Long or short, curly or straight, natural or dyed, whatever your hair type or style, the aim is usually to achieve healthy looking hair.

While it is common to consider what you need to do to keep your locks in great condition, people can often overlook the things they are currently doing that might actually be damaging their hair.

So here you can find out both the dos and the do nots for improving your hair and keep it looking great.

Do avoid heat styling

While it can transform your look, heat styling also ravishes your hair so try to reserve appliances such as hair straighteners and curling tongs for special occasions.

When it comes to blow drying, if you can avoid doing this every time you wash, you should. Letting it dry naturally is much better for your hair. If that is out of the question, at least turn down the heat by choosing a lower setting.

Do not wash your hair everyday

The process of stripping your hair of its natural oils every day can have a drying effect so try to cut down.

If you have very oily hair which needs a daily rinse, choose a gentle shampoo which will not strip your hair completely.

Do provide a moisture boost

Oils are particularly good for offering a moisture boost to dry, brittle locks. An increasingly popular choice is CBD oil for hair as not only does it provide moisture, but it is also full of amino acids which help to nourish the scalp and hair.

When choosing an oil, opt for a reputable brand such as platinumcbduk.com who offer a range of products made from organic hemp plants.

Do not skip conditioner

Mornings can often be rushed and cutting corners on your routine can be the only option for getting out the house on time. One step you should never skip, though, is conditioning your hair. If you are washing your hair and stripping it of its natural oils, it is essential to replace the lost moisture.

Do eat well

To maintain optimum health, including good hair and skin, a balanced diet is essential. Include lots of protein, fatty acids and a range of vitamins and minerals in your meals and you should soon start to look and feel better.

Things like eggs, nuts, seeds, fish and green vegetables are particularly good for giving your hair a boost of nutrients.

Do not brush wet hair

Brushing hair while it is still wet can cause your hair to break, so instead make sure you brush your hair thoroughly to remove any knots before you wash and condition.

Use a comb or purposely designed detangler with a detangler spray whenever you are working with wet hair to avoid unnecessary damage.

For one last tip before you go – make sure you do not get stressed. Not only can stress cause hair loss, but it is thought it could even contribute to hair breakage too. You now have the perfect excuse to take a long relaxing soak in the tub, giving you and your hair a bit of TLC. You will look and feel much better for it!

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With the reboot of Gossip Girl launching this summer, it might be time to revisit some of the style from the original. Channel your inner Queen B with regal headbands from The Hair Edit

Gold Embossed Metallic Headband

Wear your own crown everyday with this metallic headband.

Price: $10.00

Where to buy: Ulta.com

Gilded Band

Rule the Met Steps and enhance any hairstyle with this headband that’s gilded to perfection.

Price: $11.79

Where to buy: Ulta.com

Leopard Pleated Band

Rock the season’s trendiest looks with this leopard print headband to take on the day.

Price: $11.79

Where to buy: Ulta.com

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For many of the lucky ones, the end is almost in sight. It has been a long old year, one in which we have made the best of friends with our sweats while our ‘going out’ clothes have gathered dust. But now, the time is almost here for us to start remembering how to coordinate colors and navigate our post lockdown bodies. A lot can change in a year, so there is a good chance that either your current wardrobe does not fit anymore, or perhaps you have adopted an entirely new style thanks to scrolling through Pinterest for hours on end. 

Whatever the reason, you have come to the right place if you are looking to refresh your wardrobe!

Read on to find out more!

Take Some Measurements

Bodyweight fluctuates under even the most normal of circumstances, and if you are like basically everyone else who has had their whole routine flipped upside down in one way or another, this has probably had some kind of impact on your body.

Take some measurements to see where you are at now – it might be that you have been on a fitness kick or you have not moved as much as you usually do, perhaps you have been run off your feet as a frontline worker, or you have had to budget meticulously due to redundancy – all of this can have an impact on how you feel in your clothes and how your clothes fit. You should be so pleased if you are here because you are in a position to refresh your wardrobe! You deserve it! Measure around your chest/bust, hips, and waist to get a good idea of the most comfortable size for you. What you should not do is try to squeeze yourself into your old jeans if you are able to get new ones – no one’s got time for that. Check out women’s plus size clothing online for your new comfy outfits.  

Do it One Step at A Time 

If you are ready to throw out everything in one go and start from scratch, certain about a new look you want to pursue, then more power to you. For those who are a little more apprehensive or still have plenty of pieces they love, then just add in new pieces one step at a time to curate and refresh your wardrobe as and when you find new outfits that you love. This can be a better approach for those who are easily overwhelmed or are not quite sure what their signature style is yet. 

Accessories

If you still love what is in your wardrobe or have dabbled in some frequent online shopping during the lockdown, you might just need to spruce up your existing closet. Accessories are the perfect way to do this. Not only can you find some unique and quirky pieces, but they are often more affordable than buying a whole new outfit! Accessories are also a great way to change an outfit from night to day or a casual look to something more sophisticated and glam. 

