Renell Shorter - 17 Top Tips For Great Holiday Hair

Tips from Renell Shorter MS. RAE IS A LICENSED HAIR PROFESSIONAL AND EXTENSION SPECIALIST, SERVICING DALLAS, TX AND DETROIT, MI.

When you are away from home in a different climate your hair will be subjected to weather it is not used to. 

Your hair needs to be protected in the same way that you do with your skin. UV rays are very harmful to your hair affecting the pigment, strength, shine and vitality. 

For your skin you take with you cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen and after-sun lotions so for your hair take shampoo, conditioner, hair sunscreen and styling products. 

Cold Climate 

1. Cold temperatures weaken your hair and susceptible to damage. Flyaway hair tends to be subject to static. Hair should be well conditioned and protected by wearing a hat. 

2. If you have frizzy hair use a leave-in conditioner and take a deep moisturizing mask with you on holiday. All hair types will benefit from using a heat protection spray and serum to keep the elements out and keep the moisture in. 

Humid climate 

3. Hair expands just like it does when it is wet in a humid climate. This will make your hair fluffy or if it is curly, frizzy. 

4. For all hair types, a pre-holiday deep conditioning treatment is a must to nourish the hair and seal the cuticles, as you want to prevent excess moisture from entering the hair shaft. 

5. If you have fine hair use a light leave-in conditioner from mid-way down the hair to the ends and use a serum to seal the ends after blow-drying, being careful not to overdo the serum on fine hair. 

6. If you have curly and/or frizzy hair then you need to seal the cuticle (the outside of your hair) to minimize the additional frizziness that results in humid weather. 

7. Use a leave-in conditioner very morning. Use an anti-frizz serum to coat and seal the cuticle.

Hot and dry climate 

8. The sun strips the hair of its natural oils and dry heat increases this effect. UV rays attack your hair and the resulting free radicals damage the hair. The weakened cuticle causes the hair to become dehydrated, allows the bleaching and fading of the color pigment as well as split ends. 

9. To protect your hair 100 rom sun damage wear a hat! 

10. Deep conditioning your hair before your holiday is essential. 

11. If you have fine hair use a wash your hair with a gentle shampoo and use a light leave-in conditioner with UV protection. Use a sun-protection spray containing a UV filter to screen your hair from the effects of the sun and seawater and re-apply after going in the sea. 

12. If you have curly hair use a moisturizing shampoo and a leave-in conditioner to minimize dryness. Apply a nourishing hair mask whilst you are away to deep condition your hair. Use a sun-protection spray containing a UV filter to screen your hair from the effects of the sun and seawater and re-apply after going in the sea. 

13. If you have frizzy hair use a sun-protection spray containing a UV filter to screen your hair from the effects of the sun and seawater and re-apply after going in the sea.Use a rich leave-in conditioner with UV protection each morning and apply a hair mask every other day during the holiday. 

14. When you have been swimming in the sea always wash the salt out afterwards. 

15. Chlorine from the swimming pool is extremely damaging when combined with the effects of the sun, wet your hair in the shower before hand and protect your hair with a leave-in conditioner preferably one containing a UV filter. Wash your hair thoroughly after swimming. 

16. Hair grips and bands are an extremely useful item to have on holiday and offer a quick-fix solution for hair care problems. 

17. Don't forget your travel plug to ensure that you can still use your hairdryer and other electric hairstyling equipment whilst abroad. 

Renell Shorter - Dressing Your Bridesmaids

Tips from Renell Shorter MS. RAE IS A LICENSED HAIR PROFESSIONAL AND EXTENSION SPECIALIST, SERVICING DALLAS, TX AND DETROIT, MI.

For a bride, shopping for bridesmaid dresses can be one of the most difficult aspects of wedding planning. How can the bride find a gown for her maids that will display her own taste, look great on every girl and will fit into the financial picture? 

There are so many colors and styles of dresses to choose from. The bridesmaids themselves may vary greatly in size and they want a flatteringly gown that makes them feel good. The bride and her bridesmaids may be in their mid-20’s or older and want a more sophisticated look in the bridesmaids gown. The bride also has the task of choosing a dress that will look good with each girl’s skin tone, hair color and figure. 

Choosing the right gown can be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. The bride should start the decision process early. It’s ideal to actually place the order for the gowns about four months before the wedding. This will allow time for alterations, shopping for shoes and other accessories and leave time to dye the shoes to match the gown. The bride will find it most helpful to shop with the one bridesmaid whose fashion sense she shares. The ultimate decision about the perfect bridesmaid gown will be the bride’s. 

