natural hair | BEAUTY LOUNGE, RHODE ISLAND

Healthy Hair Habits

March 11, 2022 by admin

As professional stylists, we love to see clients experiment with their looks. Although we strive to accommodate our client’s hair goals, it’s our responsibility to prioritize the health of their hair. To get the most out of your hair-styling journey, your hair must begin with a strong foundation that can handle coloring, cuts, and styling!

A healthy hair regimen is essential to maintain the integrity of your strands and open options for any styling goals. No two heads are alike, and each comes with a genetic predisposition that can affect the behavior of the hair follicles. As you pick up on healthy hair habits, find ways to make these hair care tips your own!

Cleansing

Our scalp is one of the most important systems in the life cycle of a hair follicle. This is where the roots sit and what continues to feed brand new hair out of the head. Healthy hair comes from a healthy scalp and cleansing the scalp is important to promote strong hair growth.

When washing your hair concentrate your suds on the scalp where most of the buildup of dirt, oil, and dead skin is sitting. Due to shampoos’ strong stripping power, it’s important to refrain from over washing. Washing more than needed strips the hair of its natural oils that the roots need to thrive. When it comes to washing, go for a shampoo that is free from harmful chemicals like sulfates, parabens, or the many other chemicals commonly found in popular shampoo brands.

Moisturizing

Like a growing plant, hair needs moisture to thrive. Conditioner can not only be used moisturize but it also doubles as a gentle cleanser. If you need a refresh but recently washed, you can use conditioner on the scalp to break down dirt and oil.

When using conditioner to moisturize, focus the product at the end of the hair. The ends of the hair are the most fragile as they are the oldest. This hair is the driest and needs the most attention when it comes to moisture. Use a quality conditioner with ingredients that support your hair type and let it sit for 2-3 minutes to ensure the product penetrates the hair shaft. Beauty Lounge RI offers various hair treatments to deep condition the hair leaving your hair feeling brand new.

Diet

You are what you eat, and this is true for hair health. Diet is a crucial part of maintaining strong, healthy hair. Fueling your body with the nutrients it needs will help retain and continue to produce healthy, shiny hair. Vitamins like iron, B6, Folic Acid, B12, and more help support hair growth and health.

Heat

Like skin, the hair also needs to be protected by heat damage and harmful UV rays. If you use heat tools to style your hair daily and wonder why your natural hair is not satisfying you, it is most likely because your strands are fried from the constant heat damage. This damage is often irreversible and will need to be cut off. Using less heat on your hair will yield stronger smoother strands. If you do put heat on your hair, use a quality heat protectant to shield your hair.

Indirect heat can also be damaging to your hair. Harsh UV rays from the sun can cause heat damage to your hair and scalp. Getting a sunburn on your scalp affects the layer of skin that houses the roots of the hair follicles, which can cause damage to growing roots. To protect your hair and scalp, apply sunscreen to both areas or wear a hat to protect against the intense UV rays.

Preventing Breakage

If you are having trouble growing hair, it’s most likely not an issue of producing hair, but the issue of retaining it. Hair follicles come from the roots of the scalp, and with proper hair care and diet, hair grows about a ½ an inch on average each month. If your hair is always growing, then why don’t you see growth? This is because as your hair grows, it can be simultaneously breaking off at the ends. Being that our ends are the most fragile, they are prone to breakage from everyday styling tools.

Your brush can be breaking your hair if it’s not designed for your hair type. Most brushes are made from plastic, wood, or rubber, and all these mediums can be rough on the hair shaft. Getting a brush that goes with the grain of your hair is the best for preventing breakage. For a gentle detangling tool, use a wide took comb or finger detangling to support hair retention.

Other tools like elastic bands and towels for drying should be replaced with more gentle options. Invest in plastic and metal-free hair ties when styling your hair to ensure there is no excessive pulling or ripping of the hair. Instead of drying your hair with a towel, which is made with fibers that are rough on the hair, use a cotton tee shirt that does not pull on the hair and leaves your hair frizz-free.

Have you ever effortlessly combed through your hair and as you approach the ends it turns rough and tough to comb through? You need a trim! Trims are essential for all hair types. As your hair grows, it’s important to regularly trim your damaged ends. The ends of the hair are usually festered with dry and brittle split ends. Split ends can lead to huge amounts of breakage that travel up to the root. Trims are essential in getting rid of dead, damaged, and split ends to make room for new growth.

At Beauty Lounge RI we want to see you in the style of your dreams… but only under the circumstances that your hair is strong enough to uphold the change. A few simple changes in your hair care habits can yield hair that will make it through anything. Avoid DIY styling and chemical processing as that can be contributing to unhealthy hair. Find inspiration and let a professional execute the service and they will ensure your hair’s health is the top priority.

If you are at the beginning of your hair care journey, that’s okay too. Contact us for a consultation, where a hair care professional will discuss the needs of your hair and give you the tools you need to manage it. Visit our website for hours and contact information today!

Winter Hair Trends

December 20, 2021 by admin

It’s winter, the snow is falling, and winter hair trends are calling! If you’re looking to change up your look and keep the season on your side, then visit Beauty Lounge and try out some of these amazing winter trends that are sure to leave you feeling like an icy queen.

Winter Colors

Silver Fox

An iconic winter hue that has been popular over the last few years is silver! Silver hair can come in all shades and tones of silver or grey. We sometimes even see silver purple or silver-blue shades. To achieve this look it requires a very light start. For example, if you are going from brown to a sliver, it will take a few bleaching sessions to lighten it to the point that the silver will shine through. If you are aiming to complete this process quickly, your hair already must be lightened to a white blonde. All the beautiful brunettes who aim for this there’s nothing to fear. Going to a specialist, like the hairstylists at Beauty Lounge RI, you can absolutely achieve this look in due time. Going to a professional, especially for a look like this is crucial in maintaining healthy hair. Trying this process alone can risk a lot of damage that would take time to come back from.

