The Anti Hair Slave - Healthy Hair All the Time

New Hair Update

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:54:00 +0000

I've posted a brand new hair update! Head over to Beauty Blvd. to check it out. While you're there, be sure to check out my MaxiGlide Flat Iron review and get the scoop on the new hair color collection from SheaMoisture.

New Regimen + More

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 21:54:00 +0000

Wondering where all the new content is?
Head over to Beauty Blvd. to read all about my newest healthy hair care regimen!

Big Changes

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 13:54:00 +0000

Hey everyone! Just wanted to drop a quick note to tell you that AHS is now a part of Beauty Blvd. For all the content you've come to expect from The Anti Hair Slave and even more please add Beauty Blvd. to your readers and favorites lists so you don't miss a thing! Currently, Beauty Blvd. is hosting a fabulous giveaway featuring Jurlique products, so don't miss out on that.

As always thanks for your continued support and I hope to see you over on Beauty Blvd.

Optimum Giveaway Winners!

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 15:15:00 +0000

Thanks so much to everyone who entered to win!

The winners are Nadia, LuckyPoof, ShannelTheUgly, GoodHair, and Deja Vu - Syn!

Ladies, check your email!!!!

Optimum Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 16:21:00 +0000

Sorry I've been a little bit MIA from the site lately but I've been working on a few things. In the meantime, how about a little giveaway?

Remember I raved about the Optimum Heat Protector Polisher? Well 5 lucky ladies will win their very own bottle! All you have to do is leave a comment below letting me know why you want to win! Please include your email address so I can contact you if you win.

This giveaway is limited to the United States only, one comment per person, ends on Friday, July 20th.

Thanks and good luck!

Jurlique Giveaway Alert

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 14:26:00 +0000

= The Anti Hair Slave

Summer 2012 Hair Color Trends

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 14:39:00 +0000

Celebs always rely on Redken Celebrity Colorist Tracey Cunningham to give them the hottest hair color trends of this season using Redken’s new Chromatics Prismatic Permanent Color which will leave hair 2X Fortified after just one application!

Luckily for us regular folks, Tracey is sharing the top Hair Color Trends of Summer 2012! “The summertime is a great excuse for everyone to brighten up their look. My clients are always looking for a haircolor change with each season, even if it’s small,” explains Cunningham. “With Redken’s NEW Chromatics prismatic permanent haircolor, I have unlimited color possibilities and my clients love how healthy and conditioned their hair is!”

Spring/Summer 2012 Trend #1: Brunettes “My clients are still loving Redken’s Illumination technique – darker roots with lighter ends. Brunettes continue to lighten up into the warmer months whether they go a little lighter on the ends or for their overall color. So many of my clients bring in photos of Minka Kelly for their hair inspiration. She has such a pretty warm golden brown color that looks fantastic with her complexion. As the weather warms up, even brunettes like to brighten up their color for summer!”

Spring/Summer 2012 Trend #2: Redheads “Bryce Dallas Howard is definitely the most requested color for my redhead clients. She’s become such an “it girl” since her role in “The Help” and rightfully so! Her deep red color is definitely going to be a trend for Spring/Summer ’12. No messing around here – deep, strong and vibrant reds are here to stay!”

Spring/Summer 2012 Trend #3: Blondes “Blondes are not just for LA anymore! Whether I take clients to platinum blonde like Kate Bosworth or a darker blonde like Molly Sims, they’re destined to be on trend. The blonder the better but still keeping the look natural is key.”

Design Essentials Shows how the Strengthening Therapy System Works

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 14:29:00 +0000

I let you guys in on Design Essentials newest Strengthening Therapy System a while ago, but now there is a video series that shows you step by step how each product works and the end result. So if you had any questions about the processes this is for you!

Clients with relaxed, natural and transitioning hair are experiencing the benefits of a line of salon-only treatments designed to improve manageability, shine, curl definition and reduce frizz and swelling for up to 12 weeks. Elongation Mousse, Transitioning Mousse and Silkening Spray star in this series of videos available on the Design Essentials® YouTube.com channel and www.designessentials.com.

Check out the Elongation Mousse video above and the Silkening Spray below.

Isn't her cut the cutest?!?

nuNAAT Ultra Keratin Touch Follow-up

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 16:25:00 +0000

Written by Alyssa for AHS

As requested I'm reporting on the status of the keratin treatment 3 weeks after the initial application. As I said before I usually get my hair washed and set with a blow out on the roots only just to smooth new growth. After washing it myself last week (2 weeks post Keratin Treatment) I can say it was easier to detangle and I saw less hair in the comb after the process.

