If You Thought This Cuffing Season Was Dry... We Have News For You

Problem: During the dryer, winter months our hair lacks moisture.

Don't worry. We got you covered. Top winter hacks to keep your hair health intact throughout the holidays.

1. Avoid overusing clarifying shampoos.

Without a lot of scalp buildup, there isn’t a reason to use such a harsh washing agent. Instead, stick with a hydrating shampoo! Kevin Murphy's product "Hydrate.Me" is one that my clients love and it responds extremely well to dry hair. I recommend trying this product once a week on your hair! Tag me if you try it out! I'd love to see the results! *heart eyes*

Can't forget about my Curly Gang! I’ve been using Traci Ellis Ross’ line “Pattern” Intensive Conditioner on my own curls and can we just say: WOW!

2. I've said it once and I'll say it again: don't wash your hair every day, sis.

Dry shampoo is your best friend. My favorite and most popular of the Kevin Murphy line is "Doo.Over" Spray. This stuff does exactly what it says it will: It gives you a complete hairstyle do-over. If you’re looking for a powder-based dry shampoo, try "Bumble and Bumble" Prêt-à-Powder. Puff some of this on your roots and watch the oil immediately disappear.

3. Throw on a pre-shampoo oil treatment before washing.

More often than not, I find myself grabbing for organic coconut oil or Argon. Apply the product throughout your hair, letting it soak 15 - 20 minutes before washing it out. This will give your hair enough time to soak up the nutrients, without leaving an oily residue behind.

However, I’ve been loving Ecoslay’s “Hot Sauce” oil treatment for the scalp. Massage through the scalp and brush through the ends, cover your hair in a plastic cap to trap all the heat in. Follow with a glass of wine and then a hydrating shampoo and conditioner.

4. Invest in a humidifier.

This may seem extra, but hear me out: Indoor heating can cause the air in your home to be dry. As a result, you'll usually find that the winter months make your skin, lips, and hair dryer than normal. Not only is a humidifier great for breathing, but it can add the needed moisture to your hair and skin as well.

5. Washing your hair in cooler temps.

So, this sounds like a nightmare, I know. The very idea of washing your hair in cold water, matching the freezing temperatures outside - usually an immediate 'no' from me. However, to minimize hair breakage, being mindful of your shower temp can go a long way! On top of the already on-going battle of moisture, hot water can add an extra layer to that - making it even more difficult to stay on top of your hair dryness levels. Of course, the water doesn't have to be super cold, just lukewarm to make a difference. And, trust me, you'll notice a difference!

There you have it. My top favorite hacks for winter hair. Use these tips along with your everyday preventative actions to combat breakage: less heat-styling, no going outside with wet hair, using a satin pillowcase to sleep on, and less frequent hair washing. All these tips will have you rockin’ some luscious locks throughout the holidays (and beyond).

If you're in the Nashville area, let's get you a consultation booked and get started on your dream 2021 hair. Why wait until 2021 when you could leave 2020 like the knock-out you are?

Non-Nashville residents: I'd love to ship these items to you and break down the best routine for your hair type. Shoot us an email and we'll get that package ready for you or a friend! No better gift this season than one that is sure to increase your or your friend's confidence!

What are some ways you've been dealing with winter hair? Did you learn anything new in this blog? Tag us on IG! Let's hear your hair stories.

-Kat, Kbeauty Founder + Creator

How Would You Define Beauty?

Welcome to Salon Kbeauty!

At Kbeauty, we strive to be an all-inclusive space. Any outside stressors are irrelevant. You come in to not only transform your look, you transform your mind. Coincidentally, this is just as therapeutic for me as it is to you. 

It never gets old to me, being able to help build a woman’s confidence. I love when clients come in and they aren’t feeling quite like their “best” selves, but by the end of the appointment, they are uplifted and feel so much happier. There’s a magic that happens when you feed another human positivity. 

Beauty is feeling confident and satisfied in the skin you are in. Confidence reflects how others see you which in fact makes you more beautiful. 

-Kat

Shear Haven

A few months ago, I was invited to an event with a couple of my coworkers hosted by a local salon. This event was associated with a nonprofit organization called YWCA, and for this particular night, we were shedding light on an initiative of this organization, called Shear Haven. Shear Haven caters to women or men in need from domestic abusive situations or relationships. I didn’t have much background on the organization, only that it was a training about helping those that may need help from an abusive situation. Before hand, I thought that I would go to this class for support of my coworkers, thinking that I wouldn’t learn much more than what I already knew about abuse and that the signs should be pretty obvious if I were to come across someone that was being abused.

But this class was so much more than that. It was definitely eye opening and made me think about certain clients that I may have come across. Noticing certain behaviors they displayed, mentioning certain things about their husbands, or maybe their demeanor as they sat in my chair. It made me realize how close I’m capable of getting with people because of my profession and by knowing that, I hope that I’m able to help a client if they ever needed it. It also made me think back into some of my own personal situations. Aside from the knowledge this class filled me with, it also connected me to such an amazing soul, Susanne Post, the co-founder of Shear Haven.

