Sugar Cleanse Shampoo: This shampoo is a workhorse that will get your hair super clean, without stripped out your color. I don't recommend it for anyone with super dry or damaged hair, but it's terrific for anyone with fine hair that tends to get weighed down by other products. 

Sugar Rinse Conditioner: This conditioner is much the same as the shampoo - it does the job without damaging color-treated hair. It's not thick enough for anyone with extremely dry/damaged hair but does a nice job of detangling normal hair types. Plus, it's very lightweight so your hair won't fall flat once you style it. 

Next time, I'll let you know what I think about the styling products in the Neon line. (Sneak preview: I think they're great for lots of hair types!).  If you'd like to try out the Neon shampoo and conditioner, let me know the next time you're in my chair. I'd be happy to use them on you!

I'm so, so happy that summer is here. For many of us, it means vacation time with family; afternoons on the patio with friends; or little league games with the kids. Being outside is wonderful...except for the toll the sun can take on your hair. You know your hair has overdosed on the outdoors when it starts to feel dry, becomes unmanageable, or the color begins to fade or turn brassy. Follow these three tips to protect your style this summer. 

Hydrate from the inside out
You know how essential it is to stay hydrated by drinking water. Give your hair the equivalent of a tall glass of water by spritzing your hair with Awapuhi Moisture Mist - spritz after you wash your hair, spritz when you get out of the pool...spritz any time, any place. 

Protect your color
If your hair is colored, the sun, chlorine, salt water and other outdoor elements can slowly strip away your investment. I can't recommend Paul Mitchell's Ultimate Color Repair Line highly enough for color protection. This trio is super gentle and effective at maintaining your gorgeous hair color. 

Don't skip trims
Last, but certainly not least is this: come see me! I know time can grow short during the long, vacation-filled days of summer. But maintaining a regular trim schedule is the best way to keep your style looking great. 

Everyone who uses hair products has had that moment. The one where you suddenly realize you've gone overboard with the gel/serum/mouse/hairspray, and now your hair is sticky or greasy. Should you wash your hair and start over? (If you're a guy, maybe. If you're a woman, nah. Pull it back and get on with your day) Should you swear off products for good? (Definitely not!) Here's how to avoid getting into a hairy mess to begin with. 

General rule:  Start with a small amount and add a little bit more if necessary. 

Gel, pomade and mousse are intended to add structure to your hair, so it's important to start small and add as you go. For gel and pomade, begin with a dollop of product in your palm that's the size of a nickel. If you need more, add a dime's worth of product and go from there. 

Mousse can easily get out of control because the way it's dispensed can be a little unpredictable. Start with a ball of foam that's the size of an egg, then add more in small dabs from there. 

Serum is definitely the most-feared product that I send home with clients. It's true that serum can make your hair greasy and heavy if you use too much. So don't use too much! With a thicker serum, like Awapuhi Wild Ginger, start with a dime-sized amount. Apply it to the roots of your hair, then work up your hair shaft toward the scalp. 

Hair oil is a little trickier, but it's so incredibly good for your hair that it's worth the effort. The Paul Mitchell Marula Oil comes with a dropper. Don't use the entire dropper! The texture of your hair will determine how much oil to use:

• Normal - one single drop
• Coarse/dry - two drops
• Ethnic - three to four drops

Shampoo and Conditioner are pretty easy to deal with - if you use too much, you can simply wash it away of course. But for the sake of making them last as long as possible, use a quarter-size dollop of each in the shower. 

When you think about how much hairspray to use, think about it in terms of getting even coverage. Your hair should never feel crispy or stiff after using hairspray (unless you're finishing an up-do or another style that should not budge). For regular, daily use, hold the can of hairspray about 12 inches from your head and spritz away. Come in a little closer if you have an extra stubborn piece of hair that's just not listening. At the end, your hair should feel touchable but well controlled. 

Paul Mitchell is really upping their game when it comes to luxury hair products. First, Awapuhi Wild Ginger burst onto the haircare scene and put everyone on notice that Paul Mitchell wasn't content with their already terrific line of everyday products. Then came the outstanding Ultimate Color Repair line, packed full of quinoa to restore and protect colored hair. And now? Marula Oil. 

Marula Oil, you guys! If you have hair that is coarse, dry or damaged in any way then Marula Oil is your new savior. Marula oil is cold pressed from the marula nut, grown in Africa. The cold press process preserves the quality of and nutrients in the oil. Plus it's 50% more protective than the very popular argan oil (an ingredient found in many other hair oils). The Marula Oil line includes a shampoo, conditioner, hair mask, and 2 oil formulations: normal and light. 