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www.thegluterecruit.com

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are approximately 338,000 personal trainers in The United States alone. Just like any other field, you have “rock stars” who are the real deal, some above average people, some who are merely competent, and others who have no business training people.  We turned to Jessica Mazzucco, an NYC area certified fitness trainer and founder of the fitness platform www.theglutereceruit.com  to help you assess where your trainer falls on the spectrum.

They Don’t Do Any Assessments on the First Session

“The best trainers perform thorough and complete assessments when working with a new client, before doing anything else, states Jessica.” She adds, “They don’t just hand you a dumbbell and ask you to copy them. On the training front, that means doing movement screening and even basic performance tests. And on the nutrition front, that means looking at the client’s current intake and assessing a host of lifestyle variables, including schedule, primary complaints/discomforts/allergies, willingness to change, and even blood pressure if a patient has issues. “

They look like they need a trainer

You want a trainer who practices what he/she preaches.  This does not mean they need to look like an Adonis, but they should look like they are fit. They are walking billboards of their profession. If they can’t keep it together, how are they going to get you to your goals or preach to you about a lifestyle they cannot maintain themselves?

They entice you to book more sessions

“If you are already working out 3 to 5 days per week correctly, you shouldn’t have to work out more, “says Jessica. She adds, “If your trainer keeps telling you to work out more than five hours per week, not only do they have you on a poor workout plan, they also are not coaching you well enough on your eating habits. They may also be looking for you to spend more money with them.”

They Tell You to Stretch or Warm-up on Your Own

“This is absolutely crazy,” says Jessica. “People don’t generally know how to stretch on their own. – that’s part of why you pay a trainer!  A good trainer should show you what movements to do, which muscles to focus on, explain the when and why of dynamic stretches over static stretching, and benefits of partner stretching.   If a client goes and warms up on a stationary bike but has a core- dominant training program, the time has been wasted.”

They Don’t Give You Work to Do Outside of Sessions

Your personal trainer should be shown the door if they don’t give you work to do outside of your sessions together. If they charge you by the hour but don’t try to help you in the other hours in the week, that’s a red flag. Jessica points out that, “What you do in your one-hour session should help you to achieve your goals outside of your session. Good personal trainers give you homework, with a purpose.”

They Look at Their Phone While You’re Training

If your personal trainer is taking (non-emergency) texts and phone calls or checking social media in the middle of your session, they suck. There are no two ways about it. Jessica adds, “You pay them good money to pay attention to what it is you’re doing. It’s not safe, it’s not professional and it’s a complete waste of your time and money. You wouldn’t let your physician do that with you. A trainer needs to have his/her eyes on you all the time!”

 They Talk More Than You Train

“If you want a companion, get a puppy,” Jessica says bluntly. Your trainer should be maximizing the time with you, not gossiping or telling his/her tales of woe. It’s fine to chit-chat with a trainer before the “clock starts” or after the workout has ended.  The actual training time should be confined to instruction, supervision, coaching, your form and the workout you are doing. Jessica says, “With the exception of reasonable rest/water intake periods, you should be in motion/activity for the duration of the session.”

They put you on a bike, treadmill, or stair-master and stand there and watch

“Unless you need a bodyguard while you are on a machine you know how to operate, this is a complete waste of time, “says Jessica.  She adds, “Your sessions are for being coached, strengthening your body and learning new techniques; not to be stood-by and watched for a complete hour doing the same thing.  A good trainer will make sure that multiple body parts are being used and include cardio, body weight resistance, free weights, bands, medicine balls, machines, etc.”

They believe in “no pain no gain”

There is nothing wrong with doing crunches until you “feel the burn.”  Pain is your body’s alarm to alert you that something is wrong: that you should, in fact, stop doing what you’re doing and figure out the problem. Jessica stresses that “There is a distinct difference between legitimate pain and the soreness you get when you exercise.  If a muscle feels pulled, and you express that to your trainer, he/she should lay off training that muscle group until you are completely healed.” If you are beginning training with an existing injury such as a weak Achilles tendon, the trainer should be skilled enough to strengthen that area and avoid moves that will exacerbate it.

Body Shaming to Motivate

A good trainer should never use body shaming as a means to make you work harder.  He/she should never say something like, “give me 30 crunches to burn that flab off your gut,” or “keep giving me those squats to burn the fat from your butt.”  Jessica says that a trainer should motivate by focusing on the positive, with statements such as, “you’re so much stronger since we first began, your cardio has really improved, you’re becoming more flexible.” You must be empowered by your trainer, not belittled or ashamed.

