advice from a curly girl

As a gal who received my curly hair genes from my Dad, growing up I had no idea how to make my hair look decent.  In fact for most of my pre-teen years, it resembled a cropped poof ball on my head...it was bad.  Mom was no help -  with her pin-straight hair, she simply didn't know what to do with it.

Taming my hair took years of trial and error, but I finally found my miracle product: Frizz Ease by John Frieda.  Even today it is my staple product.  No matter what other alternatives I try, nothing compares to this frizz-fighting miracle in a bottle. Since finding the right product and techniques, my spring ringlets now regularly inspire “Oohs” and “Ahhs”.

Since I now have my regime perfected, and curly girl rules to live by, I thought it would be nice to share:

Rule 1: Shampoo infrequently, or better yet, use a vinegar rinse such as Rene Furtererʼs Fioravanti in place of your regular shampoo.  Regular shampoos are often too harsh on curly hair.  Even though curly hair is typically thick, it is naturally fragile and dry.

Rule 2:  Use deep conditioners OFTEN.  The key to curls sticking together, and thus looking beautiful, is more moisture.

Rule 3:  Always use a wide-tooth comb in the shower to comb out your hair.  This allows you to use the conditioner as a detangler and save your hair the damage done by brushing it out.

Rule 4:  After you have detangled your curls, allow your conditioner to sit for at least 5 minutes, then rinse with cool light water pressure.  This light water pressure will allow your hair to keep its natural curly shape and prevent frizz from starting.

Rule 5:  Don’t use a towel to “towel dry” your hair.  Instead, use a cotton T-shirt because it creates less friction.  Simply blot your hair with the T-shirt rather than rubbing it.  Less friction equals less frizz.

Rule 6:  Add your Frizz Ease serum and lightly twist sections of your hair.

Rule 7:  Either let your hair dry naturally or use a diffuser to partially dry it.  And don’t be afraid to try other finishing products along with your frizz serum!

Last, but not least, be sure that you go to a hairdresser that is not only great at cutting, but specifically great at cutting curly hair.  I love working with Mishi because she cuts according to how my curls fall naturally.  She's the best!

Enjoy your ringlets!

listen up fellas

Alright boys...where do I begin? I suppose I should start by saying this is for all those fellas that need a little help in the haircut department. You know there is nothing worse than when I’m walking up behind a guy and I can tell that they just stepped out of a barber shop from some hair dresser's botched job with the clippers. The neckline is the greatest give away - particularly when I see a perfectly carved out upside down trapezoid glaring at me or the perfect half round of a circle, smiling at me.. or better yet, either shape buzzed out, higher than it should ever appear. Yikes! Your neckline is one of your greatest physical assets, so you don’t want to blow it. It’s a kindergarden haircut when your hairdresser went a little too high around the ears, plus made your hair the same length all the way around so when you step back I wonder if I’m looking at a Q-tip or if you just put your head into a pencil sharpener... Ok ok I’ll stop, you get the point!

The point is that a great haircut can make or break your look. You can be hot in the face, but if you frame it with a shabby cut, it will certainly take you down a notch. And for all those boys that are not necessarily panty-droppers when they walk into a room, a great haircut can add a ton of sex appeal. We've said it before: your hair is your greatest accessory, and for many guys this is your only accessory, so give it your best go. And get a great haircut from someone who knows what they are doing, rather than making you look worse than without it!

get banged

These foxy bangs are making quite the sweeping statement this season. During the Spring 2012 Fashion Week, the Marc Jacobs collection was accompanied by nationally known hair dresser Guido. Guido created several looks, many of which had short side swept piece-y bangs, and some that were sporting head scarfs tied as headbands, while finishing off all the looks with a high shine spray. John Galliano also had his own take for the season, featuring Spring bangs with a Girl With the Dragon Tattoo inspired look, by utilizing a sophisticated blunt fringe, with the rest of the hair neatly tied back. Book your appointment at Morphic Beauty today to get your foxy bangs!

preggers and color jobs

The question that comes up year after year, from all my pregnant clients and girlfriends, is: is it ok to color my hair during pregnancy? Unfortunately, there is no claim that exists that says using hair color during pregnancy is 100% safe. Equally, there is no study that exists to say that color is harmful to use during pregnancy. True, there are chemicals in hair dye like aniline derivatives, but they are no more than vegetable dyes and contain little to no ammonia. The chemicals present exist in such small amounts that it is unlikely they will ever actually absorb into your system. With that said the only way color can ever enter your system is through your scalp, and according to Mayo Clinic Roger W. Harms, M.D., any hair color that is absorbed “the dye isn’t thought to pose harm to a developing baby." After reading several other resources, such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), it seems evident that if you are a mom to be and want to be extra careful, you should avoid all over color treatments until after your first trimester when your baby is the most vulnerable. A great alternative while you are pregnant is to just stick with hair coloring techniques like balayage where the color never touches your scalp. Techniques like these are great because hair is dead; color cannot absorb into your hair, and through your skin. I hope this clears up any pregnancy and color concerns, and convinced you that you can still have your gorgeous hair while pregnant!

staying eco-friendly

Catering to the eco-friendly mindset of many San Franciscans, Morphic Beauty is housed in Sola Salon Studios, which is one of the most green businesses in the city. They have energy efficient lighting equipped with motion sensors and an on-demand hot water system, both of which conserve a substantial amount of energy in comparison to the ways of the past. Sola is super conscientious about creating a healthy indoor environment by keeping everyone safe by only using zero-VOC paint throughout every studio. Going the extra mile to ensure a healthy breathing work space, Sola uses an efficient air conditioning system where outside air is sucked in, filtered, circulated through the salon and then sucked back out. This is a major plus for stylists and clients alike, because no one wants their relaxing beauty experience to be tainted by the smell of a perm or chemical relaxer.

The owners of Sola also make every effort to reuse any left over materials they have, whether it’s making the most of old appliances or using up extra remodeling supplies. They offer recycling and encourage everyone to jump on board. Most impressive is Sola’s compost collection. In a city that is overwhelmed with bumper to bumper stuff and people, Sola makes it an extra point to find room for a compost collection, so Mishi can compost your hair!

So the next time you visit Morphic Beauty, you can feeltwice as good about yourself!