Sunday, 27 May 2012

TANGLING MESS, HELP!!!





One question that I receive from my customer usually 2-3 weeks after receiving their hair is “how do they combat tangling”.
My one and only response to this question is followed with another question “ have you clarified your hair”?


Many people wear hair extensions but do not truly understand how to maintain and care for their hair. This is no fault of their own as up until a couple years ago; before virgin hair extension became popular we were all use to buying beauty supply store hair. It was the norm to buy hair and after a couple weeks it became a tangled, troublesome mess or even looked weighed down, limp and couldn't hold a curl. 3 weeks later we’re right back at the beauty supply store buying more hair. So, this question is truly reasonable but I’m here to inform and educate you on how you can manage this issue without having to buy more hair. WHAT!!!!!….. That's correct, there is no need to open up your wallet and fork out more money on more hair. , I’m here to show you it’s as easy as a trip to the drug store and 20 mins........ Yes that's it,  that's all you'll  need.  I’ll have you defeating that unsightly tangled birds nest.


So let me go in to detail a bit more about this issue. Stuff builds up on your hair such as oils, (yes agron oil too) hair sprays…. (which you shouldn’t be using) mousses, moisturizers  shampoo and conditioners, pretty much anything you apply to your hair causes bundle up over time. Also hard water and mineral deposits, air pollution etc etc …. You get where I’m going with this. Over time your hair pretty much harbor’s all or some of these things causes it to not act right. Using a clarifying shampoo with uplift all the junk and in return you’ll have your hair that you first fell in love with.


So let’s get to the good stuff. How do you do this magically process that will save you a ton of coin!!!


Its easy!!!


Clarifying shampoo is no different than regular shampoo. It’s the same idea just a different type of product. One adds moisture and conditions and the other removes those same elements.
I personally love Neutrogena Anti Residue shampoo this product is amazing and affordable. It comes in a clear bottle and the shampoo itself is clear. You will find that most clarifying shampoos will be clear in colour. So once you’ve chosen your weapon….. lol product or brand, this is what you’ll do.

This is key….more is less in this case. Start with a small amount in the palm of your hand. After applying the shampoo you’ll notice it wont be sudy the first time around due to buildup. Massage it in your hair but do not rub. (Rubbing your hair extensions is not a good thing). Work the product though your hair for about 1 minute. Rinse well.

Repeat step one but the only difference is you’ll leave the shampoo in your hair for about a minute or two.  Letting the shampoo marinate a bit will help with releasing the buildup. You’ll also see more suds. Should your hair have heavy build up you can do this process a third time. Make sure to rinse all shampoo. I like to allow the water to run on the hair for about a minute while I’m working my fingers through it.

Go ahead and condition your hair as normal for this step. You may want to use a deep conditioner as clarifying shampoo has no moisturizers in it. Also, you have to remember it just finish removing all the moisture that was in your hair.  I love One n’’ Only hair mask but you can use what you’re comfortable using.

So you may be wondering……. When and how often do you clarify your hair. I would say a general rule would be once a week. However if you are someone that swims often or you use a lot of products then  twice a week would be better.

Once your hair  is air dried you’ll notice how alive it looks. It will be shiner, bouncy and more manageable.

If you notice that your hair is still lifeless and dull, you may want to limit the amount of hair your hair receives and heat damage is something that kills your poor hair and is hard to fix.

Hope the info was helpful and remember, less is more. Try not to use to much product on your hair as this is truly the cause in most cases for build up! 