Jessica Mazzucco is an NYC area certified fitness trainer and founder of The Glute Recruit®  A native New Yorker, she graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Adelphi University. The latter enables her to use skills of therapeutic communication and client centeredness to help her clients transition through change. Jessica has over 7 years of experience in the fitness industry and a multitude of diverse fitness certifications including :

World Instructor Training Schools (WITS) Personal Training Certification

National Posture Institute (NPI) Certified Posture Specialist + Certified Resistance Training Professional

ViPR – Vitality Performance Reconditioning – Level 1 Trainer

Kettlebell Athletics – Kettlebell Level 1 Trainer

Prenatal/Postnatal

SRT (Soft Release Technique) – Lower Body Fascial Stretch Therapist

Areas of Focus

Her specialties include butt sculpt/lift through exercise, resistance, strength and weight training for women, nutrition, muscle building, flexibility, mobility, posture enhancement, and pre and post-natal workout regimens.  Jess has trained celebrities such as former MSNBC Legal Analyst Mimi Rocah and country singer Jessica Lynn. 

Her personal journey

Jess has helped women worldwide achieve their fitness and lifestyle goals. She embarked on her own journey toward a healthier lifestyle in 2010 when she realized how unhealthy she was physically due to poor dietary choices and lack of exercise. Her weight gain had led her to develop low self-confidence and poor relationships with food. Healthy dietary changes and slow implementation of exercise helped Jess to become physically healthier and restore her self-esteem. This success gave her the platform to pursue a career in fitness and personal training. Her mission is to educate women on how to take control of their lives and become the healthiest versions of themselves without setting unrealistic goals of an “ideal” body type.

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Jada Jenkins, Sam Villa Ambassador, Mizani Artist and L’amour de Rose Salon Owner @jadajenkinsco, is all about the perfect glam ponytail right now and says that understanding these concepts will help create the perfect glam look for any occasion.  See Jenkins in action: https://www.instagram.com/p/CNsR-XKnzJ5/.

 

1. Face Shape: Understanding face shape is crucial.  Sleek looks can slim a round face, a side swoop or fringe can help draw attention away from a larger forehead. And avoiding weight on an oblong face shape will help to balance features.

1. Define the Design: Always apply Mizani Heat Screen Hair Protectant Spray to prep and protect hair from heat.  For a sleek surface, use a Sam Villa Signature Series Sleekr Professional Straightening Iron to smooth hair; when added texture and mass is needed, use a Sam Villa Signature Series Textur Professional Texturizing Iron to build volume.

1. Position: Break down ponytail into sections (2-3). If there is part (middle or side) divide hair into 3 sections. Establish the position of the ponytail, gather hair and use a bungee cord to secure.

1. Length: Extensions are always an option for longer styles, choose those that match original hair texture and desired length and attach with the following steps:

1. • Weft extension around elastic bands.
   • Use hairpins to secure extensions at the top and bottom of the ponytail.

1. Secure: Crafting the tail properly will ensure it stays in place.  Start by applying Mizani Lived-In Sculpting Paste and HRM Humidity Resistance Mist to hold hair in place.  Use a Sam Villa Signature Series Tail Comb to form neat clean sections.  When using hairpins, attach a braid to the scalp to provide an anchor for pins to limit scalp irritation.  Connect each section with elastic bands and then wrap a small piece of hair around the elastic to cover it.

1. Enhancements:  Once the ponytail is in place, take creative liberty to embellish with accessories, braids, curls, waves or super sleek smoothness.

“When fashioning ponytails, always be mindful of tension… gather hair just tight enough to secure, too much unnecessary pulling can damage hair follicles,” explains Jenkins.

 

Credits

Image 1 (above): Hair/Jada Jenkins; Photographer/Thomas Kirk; Makeup/Makki

Images 2, 3 and 5: Hair/Jada Jenkins; Photography/Roy Cox; Makeup/Lola Oklawon

Image 4: Hair/Jada Jenkins; Photography/Thomas Kirk; Makeup/Akura Robinson

Sam Villa is Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of the Sam Villa Company (Allvus, LLC), a leading education and styling tool company for the professional hair industry. He is also Global Artistic Ambassador for Redken 5^th Avenue, a L’Oreal brand. Villa is the 2020 International Hairdressing Awards ‘International Hair Influencer of the Year,’ the 2017 NAHA Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, Intercoiffure America/Canada Member, Behind the Chair Stylist Choice Award Winner for Favorite Platform Artist and Educator (2012, 2011 and 2007) and Favorite Overall Educator of the Year (2015). His inspiring education and innovative ergonomic styling tools can be experienced on samvilla.com. The Sam Villa brand brings free digital education to everyone including hot tips and techniques, as well as access to livestreamed educational events. Facebook: @SamVillaPros; Instagram: @SamVillaHair;  YouTube: @SamVillaHair; Twitter: @SamVillaPro;; Pinterest: @SamVillaHair.

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