SHAG HAIR SALON

Austin Hair Resolutions To Consider

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Austin Hair Resolutions

Hair Resolutions – Have You Made Any?

We are just getting settled into 2016 and may or may not be hanging in there with some big resolutions that were made on New Year’s Eve in Austin. But it’s never too late to adopt some habits that will keep your hair looking amazing all year, so give these hair resolutions a try:

1. I WILL SLEEP ON A SATIN PILLOWCASE

A satin pillowcase does not grab onto your hair the way a cotton one does so your hair does not tangle or get as roughed up. This will prevent breakage and will also preserve your blowout longer. Cotton pillowcases can also absorb moisture, which is not only bad for your skin (dryness = wrinkles, AAHHH!) but it also bad for your hair. People with every  hair type should use a satin pillowcase, but if you have curly, fragile, over styled, or dry hair it is a must.

2. I WILL NOT SHAMPOO EVERYDAY

Repeat after me Austin: Shampooing every day can murder your hair. It may sound unsanitary and washing every day may feel like you are giving your hair a fresh start, but the truth is that your hair needs a chance to absorb it’s natural oils to keep it healthy and shiny. It also strips the moisture from your scalp which can cause an over production of oil and actually give you a greasier look. Ideally try to stretch it out adding a day until you can go 2-3 days without washing. Remember that dry shampoo is your friend and spritz your scalp upside down at night, massaging it into your scalp to emulsify and break up the oils. Then throw it up into a top knot to sleep, I have been using a scrunchy since they are soft and don’t leave dents in my hair, don’t judge. When you wake up your hair will be mostly done as it should fall in loose wave, but if needed hit it with a blow dryer to smooth it out and style as usual.

3.  I WILL USE A HEAT PROTECTING SPRAY OR LOTION WHEN USING HEAT STYLERS

Think of a heat protectant product for your hair as you would sunscreen for your skin. Apply before exposing your hair to the curling iron, hair dryer, or flat iron and it will shield your hair from damage and prevent frizz. Stay away from products that contain SD alcohols, though, because they will deplete your hair of moisture and cause breakage.

4. I WILL NOT FEAR HAIR OIL

I know that it seems off to put oil on your hair while you are trying to keep your scalp from looking grease ball, but I swear that if you keep it away from the scalp it will become one of your favorite styling tools. Use it prior to blowdrying on wet hair. Use it to tame flyaways. Use it to freshen up a day old blowout, most hair oils smell delicious! I have even used it on my ends prior to washing when my ends have felt particularly dry.

5. I WILL EMBRACE DRY SHAMPOO

Dry shampoo has come a long way from the days of sprinkling baby powder on your scalp to sop up the oil. They now come tinted so you don’t have to worry if you have dark hair. Be sure to use it in the evening to extend the times between washing (see resolution #2) and after a mid-day workout to freshen up your style. You can also use it in place of hairspray for a more touchable hold.

6.  I WILL GET REGULAR HAIRCUTS

In order to keep your hair happy and healthy it is important to get haircuts on the regular, even if your end game is to grow out your hair. You will want to get rid of the breakage and split ends so that no matter what the length of your hair is it will look healthy. Your Austin hair stylist is standing bya nd ready to help. Cutting it isn’t going to make it grow faster, but it will prevent it from breaking off.

Milk by Reverie – New To Shag

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Milk in AustinYour new hair product obsession has arrived at Shag! MILK by Reverie is an anti-frizz leave-in nourishing treatment, really a superfood for your hair, that you will find that you can’t live without. First of all, the blend of 16 essential oil mean it smells delicious, but more importantly it is a scalp treatment and heat protectant that is applied to wet or dry hair prior to heat styling. As someone that has weaned myself off the daily wash schedule and has long hair I rub a few drops in my ends to protect from my heat styling tools when I freshen up my style in the morning. If you forget this at home when you go on vacation and have to live without it for a few days I promise you that you will be forced to remember how bad your hair feels without it.

Milk by Reverie Formula

This unique formula is all organic and uses nourishing ingredients derived from coconuts, olives, almonds, and other natural sources. It also uses human hair protein, which is the thing that actually heals hair. Other products use fatty acids and animal fats, which just coat your hair. MILK is lightweight and protects while it moisturizes, leaving hair soft, silky, and shiny without weighing it down. It is suitable for all hair types as well as great for both men and women.

