold Gel

I'm at a loss. With the addition of this magnificent Firm Hold Gel from Spiral Solutions, I have stand-by holy grail products in every category. I've got an awesome deep treatment (SS Deeply Decadent), cleanser (Deva No Poo), Rinse Out (Darcy's Botanicals Pumpkin Seed), a couple leave in's (Jasmine's Babassu and SS Deeply Decadent), a couple curl enhancers (SS Curl Enhancing Jelly, Donna Marie Miracurls Jelly), and a perfect, firm holding gel (SS Firm Hold Gel). My PJ may be finally ready to settle down and commit to some long term relationships with products.

Gels are really tricky I think. There are so many ways they can go wrong. Take a leave in, for example. It can be too heavy, or too light. It can have too much slip, or not enough. It can have the wrong ingredients for what your hair likes. But other than that, there's not too many ways to mess it up. With gels on the other hand, there are infinite ways to go wrong. Everything from the ingredients (humectants or no, protein or no, PVP or no, polyquats or no, etc), to the application (too much and you'll get sticky, too little and you'll frizz), to the distribution (hard to get it even when just scrunching), to consistency, to hold, etc etc etc. Since it's the last thing you put on your hair (other than perhaps a butter to scrunch out the crunch with), I think it's pretty critical to find a good gel if your hair needs one.

The Spiral Solutions Firm Hold Gel is the first gel I've ever encountered that does not leave my hands sticky after using it. This is huge for a couple reasons. 1) It's just nice. It doesn't make you feel the need to wash up after doing your hair. And 2) if it isn't sticky on my hands, I can feel confident that it won't be sticky in my hair. Most commercial gels are made with ingredients derived from plastic polymers that are meant to be a bit tacky. That's what gives them hold when they are so cheap. But, take a look at the ingredients for the Spiral Solutions Firm Hold Gel:

Ingredients: water, dehydroxanthan gum, hydroxyethylcellulose, polyquaternium-4, fragrance, brocolli seed oil, silk amino acids, panthenol, aloe vera powder, benzylalcohol-dha, vitamin e, sea algae extract, dead sea salts, citric acid

Nothing to be afraid of in there that would make it sticky. Polyquat-4 might raise some hairs on your neck, but remember, the lower the 'quat number, the easier it is to remove. Polyquat-4 essentially evaporates from your hair on its own. Here is a must read on gels and their ingredients from the Curl Chemist.

The consistency of this stuff is interesting. It will shake a bit like jello if you bump the side of the jar. Here is a picture of the product in my jar of it. The first thing you'll notice is that it's not clear like a typical gel. Obviously, it's impossible to get a feel for the consistency from a still, but I think you can tell it's not like a normal gel. When you rub it onto your hands, it spreads out into a more clear film. It distributes really well though since it's not thick. It's so hard to describe! It's thin as far as gels go, but it has a definite presence/consistency to it. It smells just like all the other products in her line -awesome. It doesn't linger on me as much as I'd want it to actually.

The directions say you can "scrunch a small amount through wet hair" or "can also be applied to dry hair to smooth frizzies." I've only used it on wet hair for hold because my hair just doesn't like anything applied when dry. This stuff has really nice, clean hold. It doesn't feel sticky when drying, but still creates that film cast or mold or whatever you want to call it that holds your curls in place during drying. It holds up very well under diffusing, and the dry time with it was significantly (like 5 minutes) less then when I was using a different gel with the same base products.I really like this stuff. It leaves my hair feeling productless, which is awesome. It also manages to provide very firm, crunchy hold for me. The crunch goes away very easily though, and I use just my bare hands to get rid of it. The above picture is using the gel over the Curl Enhancing Jelly, and it's a bit frizzy because it was taken after I went out in the rain. I've consistently used it over a leave in and curl enhancer with good results.

I generally use about 3 peas worth on each side and then another nickle size blob upside down. So the amounts are actually smaller than what I would generally use with another gel. I find I just don't need quite so much with this as I do with a typical clear gel. I then scrunch out some water with my Curls Like Us towel, and apply a little bit more FHG. The weather in the time I've been using it has been dews around 15-30 range. There has been some rain, and it held up pretty well considering how much I have to walk around outside as a college student. It doesn't provide curl enhancement for me beyond what the Curl Enhancing Jelly does. I haven't tried it without a curl enhancer underneath yet.

