Category Archives: Blog

Most Popular Hairstyles for the Bride

Planning your wedding to happen this year? You might have already a dress designed or might have chosen one already. Have you any idea which hairstyle goes well with it? No worries. Let’s walk you through some of the most popular dos that complements the dress choice and give you lots of beauty mileage.

Wedding hair in 2018 is no-fuss, laid-back, but absolutely gorgeous. To start off what’s out this year are the styles of a bygone era – top knots, intricate updos, and hairspray-stiff dos. 2018 wedding hairstyles are all about showing off your natural beauty. Be the best version of yourself on your wedding day.

Low messy buns are everywhere in bridal fashion week runways. Tie the hair back loosely and frame the hair with just a few strands left out. This makes for a really relaxed look, enough for a beach wedding. It can also be dressed up with delicate flowers or sparkly pins.

Half-up styles are also the most popular for 2018 bridal shows. The style is half up and half down, providing a lot of versatility. Sleek low buns with big accessories are big this year. Tie the hair smoothly back and put on large flowers, pins, and other adornments. This is a fun update on a classic ’do.

No-heat, no-fuss hairstyles lets you look absolutely stunning on your wedding day. Looking yourself, you don’t feel obligated to wear an intricate updo. Just wear your hair down like you used to. If you like, you can add flowers, a veil, or a little sparkle to dress up an everyday look.

Birdcage veils are a timeless classic. Veil your hair to half down your face for that mysterious, “something old” look. It’s vintage glamour, beautiful for daytime or outdoor weddings.

Beachy waves are laidback and tousled, so naturally wavy that can be worn as soft waves down, half-up, with a braid, or with a veil.

Long side braids are a natural for 2018. Long and messy braids are in. A side-swept fishtail braid or loose Dutch braid would look ethereal if studded with cascading delicate flowers like baby’s breath.

Hairstyles Fit For A Bride in Bellevue

To make your special day really hassle-free, talk to Geena Moon, stylist extraordinaire at her Bellevue hair salon. Take it from her to give you any of 2018’s trending bridal hairstyles for your very special day.

Most Common Blow Drying Mistakes

Don’t you just love you hair after a blow dry? It’s smooth, so shiny. For short or long hair, you get to style it the way you want, have straight today and wavy tomorrow. Thank goodness for the blow dryer. It’s one of modern time’s great inventions. Some get it right. Some do not. There are common mistakes we can make with the blow dryer and suffer from its consequences. This excellent tool must be used with care and some degree of skills.

What sort of mistakes do we do while blow drying?

The most common is turning it to highest setting. We believe we speed up the drying and that hair responds faster. Too hot will only burn and damage hair leaving it dry, dull and frizzy. Medium heat is more like it for styling. It may take longer but you’ll avoid frying your hair. Using cold blow drying will only dry hair without the styling. Do use the cold setting after medium heat drying to set that style in place for longer.

Don’t dry too close either. It can result in hair frizzing and breakage and cause burns to the scalp. Too far may not get the maximum style result. We recommend at least a hand’s width from your head for applying heat, unless it is cold drying. Do not rush blow drying, it does take time. Take anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours depending on length and thickness of hair. Set aside time and don’t be tempted to use high heat to rush things. Sometimes, you also tend to blow dry large sections of hair in one go. Too much hair may not style well. Try small sections at a time, using clips , and start from nape to the top of the head.

Don’t be too hard on your hair by pulling hair taut, or brushing harshly or too quickly. It can break and damage hair and even pull hair out at the follicle. Notice if you get some hair fall during your blow drying.
Use long, slow strokes with your brush instead with every section. Also, be sure to keep your dryer moving and never stationary in the same position for long periods. Keep it as parallel to the floor as you move it around your head. Besides, it can fatigued you as well.

Be careful about using too much product on your hair, before or during blow dry. However, a heat protective product applied before drying your hair is ideal. But if you’re thinking of gels, sprays, or other hair products it is better to use them to keep the style in place after drying. Chemicals in these products may not favorably react with heat and just cause hair damage.

