A review of Taya Beauty Amazon White Clay Collection
By Carla Snuggs

When I first started Posh Beauty Blog I thought I'd write about all types of products whether I loved them or not. However, I've decided that, for the most part, I’m only going to review products that I love and that work for me. I’d rather spend my time and energy writing sharing products that have added value to my life in some way and are truly Posh. That said, for one of my first reviews, I’m going to share a hair care line with you that is perfect for those with fine hair or thinning hair: Taya Beauty.

I received the Taya Beauty Amazon White Clay Thickening Collection which included:

Amazon White Clay Thickening Shampoo
Amazon White Clay Thickening Conditioner
Amazon White Clay Thickening Leave-in Mist
Amazon White Clay Thickening Whipped Clay
Amazon White Clay Thickening Creme
Amazon White Clay & Acacia Collagen Hair Plumper
Amazon White Clay Hair Spray
Amazon White Clay Thickening Hair Spray

About Taya Beauty: TAYA is the spirit and promise of the rainforest..... the rare power to beautify..... our source of life, spirit, and replenishment.

About The Amazon White Clay Thickening Collection: The Amazon White Clay Collection is plant-based formulation that includes extracts of raw avocado oil, extracts of croton lechleri resin, white clay from the banks of the Amazon River and other key ingredients. Formulated with Amazon White Clay, these products encourage thicker, more abundant, luscious, plumper looking hair, and help infuse every strand with rich moisture, shine and a long lasting flexible hold that helps create natural, movable, bouncy, healthy looking styles.

Taya Beauty Amazon White Clay Thickening Collection

My Favorites: Amazon White Clay Thickening Shampoo, Amazon White Clay Thickening Conditioner and the Amazon White Clay & Acacia Collagen Hair Plumper

Why I love it:

1) I love extensions and faux hair. For this reason, my natural hair can certainly take beating and can be fine, dry, and fragile at times. The thickening shampoo and thickening conditioner are gentle to my hair and really infuse moisture, body and fullness into my hair. These two products, along with the Amazon White Clay & Acacia Collagen Hair Plumper, help counteract the mean things I do to my hair. They give it more life and va-va-voom without being sticky or weighing my hair down like so many products. Click here to see the results on real folks with fine hair!

2) The Amazon White Clay Thickening Conditioner left my hair tangle-free and was perfect for use with my Wetbrush.

3) Taya Beauty products are natural, plant-based, and free of sulfates, parabens, animal products, and animal testing. Happy dance!

4) The Taya Beauty Amazon White Clay Collection smells amazing and earthy!

Have you tried any Taya Beauty products? Leave me a comment and let me know how you liked them!

PostedJanuary 23, 2014

AuthorCarla Snuggs

Tagsreview, Taya Beauty, Amazon White Clay Thickening Collection, haircare, conditioner, shampoo, thinning hair

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The hottest hair trends for winter 2014
By: Carla Snuggs

Winter is well under way, so if you haven’t already it’s time to transition into this season’s hottest hairstyles. The latest hair color and hairstyle trends for this winter are simple tweaks that will really help update your look.

We know because Posh Beauty Blog tapped two leading expert hair stylists for the inside scoop about on-trend hairstyles: Frederic States, Senior Hair Colorist at RIK RAK Salon, Miami and Celebrity Hair Colorist Los Angeles and Jesse Jones, Senior Hair Cutter at RIK RAK Salon, Miami. Here are the best hair trends for Winter 2014.

Color Trends

Frederic States says:

1) The over lightened Ombre effect is out. Opt for a softer version that is more suitable for your maintenance level and looks more natural.

2) Sporting a dark base color is no longer in fashion. Go back to your natural hue or a shade a tad lighter to brighten up your face.

3) Softer more natural-looking high-lighting is back (and replacing Ombre trend). Sun kissed stands looks better than over done hair that has too much contrast.

4) If you don't like the grey hair, then change it.....Your hair will look brighter, shiny and prettier!

Hairstyle Trends

Jesse Jones says:

1) Bangs are in for the season. If you already have bangs let them grow longer or just have wispy pieces around the face. If you're just cutting them, make sure to keep them long.

2) With the surge of Hollywood Pixie cuts, shorter hair is in. For those not daring enough to chop off their locks like Jennifer Lawrence, bring up the length up for a fresh look that is great for Spring.