Icy Blonde

A signature winter color is a blonde, but not any old blonde bombshell, an icy blonde. Using cool tones and bright white highlights produces the perfect icy blonde shade. This brilliant blonde can be achieved through a consistent hair lighting process. Much like the silver, your hair must be lightened in steps to achieve blonde while maintaining the health of your hair. The great thing about an icy blonde style is the vast color scheme that can come from the mix of cool and warm blondes. Not one icy blonde is like the next and the shades are always tailored to best-fit clients.

Ash-blonde is like Icy blonde but is less vibrant and a bit duller for blondies who want the light look but don’t want it to be too bright. Using cool tones of brown, grey, and blonde, are the main contenders when trying to achieve this look. A toner is utilized to strip any warm tones from the hair leaving it to be a cute cool subtle look.

Deep Red

There is something breathtaking about red hair in the wintertime. The contrast of a bold red and the white winter is such an eye-catching moment. If there is any time to try red it’s in the winter. Red is a strong shade that requires less lighting and preparation. There are unlimited options when working with red. If you want something richer in a color you can aim for a deep red, burgundy, or even dark auburn. You can rock a bright ruby red or incorporate red highlights and lowlights to achieve a dimensional red look. It’s important to note, like any of the other shades, red is a commitment. This shade is perfect if you plan on keeping it through the winter months and even into spring. Unlike the blonde, red doesn’t take much to achieve a beautiful shade, but it can take a longer time to completely get the warm tones out when you’re ready to go lighter. Regardless, this process is easily achievable with the right set of professionals behind you.

All these beautiful winter color trends take time to achieve and must be met with patience. With the proper maintenance at home and in the salon, these shades remain long-lasting and leave your hair healthy with a one-of-a-kind flare.

Styles

Our tried-and-true winter hairstyles are still trending this winter. When it comes to cold weather, long locks are favored over short low maintenance styles. Long layers are great for someone who wants to keep their length but wants to add volume or depth. This cut gives clients the length without the blunt, straight cut at the ends. These long layers can be paired with a curtain bang that helps shape the style around the face. Mullets are back in as well. Long mullets are trending right now and have a variety of lengths, layers, and shapes to match your style.

With all of this to your strands, one of the most underrated styles for the winter is protective styles. If you are dying your hair or regularly styling it with heat tools, it’s necessary for your hair to recover from damages. Even if you rarely change your hairstyle or hair routine, protective styles are a must in the winter. Our hair is stronger when it’s together versus in a loose state. The winter months can be very hard on hair, drying it out and leading to breaking and more damage. Using styles like updos, buns, and braids, paired with a leave-in conditioner is essential in the winter months.

Enjoy the winter with a new look and remember to maintain your hair health overall. Professional stylists at the Beauty Lounge will guide you every step of the way. Contact the professional stylist at Beauty Lounge RI to start your winter hair journey today!

End of Summer Hair Care

September 3, 2019 by admin

As summer comes to an end, the weather gets cooler and tan lines start to fade. Those sunny days at the beach are becoming a distant memory, but your hair might not forget so easily.

We all love summer — but summer doesn’t always love our hair. Too much time spent in the sun can discolor your highlights or natural color. And because summer is so hot, you probably wore your hair up most of the time, putting a strain on your roots from high ponytails and top knots. Finally, all that chlorine, saltwater, and even air conditioning suck the moisture out of your hair, leaving your strands frizzy and dry.

That was a lot of scary information, but don’t worry — the damage isn’t permanent. There are treatments that can breathe life back into your sun-scorched and dried-out hair.

The Style Team at the Beauty Lounge wants your hair to be just as healthy today as it was back in May. We’ve got some tricks up our sleeves that can revitalize your locks and have them ready for fall!

TRIM THOSE DEAD ENDS

Those days out in the sun and in the water cause dryness that can wreak havoc on the ends of your hair. Split ends and frizz aren’t a great look, and if ignored, will only get worse.

Get a fresh start by trimming your dead ends. The sooner you do this, the less your stylist will have to take off. Chopping those dead ends will result in healthier hair, with shiny volume and minimal frizz.

GO AU-NATURALE

It’s best to keep things natural for a while so your hair can recover from the summer heat. Too many days at the beach has dried out your hair, so don’t add more fuel to the fire with excessive styling. Give your hair a break by staying away from blow drying, straightening, or curling.

We also recommend leaving your hair down rather than tying it back. Hair elastics rip out strands, and tight ponytails or buns pull on your roots – which can even result in hair loss. C’mon, let your hair down!

PAMPER YOUR HAIR

It’s possible that even a trim and break from styling won’t completely bring your hair back to life after summer. That’s where we come in!

Hair masks are affordable and effective. Our Hair Repairing Treatment Vials contain 100% organic leaf extracts that will moisturize and reconstruct your brittle strands. To further strengthen your hair, try Muru Muru Butter with its restorative fatty acids and Vitamin A. We also offer Milkshake hair products that contain milk proteins and fruit extracts to keep your hair silky and strong.

Really looking to revitalize your dried-out hair? A keratin treatment is the perfect way to smooth out all your frizz and kinks. This treatment basically puts armor on your strands, protecting them from future heat. Your hair won’t be dull and poofy anymore, so you’ll leave the salon with sleek and shiny locks.

You don’t have to regret those beach days! Our end-of-summer hair care tips will have your hair back to its luscious and shiny state in no time. Book an appointment with us today!