Nature's Defense

A castle from a fairy tale has nothing on us. Our hair comes with its own strong stone walls and battlements—called the cuticle—and though modern life will lay siege to it, nothing will breach our defenses if we learn how to care for it.

The cuticle, or outer layer of our hair, is what keeps our hair healthy, shiny and moving fluidly (like you see in all those slow motion commercials). But if we don't take special care of it, our damaged cuticle will have our hair looking dull, lifeless, brittle or stringy. Here's some ways to keep your hair cuticle healthy:

What goes in, must come out: Remember, hair grows from the inside out—so watch your diet. Fruits (organic if possible as pesticides can stay stored in your hair's cuticle—for years!), veggies, lean protein, carbs will help the condition of the cuticle. And don't forget the oil, Keeping a daily dose of olive or sunflower oil (as well as fish oils) in our diet will ensure our cuticle is healthy (and help our skin from drying up.) Make sure to get biotin and vitamin B every day as well, as they can actually help hair grow thicker.


Don't be a roughneck: Your hair's cuticle can't take the rough stuff. Don't yank a brush or comb through your hair—wet or dry--and choose a brush that is gentle on your hair. Watch also when you take clips out of your hair and always use covered elastics and a gentle touch. A rough hair cuticle will make you hair less than smooth, affecting the shine and the way it lays.

You're a sponge: Or at least your hair cuticle is, taking in smoke, air pollution, chlorine, hot tub chemicals. If it is in the atmosphere around you, your hair cuticle will take it in and be weaker for it. Limit your exposure to these toxins and don't forget to
rinse your hair with clear water after you've been swimming in fresh or saltwater. 



Taking the heat: Blow dryers, curling irons, electric curlers and flat irons can damage hair's cuticle with excessive heat. Air dry your hair and use hot implements for the least amount of time possible. Always use a conditioner (like AESTALANCE PROTEIN) if you notice your hair drying out and again, don't pull too hard when brushing, drying, curling or straightening. 


Baby your cuticle: If you hair is colored or straightened, be sure to use a good shampoo and conditioner formulated specifically for your hair. Deep condition often (remember to make an appointment at Believe for a monthly deep conditioning to keep your cuticle in tip-top shape). Also, don't believe the hype that you need to wash your hair daily. You don't. Rinse it out and apply conditioner. That regime will keep your cuticle healthier.

A word about your “other” cuticle: The cuticles on your nails can get ragged and dry, too. A little Aestelance body butter rubbed in them daily can keep them moisturized and healthy.

Let the season with its hot sun and baking heat try to take your cuticles' battlements by storm. With a little care (and some help from Believe) you can withstand the siege.

What IS the Brazilian Keratin treatment you keep hearing about?

As the song goes..."Tall and tan and young and lovely, the girl from Impanema goes walking and when she passes, each man she passes goes ah-h-h-h..".

Ok, we can't promise you will be taller or tanner or younger, but we can pretty much guarantee the lovelier part and you can certainly expect more ah-h-h's when you come to Believe for a La Brasiliana Keratin Treatment.

If you spent your whole life:

Avoiding rainy or humid days and fog of any kind (that leaves your trip to London out),

Put yourself in your best friend's hands when she was holding a hot iron near your scalp,

Made your head a toxic waste dump by using every chemical straightening treatment under the sun,

and still think you look like a poodle, don't worry.

Believe can fix the problem. Say goodbye to Jimi Hendrix Head and hello to gorgeous, sleek, and shiny hair. No more damage, no more drama, with the La Brasiliana Keratin Treatment. Let me explain what the treatment is and what it can do for you.

La Brasiliana Keratin Treatment is a revolutionary hair smoothing method that softens, moisturizes, and dramatically straightens your hair. It does not require any strong chemicals. It uses a solution containing keratin & collagen that works with your hair's cuticle and gently take its place inside your hair.

Keratin's strong protective qualities improve the hair both inside and out. It is virtually a “liquid form of hair” that gently blends with the hair on your head, bringing with it what it was lacking and what was lost over the years.

Is the hair dull dry and damaged? Is it curly, wavy, frizzy, has too much volume or is unmanageable? Application of the La Brasiliana Keratin Treatment puts an end to all that. The smaller keratin molecules penetrate the hair cortex, improving and repairing the quality of the hair from the inside. The added strength, elasticity, and moisture result in the smooth, soft, shiny effect. The larger molecules coat the hair cuticle and protect your hair from environmental insults like UV rays, smog, and smoke. It even prevents further damage to the hair shaft.

Because this isn't a permanent treatment, as the keratin-based solution diminishes over time, your hair will eventually return to its natural form, but will stay soft, shiny and healthy looking. The more you receive the treatment, the healthier and more manageable the hair becomes. This is one of the great bonuses of getting a La Brasiliana Keratin Treatment. Your hair keeps getting better!

The treatment takes between 1.5 to a few hours to do depending on what treatment you choose (come sip some tea or espresso and chat with us here at Believe while we work on making you even more beautiful than you already are) and generally lasts around four months. You can also book a manicure or a Revitalizing Hand or Neck Treatment while processing. (Here's another positive surprise about the treatment: Not only does it work with damaged hair—the more damaged the better! The treatment lasts even longer on damaged hair—up to six months.)

Have questions? Yes, we can do the treatment to previously-straightened, relaxed, and color-treated hair. Yes we can color your hair on the same day you get the Keratin treatment. Yes, we can do teens' hair (it's perfectly safe for anyone over the age of 12).

So no more excuses. Wave goodbye to the frizz and spend 2011 loving your sleek, shiny mane. Give us a call at Believe to schedule your Keratin treatment soon.