All in all, I think this is a solid product. It gives good hold, shine, lacks the tacky stickiness of many clear gels, and it's consistent for me in a moderate variety of weather conditions. I'm hoping this one holds out through the humidity of the mid Atlantic summer. Then I will be truly in love

Spiral Solutions Protein and Moisture Treatments

Sorry to leave you all hanging there for a little while!!! I recently had some serious laptop issues (R.I.P hardrive and systems board) but luckily at my school, school provided laptops through financial aid get free repairs while you're a student. Otherwise that repair would've had a huge price tag.

But now I'm back up and running and I'm very glad! It's difficult to read Curltalk on a regular basis using an ipod touch! While I was gone, I've been having some fun with 2 new products from SpiralSolutions, the product line made by one of Curltalk's own, as I detailed in my previous post. This line has all but clinched the title of my favorite curl product line ever. I say all but clinched because I still need a gel. And my Firm Hold Gel, the missing product, should be here tomorrow according to USPS tracking. But the Curl Enhancing Jelly (now offered in a 12 oz size!!!), the Deeply Decadent Moisture Treatment, and the Repairing Protein Treatment are all in my product stash for good.I actually had some problems when I first tried the protein treatment. Here are the ingredients:

Water, hydrolyzed keratin protein, collagen amino acids, ricebran oil, hydrolyzed wheat protein, stearyl alcohol, behentrimonium methosulfate, cetyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, glycerin, mentha piperita (peppermint) leaf extract (and) yucca leaf extract (and) equisetum arvense (horsetail) leaf extract (and) urtica dioica (nettle) leaf extract (and) melissa officinalis (melissa leaf extract), sodium pca, panthenol, aloe vera powder, guar, hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, benzylalcohol-dha, fragrance

It's pretty packed with protein. It comes in a cute little 4 oz bottle with an applicator tip. Unlike the vast majority of protein treatments, it doesn't smell disgusting. It's actually quite pleasant smelling. Smells just like the other products. A perfect complement to them. I love how the whole line has the same fragrance notes. This lends itself to layering so easily!

The directions say that you can use it once or twice a month, or more frequently if you have damaged/protein thirsty hair. I know that the creator of the line uses it once a week. She recommends following it up with a moisture treatment (such as the Deeply Decadent Moisture Treatment!). The bottle says to apply to clean, damp hair and leave in for 5-10 minutes, then rinse it all out. Follow it up with a really rich conditioner to restore the softness.
When I first used it, I left it on for longer than described (more like 15-20 minutes). Shame on me. My hair did become very hard (as I expected from a powerful protein treatment). I rinsed it out, and followed it with the Deeply Decadent as a rinse out and left some in afterward. The softness never really came back. This led me to think that maybe it was the Deeply Decadent that had made my hair dry stiff as if there was gel. After some thinking, I realized that I've been giving myself regular doses of protein. I was putting coconut oil (has protein in it) 2-3 times a week as part of my homemade DT regimen. I think my hair really just didn't need as much protein as this treatment offers. Leaving it on too long probably didn't help. So I think I may have had my first protein overdose reaction. My hair recovered quickly. The next day, things were back to normal, and my hair looked great. I then decided that it must not have been the Deeply Decadent that made me feel so stiff after the protein treatment, but the protein treatment itself, giving me more protein than what I actually needed when I used it. I will keep my protein treatment and use it again in maybe another couple weeks.

On to the Deeply Decadent Moisture Treatment!
Ingredients:
Aloe vera juice, behentrimonium methosulfate (and) cetearyl alcohol, shea butter, jojoba oil infused with amla, shikakai, brahmi, maka, comfrey root, nettle, thyme and rosemary, olive oil, agave nectar, meadowfoam seed oil, stearyl alcohol, argan oil, cupuacu butter, glyceryl stearate, cetearyl alcohol, carrot seed oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, achillea millefolium (yarrow) leaf extract, salvia officinalis (sage) leaf extract, equitsetum arvense (horsetail) leaf extract, utica dioca (nettle) leaf extract, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flower extract, benzylalcohol-DHA, fragrance, citric acid

