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Here's what you need to know about your curly hair
If you’re looking for the perfect way to wear and care for your curls, then look no further than your local salon. If your stylist has experience working with textured hair (and it’s likely that they do!) They are going to be your best resource for learning everything you need to know about taking good care of your hair. Here are a few things you will want to ask during your next consultation. What’s my curl type & texture? There are two main things to take into consideration when learning how to best care for your curls: Curl type Hair texture Knowing the shape of the curl can help to determine how much additional moisture it needs and knowing the overall hair texture can help to know how much additional moisture it can handle. Let’s get into it. Different Curl shapes Believe it or not, more than half the world’s population has some form of curly hair. The main difference between each type of curl is its shape. Of the three main categories of curl, the shapes can vary. Curl types by shape Wavy: primarily “S” shaped curl pattern Curly: primarily “C” shaped curl pattern Coily: Primarily a tight “Z” shaped curl pattern Why does curl shape matter? When it comes to care, the tighter the curl, the more hydration it needs. This is because the bend in the strand makes it difficult for naturally occurring oils to travel from the scalp down to the ends of the hair. This makes it harder for strands to get moisture and leaves them feeling dry. Basically, the higher up on the strand the curl starts, the drier it is. What’s my curl texture? While identifying what your base-line moisture needs are by curl type is a great first step, knowing how much moisture your hair can handle is just as important. That’s were getting to know your hair texture comes in. Hair texture needs Fine: needs lightweight moisture Medium: need moderate moisture Thick/coarse: needs a LOT of moisture Looking for the perfect care routine for YOUR curly hair? Check out milk_shake Curl Passion! Learn more HERE>>>
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How Fruit Extracts Keep Your Hair Healthy
We all know the eating lots of different fruits and vegetables is the cornerstone of a healthy diet. But did you also know that fruit extracts are really, really good for your hair? Because they are in such a concentrated form, fruit extracts pack a powerful punch when added to beauty products. You can find fruit extracts in most milk_shake products, including our best-selling leave-in conditioners, shampoos, and treatments. Allow us to introduce you to the wonderful world of extracts. Fruit Extracts & Antioxidants Most plants contain polyphenols—organic molecular compounds that have strong antioxidant properties. What this means is that these molecules are highly effective at fighting free radicals. While free radicals aren’t inherently bad, they do tend to impact the human body in negative ways by altering lipids and proteins, when not counteracted by antioxidants. Free radical damage has been linked to inflammation, chronic illnesses, diseases, and aging. Plants are naturally rich in antioxidants, especially berries. Blueberries, strawberries and goji berries are jam-packed with antioxidant properties, along with papaya. Our moisture plus family of products includes all of these powerful ingredients, for seriously healthy hair. Vitamin-Packed Power Besides being juicy and delicious, fruits are a natural multi-vitamin. It’s no secret that vitamins are an important part of staying healthy and there are a few that are especially important to hair health. Beta carotene—also known as vitamin A—is particularly important for cell growth and regeneration. It also helps the skin of the scalp produce sebum, an oily substance that helps keep your scalp healthy and hair moisturized. This powerful nutrient is found in goji berries, mangoes, and apricots. Vitamin C does more than just keep the common cold away, it also help fight free radicals and has been shown to stimulate collagen production. While oranges may get most of the vitamin C spotlight, strawberries contain high amounts of this super nutrient. You can find strawberry extract in our leave-in conditioner. There is no better beauty regimen than healthy living. Taking good care of yourself and your body is guaranteed to help you feel and look your best. While we feed our bodies with what we put in them, we feed our hair with what we put on it. With an abundance of a nutrients and free radical fighting power, fruit extracts are a natural way to keep your hair happy and healthy.