My usual salon trip (3 weeks post) was uneventful, I noticed nothing new with regards to that. Again I was unable to comb through the hair the required amount of times because the process was such a daunting task. Could this be the reason changes are not as noticeable? Maybe. But it was just about impossible to follow the steps within the required amount of time. My hair looks just as it would've post salon trip 2 months ago as it does today. The change was noticeable after the initial application but it wasn't dramatic enough to make the process worthwhile.

Simple Summer Hair Regimen

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 18:00:00 +0000

This summer my hair care regimen is going to be super simple and easy to follow and keep up with. I do not have any specific length goals in mind, my only goal is to maintain the health of my hair.

Key elements of my summer hair care maintenance:

Deep condition with a moisturizing conditioner once a week
Deep condition with a strengthening/fortifying conditioner 2x a month
Keep hair moisturized and sealed to prevent dryness
Protect from the sun with a SPF product on pool, beach, and days where I will in the sun for hours

Key products that will be in rotation:

Miss Keys 10 en 1 Super Deep Conditioner ($7.49 Amazon.com)
Rene Furterer Repairing After Sun Mask ($30.00 Amazon.com)
Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner ($11.00 Amazon.com)
JBCO ($10.00 Amazon.com)
Carefree Curl Gold ($4.00 Amazon.com)
Mixed Chicks Leave-in Conditioner ($19.00 Amazon.com)

What are your summer hair plans?

Mixed Chicks Giveaway Winner

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 21:27:00 +0000

Comment #12 from Steph B-More is the winner! Please email me your mailing address (to antihairslave(at)gmail(dot)com) within three days or I will have to pick another winner. Thanks to everyone who entered! The next giveaway is right around the corner.

Mary-Kate is a Brunette: How to get the look

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 16:51:00 +0000

John Frieda International Creative Consultant Harry Josh, brought Mary-Kate's normally blonde locks to a deep dramatic brunette hue for the CFDA Awards. In order to get this look in the comfort of your own home, Josh recommends John Frieda’s Precision Foam Colour in 4BG.

“It’s difficult to recommend at-home hair color to replicate a professional color job at-home, but this formula truly delivers professional results. Plus, this dark, chocolate brown shade is incredibly gorgeous,” says Josh. “It’s fun to experiment with a new hair color and deep, rich brunette shades tend to leave hair looking healthy and shiny.”

Mixed Chicks at Target + Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 00:02:00 +0000

If you haven't heard of the cruelty-free and vegan natural hair care brand specially formulated for multi-textured hair, Mixed Chicks then I'm pretty sure you've been living under a rock somewhere far, far, away! If you've heard of them and just haven't had the pleasure of checking them out, guess what? Target is NOW carrying Mixed Chicks at more than 350 stores and will be expanding to over 700 in July and target.com. So if you've been waiting to get your hands on some of the fabulous products now is the chance! Target is the first mass retailer to offer the line of adult and kids Mixed Chicks products.

To celebrate the news we've teamed up with Mixed Chicks to offer one lucky reader both the Sulfate Free Shampoo and Leave-In Conditioner! All you have to do is leave a comment telling me why you need these products, one comment only please! Contest ends Sunday, June 10th.

** Please note this giveaway is open to US residents only **

Operation Wedding Hair: The Hairstyle

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Me & the Bride's Cousin!

I was sharing everything hair related leading up to one of my best friend's wedding through Operation Wedding Hair, so it's only fitting that I share the final style. I got to DR 3 days before the wedding so you know I was swimming, lounging, and just generally messing up my hair. I even went swimming the morning of the wedding, since it was an evening thing I had one of the other bridesmaid braid my hair into three cornrows.

I left it to dry (I actually sped up the process by using the in room blow dryer), unfortunately it didn't dry all the way but the end result was still a very full braid out/natural wave look that I loved! We pinned back the one side because between the water and the heat my hair would have just kept getting bigger and bigger as the night went on. It ended up being the perfect beach wedding look for me and it was exactly the look I was going for!

**waving to one of my readers from London who spotted me in DR ... I'm so glad she actually came up to me and asked if I blogged! It's nice to know people are actually out there reading AHS!**

nuNAAT Ultra Keratin Touch Review

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 14:53:00 +0000

Written by Alyssa for AHS

After taking out a bun - pre-treatment

I have what I consider to be fairly long relaxed (lye relaxer) hair. I usually relax it every 10-12 weeks, and do roller sets every week and a half in between. Its been a while since I've had a relaxer or roller set. The last time I washed it I blow dried it and put it in a bun. Shamefully it's been in a bun every day for a few days now! I've been curious about keratin salon treatments before, but never went in for the service. The nuNAAT at home treatment claimed to rival the salon but had a few steps. I had never even seen a keratin treatment done, so to try this I enlisted the help of a friend.

