Hair Color
Like the Stars ...

Have you seen all the fabulous hair colors on the red carpet recently? Well, I have and think they are a great inspiration for all women’s hair color, especially with all the expectant moms in Hollywood today. Here are my top picks for fabulous Hollywood mommy hair.

What a gorgeous caramel color Halle Berry is sporting, to achieve this warm and luscious look you will need to ask your stylist/colorist for a rich milk chocolate base color either in a demi or permanent shade depending on your personal choices and hair needs.

Next, a few fine caramel hi-lites should be strategically placed around your face to compliment your haircut. Her cut is long layers with a soft wispy side bang, blown dry smooth and gently curled at the ends, wow… what a sexy look for mom.

J-LO has a very similar color, except there are a few more and bolder hi-lites, and she has no bangs. Bangs are big right now and they can soften a style, change your look or take a few years off your face. How cute is Reese Witherspoon with her wispy bangs? Bangs can really make or break a person’s look. If you want to be blonde like Tori Spelling, Sarah Jessica Parker, Christina Aguilera or Gwen Stefani here are some great suggestions.

An easy maintenance blonde is a foil hi-liting, which targets particular hair strands. The hair is lightened to a gorgeous blonde shade in a variety of tones and is applied off the scalp resulting in a very natural look. This is the technique used to color SJP’s and Tori’s golden locks.

The bolder look of Gwen and Christina are a double-process blonde technique, you can achieve this color when the entire head is pre-lightened to very pale blonde and then toned to specific gentle blonde tone like champagne or Ivory, this is a high maintenance blonde, but looks hot.

Remember you can achieve any color on your hair that you see on any of the stars, just find a great salon and ask for what you want. Happy coloring!

 

Hair color unplugged!
Gorgeous, vibrant, gentle hair color is available to pregnant women!

Here are some of my top picks for quick and colorful results. If you choose to color your hair, find a qualified salon and ask for:

1. A Semi-Permanent Color-
no ammonia
uses no developer (peroxide)
can blend/cover grey well
washes out slowly with every shampoo
available in all colors

2. A Demi-Permanent Color
also known as a glazer or gloss
usually contains little or no ammonia
uses a low volume developer
provides great grey coverage
a deposit only color, can not lighten

3. A Foil hi-liting or low-liting
any color, semi, demi, permanent or lightener may be used -off the scalp application
total control of color placement
can brighten and accentuate a great cut and your
features

4. Hair Extensions
come in a variety of colors, lengths and textures
fast and easy -change your look as often as you wish.

 

Top 10 reasons
to add hi-lites during pregnancy:
1   You hate your roots!
2   You deserve to look "hot!"
3   It's fast and easy.
4   You can get as much or as little as you want.
5   Hi-lites can be strategically placed to give the illusion of a thinner face.
6   Hi-lites are low maintenance and look natural.
7   Hi-lites can be done on any color hair and in any color.
8   Hi-lites can accentuate your features.
9   Hi-lites are done totally off the scalp.
10   Hi-lites can lighten your mood.
 

Hair Color
Do's and Don'ts

During pregnancy a complimentary hair color can make all the difference! Unfortunately, so many women don't really know what looks best on them, here are some of my easy hair color tips for a great outcome.

If you have fine/thinning hair ask your stylist for:
Fine hi-lites in a complimentary neutral tone.
Demi or Semi color glaze in a rich tone 1 or 2 shades darker than your natural color.
Ask for a deeper/richer color at the roots and fine face framing hi-lites moderately spaced apart. (this gives an a great illusion of thickness to thin areas.)
Do not over lighten fine/thinning hair; this emphasizes sparse areas.

If you have medium/thick curly hair ask for:
Demi or Semi color glaze in a shade close to your natural shade.
Demi or Semi color in a trendy fashion shade 1 to 2 shades lighter than your natural.
Face framing hi-lites or low-lites; which are low maintenance and brightening.
Do not over process or over lighten this causes breakage and frizz.