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These are the best brunette hair colors for every skin tone
If you’re feeling stumped on your fall hair transformation, look no further than your wrists! The skin on the inside of your wrist holds the key to unlocking your undertones. Your skin undertones can be a big help when determining which hair colors will look best on you. While going lighter can be a little more forgiving, darker hair colors tend to accentuate skin tones more, making it even more essential to find the right match for your particular tone. Your colorist will be best equipped to pinpoint the exact shade that will work best for you, but you can consider this a quick guide to help you look for fall hair color inspo! Neutral undertones First, let’s address a common issue if you’re having trouble determining if your undertones are more green or more blue, there’s a good chance that you have neutral undertones. While this may sound a little confusing at first, it’s good news! Those with neutral undertones can wear nearly any shade. Meaning, both classic chocolate shades and more trendy cool tones work equally well with your skin tone. milk_shake recommends: Color Maintainer Flower Shampoo & Conditioner Warm Undertones Classic fall hair color combinations like chocolate browns and caramel highlights will look best on you. If you’re looking for a little brightness and warmth, try asking your colorist for a sombré technique—starting with a deep, rich brunette at the base and fading down to lighter caramel and honey shades at the mid-lengths and ends. milk_shake recommends: Color Maintainer Shampoo & Conditioner Cool Undertones Deep, cool shades will look best on you. Picture dark chocolate tones and the sheen of dark roast coffee beans. You will want to ask your colorist to keep the tones ashy and cool. If you want to stay on the lighter side, look for mushroom brown tones, which can also be broken up with cool-toned highlights. milk_shake recommends: Cold Brunette Shampoo & Conditioner
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These are the best foods for healthy hair
We all know how important it is to use the right products for our hair type. After all, if you want high-quality hair, you need to use high quality products. But did you also know that your diet is just as important for your hair’s health? We're about to show you the best foods for healthy hair. Believe it or not, the age-old saying is true: you are, in fact, what you eat. Put in slightly more scientific terms, your body uses the nutrients food in the foods that you eat to build new cells. This includes your skin, nails, and hair cells. So, if you want healthy hair, it’s important to have a healthy diet. And if we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times: healthy hair IS beautiful hair. Luckily, most of the “superfoods” that are good for your overall health have added benefits for your hair as well. Here are some of the top foods that you’ll want to start incorporating into your diet for healthier hair EAT THE RAINBOW FOR HEALTHY HAIR BERRIES, especially raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries were ranked number one in antioxidant activity by the US Department of Agriculture compared to 40 common fruits and vegetables. The antioxidants in blueberries protect you from premature aging, so add a cup to your yogurt or cereal every day. TROPICAL FRUITS such as mango and papaya are rich in vitamin C, A ,and E. These powerful antioxidants protect cells, while delivering rich, emollient properties, making fruit one of the best foods for healthy hair. DARK, LEAFY GREENS, like broccoli, spinach and chard. Dark green leafy veggies are full of vitamins A and C. Your body uses these foods to produce sebum, the oily secretion on your scalp that works like conditioner. These veggies also pack iron and calcium. Trade your lettuce for spinach and sauté broccoli for a quick and healthy side Product Rx: milk_shake Leave-in Conditioner, Moisture plus, Shampoo & Conditioner, Integrity Shampoo & Conditioner PROTEINS FOR STRONGER HAIR MILK PROTEINS from milk, yogurt and cheese. Dairy products are plentiful of calcium and protein. Choose low-fat or fat-free versions so your waistline and hair can both benefit. Mix it with fruit or granola for a healthy breakfast or afternoon snack. EGGS are another food that’s rich in protein. Eggs are loaded with four key minerals: zinc, selenium, sulfur and iron. Iron is especially important because it helps cells carry oxygen to the hair follicles, and too little iron is a major cause of hair loss, particularly in woman. WILD SALMON if not farm raised is full of protein, which is the main component of hair. Oily fish like salmon contains beneficial Omega 3 fatty acid that can help prevent a dry scalp, as well as vitamin B-12 and iron. You won’t have a problem adding salmon to your diet since there are hundreds of ways to enjoy this beauty superfood. Try it grilled, baked, in your pasta, with a salad or in sushi. POULTRY, this everyday entrée is extraordinary