After I fell in love with this product I learned the cool story. So this incredible product was developed by a platform stylist (for those not in the know, it’s a badass stylist that educates the best of the best) and someone that has grown up in the hair industry but has a background in chemistry. The handcraft MILK in California using the finest organic ingredients from sustainable sources from around the world. Once they developed this amazing product they went all over Los Angeles trying to get it out there and in salons. Eventually they ditched that plan and came to Austin, because we in ATX are more open to new and amazing products. They rented a Prius and drove around our town going door to door to different salons making it possible to get MILK into your hot little hands.

If you still need convincing that you need this in your life you should know that MILK has received awards and recognition in throughout the beauty industry including mentions in Harper’s Bazaar and the Refinery29 Beauty Innovator Award.

METHOD OF USE: Apply evenly all over damp or dry hair. Safe for daily use and color treated hair.

NO LAURYL SULPHATE, GLYCOLS, PETROCHEMICALS, ARTIFICIAL FRAGRANCE, ANIMAL DERIVATIVES, T.E.A, D.E.A., SYNTHETIC COLORS, SILICONES, PARABENS, OR GLUTENS.

Key Ingredients

Pracaxi Seed Oil

Dicaprylyl Carbonate

Chitosan Succinmide

Sweet Almond Protein

Olive

Amino Acids

Essential Oils

Rose, Bourbon Vanilla, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Lavandin, Bay Laurel, Sage, Spearmint, Fennel, Black Pepper, Ginger, Bergamot, Jasmine, Vetiver, Clove, Rosemary

Holiday Hair Ideas For Austin

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Austin Hair Ideas For The Holidays

HOLIDAY HAIR IDEAS

I love love love the Austin holiday season! Everything seems to have a little more sparkle and it’s totally ok to wear sparkly things during the day (as if I ever followed any rules when it comes to sparkle) and it all culminates in the ultimate party on New Year’s Eve.  There will be happy hours with girlfriends, office holiday parties, and family gatherings. Fun fun fun and you want to look fab fab fab. To get the hair you love try these 5 looks.

  1. MESSY SIDE ‘DO

A loosely pinned low side bun feels effortlessly glamorous, like you just rolled off Rodeo Drive in your convertible tossed on a cocktail dress and pinned up your locks. The loose tendrils that make this look so perfect also mean that perfection is not needed so it is DIY friendly. Start by spraying your roots with some dry shampoo and use a large barrel curling iron to add texture. Pull hair into a low side pony and loosely, but securely, pin.

  1. HIGH PONY

When you have the perfect outfit, flawless makeup, and killer accessories keeping it simple with a dramatic high ponytail will keep your look balanced. The key here is to use spray to keep flyaways in check, it should look smooth and intentional.

  1. SMOOTH AND SLEEK

It seems like it’s keeping it simple, but insiders know that a dramatic pin straight ‘do takes a little work. It’s all worth it if it’s kept smooth and shiny. Use a heat protecting spray and break out the flat iron. Straighten from roots to ends in 3” sections and finish with a few drops of hair oil because shine is key! Try it with a middle part or a deep side part. Think Kendall Jenner or Gwyneth Paltrow.

  1. TOP KNOT

Though it has been around for years, it does not seem to be going anywhere. Keep it neat, save the messy top knot for your holiday shopping. Pull hair up into a high pony and tease for volume or you can also use one of the many, many bun makers available. Smooth the outer layer and pin into a bun. The key here is the drama of a big bun.

  1. VICTORIA’S SECRET WAVES

It’s hard to find an easier or more glamorous look. When blow drying be sure to start drying upside down and pull roots forward so you have volume. Section hair and using a large barrel curling iron start about 4” from the roots and wrap hair around the barrel holding the ends. Be sure to switch back and forth between curling forward toward your face and back away from your face with each section.  Finish off with styling cream and hair oil or shine spray. You can leave hair down or pull it back. Half up with a bow can look festive or go with embellishments like the ones found here, aren’t they just amazing?!

Do you have short hair?  Add waves, shine, red lipstick and some dangly earrings to be party ready. Now that your hair looks amazing here are some tutorials for some dramatic and fun holiday makeup looks. Cheers!

 

 

Winter Hair Care in Austin

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Winter Hair Care Tips Austin

Winter is coming! I know that those of us in Austin are only just now feeling the cold fronts starting to roll in, which means we are hitting low-80 degrees in early November, but we know that this will turn on a dime in the next couple weeks.  Take these 5 steps to make sure that your hair looks like perfection in the cold weather.