Color with little or no ammonia are favorable. A slower, gentle color process is always favorable. Fast, aggressive color causes cuticle damage which results in frizzy, dry hair.

Ask your stylist for all the different options they have to offer. Don't be afraid to ask!!!!! You're paying for a service

 

Hair Color Gone Bad

We've all been there.....Your hair color is all wrong and you're afraid to say something to your stylist..and your hair looks horrible.

Here are some great tips
for damage control:

1   Stay calm, you're in no position to get hysterical! All color messes are correctable.
2   Calmly explain to your stylist what happened and what you expected. If the stylist is the offender, speak to the salon owner. Remember no salon wants an unhappy customer. Word of mouth is everything.
3   Most salon owners value their reputation and will usually make sure the problem is fixed.
4   If your hair has a greenish cast, your hair needs a warm color to neutralize it.
5   If your hair has a chicken yellow cast; your hair needs a cool violet based color to neutralize it.
6   If your hair has an orange cast; your hair needs a cool blue based color to neutralize it.
7   Over processed, and/or over-lightened hair really needs reconditioning and perhaps a few warm neutral low-lites.
8   Extreme breakage and or hair loss; you need tender reconditioning and restructuring, extensions can also be helpful in these types of situations.

Don't try to correct hair color disaster at home, these situations are usually best left to your hair color professional.

 

Home Hair Color Tips
If you prefer to color your hair at home, here are some basic tips to help you achieve better results.
1   Choose a mild, shampoo out product close to your natural shade.
2   Follow manufacturers directions.
3   Do not attempt to correct color errors, it just complicates things.
4   Do not attempt to darken blonde hair, you'll most likely go green.
5   Remember hair color can only be two shades lighter than your natural tone and no hair color can lighten previous hair color.

Good news is, most at home hair color products are pretty good so they leave little room for major mistakes.
 

Perms and Relaxing

As many of us already know, there are so many obstacles to conquer during pregnancy. Our hairshould be a pleasure for us not a chore. The reality is not all of us are fortunate enough to have our “Ideal” hair texture or curl.

So here are my professional recommendations for the best results while having chemical services during pregnancy. I will be elaborating on the different types of perms and relaxers available today from a professional salon.

A perm is usually classified as a chemical applied to the hair with some type of roller to alter the curl pattern, thus making straight hair curly. A relaxer is usually classified as chemical applied to overly curly hair to remove the curl.

Both are considered: “Chemical Texture” services and should be performed by a professional. There are a few options you may opt for during pregnancy.


1   An Ammonia-Free wave-usually there is very little odor, but are still as strong.
2   A Thio-Free wave usually contains milder chemicals and are marketed as less damaging.
3   Low-PH waves- usually are weak and do not provide a firm curl, these are marketed as alternative waves or body waves.

Selecting the right chemical should be left to the professional, but as a client you need to know your choices.

In my professional experience I have seen many successful perms and body waves given during pregnancy, but remember as with any hormonal change in the body a slightly off result is always possible, usually a weaker curl than desired. If you have extremely fine, straight hair a body texture wave may be a great option.

Relaxers
Chemical Texture services that straighten or remove excessive curl also have a variety of choices.
1   Thio Relaxers-usually contain a higher concentration of thio than perm, usually this product is used to straighten extremely curly hair.
2   Hydroxide Relaxers-usually contain lye, which is a powerful caustic chemical which is also used in depilatories and drain cleaners (yes, cleaners).
3   Low-PH Relaxers-usually are compatible with color treated hair and are low in PH, these products are marketed as mild alternative relaxers.

As with all your beauty choices always remember to ask for all your options, a professionally, well trained salon should offer a variety of options, if they don’t, well find a salon who respects your miracle and cares about you.
Lets face it we all deserve to look radiant and beautiful while expecting, Look Good-Feel Better!