Just a note to say that I’m back to blogging. Sorry for a long pause in my blogging because a lot of things happened recently but I haven’t forgotten you all. Just dropping in and say a big hello!

I hope to add more entries on hair, beauty, nails, tanning and spa! Keep an eye out for those. Thanks for visiting the one and only Faux Blondes blog.

Finding the right salon can be a bit tricky. I’m sure many of you have bad experience with your past or current hairdresser. Not all hairdressers are created equal. It’s like finding the right marriage or business partner. This isn’t salon bashing post but I felt that I need to rant about my previous salon experiences. It’s one huge reason why I ended up doing it by myself. I do love the pampering aspect of the salon where experienced stylists and colorists catering to one’s needs. Alas, when it comes to Asian hair, no one is capable of handling it when it comes to color. Many would go insane trying to even manipulate Asian hair by the fact too many stylists say to leave it alone. Yes, I am one of those people who is sick and tired of the comments that Asian hair is enviable and beautiful, which I wouldn’t argue with, by the fact it is silky black, the pride of Asian people. While I have nothing against natural black hair, which in itself is beautiful, boredom sometimes claim some people and I just can’t stand one tone color. I do love those colors on Asian hair where there’s radical highlights or streaks like purple, blue, green or pink with black hair. They can be easily faked or dyed. Maybe it has to do with the other pasture is greener theory.

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Once you achieve the color you desire after one or several attempts, whether it’s done at the hair salon or by yourself, it’s very important to take good and loving care of your newly or freshly colored hair. Maintenance is the key word here if you want to keep your hair in tip top shape and looking fresh. For some, especially those who have natural dark hair, it means keeping up maintenance of your hair while looking low key and glamourous as much as possible to the outside world. Balance is another key word here. There are several fantastic products that do their job, such as ApHogee Two Step Protein Treatment, but there’s always a room for other product on market.

Basically, Hair Rescue Severe Breakage Kit works great for those whose hair is “falling out” or experiencing brittle, thinning hair that naturally comes with bleaching and over-processing. It doesn’t mean you should give up coloring your hair but it means playing smart. Your hair doesn’t not fall out from the roots as some people think but rather breaking off when your hair cuticle is over-processed with bleach and dye so it becomes weaker and thinner over time. How to prevent breaking off when you re-bleach or dye your hair? By strengthening your hair cuticle with a product that specifically adds back protein and moisture in your hair. This product is supposed to:

• Stops breakage by 76% and strengthens hair 4X stronger
• Replenishes hair by infusing moisture and glossy shine in your hair
• Works with weak, over-processed or damaged hair
• Won’t affect current color

Here are the general directions to use this product according to this kit:

Step 1 – Restructuring Treatment: Apply to clean, towel-dried hair. Do NOT RINSE OFF.

Step 2 – Strengthening Activator: Apply on top of Step 1. Leave on 2 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Step 3 – Leave-In Repairing Treatment: Apply dime or quarter-sized (depending on the length of your hair) amount to towel-dried hair. Do not rinse. Use daily until empty.

You should start seeing instant results of your brittle and over-processed hair being softer and stronger within few days. Keep doing this treatment each time you color, re-bleach or highlight your hair. For in between sessions and following the treatment, use a moisturizing conditioner so your hair looks fresh and not affect the color because this kit can be quite drying.

Since it’s summer time, many people, who end up going to the beach or poolside, usually don’t want to show any unsightly hair down there when wearing a bikini or swimsuit. But most of us don’t have really good experience with shaving because, afterward, most of us we end up with those terrible bumps, either known as ingrown hair or razor bumps (pseudofolliculitis barbae, pronounced “soo-doe-fol-li-cu-li’-tis). But it also goes true for anyone who undergo waxing and electrolysis on their bikini area and the rest of their body. Fear not — there is a good product that will soothe and calm the bumps by slathering this useful product, Tend Skin Liquid. This product has been around a long time and is a little pricey but it is a must if you shave or wax on bikini and other sensitive areas of your body. This product works by minimizing the bumps.

1. Razor Bumps. Razor bumps (pseudofolliculitis barbae) often occur on bikini area. Razor shaving sharpens the hair ends making it easier for them to penetrate into the skin. Razor bumps cause itching, burning, and making shaving impossible. Until now, only depilatories can cause burning and scarring, and on the shelf cortisone type creams have been available to treat the affected areas, but cortisone isn’t good for long term due to blood stream absorption and side effects. When applied regularly, Tend Skin Liquid effectively reduces appearance of unsightly razor bumps.

2. Ingrown Hairs. Men and women suffer from ingrown hairs. Men get ingrown hairs on their beard areas. Women often get them after shaving their legs, bikini lines, and underarms, as well as after waxing and electrolysis. But fear not — Tend Skin Liquid may be applied shortly after these procedures. How do ingrown hairs occur? They form after hairs have been cut or otherwise removed below the skin surface. As the hairs continue to grow, they curl over within the follicles and fail to exit to the surface. The result is an nasty ingrown hair formed “bump” on the skin. Regular application of Tend Skin Liquid will reduce appearance of existing ingrown hairs without resorting to tweezing for both men and women. Right now there is no other product that will greatly reduce appearance of ingrown hairs.

3. Razor Burn. Applying Tend Skin Liquid after shaving will reduce that look of the noticeable redness that appears on the skin after shaving. This is great news for women who resort to shaving legs, bikini lines and underarms as well as for men who see redness after shaving their faces.

4. Electrolysis/waxing. Applying Tend Skin Liquid regularly to areas that are waxed or treated with electrolysis will reduce and possibly prevent ingrown hair formation that occurs after these procedures. When used after waxing, Tend Skin Liquid reduces the appearance of any resulting redness instantly.

5. Laser Hair Removal: many people have reported that Tend Skin Liquid works wonders by helping in reducing the appearance of redness and the next day bumpiness as it does with other hair removal techniques. There’s an advice that we don’t use it prior to Laser procedures as it may block the light from reaching into the follicles.