BEAUTY
LUSTERPHILE
SITTING PRETTY IN THE HUMID CITY HOW TO FIX FRIZZ AND FLOPS BY M EG A N B R A D EN - P ER RY h, late spring in New Orleans: time for crawfish, festivals and Bob Breck’s daily predictions of “the muggies.” Depending on hair type, moisture in the air makes some hair frizz and some hair flop. “Most times frizz happens because hair is really dry and porous and wants to suck up all the moisture it can,” says Angel “Red” Fascio of Hairology (1804 Magazine St., 304-7792; www.hairology.org). “If your hair dries quickly, chances are it’s more porous. If you keep your hair as healthy as possible, not relying too much on heat styling and coloring, you’ll notice a difference in your frizz factor.” Fascio suggests trimming hair every four to six weeks or when a curl pattern change is noticeable: “Split ends work against you like a loose thread in a skirt,” Fascio says. “If you keep pulling that thread, the whole skirt will look terrible. Cut the thread and save the skirt.” A curly girl’s product arsenal should include leave-in conditioners such as Shea Moisture’s Curl Enhancing Smoothie or Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner. “Silicone products are fine to use sporadically to fight frizz, but because they work by filling in gaps in the hair and blocking out moisture, they will contribute to dryness with long-term use,” Fascio says. For straight hair that flops in humidity, Andrea Valle of Hair Loft (5300 Tchoupitoulas St., Suite F4, 895-2911; www.hairloftnola.com) suggests using a clarifying shampoo and conditioner, because product residue contributes to hair falling limp. “Apply a light moisturizer like Lush’s R & B before blowdrying your hair, with your head turned upside down to boost volume,” Valle says. “If you want to do any other heat styling, use a holding protectant like Kerastase’s Fibre Architecte.”
R & B, $20.95 at Lush (407 Decatur St., 525-0730; Macy’s, Lakeside Shopping Center, 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 841-0640; www.lushusa.com).
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Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, $9.99 at Walgreens and Target (citywide; www.walgreens.com and www.target.com).
Kinky-Curly Curling Custard, $29.99 at Whole Foods Market (3420 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 888-8225; 5600 Magazine St., 899-9119; www.wholefoodsmarket.com).
Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner, $26 at Ringletts (4712 Paris Ave., 483-9031; www.ringlettssalon.com).
Kerastase Fibre Architecte, $35 at Hair Loft (5300 Tchoupitoulas St., Suite F4, 895-2911; www.hairloftnola.com). m ay. 2 0 1 2 < < <
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