Picking the Color and Product

Picking the Color and Product

Choose a color that matches skin tone and coloring and a product that matches the life desired effect. For instance if grey coverage is the goal, read the label to ensure the product is designed to do that.

has a reference color chart in its “Choosing a Haircolor” section. They advise that a woman first determine if her coloring is “cool” or “warm”. "Cool” coloring will look best in ash shades, and "Warm” coloring. the golden tones. There are many products on the market, all with similar shades. However, one brand’s “ash blonde” shade may be slightly different from another. It might take a few trys to find the right brand and color. Once the right color is determined, it is best to continue to use it for touch ups.

Tips for Coloring Hair at Home

Do-it-Yourself Hair Color Can be Salon Perfect!

Two toned treatments are best done in the salon - sjs5769/morguefile.com

Coloring hair in the salon can run as much as $50 to $100, but a woman can get the same results right in her home at a fraction of the cost!

their hair for various reasons. She may want to add temporary or permanent highlights, twilights or lowlights; she might be in the mood to change her hair color entirely; or just needs to cover the grey.

Some hair color products are temporary or semi-permanent, wherein the color washes out after shampooing for a few weeks. If a woman is unsure of the color she wants, or only wants a new color for a special event, using a temporary color that will wash out makes the most sense. The permanent hair color lasts until it is cut off, but the shade may fade somewhat right before it’s time for a touchup.

Permanent Hair Color

Cloring with permanent hair color requires a commitment. Here are some things to consider:

Hair Cutting Shears & Tools

View every category of hair cutting shears and tools available all in one place: right here! We've broken up each style of hair scissors we offer into easily identifiable categories for your browsing convenience. Shop by price, price, most recommended or even color. Finding the best hair cutting tools requires careful research and comparison so don't forget to take a look at our blog for the latest information on choosing tools and learning new hair cutting techniques. offers a full selection of hair shears to meet the needs of any stylist, from beginner to seasoned professional. If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions regarding your hair cutting tools, please feel free to email us at sales@myhairstylingtools.com

Cowlick Information

Cowlick Information

When you cut hair, you will have to deal with cowlicks. You will see at least one cowlick on every head of hair you cut. Every one has at least one cowlick in the crown area of his/her head. This spot, the cowlick, is where the beginning of a person's hairgrowth pattern starts. The cowlick determines the pattern of the hairgrain for the rest of the head. It is like the axle on a bicycle wheel, with the hair around the cowlick being the spokes of the wheel. The axle determines the direction or motion of the wheel just like a cowlick determines which way the hair wants to lie.

Cowlicks aren't only in the crown area, they can also be in the front hairline as well as at the back in the nape of the neck. These cowlicks also have the hair growing out and away from them. This of course adds interest to the way the hair lies, how it must be cut and how it needs to be styled.

But does eveyone really have a cowlick? I'm sure you can think of many people who you would say don't have one. That is because certain hair lengths and hair types can camouflage a cowlick very easily. These are

Long Hair - When hair gets longer, it gets heavier. This causes it to bend. When the hair bends at the roots, it can cover the cowlick area with long, bent hairs. If the same hair is then cut a bit shorter, the weight of the hair is gone. This will allow the hair to lie the way it wants to and then you'll be able to see the cowlick.

Wavy and Curly Hair - This type of hair grows out of the head like coiled springs, whereas starighter hair lies closer to the head. Because curly and wavy hair grows out like springs, when you look at it, you mainly see the ends. However, because straighter hair lies closer to the head, you can see more of the hairshaft and therefore you can also see more of the cowlick and the hairgrain (the direction that the hair lies).

The wavier or curlier the hair that you cut, the shorter you have to cut it to see the cowlick. If you cut it to a 1 inch length, you'll probably see the cowlick, but if it is a half of an inch longer, it will camouflage the cowlick.

This article is protected by copyright 2007 by Nadine Visscher. All rights reserved. This article may not be reproduced or quoted in any way without permission from the author.

Dealing With Unwanted Hair on Your Customers' Heads

Dealing With Unwanted Hair on Your Customers' Heads

Build extra value into each haircut for your cutomers. Go the extra mile and trim off all extra, unwanted hair. This will make the haircut that you give look even better.

If you've read some of my other you will know that hormones are responsible for hairgrowth, as well as its texture, density, and whether it even continues to grow at all. Men in particular can have coarse hair growing from their ears, eyebrows, noses and even below their necklines. Let's take a look at how to deal with the extra hair in each of these areas.

Ears

Extra, coarse hairs usually grow out of the top rim of the ear or out of the flexible little cartilage nub that you push against to plug your ears. You can cut these hairs using an electric razor or with a scissors. Be careful if you are using a scissor. Hold your scissors at a 45 degree angle so you can cut those hairs as short as possible. Cut carefully and slowly.