3) Razor haircuts always look more blended than blunt cuts, even on long hair. It allows hair to have a better flow. I find that shoulder length hair is easier to handle for most women so mid-length razor cut is a great look for Spring.

4) Ladies, no more flipping hair, just toss it about it to look airy and light at any length.

Images courtesy of Stylesvilla.com, Prettydesigns.com and Stylesvilla.com

What are your favorite hair trends for Winter 2014? Leave your comments below!

PostedJanuary 15, 2014

AuthorCarla Snuggs

CategoriesHair

Tagshairstyles, hair trends, RIK RAK Salon, Frederic States, Jesse Jones, winter

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Hair tutorial for Taylor Swift's Golden Globe hairstyle
By Carla Snuggs

From Sarah Hyland's braided crown to Zooey Deschanel's soft side-swept chignon, our leading ladies were giving it their all on the red carpet and bringing some bold beauty statements along the way. But no one gave great hair like Taylor swift with vintage-inspired pinned waves.

Taylor Swift was one celeb who wore the vintage look like nobody’s business! Smooth on the top sections, the rest of her hair was pinned into waves and curls. You, too, can get this stunning red carpet look! British celeb hairstylist Mark Hill*, shows Posh Beauty Blog how to recreate Taylor Swift’s vintage-inspired pinned waves in just 4 easy steps. “The only way to get this vintage look is by using a vintage method – rollers!” says Hill.

Get the Look:

Step 1: Use Mark Hill Love Big Hair! Viva La Volume Volumising Blow Dry Mousse on damp hair and then set using rollers.

Step 2: Let your hair dry completely or speed up the process by using your hairdryer.

Step 3: Once dry, use a natural bristle brush to brush out the roller marks and use your fingers to smooth and push your hair into waves and curls.

Step 4: Leave the waves long and loose if you prefer, or use fine pins to keep the style close to your head.

*Mark Hill is one of the defining influences on British hair styling. He is still the only hair stylist outside London to have won the title of ‘British Hairdresser of the Year’ twice and the only UK hair stylist to have ever won the prestigious ‘International Hairdresser of the Year’ accolade twice in succession, firmly establishing his global status as the ‘Master of Sexy, Wearable Hair.’

Images courtesy of Billboard.com, Mark Hill

What was your favorite look at the Golden Globes? Leave your comments below!

PostedJanuary 14, 2014

AuthorCarla Snuggs

CategoriesHair

Tagshair, hairstyles, red carpet style, red carpet, Taylor Swift, Mark Hill, hair tutorial

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Hair tutorial for softly styled retro curls and waves by Stephanie Scuoppo
By Carla Snuggs

It’s a brand new year, so why not start it off with a fresh new look? We were mesmerized by the hair and makeup on Spring/Summer 2014 runways, especially one of 2014’s key hair trends: softly styled waves with a deep side part.

The look is sort of 70s glam, yet modernized and super sexy. Posh Beauty Blog looked to Stephanie Scuoppo, hair design expert at The Salon and Spa at Saks Fifth Avenue to get the look rocked by the stunningly gorgeous models in the SS14 Ruffian, Holly Fulton and Maria Grachvogel shows. Here is Stephanie’s hair tutorial so you can get the look, step by step:

Step 1: Start with freshly washed hair and apply a light weight blow dry gel (Stephanie uses Kerastase Forme Fatale $35, Keratase-usa.com).

Step 2: Blow dry completely.

Step 3: Use a tail comb to create a low side part using your eye brow arch as a guide.

Step 4: Set hair using a 1-1/2 inch wide curling iron or large hot rollers (such as T3 jumbo or Caruso). Take 1 to 2 inch sections starting on each side of part. Roll downward and secure with clamp if you’re using rollers or use heavy duty Bobby pins if you’re using a curling iron. Set all hair in manner described above.

Step 5: Once all hair is set, begin removing pins/rollers starting with the first ones. “The idea is to have a loose wave so it should not set too long,” says Stephanie.

Step 6: Use a very wide-tooth comb to sort of 'rake' through the hair giving an un-done look.

Step 7: Finish with a light mist of spray (Stephanie uses Kerastase Laque Couture $35)

Images courtesy of Fashionrock.com Maggiesemple.com Fasionistabarbieuk.com

How are you changing up your look for 2014? Leave us a comment below.