• If your hair is a coarse texture, or if you have really damaged hair I recommend using the entire line. 
• If you experience dry, brittle hair every once in a while, I'd suggest using the conditioner alongside your favorite shampoo + the hair oil. 
• And if your hair is generally manageable but you'd like to seal up the stray split end or increase the shine factor, I'd incorporate the hair oil into your current haircare routine. 
  

As if the quality of the Marula Oil products weren't enough to be impressed with, I'm also really proud that part of Paul Mitchell's investment in them has to do with an investment in the communities where Marula Oil is sourced. Through a partnership with a group in South Africa, the company has hired close to  4,000 fair trade workers who didn't have jobs before- mostly women -  to extract and cold press the oil. How great is that?

You can find these fantastic products at my salon - come in for a visit and I'll be happy to try them out on you!

If you're a guy and you sit in my chair, chances are pretty darn good that you're going to walk out with a dab of Reformer in your hair. This pliable hair putty provides terrific hold and a matte finish that's perfect for many different styles. Want to know a little secret? This stuff actually makes your hair look a bit thicker, too.  Here's what one of my clients has to say about his experience with Reformer:

A common question I'm asked by clients as they head out the door with a fresh new hairstyle is, "How can I get this look at home?" Since I don't do housecalls (!) I'll let you in on one secret to achieving your best style at home.  The brush makes a difference.  Think of your hairbrushes and combs as tools. You wouldn't use a socket wrench to drill a hole, right? Of course not. So don't think you can have one hairbrush that will do it all, either. 

Looking at the tools pictured above, here's what each one is used for (left to right):

• Detangling comb - characterized by the wide, thick plastic teeth. Great for detangling wet hair or carefully extracting knots in dry hair. 
• The Wet Brush - a new addition to the products I carry, this is the brush you've seen in all the magazines lately. Detangles wet hair like a pro.
• Teeze w/ Eez comb - another new product I'm carrying, this comb sections and backcombs really nicely. 
• Sculpting brush - Everyone should own a sculpting brush. It's a great (almost) all-purpose brush for blow-drying hair. It creates lift and smoothness in short to medium/long styles. 
• Mixed boar bristle/plastic bristle brush - Boar bristles do a nice job of smoothing out frizzy hair during blow-drying, and the plastic bristles grip knots and tangles. This is a great brush for blow-drying really long or very thick/coarse hair. 

The Wet Brush is a terrific tool to use on children who run in the other direction when it's time to brush out tangles and knots. The specially formulated IntelliFlex bristles are thin, strong and super flexible. This means they won't tug, tear, pull or rip at the hair. It also makes quick work of distributing hair product through damp hair out of the shower. With gentle, consistent strokes you'll safely brush through wet hair without the damage regular brushes can inflict. 

Aside from the fact that the Teez w/Eez comb is embellished with a little (faux) diamond accent, it's also a super effective tool for adding volume and shape to your hairstyle. The tapered end creates parts and sections, while the durable stainless steel pin bristles are stacked to create maximum lift with minimum effort. 

The next time you're in my chair, let's talk about which brush will help you quickly and easily style your 'do!

Paul Mitchell's newest addition to its line of products promises to lock in your haircolor for up to 9 weeks, while also protecting and adding shine. According to Paul Mitchell, the Ultimate Color Repair products harness the power of mega-protein quinoa to lock in color, restore luster and reverse the signs of damage caused by heat styling, environmental factors and everyday life. 

I've had the products in my salon for a few weeks now, and I think they live up to Paul Mitchell's claims. The shampoo and conditioner work together perfectly to strengthen hair and make it manageable and feel healthy. And the Triple Rescue spray is an outstanding multi-tasker - it adds another layer of color protection, is a thermal protectant (just in case your styling tools are a little too hot, day to day) and it adds shine. The scent of this line is wonderful; not quite as punchy and aromatic as the Awapuhi Ginger products, but very soothing and nature-y. Yes, I'm making nature-y a word. 

My clients always say it best, so I'll share this from someone who first experienced Ultimate Color Repair in my chair: 

I've worked with Paul Mitchell hairsprays for a long, long time. So I have a pretty good grip on which formula will give you just the right amount of hold and finish, depending on your unique hair style and texture.