The first step to choosing a bridesmaid gown is to determine the formality, style and fabric of the wedding gown. The bridesmaid dresses shouldn’t overpower or clash with the wedding gown. For today’s more simple bridal styles, nice detailing in the maids gowns creates a good look for the group. Back accents like straps, halter tops and simple beading are important for ceremony photography. A quality gown of good fabric and construction is necessary for the active bridesmaids who will be walking, dancing or running errands. Who needs to worry about seams splitting apart or buttons falling off during the wedding? 

The next step for most brides is choosing the gown color. This can be done by looking at bridesmaid swatches in the bridal shop. Most manufacturers make bridesmaids dresses in anywhere from a few colors to as many as fifty. Choosing the actual color will narrow the choice of gowns to a more manageable number. 

The bride must then consider the size ranges and figure types of her maids. Most bridal parties have an average of two full-figured members. If this is the case, many times it’s best to begin choosing a gown style with the larger maids in mind. Some larger girls feel comfortable in spaghetti straps or even strapless gowns, but many would rather have at least a short sleeve or perhaps a shawl. The smaller girls can usually wear any style. A-line styles look good on most everyone. A two-piece style with a longer top covering the hip bone is another good style. Almost 50% of wedding parties will include a pregnant bridesmaid. Extra fabric can be ordered to create a maternity side panel. A few designers are now creating maternity bridesmaids. 

A new marketing trend for bridesmaids is the idea of separates. Most manufactures now feature at least some of their styles in separate tops and skirts. Separates offer some flexibility for the maids as they are able to choose different sizes for the top and skirt and can accommodate many different figures types. The bride can also choose the color and manufacturer of the separates while letting the maids have the freedom to create a style they will be comfortable in. 

In these sensitive economic times, many gown manufacturers are adjusting their prices to meet everyone’s financial needs. Many designers have lowered their prices with no reduction in the quality of the garments. This year’s selection of gowns should meet the approval of everyone in the wedding party. 

The bride may save time by doing her preliminary shopping online. She can narrow her choices and email styles she likes to her maids. Shopping on the internet may be the most logical choice for some brides when her maids live in different parts of the country. Online ordering entails the maids obtaining their own measurements and alterations which must be done correctly for the best fit. Be sure to order very early to allow extra time for shipping the gowns. 

The bridesmaid look is not complete without shoes and accessories. Shoes are available in many styles in fabrics which can be custom dyed to match the gown. Also popular are the clear vinyl shoes in strappy sandals some with changeable colored ribbon straps. One shoe company is now producing 100% silk shoes with leather soles in colorfast fabrics available in 9 styles in 15 colors that can be special ordered for delivery in about one week. Matching wrist or elbow gloves offers a sophisticated look. A simple rhinestone or pearl necklace and earring set will enhance the look of your maids. 

With all the choices in bridesmaid gowns available today, every member of the wedding party should be happy with the final results and will spend the wedding day celebrating with the bride and her groom. 

Renell Shorter - 11 Tips for Voluminous, Healthy Hair

Tips from Renell Shorter MS. RAE IS A LICENSED HAIR PROFESSIONAL AND EXTENSION SPECIALIST, SERVICING DALLAS, TX AND DETROIT, MI.

Hair is the one part of our body most of us wish were a little fatter. And while some women are born with thin hair, many will develop it over time. "Usually, women have breakage or hair loss caused by chemical treatments or flatiron abuse, but a health condition like anemia or a thyroid problem can also be the culprit," says Francesca Fusco, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Other common causes include stress and hormonal shifts (women may shed hair for up to a year after having a baby). If you notice dramatic or unexplained hair loss, see your doctor. Everyone else: Try these simple mane-thickening moves!

Products and Treatments

Keep It Clean
The squeakier fine hair is, the better (and bigger) it will look. "Like your facial skin, scalp tissue holds a lot of bacteria, and when combined with oil, it can weigh down the hair and impede healthy growth from your follicles over time," says Elizabeth Cunnane Phillips, a trichologist at the Philip Kingsley Clinic in New York City. Shampoo daily with a clarifying formula. Try: L'Oreal Professionnel Volumetry shampoo ($23.50, at salons), which contains antibacterial, deep-cleansing salicylic acid. Chase with conditioner applied to the mid-shafts and ends only.

Do a Scalp Massage
Your scalp is the bedrock of your hair—keep it healthy, and your hair will grow in healthy, says Phillips. Once a week, swap your usual shampoo for one with mint or menthol, which is thought to help stimulate circulation, and massage it into your entire scalp (sides, nape, and crown) with the pads of your fingers for two minutes, then rinse. Try: Pantene Pro-V Weekly Deep Cleanse ($5, at drugstores), which contains mosa mint oil.