Take It From the Expert at our Bellevue Hair Salon

As you get along with these tips, the better you are at becoming a pro in blow drying hair. But for a real professional blow dry, see how the experts do it at Geena Moon’s hair salon. In Bellevue, it’s one of our top services to love.

Understanding How Hair Color Change Happens

Did you know that thousands of years back people already are into hair coloring? Perhaps to enhance beauty of hair, they learned to use ingredients from plants and minerals that contain pigments to improve or change hair color. You wonder how safe they were? Maybe safe enough to still be popular down the ages. The first safe commercial hair coloring came out only in 1909 formulated by a French chemist.

We know that hair is mainly keratin, a protein, found in skin and nails also. Hair has two other proteins, eumelanin, and phaeomelanin, the quantity and ratio of which determine the natural color of one’s hair. The former is responsible for brown to black hair shades while the latter for golden blond, ginger, and red.

Natural pigments generally work by coating the hair shaft with color. Applying temporary or semi- permanent colors can deposit acidic dyes on the outside of the hair or maybe its minute pigments can sip inside the hair shaft, using a small amount of peroxide or no peroxide at all. Sometimes, a collection of several colorant molecules enters the hair to form a larger complex inside the hair shaft. However, this is only temporary, and shampooing can wash it off. These colorants don’t have ammonia so the shafts don’t open up during the application. Your hair’s natural color comes back after a shampoo.

Permanent hair color application is a two-step process -removing the original color of the hair and then depositing a new color. The colorant contains alkaline ammonia that opens the cuticle and allows the hair color to penetrate the cortex of the hair. Then the developer is applied, which is peroxide that reacts with the permanent hair color when they come together, the ammonia being the catalyst. Peroxide is used as the oxidizing agent, it removes pre-existing color, breaking the chemical bonds in hair, releasing sulfur, which accounts for the characteristic odor of hair color.

The reaction will decolorized hair melanin, a new permanent color is bonded to the hair cortex. In most commercial hair dyes, these two components – ammonia and peroxide – are already combined. Applying conditioner will close the cuticle to seal and protect the new color.

On the other hand, to bleach hair is to lighten it. Bleach reacts with the melanin removing or oxidizing the color in an irreversible chemical reaction. The melanin is now colorless. However, bleached hair tends to have a pale yellow tint which is the natural color of keratin, the structural protein in hair. Bleach reacts more readily with the dark eumelanin pigment, so some gold or red residual color may remain after lightening. Hydrogen peroxide is one of the most common lightening agents.

We Know Hair Color at our Bellevue Hair Salon

We don’t only know the chemistry behind hair coloring, but we’ve also got a myriad of colors to choose from. So come for a consultation at our Bellevue salon and see for yourself!

Eat These and Potentially Save Your Hair

Hair products and hair treatments are great helps to make your hair beautiful, full and shiny. But you know that these aids, essential though to your beauty routine, can be useless if you lack the proper nutrition to keep hair and scalp healthy, especially if you are suffering from hair loss.

Hair Loss and Hair Thinning

Hair loss is common and have a variant of causes. Genetics, age, hormones, nutrient deficiencies, toxicity, medications, and autoimmunity can all lead to thinning and loss of hair. If you’re experiencing this lately, take a look at what your eating. Changing your diet can, in many cases, be helpful.

You’ll need spinach. Spinach is iron rich and contains sebum, acting as a natural conditioner for hair. It provides omega-3 acids, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and iron. All help keep hair lustrous, shiny and keep it from falling off. Salmon’s omega 3 fatty acids enable hair to grow, keep it shiny and full. It’s anti-inflammatory that can help prevent hair shedding.