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Wednesday, 29 February 2012

What’s the lifespan……


So this is the burning question most hair reseller will get before a customer commits to makes a purchase of hair extensions.
My answer to that is “well it depends on how you treat your hair”
No single person will have the same hair experience with hair extensions. I can give 2 people the same type of hair and their end results or overview of the hair will not be the same. There might be some similarities but the experience will be totally different.
The first point is that each bundle of hair is from a different donor and won’t react the same to daily styling and hair care.  Sometimes the texture might be a little different; curl wave pattern will be similar but not identical.
The second point is how you care for the hair varies from person to person. These are some of the factors but not limited:
·        Products used on the hair.
·        How often do you use products and how much of it do you use.
·        Do you wash the hair daily, or weekly?
·        Environmental factors can also make a big difference.
·        The type of brush or comb you use.
·        Do you play in your hair or do let it be free.
·        How much heat are you applying?
·        Do you wrap your hair at night?
·        Do you use something to tie your hair and what is it made of…… silk, polyester or cotton? 
·        How long is your hair tied down for? Only at night or all day.
·        Your install can also be a factor.  
Just like us, your hair can be moody. Today one thing will work perfectly and then next week it’s not that effective. Our own hair behaves the same way if you really think about it.
Start doing too much of one thing or too little of another to your own hair and what will be the outcome? Same thing applies to your extensions. So you have to learn to find a healthy medium for your extensions because that will determine how long they last.
So just too really answer this question and other question that my customers ask me I have put the hair extensions to the test. I experimented with hair care, products etc;
Now mind you this was the hardest challenge for me as I am use to doing things the same all the time. I like what I like and I do what only works for me. Most challenging was the length of time I had the hair in. I love changing my hair often. Every 3-4 weeks because I like “change” So this was definitely new for me.
So I installed some hair in November of last year and took a commitment to leave it in until the hair died. So now its end of February and I still have this hair in.  Now it’s killing me because I want to try something new but the hair won’t die lol :)
It’s been fried and dyed and taken to all extremes….. I’ve used products some week and no products other weeks. Wore it straight for a couple weeks then curled with a wand or curling iron. Then wore it in its natural state. Everything I threw at it… the hair manage to keep up pretty well.

So the conclusion of my little experience is as followed:
·        The hair is 4 months old and still has life to it, I’m just impatient however I could wear it for another 2 months. Lol
·        The hair bleaches well however it needs to be deep conditioned at least once a week.
·        Shedding is impossible to prevent totally however sealing wefts, brushing the hair out properly, limited heat. Conditioning the hair can also help with this.
·        Over use of products cause the hair to be weight down and totally change the appearance of the hair.
·        This hair likes natural products
·        Air drying is the best option however when trying to achieve a sleek straight look, a paddle brush and blow dryer is the best option instead of flat ironing form it natural wavy state. Blow dry section by sections with a little heat protector and light argon oil and you’ll achieve beautiful silky flowing straight hair.
·        Do not play with or brush the hair after it’s been washed and you want to wear it in its natural state.
·        Wear the hair wrapped up and under a bonnet isn’t really good. Let the hair out to get some hair time to time.
·        Sleeping on a cotton pillow case with no head tie means dry brittle hair in the morning.
·        The hair doesn’t like alcohol based products at all. Mousse, gels hair spray Nope Nope and double NOPE
·        Frizz is prevented when I didn’t use the paddle brush often. I used my finger to comb out the hair with a little argon oil and found the hair was less frizzy during the day.
·        Cover you hair in cold weather….. Tends to get dry when it’s really cold. Especially when going into a heated environments afterwards.
These are some of the things I have found out about the hair.

Let’s face it…… hair can take on a life of its own and there are steps on should take to manage that. I’ve seen hair review on cheap hair and expensive hair and there are always “Hair Issues” you just have to learn what works for you and your extensions.
So to answer the original question ….”What’s the lifespan?” I have proven that it really depends on you! Treat your hair well and it will in return act right and last long.
Even with how I treated my hair….. I always maintained proper care and as a result has been good to me!

-       

Friday, 24 February 2012

FRIZZ……….I want a divorce! :)