I am no longer doing my homemade DT 2-3 times per week as I was. Deeply Decadent has officially replaced that. There are several reasons for this.
1) It's just as, if not more, effective to use the Deeply Decadent overnight in terms of how moisturized my hair is for the next several days. This (without the protein treatment beforehand!) leaves my hair really soft and shiny

2) It's a lot less messy. I just get my hair wet in the sink, work this through until my hair feels saturated with it, and go about the rest of my night. My hair spirals up while drying! It's really incredible. I should've taken a picture at some point of it. It dries stiff. But I sleep on it, and shower in the morning, so this is not a problem for me. The directions say to rinse it out anyway, so the stiffness is not surprising/cause for concern
3) It smells way better than a mesh of my other conditioners with oils! Smells just like every other product I have. Really unique scent. Light and not overpowering but present.
This product is very thick. It makes Aubrey Organic's Honeysuckly Rose look like water. It'd be literally impossible to get out of a bottle, so it's a good thing it comes in an 8oz tub. It's very rich, creamy, and thick, but somehow, it distributes so easily. I just get my hair wet, and rake it right through. No yanking or combing needed. It's got fantastic slip. Many like this as a rinse out. I personally prefer my Darcy's Pumpkin Seed Conditioner for this, so I have been using the Deeply Decadent not only as an overnight DT, but also as a leave in before the Curl Enhancing Jelly. Really works fabulously as a leave in because it's got great slip, it makes my hair spiral, and you only need a little bit for it to be effective. It leaves my hair light and bouncy and shiny and well moisturized. At as DT, I probably use around 2 quarters worth. Not much at all. As a leave in, 2 dimes.

Here is the hair I'm used to getting now. Here's my routine:
1) Overnight DT with Deeply Decadent
2) Wash with Deva No Poo (still my one and only cleanser)3) Condition with Darcy's Botanicals Pumpkin Seed Conditioner
4) Rake in Deeply Decadent right side up (one dime), then upside down (another dime)
5) Part the hair6) Super soak
7) Apply lots of Curl Enhancing Jelly. At least 2 pumps on each side and another 2 upside down
8) Scrunch out extra water with Curls Like Us cloth
9) Apply a nickle sized blob of Curl Enhancing Jelly and a pea size blob of Herbal Essence's Set Me Up to towel-scrunched hair (to replace product that was taken away by the towel and to ensure good hold for diffusing)
10) Diffuse
11) Have fabulous hair day
From earlier this week (that snowflake is drawn on our communal bathroom mirror with dry erase board pen!):
Now, the reason I posted the above pic from Monday is so that you can see in just one week how much doing the Deeply Decadent treatments every night has been really helping with shine, definition, and frizz reduction. Even though I like my hair in the above pic, I like it better in these from yesterday:

This first one is right after diffusion and scrunching out the gel crunch:


And below is a picture from that evening (after being out and about all day) so you can see how well it holds up. Lost some volume, sure, but the definition and shine is still going strong

Spiral Solutions Curl Enhancing Jelly

Wow. Wow. WOW! That is all that can be said for this product. This product makes me want to put every other styler I own on the swap board!

The history: There is a member on the CurlTalk boards called runnerchicki who frequents the Type 2 hair board (the wavy hang out). Thus, unbeknownst to those of us who do not visit that board very often, she has been developing her own line of products with the collaboration of those sneaky wavies who have been getting samples to try and critique! Those wavies have been hogging all the products!!! Bring out the pitchforks!

But, the 2 forum's "dirty little secret" is out now. Runnerchicki has opened an Etsy shop for her line, and considering that products have been literally selling out as soon as she posts them, I'd bet that it won't be too long before she has a company of her own (if she wants one, that is).

Here are the products that she makes. Obviously, with these things selling like hotcakes, you've gotta watch the shop for a few days and hope for some luck! These descriptions are taken from her store page:

CURL ENHANCING JELLY -- Spiral Solutions Curl Enhancing Jelly is an aloe vera based gel designed to enhance curls and waves and discourage frizz. It has light hold, and can be used on wet or dry hair with no stickiness or tack. It is an excellent base layer for other styling products.