when it comes to protein, as well as hair healthy zinc, iron and B vitamins to keep strands strong and plentiful. Because hair is nearly all protein, foods rich in protein are giving you the building blocks for hair. Product Rx: milk_shake Whipped Cream, Leave-in Conditioner, Incredible Milk, Color Maintainer Shampoo & Conditioner, Integrity Shampoo & Conditioner, Silver Shine Shampoo & Conditioner OILS & FATS FOR SHINY HAIR OLIVE OIL no one wants dry, lackluster hair. But if your diet is too low in fat, that’s what could happen. This healthy oil contains beneficial vitamin E, so use it for your sautés as well your salads. About a teaspoon a day will do the trick. NUT BUTTERS like almond, muru muru, and coconut butter provide moisture and essential fatty acids. Delicious and nutritious, which is why it makes our list for best foods for healthy hair. SUNFLOWER OIL similar to nut butters (but less fatty), sunflower oil hydrates and provides essential fatty acids and antioxidants. Product Rx: Incredible Milk, Integrity Shampoo & Conditioner HYDRATE YOUR HAIR WATER That’s right, good old fashioned plain water. While the typical recommendation is 64 oz per day, a more accurate calculation is to divide your body weight in half and drink that number of ounces. If you live in a particularly humid or dry climate, or are very active, you will want to add in additional ounces. Water keeps everything in your body running smoothly, from your blood to your sweat, and yes, even your tears. Most importantly, it aids in the digestive process, making it easier for your system to absorb all of those super nutrients that you are getting. You can’t fake healthy hair. So, treat it right, with high quality products, and treat your body right with a nutrient dense diet. It’s beauty, naturally.
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How to keep Brown Hair from Getting Brassy
Why should blondes have all of the brass-fighting fun? Our Cold Brunette Shampoo and Conditioner gets rid of unwanted red, yellow, and orange tones in brown hair. This safe, fun to use formula has all off the brass-fighting power you need to keep darker tones cool and shining. Cold Brunette shampoo is SLES-free, while both the shampoo and conditioner are paraben free. Anyone who has ever lightened dark blonde or brown hair has probably experienced “the brass effect.” This occurs when warm natural undertones come through after lightening. While this occurs with any natural hair color, it can be especially noticeable in natural brunettes. Our new Cold Brunette shampoo and conditioner duo removes these unwanted tones quickly and easily. The blue pigments in this powerful formula counteract unwanted red, yellow and orange undertones in brown hair. Cold Brunette shampoo and conditioner can be used both in the salon and at home. The shampoo and conditioner duo is perfect for use after a lightening service to boost the effects of a toning service. Afterwards, these effects can be prolonged with weekly use of Cold Brunette at home. In addition to counteracting unwanted warm tones in brown hair, Cold Brunette is also jam-packed with beneficial natural ingredients to promote overall hair health. Our thoughtfully sourced, powerful active ingredients enhance hair’s natural beauty, leaving it soft and shiny. Active ingredients in Cold Brunette Shampoo & Conditioner: Moringa oil: Rich in oleic and fatty acids, provides exceptional conditioning and hydration. Integrity 41: Our patented antioxidant complex made from sunflower seeds guarantees long-lasting color. Milk proteins: The foundational ingredient to all milk_shake products—supplements and conditions hair structure. Amino Acid complex: helps to fortify hair by preventing breakage. Rice Oil: natural antioxidant, nourishes and conditions hair. Frequently asked Questions Who should use Cold Brunette Shampoo and Conditioner? Anyone with natural or color-treated brown, light brown, or dark blonde hair can benefit from the cooling effects of Cold Brunette Shampoo and conditioner. How do I use Cold Brunette Shampoo and Conditioner? To use Cold Brunette shampoo: apply evenly to damp hair, leave in for a few minutes, and rinse. For a more intense result, prolonged the leave-in time. To use Cold Brunette Conditioner: After cleansing, apply evenly to damply hair, leave in for a few minutes, then rinse completely. For a more intense result, leave in for longer. How often Should I use Cold Brunette Shampoo and Conditioner? To prolong the effect of an in-salon toning service, or to counteract unwanted naturally occurring warm tones in the hair, use Cold Brunette Shampoo and Conditioner weekly. Alternate this use with a moisturizing or strengthening shampoo and conditioner duo, depending on the specific needs of the hair. Can I use Cold Brunette Shampoo & Conditioner with Blonde Highlights? The blue pigment in Cold Brunette Shampoo and conditioner is safe to use on light brown and dark blonde highlights as well as darker brunette shades. Be sure to use a test strand to observe the effects before applying all over.