PostedJanuary 7, 2014

AuthorCarla Snuggs

Tagshair tutorial, hairstyles, Stephanie Scuoppo, reto curls, loose waves, hair trends, Ruffian Holly FultonMaria Grachvogel

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Tips and products to help prevent hair loss
By Carla Snuggs

The American Hair Loss Association estimates that women make up roughly 40 percent of Americans experiencing thinning hair and that most women will experience some thinning by midlife. So, no matter your age, it’s time to take a close look at your locks.

Have you ever noticed that hair starts to thin, and even recede, at the hair line of where your part is? Don Bewley, founder of Eufora International, says that stress and strain from pony tails, parting, etc., all induce some sort of stress that can lead to hair loss over time. Think of it like tires on a car; wear and tear will lead you to balding. Learn more in this comprehensive Guide to Women's and Children Hair Loss.

Tips for healthy hair growth
1. Use products that help to stop DHT (Dihydrotestosterone), whether they are blocking DHT or help to reduce the amount of DHT you produce. DHT plays a major role in hair loss. (Try Reviven Anti-DHT Shampoo).

2. Take a vitamin rich in Biotin and other B-Vitamins.

3. Shampoo every day. Some people think that over shampooing can lead to a dry scalp, this is actually very opposite for people losing their hair. People with hair loss tend to have greasy scalps. This is due to an overactive enzyme called 5-Alpha Reductase. This enzyme increases sebum production and also is the leading cause behind hair loss and acne. Use shampoos and conditioners every day that help to block this enzyme.

So what about hair regrowth treatments and serums work? How do they work and can we really regrow hair once we’ve lost it? “The basics behind treatments and serums for hair growth is targeting a healthy scalp. If you have a healthy scalp it leads to an environment for healthy hair growth. Once a follicle is dead, it’s unlikely it will return without a transplant,” explains Bewley. The reason is the hair follicle is so small that hair can’t penetrate it. This is why a bald scalp tends to look shiny. However, if you can stimulate the follicle again over time it might be possible to induce some new hair growth. So, there is hope!

Here are some of the top hair regrowth and scalp treatments for all budgets:

Keranique Hair Regrowth Kit: This FDA approved non-prescription treatment system is specifically for women's hair loss. The kit contains Revitalizing Shampoo, Volumizing Conditioner, 2 Hair regrowth treatments, and 2 Volumizing lifting sprays ($159, Keranique.com).

Eufora's Scalp Treatment: From their brand new Thickening Collection, this scalp treatment uses Eufora’s ProAmino Cell Therapy that combines Aloe Stem Cell technology with their ProAmino Peptide Complex to improve the health of your scalp and hair follicle ($37.00, Eufora.com).

Leonor Greyl's Energising Complex: A 6-pack leave–in scalp treatment for hair loss that is rich in amino acids derived from plant collagen ($56, Nordstrom.com).

Image courtesy of Sheknows.com

Have you had experience with hair loss, especially at your part? Leave us a comment below.

PostedJanuary 6, 2014

AuthorCarla Snuggs

Tagshair loss, hair loss tips, thinning hair, Keranique, Eufora, Leonor, haircare

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Dry oils may be the answer to dry, damaged hair

By: Carla Snuggs

If you’re looking for shine and frizz control, you may want try dry oil if you haven’t already. What is dry oil? Dry oil is a hair treatment oil that helps rejuvenate dry, damaged hair. Unlike other hair oils, dry oil is formulated to be so lightweight that it virtually disappears into the hair. It also evaporates from your hands. After trying a few dry oils, I knew I had to share the news with Posh Beauty Blog readers: dry oils really do moisturize the hair without weighing it down.

Dry oils are really easy to use: add a small amount of to the hands, apply at the ends and work up to the roots and then style as desired. And there you have it: weightless shine! We had a chat with Keila Rokkan, Lead Educator of Verb Products to learn more about how to use dry oil for softer, silkier, moisturized hair. Here are Keila’s dos and don’ts of dry oil:

Do:
1. Do use on both wet and dry hair.

2. If your hair is on the terribly dry side, apply from roots to ends while wet and blow dry for desired look.

3. When applying to wet hair, you can be more liberal with application, by pumping out 3-5 drops for long hair.

4. When applying to dry hair, focus mostly on the ends, and the top outer layer for shine and protection from heated styling tools. Also, use less, approximately 1-3 drops.