Eyebrows

Unruly, wiry, long hairs in the eyebrows can be cut using the . Here the comb takes the place of the and needs to move against or sideways to the hairgrain. If you comb with the hairgrain you will just be combing the hair down flat. But if you comb against the hairgrain, the hair will stand up and build up against the back of the comb. You cut the hair off that sticks past or protrudes from the comb.

Nose

Hair growing out of a nose is very noticeable since it's right in the middle of the face. Very carefully and very slowly cut the hairs with a scissor. Only cut the hair that protrudes from the nose. Don't be tempted to go just a bit inside the nose to get to the root of the problem.

Below the Neckline

This area often gets a bit messy between haircuts. This can be cleaned up with an electric shaver, a clipper on the lowest setting (with no attachment on), or with a razor (safely) and shaving cream. If you really like the you can use it, but remember that there will be hair left behind that is the same length as the thickness of your comb. Use a very thin comb and keep the comb very close to (right against) the skin.

Each of these 4 areas need to be trimmed up when you give a haircut. The ear, nose and eyebrow areas are extremely sensitive areas, so extra caution is needed. The hair below the neckline should be cut as short as possible to keep it looking tidy for as long as possible.

Go the extra mile for your customer and s/he will come back because you do such a great job!

Clipper-Over-Comb Cutting Technique

Clipper-Over-Comb Cutting Technique

The clipper-over-comb cutting technique is good for sides/sideburns and the bottom area of the haircut by the neck. Some general guidelines to follow are:

• The hair must be dry because wet hair clumps and therefore won't get cut evenly by the clipper blades. Do the clipper-over-comb technique at the end of the haircut. When you start cutting at the beginning of the haircut, the hair needs to be damp. However by the time you've finished the outline and the top ½ of the head, the bottom should be dry enough to cut with the clippers.
• Hold your comb in your less dominant hand (left) and lift vertical sections of hair at a 90° angle (straight out) from the scalp.
• With your clipper in your dominant hand (right), start at the bottom of the section of hair protruding between the teeth of your comb. Move your clipper up your comb, cutting off any hairs that stick past your comb.
• If you want to taper the hair with the bottom being the shortest and having the top of the section you are cutting to be longer, you'll need to angle your comb. When you lift out vertical sections of hair, have one end of the comb close to the head and angle the other end out. Hold it at the angle that makes most sense for the haircut you're giving.
• Keep cutting in vertical sections around the head. Work from the bottom of the hairline, going up until you reach the bottom of the hair that is already cut at the top of your head.
• With this technique, your comb has the most important role because it determines how much hair you are going to cut off. Hold the comb steady as you are cutting to avoid any uneveness
• Use hair that you've already cut to act as a guide for how you hold your comb. Picking up some hair that's already been cut along with some uncut hair helps you to see how to hold your comb for the next cut. Be careful with the first cut you make since you have no guide for it. Be conservative with how much you cut off the first cut. You can always go back and cut off more if needed.

Using the clipper-over-comb cutting technique is a real lifesaver for hard to cut areas at the bottom of the haircut. You can make the bottom edges much shorter (and therefore make the haircut last longer) if you pick hair up with a comb rather than with your fingers.

How to Coordinate Your Hands When Giving a Haircut

How to Coordinate Your Hands When Giving a Haircut

If you are totally new to cutting hair, it can be difficult to get your hands in synch with what you want them to do. When giving a haircut, you need to use both hands. They both have different but important jobs to do. Since only 15% of people are left-handed, we will look at the jobs your hands do assuming you are right-handed (for sake of illustration). Your right hand is your cutting hand and your left hand is your holding hand. Your left hand is very important with your pinkie and ring fingers being your spacer fingers with your middle and pointer fingers being your holding fingers.

Jobs of Your Holding Hand

Your holding hand (for illustration, it's your left or less dominant hand) has 3 important jobs to do:

* Holds the hair - Once your right hand combs the hair up away from the head, your left hand takes hold of that hair between your middle and pointer fingers.

* Decides how much to cut- Your pinkie and ring fingers determine the spacing between the scalp and the cutting point. They decide how much hair needs to be cut off and act as a guide.

* Holds your comb - Once your spacer fingers help you decide where to cut, you need to transfer your comb from your cutting hand to your holding hand. Without letting go of the hair in your holding/left hand, slide your scissors between your thumb and your pointer. Press your thumb against your hand to hold your comb steady.

Jobs of Your Cutting Hand

Your cutting hand (your right or dominant hand) has 2 jobs to do:

* Combs up hair- You start off with wet, clean hair lying on the scalp. You need to comb up a section of hair so your holding hand can slip it between your 2 holding fingers.

* Works the scissor- When the hair is held between your holding fingers and is measured using your spacing fingers, you are ready to transfer your comb to your holding hand and make the cut.

Even though your cutting hand makes the most difference visually, it is the work of the holding hand that makes all the difference. If you don't have your hair neatly lifted and spaced, you will end up with a messy and uneven haircut.