After Ultra Care Shampoo

I first had to wash my hair using the Ultra Care Shampoo, which smelled delightful by the way. After towel drying the hair it seemed slightly easier to detangle in preparation for the blow drying.

The second step after drying was to divide the hair into 4 parts and apply the Ultra Smoothing Gloss to the hair while avoiding the scalp. Two things: "gloss" usually implies a consistency other than that of water (which it was), and secondly there is no way to apply a liquid to the entire head without any getting on the scalp. My scalp itched a bit in places where the gloss touched it but didn't burn. Next we were supposed to comb through the hair every five minutes for a total of 30 minutes. This DID NOT happen. The gloss became so sticky on the hair shaft that it took at least 5 minutes to comb through the entire head once. I left it to just one comb out and moved on to the next step for fear of damaging the hair by leaving it on too long, plus the sticky feeling turned me off to combing through it further. It just felt hard and tangled.

Left side blow dried - Right side not done yet

After the gloss set in we were to blow dry the hair. Another seemingly impossible task! Blow dry stickiness?! Somehow we made do and dried it enough to be...FLAT IRONED! I was convinced this wasn't going to end well for me. My friend encouraged me to hold out hope. She flat ironed a small piece and the stickiness subsided for the most part, so we trudged on. The instructions advise waiting 20 minutes post flat iron before washing the hair again. I washed almost immediately because I was convinced I had the product in for too long already while trying to smooth, blow and iron (over an hour from the initial application of the gloss). After washing I applied to Ultra Care Conditioner, let it sit for 2 minutes and then did a final rinse. WHEW!

Finished blow drying

As you can see in the pictures I blow dried a portion to show the difference in the texture of the hair which felt smooth, light and airy. I love that feeling! After blow drying the rest of the hair I was convinced that we succeeded. Shh! I even stood facing the fan to feel like I was in a hair advertisement.

All Done!

A few notes:

After the gloss was applied and hair was blow dried I ended up with a thick orange layer on the comb of the blow dryer. I assume this was the stickiness on the hair migrating onto the dryer. It was only removed with a small Brillo scrubber.
Use the Smoothing Gloss judiciously. I ended up having just enough to finish the entire head, although my hair is long which could be the case.
You will most likely need a helping hand for this process. You cant see the back of your head to apply properly while you try not to get it all over the scalp too.
You need to wait 48 hrs before washing the hair again. You should avoid hair accessories or placing the hair behind the ears during this period...this will be hard for me.
The product says it may lighten hair, mine has been dyed with henna a few months ago and I did notice some streaks, not many, lighter than normal. You must wait 20 days before any process that lightens the hair color. nuNAAT recommends using the product every 30 days.

NuNaat Ultra Keratin Touch -Single Application Kit available on Amazon.com for less than $30.00

I'm BACK!

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 19:43:00 +0000

I'm back from the Dominican Republic! The wedding was awesome and the vacation was excellent! Tons of fun in the sun, on the beach, pool, and so much more. I carried on my luggage and my hair care arsenal was seriously limited. I only brought along V05 Moisture Milks conditioner, a tiny amount of gel, some bobby pins, a few hair ties, and a leave-in conditioner. That was all I needed. I mostly wore my hair in it's 'natural' state, by that I mean air dried in a ponytail or just left alone. For the wedding, I rocked a braid out. I wanted something flow-y and beach-y since the wedding was in the evening on the beach.

Once I get a few more pics, I'll be sure to share them with you guys!

Join, Follow, Like Us

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Thu, 31 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Just a reminder ...

Check us out around the net!

The Best of May: Hair Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Wed, 30 May 2012 15:00:00 +0000

No skipping workouts this summer! Learn how to refresh your hair without the use of dry shampoo!

I got my hair relaxed and finally tried the Joico K-Pak Line of products.

I let you in on a hair coloring option that's so easy even my beauty treatment challenged mom could do it!

Have lack-luster hair? These treatments boost shine, easily!

Beat the Heat: Optimum Heat Protection Polisher

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Tue, 29 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

We all know that over use of heat on your hair leads to split ends, damaged hair, or worse fried looking hair. Even though I know all about these risks I continue to use heat on my hair, occasionally. But for the most part, when I'm doing my own hair I'll shun heat, at the very most using my blow dryer on low to dry it after washing before throwing into a bun. I won't pick up a flat iron, curling iron, wave tool, nothing! When I do use heat, I never ever let heat touch my naked hair, I always use a heat protectant of some sorts and with all my different heat tools.