5. Some dry oils, like Verb Ghost Oil, can be applied to hands and face as well! For extra moisture during the winter months, add a drop to face lotion or your foundation.

Do Not:

1. If hair tends to be on the oilier side, do not apply dry oil to roots, just mid-shaft to ends.

2. If skin tends to be oilier, adding oils to your makeup routine can help skin to not produce as much oil on its own. So, you can add a drop to face right after cleansing, and see the improvement.

Thinking of trying dry oil? Here are a few to try:

1) Verb Ghost Oil: A weightless blend of argan and moringa oils that naturally smooths frizz and promote radiant shine for all hair types, plus it’s paraben-free, gluten-free and sulfate-free. ($14,Verbproducts.com)

2) Natural Essentials Dry Oil: A blend of Monoi, Dragonfruit and Camellia combine for a dry oil free of Sulfates, parabens, alcohol, gluten and Phthalates ($9.99, Walgreens.com)

3) Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Miracle Dry Oil: A multitasking dry oil live, avocado & almond oils($5.99, Garnierusa.com)

Feaure Image Courtesy of Hollywoodhairreport.com

Have you ever tried dry oil? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

PostedDecember 23, 2013

AuthorCarla Snuggs

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How to do textured knots with tips from Ouidad Creative Director, Morgan Willhite

Ouidad was the official hair care sponsor of the Tracy Reese Show at New York Fashion Week and created relaxed, yet stylish, up-styled knots for the Spring 2014 Fashion Show. Ouidad Creative Director, Morgan Willhite, created the gorgeous textured knots that we loved and have been dying to replicate. Here is how Willhite achieving this style, step by step:

How to Create Textured Knots

Step 1) Prep the hair with Ouidad Play Curl Volumizing Styling Spray ($22, Ouidad.com) to boost the volume and texture of your hair.

Step 2) Tousle dry the hair, then boost the appearance of natural texture by using a 3-barrel waving iron.

Step 3) Use Ouidad Wave Create Sea Spray ($23, Ouidad.com) to break up the texture, hold the style and provide a matte finish.

Step 4) Gather the hair back into a ponytail and use a hair tie to lightly secure the hair.

Step 5) Use hair pins to create an easy breezy knot with soft wisps at the neck.

Step 6) Finish with Salon Series by Ouidad Mongongo Oil Multi Use Hair Treatment ($36, Ouidad.com) to smooth frizzies and flyaways.

As October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Endless Beauty wanted to let you know that Ouidad supports Breast Cancer Awareness 365 Days a Year. Ouidad, renowned hair stylist and salon owner is a breast cancer survivor. She founded Curls for a Cure in 2005 to raise funds for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Curls for a Cure, a donation program on Ouidad.com, allows visitors to make a donation of their choosing toward Breast Cancer research throughout the entire year. Ouidad also matches all donations, dollar for dollar, up to $50,000!

Images courtesy of Will Ragozzino.

What were you favorite NYFW hairstyles?

PostedDecember 13, 2013

AuthorCarla Snuggs

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A braid bun blend hair tutorial courtesy of Mario Russo, owner of Salon Mario Russo

If you love braids and buns, you’ll love this hair tutorial courtesy of Mario Russo, owner and lead stylist of Salon Mario Russo in Boston. The great news is, you don’t have to choose between the two! It’s the classy braid bun blend. This easy to re-create side-bun hairstyle is perfect for upcoming holiday parties, girl’s night out or any time you want to look effortlessly fabulous. Mario Russo has provided the following step-by-step hair tutorial.

How to: The Braid Bun Blend

Step 1: Blow dry wet hair to its smoothest

Step 2: Part hair slightly off to the side and French braid the hair starting from the temple of the side with less hair. Braid hair all the way around your head until you reach the spot just beneath the ear on the other side. Then, tie the end of the braid with a clear elastic.

Step 3: Take the side of the hair that has not yet been braided, and use a curling iron to curl the hair away from the face. Make sure to keep these curls loose so they look wavy, and beachy.

Step 4: Take a few random pieces from the curled side and form a loose twist over the ear. This is the ear that’s opposite the side of the head where you started your braid.