So how many of you ladies feel like you’re ready to divorce FRIZZ and embrace shiny, sleek and healthy hair into your new hair relationship!
I was there before and vowed never to go back to undependable, unforgiving, embarrassing emotional hair killer called FRIZZ.
Ok, so where did this blog idea come from. Well it was sparked by one of my customers that asked me "how do you prevent the extensions from looking dry and frizzy"?. What do I use, what should I do? 
Now I’ve been a die heart “curly/wavy” hair wearer for many years. I love the look, the feel and the confidence that it gives me so I’ve had my battles with this type of hair. Especially because when I started out wearing this hair I didn’t even know about, nor had access to virgin hair extensions. So I had to deal with the curls and the poor quality of hair and it always seemed like a losing battle.
However after many years I found what worked best based on trial and error and I have a good method that works for me.  So after I was asked this question by a customer it got me thinking? We all know about frizz and we have an idea of the products that we should use to prevent it but what really causes frizz?
 So if we all went back to science and chemistry 101 and understand from that point of view maybe, just maybe we can learn how to combat the dredged FRIZZ monster.
We can all agree that just like any Natural Hair, even Human Hair Extensions tend to become frizzy. This is because in principal Natural hair extensions do not have the advantage of being supplied with the natural oils from the scalp like your own hair, and are therefore more vulnerable to drying out аnԁ becoming frizzy.
This is not because of the quality of the Hair or the process it undergoes that is responsible for it. 50% of the time Frizzy hair means that your hair needs moisture and the other 50% of the time some people experience frizz due to moisture.
Frizz happens when dry, porous hair sucks up moisture in the air, causing the shaft to swell. A dose of conditioner coats the hair shaft, making it harder for moisture to sink in.
Dryness due to lack of moisture and also heat damage can also cause hair to look frizzy and frayed – whether they its natural hair or extensions.
Humidity is another thing that causes frizz for some people. Hence the use of a Leave-in Conditioner is among the first things that must be done. Fact is conditioner should be regularly used on the Hair Extensions to avoid it getting too dry or tangled.
Ok so now we know what causes FRIZZ, what solutions can I give you to prevent it from happening or tame it?
I like to use a moisture-enriched shampoo as opposed to a clarifying shampoo. A great affordable shampoo is made by Herbal Essence, Hello Hydration. Perfect product to bring your dry brittle hair back to life. Another shampoo is made by Dove, Damage Therapy intensive repair. Both shampoo have sulfates however the level on moisture that it provides the hair is worth the use. I wouldn’t recommend it for daily use as its recommended that you use sulfate free shampoos on your hair extensions. But to combat frizz these shampoos have worked for me.
P.S ladies Do not use shampoos which contain alcohol. Alcohol dries your hair, leading to more frizzies.
Shampoo your hair, and then rinse with very cold water. After shampooing hair rinse your hair in the coldest water that you can to help lock in the moisture. Cold water helps close the cuticles and keep your color in so it last longer and will be shiner as well.
Be sure to rinse for several minutes before applying conditioner. After using conditioner, again rinse your hair with cold water for at least 3 minutes.
My preference in Conditions is Dove Intensive Repair daily treatment conditioner. The reason this is my favorite is that I co-wash everyday with this conditioner and wash the hair (shampoo & conditioner) once a week.  Washing everyday isn’t really recommended but this is what works for me and my last very long.
Apply an anti-frizz serum to your damp hair. I like to use argon oil or Bio Silk to give it a bit of shine or to act as a sealer to prevent frizz of fly-away.
My preference is to allow the hair to air dye.
After a wash, let the hair air dry with as little touching as possible. Never pull or stretch the hair, especially when it is wet. Don’t play with it, don’t brush it or dry it with a towel. A wide-toothed comb is best. This will also prevent the frizz. Use a t-shirt to soak up the water from the hair. Not sure what it is but using a towel …… makes my hair frizzy when it dries however when I use a t-shirt to take out most of the water…. No frizz.
Air dry your hair. Avoid using a blow dryer if at all possible. Blow drying your hair often can lead to damaged ends and more frizz. If you must blow dry your hair, use a diffuser only for a couple minutes after your hair is almost dry.
Well ladies that my secrets to preventing frizz and caring for my wavy/curly hair. So this was a 2 in 1 blog…… hope it helps!



Wednesday, 25 January 2012

 Going Direct!

