Writers’ Paradise

The right tools not only make hair-styling fun, but also make it much easier. Brushes, combs and pins are the basic tools of hair styling.
Shapers: Shapers were inspired by the principle of rag-rolling hair and are a natural way to curl hair. Soft “twist tie” shapers are made from pliable rubber or cotton, with a tempered wire in the center to enable it to bend into shape. The waves or curls that are produced are soft and bouncy and the technique is gentle enough for permed or tinted hair.
Brushes: Brushes help to remove tangles and knots and smooth the hair. Brushing also stimulates the blood circulation, promoting hair growth. All brushes should be cleaned, at least once a week, by pulling out dead hair and washing in warm, soapy water.
Types of Brush:
Circular or radial brushes: These brushes are used to control naturally curly, permed and wavy hair and are ideal for blow-drying.
Flat or half-round brushes: These are ideal for wet or dry hairstyling and blow-drying.
Pneumatic brushes: These brushes have a domed rubber base with bristles set in tufts.
Vent brushes: They have hollow centers, and special bristle or pin, patterns that are designed to lift and disentangle hair. The air circulates freely through both the brush and the hair so the hair dries faster.
Combs: Good quality combs have saw-cut teeth: each individual tooth is cut into the comb, so there are no sharp edges. Avoid cheap plastic combs that are made in a mould and form lines down the center of the teeth. Use a wide-toothed comb for disentangling and combing conditioner through the hair. Fine tail combs are for styling; Afro combs are for curly hair; and styling combs are for grooming.
Pins and Clips: These are indispensable for sectioning and securing hair during setting and for putting hair up. Double pronged clips are used for making pin or barrel curls. Grips on the clips give added security to all types of curls, French pleats and the most intricately upswept styles.
Heavy hairpins: These are made of strong metal and ideal for securing rollers or putting hair up.
Fine hairpins: These are used for dressing hair. They are delicate and prone to bend out of shape, so they should only be used to secure small amounts of hair.
Twisted pins: These are fashioned like a screw and are used to secure hairstyles such as chignons and French pleats.
Rollers: Smooth rollers will give the sleekest finish, but can be difficult to put in. More popular are brush rollers. The smaller the roller, the tighter the curl. Keep the tension even when winding and do not buckle the ends of the hair.

A hairstyle affect your whole appearance, not just that of your face. When choosing a new hairstyle you should take into account your overall body shape. If you are a traditional pear shape, don’t choose an elfin hairstyle; it will draw attention to the lower half of your body, making your hips look wide. Petite women should avoid masses of very curly hair as this makes the head appear out of proportion with the rest of the body.

• If you wear glasses: Try to choose frames and a hairstyle that compliment each other. Large spectacles could spoil a neat, feathery cut, and very fine frames could be overpowered by a large voluminous style. Remember to take your glasses to the salon when having your hair restyled so that your hair stylist can take their shape into consideration when deciding on the overall effect.
• Prominent nose: Choose a hairstyle that incorporates softness into your appearance. A wispy fringe would work well, and a light perm would add height and movement, to balance out your face.
• Pointed chin: you need to style your hair with plenty of width at the jawline.Don’t have your hair cut too short.
• Low forehead: Choose a style with a wispy fringe, rather than one with a full fringe. Choose softer style and avoid anything too severe.
• High forehead: This is best hidden with mid-length fringes.
• Receding chin: Select a hairstyle, that comes just below the chin level, ideally with lots of waves or curls around your shoulders.
• Uneven hairline: A fringe should easily manage to conceal this problem.

Your hairstyle has a big influence on your appearance, so be honest with yourself and take a critical look in the mirror before choosing a new style.

Shampoos are designed to cleanse the hair and scalp, removing dirt and grime without stripping away too much of the natural sebum.
Here are some Shampoo Tips:

• Buy small sachets of shampoo to test which brand is most suitable to you.
• Don’t wash your hair in the bath; dirty bath water is not suitable to clean hair, and it is difficult to rinse properly without a shower or separate jug.
• Change your shampoo every two weeks or so; hair develops a resistance to certain ingredients after some time.
• Use a shampoo with the label pH balanced, if your have permed or colored hair.
• Always read the instructions first, some shampoos need to be left on the scalp for a few minutes before rinsing.
• Don’t wash your hair in washing-up liquid or soap; they are highly alkaline and will upset your hair’s natural pH balance by stripping out its natural oils.

• Always read the directions supplied with the product before you start, and follow them precisely. Make sure first do a strand and skin sensitivity test.
• If retouching the roots of tinted or bleached hair, apply new color only to the regrowth area. Any overlap will result in uneven color and porosity, which will affect the condition of your hair.
• Don’t color your hair at home if the hair is split or visibly damaged, or if you have used bleach or henna; always allow previously treated hair to grow out first.
• Avoid coloring your hair if taking prescribed drugs, as the chemical balance of your hair can alter. Check with your family doctor first.
• If your hair has been permed, consult a hairdresser first before using a hair colorant. If your are in any doubt about using a color, check with the manufacturer or consult a professional hair colorist.

Hair colorants have never been better than those available today; now a says it is a simple matter to add a temporary tone and gloss to the hair or even to make a more permanent change to hair color. And there is a wide choice of home coloring products if you like the idea of experimenting yourself.
The Choice in Hair coloring:
There is a wide range of coloring products available and it helps to know what is on offer before you decide.
Temporary colors:
These are usually water-based and are applied to pre-shampooed, wet hair. They work by coating outside, or cuticle layer, of the hair. The color washes away in the next shampoo.
Color Setting:
Color setting lotions combine a color that washes out with a strong setting lotion. They are similar to temporary colors and and are perfect for adding tone to grey, white or bleached hair.
Semi-permanent colors
These give a more noticeable effect that lasts for six to eight shampoos. They can only add, enrich or darken hair color, they can’t make it any lighter. The color fades gradually and is ideal for those who just want to experiment.
Permanent colors
These can be used to lighten or darken hair permanently. The roots may need retouching every six weeks. When retouching, it is important to color only the new hair growth. If the new color overlaps previously treated hair, there will be a build-up of color from the mid-lengths to the ends, which will make the hair more porous.