For directions for how to manipulate scissors correctly, see chapter 5.

Homemade Oil Treatments

Homemade Oil Treatments

Hot oil treatments are wonderful for revitalizing your hair by adding moisture and life back to dry and damaged hair shafts. Follow these great recipes to give your hair an organic treat.

Honey and Oil Treatment

3 tsp honey

¼ cup olive oil

* Heat 3 tsp of honey in either the microwave or in a small sauce pan.

* Pour the honey into a small bowl and add 1/4 cup olive oil.

* Mix it until it is thoroughly blended.

* Bring the mixture over to the sink and mix the conditioning mixture into your hair, small sections at a time.

* When your hair is thoroughly coated, cover your head with a plastic covering such as an old plastic grocery bag or an old shower cap.

* Leave the conditioner in your hair for 1/2 hour for it to do its work.

* Take off the plastic covering over your sink and shampoo your hair thoroughly to remove all the oil.

* Rinse well and towel-dry as usual.

The oil in this mixture revitalizes and the honey adds shine to your hair.

Olive Oil Treatment

1/3 cup olive oil

* Heat 1/3 cup of olive oil in either the microwave or in a small sauce pan.

* Bring the oil over to the sink and carefully work the oil into your hair, concentrating on the damaged ends of your hair.

* Cover your head with a plastic covering such as an old plastic grocery bag or an old shower cap. Make sure all your hair is under the plastic covering.

* Wrap a hot towel (you can warm up the towel in your dryer) around the plastic bag on your head. This deepens the treatment that your hair is receiving.

* Leave the hot towel on your head for 1 hour.

* Remove the towel and plastic bag (over the sink) after an hour and shampoo throroughly.

* Rinse well and towel-dry.

This deep hot oil treatment is great for putting new life into very dry and damaged hair.

Cucumber and Oil Treatment

1 egg

1 Tbsp olive oil

¼ peeled cucumber

* Put 1 egg and 1 Tbsp olive oil into your blender.

* Peel 1/4 of a cucumber and add it to the egg and oil in the blender.

* Blend the mixture until it's thick and smooth.

* Pour the mixture into a small bowl and bring it to the sink.

* Add the mixture to your hair, working it in in small sections at a time.

* When your hair is thoroughly coated, cover your head with a plastic covering such as an old plastic grocery bag or an old shower cap.

* Leave the oil mixture in your hair for 10 minutes.

* Remove the plastic bag over the sink and work shampoo directly into the oil in your hair.

* Rinse well with lukewarm water.

* Towel-dry as usual.

This oil treatment is different than the others because you don't heat up the oil. If you did that, you could have the eggs starting to clump on you, having something similar to scrambled eggs. The egg in this treatment strengthens your hair. This is essential for people with fine hair who swim in chlorinated pools frequently. Their hair will certainly need strengthening to withstand the damaging effect of the chemicals in the pool water.

Homemade Rinses

Homemade Rinses

If you want a natural, strictly organic rinse for your hair, these recipes are for you. These rinses are gentle, low pH rinses that leave your hair shiny and silky smooth. The rinse you choose will depend on your hair color. Vinegar rinses are for darker colored hair and lemon rinses are suggested for lighter colored hair. A honey rinse can be used on any color of hair and is great for adding a shine to your hair.

Vinegar Rinse

3 ½ Tbsp apple cider viegar

2 cups water

To give yourself a rinse, have a large bowl on a table or counter where you can comfortably bend your head over it. Pour the vinegar rinse over your freshly washed hair. Let the large bowl catch the excess and then use the extra to repeat the rinse. When you've finished that, move back to the tap to do a final rinse with warm water and towel-dry your hair.

Lemon Rinse

juice from ½ lemon

2 cups water

Place a large bowl on a table or counter where you can comfortably bend your head over it. Pour the lemon rinse over your freshly washed hair. Let the large bowl catch the excess and then use the extra to repeat the rinse. When you've finished that, move back to the tap to do a final rinse with warm water and towel-dry your hair.

Honey Rinse

1 tsp honey

4 cups warm water

Pour 4 cups of warm water into a large bowl and add 1 tsp of honey. Mix the honey gently until it has melted and has been evenly mixed with the water. Pour the honey mixture over your freshly washed hair. Let the large bowl catch the excess and then use the extra to repeat the rinse. Do not rinse this rinse out of your hair. Towel-dry your hair like you usually do.

Lemon-Honey Rinse

2 tsp honey

juice from ½ lemon

4 cups warm water

Put 4 cups of warm water into a large bowl and add the honey and lemon juice. Stir the mixture gently until the honey is melted and it is thoroughly mixed. Pour the mixture over your freshly washed hair. Let the large bowl catch the excess and then use the extra to repeat the rinse. Do not rinse this mixture out of your hair. Towel-dry your hair like you usually do.

You'll find that these lower pH rinses will soften your hair, making it silky smooth and with a lot less tangles.