Vegetarian Hair

Being a vegetarian is a wonderful, thing... so I've heard. However, it's important to remember to still have a well-balanced diet — one that includes all the right amino acids. People think that being a vegetarian is automatically healthier, well, it's not that simple. If you've recently gone veg and have also noticed that you're losing more hair in the shower, it might be time to take a look at your diet and make sure you're not leaving anything out. Like, you know, protein.

-Oz, salon educator

Color

Just like your clothes, your hair color needs to work with your complexion.  Your natural hair color is always a safe bet, but not usually as fun as all the choices.  You have a good amount of flexibility in this regard, because your hair is one of the features that defines you.  But when picking a color take into consideration your complexion.  Please listen to your professional hairstylist and ask for their recommendation. I've seen lots of women who don't understand this concept and the result is unnatural-looking and unattractive.  Remember, you are dealing with chemicals here, please leave this to the people that know what they are doing, your hairstylist.  When you go to the store and buy a box color you get exactly that, a color straight out of the box that is generic and made for everyone.  In addition the ingredients in box colors tend to be more damaging.  It is formulated to work on almost any hair type and uses higher concentrations of dye and developer. It also tends to look flat because it uses just one color dye.

Roca Salon & Spa is here to help you make the right choice when you decide you are ready for a little fun in hair color. 

Short Hair

People always assume that short hair is easier to manage, but a short cut might refuse cooperation from time to time. Well, don't worry, I put together some tips for managing your short hair.
1. Make Sure it’s dry before you go to bed: Because you will discover that any type pillow on wet hair is bound to flatten it and mess it up beyond the help of any styling tool or products known to mankind. Hats? Same can be said for hats. Don't put a hat on wet hair, but if you insist on wearing them, either don't take them off at all, or do it frequently so that your hair doesn't dry in the shape of a hat.
2. Say Yes to Natural Volume: Another side effect of sleeping with wet hair is the obvious lack of volume the morning usually brings. So, if messy, flattened, bent at odd angles tresses weren’t enough to convince you to let it dry first, the fact that you’re losing precious, luscious volume might! A short cut maximizes your natural volume and all you have to do to keep it beautiful is to give it some time to dry naturally before you proceed to styling your beautiful short hair.
3. Let It Air Dry: So…a blow-dryer…a great tool. But you don’t want to use it too soon or you might end up with hair that’s too frizzy and too fluffy to work with. Allow your hair enough time to dry naturally, waiting until it’s about 90% dry before you bring in the heat.
4. A Small round Brush Is a Must-Have: It might be the smallest in diameter but it definitely does magic for short hair! In fact, this might easily be the only tool you’ll ever need to style your short tresses. It will help you grab even the shortest of hairs, allowing you to straighten your cut to perfection without burns or those bad-looking creases standard size flat irons can produce.
5. Heavy styling products must be used carefully: Unless you’re going for that deep part and sleeked ‘do, go easy on the products. Even the celebrity-style hair needs to have that natural look! Feel free to reach for a flexible hold hairspray if you’re worried your ‘do might not be able to make it through the night.

Make-overs

I love doing what I do. 
One of my favorite things about my profession is to give women the ability to change their look.  By coloring your hair differently or changing its shape, texture, and length, you have the leverage over your appearance.  Your significant other may like a particle look the most on you, but seeing the same thing everyday is not something that the male mind is programmed to appreciate.  Mix it up a little.  If you can figure out just a few different ways of doing your hair, switching it every-now-and-then, can offer you some variety. Like everything else in life, you only really know whether or not something works by trying it out.  Don't be afraid to take a risk, talk with your professional hairstylist, believe me when I tell you, at Roca Salon & Spa, we love to do make-overs.
                                              

Split Ends

I hate split ends, who doesn't, they make your hair look dry and tired. If you have split ends it usually means your hair is not getting enough nourishment and moisture. Using harsh shampoos, going out in the sun, blow drying, straightening, coloring, and bleaching all dry out your hair. There are a few things that can help improve the health.