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How to Add Volume to Flat Hair
Is your hair lacking “oomph?” Volume and body are two of the biggest indicators of healthy hair. If your hair is looking a little lackluster, it could mean a change in routine is needed. While some of us have a predisposition to fine or thin hair, there are other reasons for a lack of volume. Contributing factors like heat damage and overuse of styling products can leave your hair feeling weighed down and lifeless. Having the right care regime can do wonders for adding volume and body back into hair. When your locks are looking a little limp, you’ll want to reach for a lightweight product with specialized ingredients. Our Volume Solution line is specifically designed to take hair lacking in volume to new heights. Products Designed to Treat Flat Hair The milk_shake Volume Solution family of products contains a shampoo, conditioner, and styling spray. Each of these products are designed to be used together, to create body and volume. By combining specialized ingredients, chosen with the specific needs of flat hair in mind, we were able to create an effective care regime that improves hair health while adding volume. Volume Solution Shampoo: A gentle cleanser that is paraben and SLES free. This unique formula thoroughly cleanses hair without stripping its natural, beneficial oils, or weighing it down with unnecessary additives. A special derivative of sugar cane gives body and increases vitality. This shampoo is perfect for those with fine hair that is prone to frizz. To Use: Apply to every to damp hair, lather, and rinse. Volume Solution Conditioner: Our weightless conditioner infuses hair with moisture thorough the use of carefully considered. natural ingredients. This powerful paraben-free formula combines the moisturizing benefits of milk proteins with specialized sugar cane derivatives to increase body and improve hair’s overall health. Finally, we added our patented Integrity 41® complex and quinoa protein for added strength and color protection. To Use: After cleansing with Volume Solution Shampoo, Apply to damp hair and distribute evenly. Leave in for a few minutes to allow to permeate the hair, then rinse. Volume Solution Styling Spray: This specially formulated styling spray supports the hair by adding structure. Using the line’s signature ingredients derived from sugar cane, this weightless spray supports long-lasting styles with a high wattage shine. Combined with fruit extracts and other beneficial ingredients, Volume Solution Styling Spray can be used to contribute additional hair health benefits. This product can be used as a foundation to any styling regime, to add structure and volume. To Use: Spray at the root to add volume, continue with normal styling routine. Hair that is lacking in body and volume also tends to have a weekend structure and can be prone to frizz. Our specially formulated Volume Solution trio of products is designed to treat the unique needs of flat hair. By combining carefully selected, natural ingredients we have created a specialized routine that cares for and natures hair back to its original, natural beauty.