Susanne is a survivor of domestic violence and is dedicated to teaching the public about the signs of abuse in victims and about the resources that are made available to help these victims. Recognizing signs in someone who may be suffering from abuse in any space is so important but she has made it a point to educate professionals in the beauty industry to recognize victims displaying signs of abuse specifically in a salon setting.

“This domestic violence education program equips stylists with the knowledge and resources to recognize the signs of domestic violence, successfully navigate conversations with clients who may be in danger, and pass along tools that can help them get to safety.”

(YWCA Nashville 2019)

The YWCA provides a plethora of domestic violence services in the Middle Tennesssee area, all of which to create a safe place for women, children, and individuals in same sex relationships suffering from abuse. The Weaver Domestic Violence Center is the largest emergency DV shelter in Tennessee. They provide a 24 hour crisis and support helpline, individual therapy/counseling, support groups, transitional house and Re-New at the YWCA.

This class gave us insight of how certain signs of domestic abuse can appear, behavioral or physical, to someone on the outside. As cosmetologists, we are put in situations where we can become very personable with our clients even though we may not know them on the outside. This relationship can allow us to notice signs that may be less obvious to other people. Although, many people assume it’s very easy to know if someone is a victim of abuse, most signs are not physical. I repeat, most signs are not physical.. Emotional abuse, verbal abuse, and manipulation are just as much as abusive as physical. If you or someone you know may be in one of these situations, this hotline and website may be the first step for them towards their safety:

1-800-334-4628

https://www.ywcanashville.com/domestic-violence/

If you are a salon owner or stylist and want to host a training, you can contact Marissa Miciotto through the website above as well.

Statistics

• 1 in 4 women will be a victim of domestic violence in her lifetime.

• 3 women are killed each day by a man who says he loves her.

• 15.5 million children witness domestic violence each year.

  In Tennessee alone

• More than half of crimes against persons are domestic violence-related.

• Tennessee ranks 5th in the nation for the rate at which men kill women.

• Metro Nashville Police respond to a domestic violence call every 20 minutes.

  (YWCA Nashville 2019)

This training is actually mandatory in some states, such as Illinois, before you can receive your cosmetology license. So let’s pass the word around and make sure we all know the signs of someone who may be suffering because you never know what someone may be going through behind closed doors. Sometimes, all they need is the tools to help them find a safe haven.

Balay... who?

One of the things that can ruin someones salon experience is not being able to vocalize what they want their stylist to do. Although, it’s important for the stylist to be able to depict an idea of what their client may want through a thorough consultation, it still wouldn’t hurt for clients to have a small understanding of some trendy hair verbiage. Here’s a few words and descriptions that can make your salon trip a bit easier.

• Balayage- This word is probably the most mispronounced word in the hair world. Yet, every stylist knows what you are trying to say so don’t get too caught up on the pronunciation. Hell, I’ve probably said it wrong myself before. Balayage is a french word that literally translates into “sweeping” which describes the technique used to apply color or bleach to the hair. This sweeping technique creates a gradual transition from dark to light at any color level. Most people confuse this term with something that describes a specific color but, it is simply a technique. So, someone can have balayage highlights on brown hair and someone can have balayage highlights on blonde hair as well.

• Airy- This word is used to describe how you might want your style to look. Any hair cut can be styled to look “airy”. This is when the hair is slightly undone, looks light and flowy as opposed to heavy and flat. This look is usually achieved using a finishing texture spray or hairspray.

• Blunt- When the lines in your haircut are dramatic, the perimeter or length of your hair is all sitting on the same line. Blunt looks are usually described as more of an edgier look.

• Piecey- This can be similar to airy, but even more specific. With this look, you can see the separation in different parts of the hair whether you are describing color placement or the style of the hair. This look can be created using some hair paste or cream at the end of your styling process.

• Textured- This is when the hair has some grip to it, and isn’t so soft or limp. Most times, more textured hair will hold volume better. This is why stylist push the importance of using texture sprays when styling someones hair because that will help your style last longer as opposed to making it feel heavier as some people may think.

• Polished- Hair that looks sleek or shiny. Everything describing the hair is “put together”. This would be the opposite of airy or piecey.

• Rinse/Gloss/Toner-These terms are all used interchangeably. These all describe a service that is usually performed at the shampoo bowl as a short or add on service but can be susceptible to being put on at the chair based on the stylists’ preference. A rinse or gloss is usually used to darken the hair that’s faded between color services, leaving it with a shiny finish. This can also be colorless (clear) if you’re solely looking for shine. A toner describes the same service but is used to shift the tone in hair that has been prelightened or naturally lightened due to sun exposure or heat damage.