So we all know that there is always a debate about re-sellers of Virgin Hair Extensions like myself.
As we all know by now Candy Hair Company sells Virgin/Non-Virgin extensions that are sought out from larger vendors that either collect and manufacture the hair or buy the hair in bulk and mainly manufacture the hair.  (example wash, inspect and produce extension such as wefting and or wigs)
This is a very large lucrative industry that has boomed over the past 2 years as people have found great gain from owning and or selling this hot commodity. The industry has become overwhelmed and now you can find any and every one from your aunt, your cousin and also I’m now seeing an increasing growth of men getting into the game.
So the big question from the consumer is ……. “Why buy from the middle man when we could go direct”.  Sounds as easy as a click of a button, and having access to millions of Chinese vendors that sell to the general public.
Why should you buy from a North American vendor when it seems so easy?
So being that I’ve personally been on both sides of the spectrum I totally understand the concept. In these times everyone purse strings are tight and saving is the name of the game however, there are many things one should know about buying direct.
Buying direct from a Overseas vendor may have its benefits and satisfies most people needs initially. For example, you save on the price. There are no frills involved. You have access to more selections of hair and origins of hair. You build a relationship with a vendor. However there is another side of it that isn’t too attractive and there are many consumers that can vouch for this.
When dealing with a Overseas vendor the first obstacle one must hurdle is communication barriers. As we know we’re dealing with people from a different country that speak a totally different language just like us and most causes English is a second language. Not to say the lines of communication are totally unbearable but you can tell by the response that you may receive via email or messaging. Sometimes you’re sitting there scratching your head like…………… WHAT!  Finding a vendor that communicates very well and is on the same page as you is hard to come by. I can’t tell you how many messages I’ve received that start out a little something like this… “Friend, what do you mean?” Its not funny but it’s true. Let’s move onto quality. As it is often debated about the quality of hair that both North American vendors and overseas vendors have one thing is for sure that you can 80% of the time guarantee that most North American vendors can see the quality of hair before sending out to you. So the risk factor has gone down whereas when ordering from a overseas vendor you never know what type of hair quality you’re going to get. Shedding, matting, poor weft construction and overall ……….are you getting true human hair. With an American vendor you can ensure most perform a series of checks before sending to you. How many people have bought from a vendor overseas and when something goes wrong with the hair and you try and get in touch with someone to help you, and that also understands you, that will actually help you out. I personally have experienced this as I can tell you it’s never as easy as when you’re actually buying the hair because that process goes smoothly.
I’ve never come to a resolution with an overseas vendor back in the days before owning my own company, on how they will compensate you for the “no good hair”. I’ve been asked to send pictures, I’ve been asked to send the hair back overseas. Mind you it’s close to $80 to ship back via UPS, Fedex or any other large courier services. If you try and send it back via regular mail it may be cheaper but you don’t know when and if it will get there. You don’t get a tracking number and its more of a hassle so what do you do? Nothing!!! You basically are out $150+
Now I know there are many that swear by buying direct and are comfortable with their overseas vendor and knows what their getting but now I’m seeing an over whelming amount of people that are not vets in the hair game trying their luck as well. So this takes us back to the original question, Why buy from a North American vendor that charges more than going direct?
The reasons are clear to me why. I’m not just saying that because I’m a North American vendor or company. I’m saying that because if you do not know the hair game as well as the vets, then it may end up costing you more in the long run. With that said, there are some things to consider when thinking about buying straight form an overseas vendor.
Here are some tips for those who wish to venture out into the Virgin hair world.
Research, Research, Research.
Just because an overseas vendor has a 3year gold star standard doesn’t mean that they have good hair. Never buy from a vendor that asks for western union upfront and in some cases paypal. There is a reason why this payment option is not really recommended on sites like aliexpress etc; You may find yourself out of your money for up to 60 days when disputing with paypal. In the case of western union you won’t see that money ever again.  If buying from these popular sites use their online credit card options. Even if they tell you they will charge you less….. That’s a red flag.
Look at the satisfaction ratings. If you see a small amount of feedback I would be careful. Also if you see most of the feedback are general with 5 stars and no actually feedback from customers, I would be careful of that as well.
Read the details carefully and don’t look at the pictures as most of the pictures posted have been taken from other sites and many not be pictures from the actual vendors. How many times have you ordered based on a picture and get excited about the curl/wave pattern to later find out later when you get it, that it looks nothing like the picture you seen.
And most importantly, do not relay on the dispute method from these sites…… Most times they will leave it up to you to deal with the vendor and then it will never get resolved.
So at the end of the day I think it is good to buy from local vendors as you will not have to deal with a lot of the hassle you may have to deal with but, “too each his own”!
Do what you can afford, do what gets you better results and happy shopping!!
And remember; keep Candy Hair Company in mind for your next purchase!!!!
Here a 5% newbie code if interested code used in shopping cart: NEWBIE1