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This is why your hair color fades so quickly
There’s nothing quite the feeling of stepping out of the salon with a fresh, new hair color. There’s also nothing quite so frustrating as when that gorgeous, professionally applied color starts to fade. Have you ever wondered why that happens? It mostly has to do with the type of color you have applied, your hair’s overall health, and how you care for it. Depending on the type of hair color that your colorist uses on you (ie. Permanent, semi or demi-permanent, or temporary color) it can last in your hair for anywhere from 6-30 washes. Which means that the more often you wash your hair, the faster your hair color will fade. This has everything to do with how hair color works with your hair shaft.Basically, when you color-treat your hair, you cause a bit of damage to the hair shaft in order to allow the new color molecules to be deposited inside. Any damage that occurs after you color your hair will result in those molecules being released. The more color molecules that are released, the more fading you will see. Hair color fading due to washing Believe it or not, shampooing your hair aids and abets that process. There are two ways to minimize hair color fading due to shampooing: Shampoo less. This has the double benefit of keeping your color vibrant while also allowing your scalp to recalibrate its oil production. This can lead to improved scalp and hair health later on. Use a shampoo & conditioner specifically designed for color-treated hair. Typically, these products are sulfate free—like milk_shake color care shampoo & conditioner—which helps to preserve color, longer. Our popular color care family of products has been recently updated! milk_shake color maintainer shampoo is now sulfate free. This helps keep color preserved for longer, while still producing a satisfying foam. Complete your color-treated care regimen with our caramel-colored color maintainer conditioner and easy to apply color maintainer balm. It’s not only your shampoo that can be to blame for color fading during your cleansing process. Your water quality also plays a role. Hard water—that is water that has a lot of calcium and magnesium present—can create build-up. This causes hair to dry out and look dull and color to look less vibrant. Alternatively, if your water has a lot of chlorine present, or you swim often, this could also be contributing to color fading. The answer to this lies in using a deep-cleansing shampoo or a shampoo specifically designed to remove chlorine, once per week in addition to your normal care routine. Finally, the temperature of your water matters. If the water you shower with is too hot, it can cause the cuticle to expand, and release color molecules out of the hair shaft. Keep your shower a little on the cooler side if you can and consider “sealing” off your hair with a cold-water rinse at the end. Hair color fading due to lifestyle factors Do you use a lot of heat to style your hair? The heat from blow-dryers, curling wands, and flat irons can cause steam to be released into the hair shaft. This can make hair color fade faster as the color molecules get “pushed” out to make room for air bubbles produced by the steam. The good news is that using quality heat-protectant before using your styling tools can prevent this from occurring. Similarly, hair that is exposed to the sun often can be more prone to color fading. UV rays from the sun have a powerful effect on skin and hair, so using a SPF daily and wearing a hat for protection can go a long way. Finally, if your hair is very dry or porose, you can experience more color fading than usual. The answer here is to keep hair very hydrated by using a weekly hair mask or treatment (in the case of dryness) or using a color sealant after your color service (in the case of high-porosity). Your colorist can prescribe the best products for you to maintain your hair health and color vibrancy.
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The best way to treat damaged hair
Whether you are coming off a summer of fun or you’ve gone a bit overboard on the chemical processing and heat styling lately, hair damage happens. While it’s no picnic to have dry, brittle hair, the good news is that repair is always possible. There are several approaches to bringing back your hair’s natural health and luster, from in-salon treatments to at-home care routines. How hair gets damaged While it may look like a solid strand, your hair is made up of many different components. An optimal balance of water, keratin, minerals and lipids makes for strong, healthy hair. When one or more of these components are lacking, you will start to see the tell-tale signs of damage. Loss of shine, brittleness and breakage, decreased manageability and volume and an increase in frizz are all signs of hair damage. Loss of shine and body can be attributed to a lot of different factors, namely using the wrong shampoo, or overdoing it on chemical processes. While a lack of moisture is usually the root cause, a deficit of nutrients can also be to blame. When your