FIRM HOLD STYLING GEL -- This contains a higher concentration of styling agents than the curling jelly for a firmer hold and extra protection from humidity. Can be used alone, layered over the curling jelly, or even mix them together if you are in a hurry. It has a clean feel that never leaves your hair feeling producty or gunky.

EMOLLIENCE-- A very rich hair butter so a little goes a long way. This is a truly luxurious blend that absorbs very quickly and leaves a wonderful silky shine behind. This is a dense butter... no water, no fillers. Just pure exotic butters and oils blended to perfection.

REPAIRING PROTEIN TREATMENT -- Strengthens damaged hair and helps fortify the shaft to prevent further damage and breakage. This is great to use before and/or after chemical processing. Use once or twice a month to keep hair strong and healthy. Very damaged hair or hair that is subjected to frequent heat styling may benefit from more frequent treatments. This is a strong protein treatment that delivers real results.

DEEPLY DECADENT MOISTURIZING TREATMENT -- Rich and thick as a cream, this conditioner restores moisture, softness, and shine to dry hair. Highly recommended for use after the Repairing Conditioner. Ayurvedic herbs and botanical extracts condition your hair, soothe the scalp, and penetrate deep to nourish the hair follicle. This is a protein-free treatment for all hair types. It can be used as often as desired and is also safe to use as a leave-in if your hair is really craving moisture.


These have all been in stock since the store opened.

The following are listed as "Coming Soon"

Moisturizing Mist: spritz this on your hair for a boost of moisture and to perk up tired curls. Re-activate your styling products and refresh your style in between shampoos

Mostly Mango: all of my butters do double duty as hair or body moisturizers and this one is no exception, but I LOVE this as a body butter. Mango butter is the major player in this thick, rich cream and makes your skin feel amazingly soft and hydrated all day

Simply Shea: Shea Butter is probably nature's most perfect moisturizer and this cream is shea in all its glory. Rich, creamy, luscious whipped shea and a touch of scent...what more could you ask for?

Gentle Cleansing Cream: a sulfate-free foaming cleanser that cleanses the scalp and removes product build-up without stripping valuable moisture. This is also a wonderful shower and shave cream

And there is a daily conditioner that she says is the inspiration for the entire line which hasn't been released yet. Talk about leaving us hanging :P

The curly world is absolutely clammoring for these products and poor runnerchicki, who makes everything completely by hand, start to finish, every bit of it, is keeping up as best as she can!

But on to the purpose of the post. I managed to snag a bottle of Curl Enhancing Jelly on of the first stocks. I actually think I may have gotten the last or second to last bottle because it went out of stock right afterward. Lucky me!

The packaging is really classy. Pump bottle, really easy to use, beautiful label. The scent is really subtle and pleasant. It's not thick but not thin in texture. Just like a jelly should be.

I applied this stuff over Jasmine's Babassu Butter Cream, which is quickly become an HG leave in for me. I raked in 2 nickle sized puddles of the leave in, then just scrunched a tad more in for good measure. I super soaked my hair, then applied one full pump (comes out to about a quarter sized puddle) to each side and upside down (so 3 puddles in all). I then applied a mix of Bioterra Gel and Herbal Essences Set Me Up gel. This was a mistake. I underestimated how much hold the jelly has alone. I definitely didn't need the Set Me Up. The crunch was pretty tricky to work with. The second day I used it, I used only the Bioterra. Much better! The jelly doesn't leave my hands sticky. This tells me that it's all good stuff in it, no fillers or funky polymers or polyquats or anything. Just good, natural, quality ingredients. Can't go wrong with that.

I allowed it to partially air dry, then diffused to totally dry since I had to go to a job interview (I know, I'm insane for trying a new hair product before an interview, but alas, I couldn't resist!). Here are the pics. This first one is from the first day (with the Bioterra and Set Me Up). As can see, there's no frizz. The curls are enhanced, just like the product says it will. Absolutely perfectly soft and touchable. Best hair day in a long time

This picture is from today. I used just the Bioterra on top and let it completely air dry. Not diffusing affects my curl tightness, so the lack of curl tightness is not due to losing the Set Me Up. Purely because I didn't diffuse.I'm currently planning to order the Firm Hold Gel. So if it restocks and one of you take it, it's on!!