- Eat foods high in vitamins A, B, C, E and K to keep your hair from unnecessary breakage. Try adding more sweet potatoes, dark leafy greens, carrots, oranges, and plums to your diet. 
- One of the worst things you can do is start brushing through your hair with a hairbrush when your hair's still wet. You'll end up with breakage, frizz and split ends to show for it. 
-Drink at least eight to 10 glasses of water each day, full glasses, not sips. Because if your not hydrated, your skin and hair will show signs of dehydration.

-Avoid shampoos that contain alcohol as it dries out hair. Use shampoos that contain natural ingredients. Also, Excessive washing with harsh shampoos makes your hair ends dry.  Also, do not use hot water to wash your hair.
-Let your hair dry naturally, try to avoid styling tools.  Want curls or waves, try rollers with damp hair. 
-If all else fails, shave your head, a little to drastic,but you get my point.

Lets Fight Frizz!

You may ask, "What causes frizzy hair in winter?"  Well if you didn't, I want to tell you about it.  

Frizz is caused by our hair's natural tendency to trade moisture with the air around it.  When the hair's moisture balance is off, you'll experience frizziness.  Especially with extreme weather conditions.  In winter, too much moisture is pulled away from the hair, resulting in your dry, brittle strands that are prone to puffing up all your beautiful hair.  But wait there is more….Yes, thats not all.  

We live in a frequently changing environment, moving from dry, bitter, cold outdoor air to moisture-less, indoor heated air and back again… each situation pulling more precious moisture away from your hair.  Than you have the clothes we wear to keep us warm, cotton scarves and those knit caps, make the frizz situation worse by creating friction with the hair which causes more fuzz.

This is how to beat that Frizz Monster!

….control the moisture balance as much as possible.  There, that was easy.

ok, here are some steps.

1. regular deep conditioning: 15min of heated conditioning every seven to ten days is recommended.
2. sealing your hair with a light oil or silicone-based serum will keep your natural moisture in and stop the air around you from either taking your moisture in dry, winter conditions or giving you more moisture than you need, like in humid conditions. 

At the end, the amount of frizz you'll have to deal with depends on your hair type, your lifestyle and where you live.  But remember, for some, a little frizz is just a part of life.  Just try to keep your hair hydrated and seal in that moisture with an adequate  moisture-barrier that will keep the frizzes under control this winter.

Shampoo is Shampoo ...

by contributing stylist Rhonda

The shampoo you use and where you purchase it doesn't matter.  Or, does it?  You can get your hair clean with a bar of soap, but that doesn't mean it's best for your hair.  Do you want your dollars to support a huge department store corporation, or do you want to support the livelihood and continuing education of your stylist?  

Know these facts before you add shampoo to your grocery list:

1. Though the ingredients in over-the-counter shampoos may look and sound the same as professional shampoos, the actual quality is different.
   
   Take for example the comparison of a box of name-brand Kraft macaroni-and-cheese, and a box of a generic macaroni-and-cheese; both have macaroni that you boil and a pouch of powdered cheese that you add your own butter and milk to.  However, it's the quality of the ingredients inside the pouch and of the macaroni that makes the difference in the results and taste.
   
   It's the same with shampoo; it's the high quality of the actual ingredients of professional hair care products that make the difference.  As in keratin, the quality varies greatly with the type of keratin used, and even how and from where it is harvested.
2. If you purchase shampoo and other home care products from your trusted stylist, you have an assurance that the product will actually work for your hair, and won't end up under your sink collecting dust.
   
   All professional manufacturers that I know of offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee.  If you return the item, the salon does not incur a loss, as the manufacturer will exchange the returned item for them.
3. Your salon purchase, just like the purchase of your haircut and color, provides additional income for your stylist, and may even be a source of continued education for them.  If you care about your stylist, you will buy your home care products from them.

Does it matter?  Well, like I said earlier, you can get your hair clean with a bar of soap, but that doesn't mean it's best for your hair.  Do you want to support a huge department store corporation, or do you want to support the livelihood of your stylist and their family?  The choice is yours, and your stylist does notice.