hair starts to lose keratin—a type of protein found in hair, skin, and nails—you will notice brittleness and breakage. Typically, this is what we refer to as “severely damage”. Salon treatments for damaged hair If your hair falls under the severely damaged category—that is it’s lost most of its shine, is brittle, difficult to manage and prone to breakage—you’ll want to get yourself to a salon, stat. A professional hairstylist can diagnose your underlying hair issues and prescribe the right course of action. In-salon treatments, like the milk_shake integrity reconstruction system, are specially designed to be used in-salon, by a professional. This two-step treatment rebuilds hair from the inside out. The first step in the treatment—the rebuilder—contains keratin, other proteins, and amino acids that are delivered through a carefully formulated solution to penetrate deeply into the hair shaft. The second phase, the milk_shake fibre sealant is applied on top of the rebuilder. The fibre sealant it is designed to smooth the cuticle. This has the double action of not only sealing in the benefits of the rebuilder treatment, but also producing instantly softer, smoother hair. The integrity in-salon treatment, is activated with heat. At home treatment for damaged hair After your in-salon integrity treatment, your stylist will likely prescribe a strengthening hair care regimen for you to use at home. The milk_shake integrity line contains a powerful shampoo and conditioner duo, an intensive treatment, nourishing mask, and a split end repairing oil. This incredible family of products uses muru muru butter, hyaluronic acid, and organic buriti oil in addition to milk_shake’s signature milk proteins and fruit extracts. These products are deeply nourishing and intended for weekly use. The milk_shake® Integrity Line: Integrity Nourishing Shampoo , Integrity Nourishing Conditioner , Integrity Intensive Treatment , Integrity nourishing muru muru butter , Incredible oil , Integrity Leave In (Professional Product at Salons)
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5 reasons why you need a leave-in conditioner
If there is one hair care product that you should never be without, it’s a good leave-in conditioner. This versatile, multi-benefit product delivers much-needed benefits to keep your hair stronger, shinier, and healthier. It even brings the bounce back to curls and can help with your signature scent. Here’s how: Leave-in Conditioners deliver benefits all-day While a good in-shower conditioner can work wonders for dry and/or damaged hair, those results have a relatively short window of time to be delivered. Typical conditioners are designed to be rinsed out—and as a result are typically a heavier, oil-based formula that can weigh hair down if not rinsed thoroughly. Leave-in conditioners, on the other hand, are typically lighter, water-based formulas that deliver hydration all day long. Leave-in conditioners help refresh curls and waves If you have naturally curly hair, it’s likely that you’ve experienced the “mid-day droop” While this can occur for many reasons, a quick spritz of a light-weight leave-in—like our original or flower formulas—can add a quick dose of moisture to dried out curls. This can help bring back bounce and body to limp locks. Leave-in conditioner supports hair oils and serums. If your hair is exceptionally dry or dull, you’ve probably heard that hair oils and serums can reduce frizz and add shine. While this is technically true, these products help alleviate the symptoms without treating the underlying issue. Both hair oils and serums work to seal the hair cuticle—creating a smooth surface on the hair shaft that reflects more light. This makes hair appear shiny. However, neither a hair oil or serum adds hydration to the hair, which contributes to a lack of shine. Leave-in conditioner is designed to penetrate the hair shaft and deliver moisture internally. Combined with a hair oil and/or serum, you can boost hair health, which improves shine and reduces frizz. Leave-in conditioner helps prolong hair color vibrancy. By now it should be pretty clear that a good quality leave-on conditioner helps to improve hydration—but did you also know that well-hydrated hair prolongs the life of color for longer than dry hair? By using a leave-on conditioner after ever wash, you can help your hair maintain vibrancy and shine of your hair color, for longer. Leave-in conditioner gives a subtle, long-lasting fragrance Have you ever heard the trick that you should spray perfume in your hair to make the scent last longer? While this is technically true, please don’t take that advice. Most perfumes are formulated with alcohol, which is extremely drying for hair. However, scents sprayed directly into hairdo last longer than those applied to the skin—which is why choosing a leave-in conditioner with a pleasant fragrance is the perfect compromise. You’ll get your signature scent, while your hair gets added health benefits! Try our original sweet vanilla fragrance leave-in conditioner OR our new flower formula!
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