Deep-Treat
Being married to your flatiron or getting highlight-happy can put you on the fast track to thin hair. "High heat and chemical overload can weaken and dry out the hair, leading to breakage called trichorrhexis nodosa, and can put a strain on hair follicles and prevent healthy hair growth," says Fusco. Once a week, after shampooing, thoroughly rub a rich treatment mask into your scalp and hair, and rinse after three minutes. Try: Clear Scalp & Hair Deep Hydrating Treatment Mask ($5, at drugstores), which contains vitamins B5 and E and proteins to help strengthen hair over time, making it less likely to snap off.

Be Picky About Products
Thickening sprays and mousses are like puffer jackets: They give the illusion of bulk. "Both contain polymers that coat the hair and make it seem bigger," explains Phillips, who recommends a spray formula for straight hair, and a mousse to add definition to waves or curls. If using a spray, distribute it evenly through damp hair from roots to ends. Try: Rene Furterer Volumea volumizing conditioning spray ($26, at salons). For mousse, rake an egg-size dollop through damp hair, then style. Try: Garnier Fructis Style Sky-Hi Volume Mousse ($4.29, at drugstores).

Bring on the Hair Spray
It does more than simply lock your style in place. "Hair spray is very buildable, plus, you can brush it out as you go, and it gives hair this amazing thick, nonsticky feel with a little lift," says Benjamin Mohapi, a Los Angeles hairstylist. Try: Oribe Thick Dry Finishing Spray ($37, oribe.com), which has panthenol to swell the hair shaft as you spritz.

Style Secrets

Get Bigger Buns
Doughnuts help increase your size in more ways than one. When used on your head, the foam kind "can fool everyone into thinking you have a ton of hair," says New York City hairstylist Natasha Leibel. Try: Conair Bun Maker ($5, at drugstores). Make a high ponytail and secure. Place the doughnut around the elastic, lift the pony straight up, then slide the doughnut to the tail's tip. Roll it toward the base, distributing the hair evenly around the doughnut as you go.

Feel the Heat
Hot rollers are perfect for creating not only big waves but also root lift and bounce, which curling irons can't usually do. "Plus, they don't get as hot, so they're far less damaging on fine or thin hair," says New York City hairstylist Tommy Buckett. Lift sections of dry hair at your crown, wrap your ends around the roller, and coil it down toward your scalp. After 15 minutes, remove, run your fingers through your hair, and finish by misting hair spray all over (make sure you blast your roots for extra lift). Try: T3 Voluminous hot rollers set ($99, at Sephora).

Brush Up
A round, natural-boar-bristle brush—a thick-haired girl's dream for smoothing and polishing—is kryptonite for the fine camp. "It pulls the hair so taut that it makes the cuticle flat and skinny, while a round ceramic one lets you shape hair and maintain a little bit of volume and texture," says Buckett. To do a mega-body blowout, wrap each section of hair around the brush, lift, and aim your blow-dryer at the roots. Try: Goody Style Gwl Hot Round Brush ($6.89, at Target).

Color and Cuts

Go Streaking
"Seeing things" isn't usually good, unless it's more hair you're seeing. . .and highlights can make that happen. "Tonality and depth create shadows and a 3-D effect, so hair looks thicker," says Kyle White, a colorist in New York City. Have your colorist paint chunky highlights on the front of your hair that gradually get thinner toward the crown, and leave underlayers untouched for the most natural effect (ask your colorist about using an oil-based lightening agent, which contains up to 70 percent oil and gently lifts color while conditioning hair and preventing breakage, says White). Top highlights with a gloss, which adds shine and also—surprise!—imparts a nice volume boost. "Glosses deposit pigments onto your hair's cuticle, which can help it appear fatter," says White. Hit the salon or use an at-home version. Try: John Frieda Colour Refreshing Gloss ($13, at drugstores) weekly.

Find a Happy Medium (Hue)
Blonde-aholics, take note: "Very light hair colors can trick the eye into thinking it's seeing scalp, which makes hair look thinner," says White. But ultra-dark hair doesn't do you any favors either, because the contrast makes even the tiniest glimpse of scalp more noticeable. The best shade, says White, is a light to medium brown, which will make hair look denser without drawing attention to the scalp.

Start Snipping

A simple trim can also buy you some bounce. "Fine hair is easily weighed down, so I always tell my long-haired clients to lose a couple of inches for instant body," says Buckett. If your hair is thin from damage, get a blunt cut to remove broken ends and make the bottom of your hair look thicker. If allover oomph is what you're after, add long layers (short ones can appear straggly).