Believe Creates Multidimensional Hair

Life needs a little shaking up now and again and our hair is no different. But instead of a new color or a drastic cut for summer, why not try one of the hottest hair trends to sweep Hollywood? Actually you have your choice of two: Ombre and Balayage.

Remember the highlights you got as a child playing in the summer sunshine? That is pretty much the look these techniques replicate.

Ombre, French for “shading,” is when the hair strand is gradually lightened, starting with dark roots growing lighter near the ends. This lightening can be dramatic or very subtle. Drew Barrymore was an early pioneer of this look.

Balayage means “to paint” in French. A master colorist, like Believe's own Lisa, paints color vertically on the hair strand, using the tip of a brush, and only on the front of the hair—giving those sun-kissed highlights.

Both these techniques can be combined, of course, and Hollywood beauties from Jennifer Beal and Sarah Jessica Parker to Lauren Conrad and Giselle have all been spotted experimenting with the trend.

Before you decide which is right for you, ask yourself some questions:

• Do you like the look of your roots growing out?
• How many shades lighter are you willing to go?
• Do you wear your hair curly or straight?
  

If you are okay with “roots” and wear your hair curly, Ombre may be for you. (Straight hair would have too definite a line of demarcation showing. Waves or curls look better). Talk to your Believe stylist about how dramatic you want the lightening to be so there are no surprises (and you may want to get your ends cut before lightening them, to avoid drying them out). Afterwards, get a deep conditioning treatment at Believe, too, to keep your new look healthy and glossy.

If you wear your hair straight or are searching for a more subtle look, Balayage is probably for you. Depending on how light you and your Believe stylist want to go, you may not even need to use bleach on your hair (for the more natural look of Balayage, you really want to only go two or three shades lighter than your natural color anyway.) Since the hair is painted vertically in Balayage, you will avoid that really clear line of demarcation where the color changes, meaning less trips to the salon (we'll miss you). You can go out and play in the actual sun (wear a hat!) and look like you hair has been sun-kissed without those damaging UV rays.

Both techniques take a little more time in one of our comfy Believe chairs (you can't rush artistry) so make your appointment when you have a little time to sit and chat (we'll provide the herb tea) and get ready to show the world there's more to you than one dimension. Then go out and enjoy all the fun you can pack into one summer.

How Healthy Is Your Hair?

As we head into the cold winds and heated homes of Fall and Winter, now would be a great time our hair health a checkup. If you've got lots of damage, frizz, split ends or if that perfect sunny day on the beach dried the life right out of your mane, now is the time to get it in shape---before the leaves blow and the snows fly.

But first you have to know what's happening, so get a strong light and a good mirror and check out your hair:

• Is it dry and flyaway? Stop by Believe for a deep-conditioning treatment right now (you should also schedule one a month until we get your hair in better shape. You should also use a leave-in conditioner like AEstelance's Butter.
• Is it broken all along the length? Consider treating your hair with kid gloves for a while. Shampoo less often and then only with a conditioning shampoo like Semi De Lino Color Protect. Don't blow dry your hair. Instead pat it (don't rub) dry with a towel and let it air dry whenever possible. Use a wide tooth comb on wet hair, never pull with a brush. And about the brush—use a natural bristle brush that has widely-spaced bristles and is gentle on your hair.
• Does it look fried or dry? Put away the hot rollers and flat-iron and use your hair dryer (only when necessary) on the coolest setting.
• Are you sporting split ends? Come into Believe for a trim. We will save the length while getting rid of those tired old ends (their 15 minutes in the spotlight are over...)
• Is your hair getting thin? If you see more of your scalp then you used to (or worse—find ever more hairs in your brush) you might be having a reaction to medications or suffering hormonal changes (for example, many women suffer hormonal hair loss when they are pregnant.) Make an appointment with your doctor if you think this may be the case. If you see an actual bald spot, it could be a sign of alopecia areata, a disease that causes such patches. Or maybe you started dieting (be careful and keep eating a balanced diet. Your skin, hair and nails will be the first to reflect it if you don't.) Also watch how tightly you pull your hair into a ponytail or braid. You can literally pull your own hair out over time—it's called traction hair loss.
• Does your hair look dull with no shine? To get shiny healthy hair (like those women on the commercials, flipping their manes in slow motion) is largely an inside job. We at Believe can recommend some shine-filled products like the Chromastics line or even apply a clear semi-permanent glaze. But when it comes to dull lifeless hair, you are what you eat. Try salmon, packed with high-quality protein, vitamin B-12 , iron and essential omega-3 fatty acids to support a healthy scalp. If you are a vegan, you can add twp tablespoons of ground flaxseed daily to get the same omega-3 fats from a plant-based source. Spinach, broccoli and swiss chard add vitamins A and C, need to produce the oily substance known as sebum—your body's own hair conditioner. Walnuts, cashews, pecans, and almonds provide zinc, which helps keep hair from shedding. Poultry (with its protein) makes hair strong and less faded (eggs work, too.) Last, but never least, low fat dairy, particularly that all-important yogurt, are great sources of calcium which is very important for hair growth.
• Does your hair have no bounce? Get the rest of your body bouncing. Exercise gets your blood pumping and that circulation goes right to your hair follicles, shaking them out of their summer slumbers. Take advantage of the cool weather to walk daily (or even run) and see the benefits in your hair (and skin.)

Now is the moment to make your change-of-season hair appointment at Believe (soon enough, you'll have to drive through slush...ugh!) so come in and see us and share a glass of cider while we come up with a strategy to get—and keep---your hair healthy. We are waiting for you here at Believe and can't wait to hear all about your summer.