STEP 1: PROTECT AND COVER UP FROM WINTER

Hats are not only great accessories, but also keep you warm and protect your hair from the Austin winter elements which can be drying and cause brittleness. The problem with hats is the dreaded hat hair and static that they cause. Help prevent this by wrapping your hair in a silk scarf before throwing on that cute hat, did you see the embellished side-brimmed hats from Lanvin? I die! Like a silk pillowcase a silk scarf will protect your hair by reducing friction and helping to prevent static. It’s also a good idea to use a blowdry spray for the same reason. The heat that a hat traps keeping you warm can cause limp locks so make sure to style your hair in a way that adds volume before  you add a hat. If your hair is long try putting it up in a topknot at your crown, if you have shorter hair you can pin it up in mini-buns so you will have lots of body when you take your hat off and give it a little shake.

STEP 2: MOISTURIZE YOUR HAIR!

Switching between the heat of your Austin home and/or office and the cold weather can be very drying which will cause brittle ends and breakage. Switch it up and start using a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. Adding a weekly deep conditioning treatment can replenish the moisture and keep your hair shiny and healthy. Dry hair tends to have static and flyaways so using a hair oil before you blowdry and after styling can help keep them in check while adding moisture and shine.

STEP 3: MINIMIZE WASHING AND HEAT STYLING

Hot water, blow drying, and heat styling can all strip the moisture from your hair and scalp. A dry scalp can lead to, gasp!, dandruff. Start by keeping washing to a minimum, like 2-3 times per week. Again, avoid hot water when you do wash and opt for warm or cool water. If switching to moisturizing shampoo and conditioner does not keep your scalp from drying out and flaking you might want to consider switching to a dandruff shampoo, they are much better now and do not smell as harsh. It is important to never leave the house with wet hair. Wet hair mixed with cold air will leave your hair brittle and susceptible to breakage. Blow drying, after using a heat styling protecting spray, only 2-3 times a week is better for your hair than being outside with wet hair. Keep use of the flat iron and curling iron to a minimum to retain moisture. Feeling the theme here?

STEP 4:   GET A HUMIDIFIER

The heat in your home causes the air to be drying affecting both your skin and your hair. A humidifier will add moisture to the air and help combat the dryness. There are many new, sleek styles on the market when it comes to humidifiers so don’t think it will cramp the style in your home.

STEP 5: TRIM OFTEN

Lastly, see your Austin hair stylist often to get rid of those  split ends. Getting a trim every 6-8 weeks will keep your style fresh, bouncy, and healthy.

How to Update Your Look For Fall

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Austin Fall Hair Makeover

It’s hard to believe that Fall is here, especially here in Texas when we are still feeling 90 degree days. But it’s true, I’ve noticed that the first leaves have changed color just this morning and golden light in evenings before sunset are the dead giveaway. So, it’s time to give some thought to how you are going to update your look- clothes, makeup, and hair.

CLOTHES

Cooler climates are all about layers, layers, layers, which is fortunate in Texas because that chambray shirt can be used as a light jacket in October but then layered under a sweater and a blanket coat like this one  in January. Deep tones are spot on for Fall, with burgundy now being treated as a neutral color. Coated burgundy skinnies (how cute are these?) paired with browns, dark greens, and even lighter pinks and beiges.  Tone on tone light neutrals, like blush, can also feel chic in colder weather. Add global-inspired jewelry to keep that boho-chic look you have loved all summer. Also note that flared jeans are making a comeback big time. They look glam with heels and a cute top for a night out and can be dressed down with a cute pair of sneaks and a plaid shirt for a casual Saturday afternoon. You can get flares of all sizes so try breaking into the trend with this pair of skinny-flares.

MAKEUP

The cooler weather can dry out your skin so be sure to add a thicker moisturizer to your routine. There are some wonderful facial oils (LORAC and Loreal make great ones!) that are fast absorbing and will leave your skin soooo soft. One of the best things about Fall and Winter for me is the chance to switch to a bolder, darker lip. I am so in love with the deep berry shades and the dark brick reds. Nars and MAC make some great, highly pigmented colors in lipsticks, stains, and glosses. For a softer look with your bold lip try a smokey broze eye. This tarte palette has the perfect colors for the look.

HAIR FOR AUSTIN FALL

Darker, rich, shiny colors feel so right for Fall but that doesn’t mean you have to give up your hard earned summer highlights. Just ask your stylist to add some lowlights a few shades darker for depth and dimension. If you are craving something completely new now is the time to go with a dark-chocolatey brown, a gorgeous burnt-auburn, or if you are blonde try a buttery blonde like Gigi Hadid or something  with toffee colored tones. The right shade will warm up your skin tone without making you look washed out. Low, messy ponytails were seen on the runways at Dior and Michael Kors. Bohemian waves are still on trend for fall, and are likely here to stay, yay! Deep side parts can be so polished for the office or a night out. Adding gold or leather accessories is like jewelry for your hair.