Quite possibly my favorite heat protectant, is the Optimum Care Salon Collection Heat Protection Polisher. Not only does it protect from heat damage but it strengthens your hair with ceramides and coconut oil. A tiny bit goes a long way too, when I blow dry I use a tiny drop on each section right before I blow dry it. Afterwards, the section of hair is sleeker and shinier than if I would have used nothing at all. I also use this product for a shine boost even when I'm not going to be using heat.

Fine Optimum Products at your local beauty supply store, grocery store, or Amazon.com

SPF for Hair: Must Haves for Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Mon, 28 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Your skin isn't the only thing in need of sun protection, your hair can also suffer from the effects of too much sun if it's not protected. The biggest proof that UV rays have any effect on hair is the change in color, most people don't mind a few sun-induced highlights but it's the loss of moisture and break down of proteins that cause the real problems.

Paul Mitchell has a brand new collection of sun protection products, Paul Mitchell Sun. This new collection features a Sun Recovery Hydrating Shampoo which is sulfate-free and moisturizing, Sun Shield Conditioning Spray which is a must-have in any beach or pool bag because it adds shine and provides immediate sun protection via SolarVeil, and the After-Sun Restorative Masque which is perfect for restoring your hair after a day of fun in the sun.

For the curly girls, Ouidad Sun Shield Sun & Sport Leave-in Conditioner ($20.00 Folica.com) is a great option. Not only does it provided SPF benefits for your hair but it will rehydrate curls and provide shine and softness. It's a spray bottle so it's a perfect pick for a trip to the beach.

For the color-treated honeys, the Redken Color Extend Sun Collection (available on Folica.com) is perfect. Redken’s exclusive Interbond Conditioning System and advanced Hydra-Shield Complex with Soplexyl™, a patented UV filter, provide powerful protection while restoring lost moisture and luminous shine. There's a shampoo, after-sun masque, and an SPF 12 spray that features mango oil!

Some of these products can be found on Amazon.com too.

Rihanna Rocks Dreads

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Thu, 24 May 2012 21:57:00 +0000

What do you guys think about Rihanna's Dreads!?

Kourtney Kardashian's Highlights: How to Get them

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

As we know, this season the hair trends are all about color. But, it doesn’t mean that you have to try out an entirely new hue. For a more subtle change, celebrity colorist Jet Rhys gives the scoop a new color trend that will enhance your current look and keep your hair looking hot all summer long, just like Kourtney Kardashian.

Swirl in color with “singles”. Singles are delicate strands of hair (about as wide as a fettuccine noodle) that are placed in foil haphazardly in the hair to add sparkle throughout. The hot shade for singles is a cinnamon brown that will light up all shades of brunettes—try Bigen Semi-Permanent Hair Color in Light Cognac to get the look.

Rochelle Wiseman's Braided Side Bun

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:01:00 +0000

Rochelle Wiseman wore this braided side bun look to the UK premiere of What to Expect When You're Expecting, a movie I'm dying to see actually. I thought this braided downdo was super cute and easy to recreate! All you have to do is part your hair on one side, the side with the most hair get's the braid. Cornrow the hair to the side and back, secure the end and then secure the rest of your hair into a messy bun on the side.

The look gives you a fun and youthful look on one side and a polished and serious look on the other. I'm really loving this hairstyle! How about you?

Treatments for Hard Water Hair Issues

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Hard water can make hair hard, dull, and damaged. Not exactly what you want when your goal is healthy hair, right? So what can you do to treat hair that is constantly exposed to hard water? There are a few cheap fixes and a few other options that are a bit more pricey. Keep reading and we'll get into the best methods for every budget!

Use a chelating shampoo. If your water is really hard I would suggest a chelating shampoo because it binds with the mineral deposits and helps wash them away. But you have to keep in mind that these types of shampoos can be very drying, so use them sparingly and always use a deep conditioning treatment afterwards.

L'ANZA Swim & Sun Daily Chelating Shampoo is a great option for the upcoming summer months!

Do an Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse. Apply Cider Vinegar is great a loosening up the mineral scale buildup on hair that hard water causes. It's cheap and available right at the grocery store.

The best and most effective option also happens to be the most expensive at $70.00 but consider it an investment. It is designed to remove 95% of chlorine and damaging chemicals from your water to help keep your hair soft, shiny, and healthy.

Creamy Crack - Is it really that serious?

noreply@blogger.com (Joi Ashley) — Tue, 22 May 2012 15:00:00 +0000

When I first heard the saying "creamy crack" regarding a relaxer I thought it was funny and harmless, but now it kind of seems like some people are taking it a step forward really making it seem like women with relaxed hair have some type of addiction problem when it comes to their relaxers. There are self-help groups, websites, and more out there for people who want to "get off the creamy crack" i.e. go natural, but really is that necessary?

What do you think, is it a harmless joke or is it going a little too far?