One cup of roasted chicken contains 154 milligrams of arachidonic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid found to stimulate hair growth, making it thick and healthy. Beets are rich in natural chemicals called nitrates, contributing to improved circulation, which may bring oxygen and nutrients to your hair follicles. Eggs are packed with biotin, which help hair grow. Not having enough of this vitamin can lead to hair loss. Other good sources of biotin: almonds, avocados, and salmon.

Oysters are rich in zinc, and not having enough of zinc can lead to hair loss, even the eyelashes. It helps the cells responsible for building hair. Other rich stores of zinc are beef, crab and lobster. Nuts and seeds like pistachios, walnuts and other nuts are a good food source for beta-sitosterol, oils that add to the amount of elastin in your hair. Elastin keeps hair supple and stops it from breaking.

Hair needs protein most especially. No matter your diet, meet your daily recommended protein intake by eating healthy foods- including plant-based choices like legumes, nuts, tofu, quinoa, and chia seeds. Get protein from meat, pick lean options like chicken, fish, or lean pork loin.

Recommending Proper Hair Diet

Your Bellevue hair salon says that proper diet and supplements can slow or reverse hair loss, and make the hair thicker and healthier. Consult with your doctor to see possible options and treatments.

Signs That You Need A Hair Change

Should I have that haircut now? I think I need a haircut. You ask or tell yourself this and you’re both excited and anxious. It can be a big or small change, but you struggle and are emotional. The thing is, you know it’s going to be your decision alone. Are you really ready? How do you know you’re ready?

Experts say that there are signs that it’s time for a change. They say that you should ask yourself three questions: 1. Do you always wear your hair up? 2. Does it take a really long time for your hair to dry? 3. Is the hairstyle you sport the one you’ve had since high school? If you answered Yes to one or more of them, then it’s time for a chang!.

If you think that only the one and same hairstyle suits you, think again. Get that change. There must be something else out there for you. Ask your friends, ask a hairstylist. A hair change can also change your whole attitude.

Have you noticed that after a new hairstyle, you get loads of compliments? Family and close friends remarked how good you look and that your new do fits you. After a time, the compliments will trickle to a stop. It’s also a time to rethink your style. Experts also say that it need not be a major change, especially if you are not so sure what you want or that you are not too brave to try something way different. It still is a change. And that’s another sign that it’s time.

Ask yourself a few honest questions first before you hit the salon. Does the new cut and style you’re looking at require more upkeep? Are you ready to make salon trips more often? Will your new style complement your lifestyle? Is the style you’re considering compatible with your hair texture and face shape? Or is your decision to change comes in the heels of an emotional event in your life?

Again, experts say that if you don’t have any strong answers to these questions, don’t make that change yet.
New hairstyles can breathe new life into your world, but just make sure you’re ready before taking the plunge!

Making The Change in Bellevue

Ready or not ready, seek expert advice from professionals. Set up a consultation at Geena Moon’s hair salon. You don’t have to make the decision yet, but we can surely give you a lot of tips. We’ve got a variety of cuts and styles that will suit you. Let’s talk new beginnings in Bellevue.

Products Your Hair Can’t Do Without in the Sun

Have dry, dull and brittle hair? Have your colors faded, too?

Surely you know you’ve been staying under the sun too long. You might have protected your skin and your face, but what about the hair? Don’t think that a shampoo and conditioner routine will be enough to put this issue aside. Experts say exposure to UV rays damages the hair just as much as it does our skin.

High Humidity and Heat

The high humidity from the summer sun can settle in your hair and weigh it down; limp hair is what you’ll get. The heat can increase hair problems like dandruff, split ends, frizziness and hair fall. Summers can be harsh on the scalp too, causing dryness and sunburn, which can damage hair roots. Hair tends to get burnt in the hot sun and can turn brownish. Colored hair too tends to fade if you stay outdoors too long.

Over conditioning and over treating is a big mistake. Washing your hair every day is not an option. Similarly, not washing hair which is sweaty for so long is a sure way to increased hair fall. So, what can you do?

Know that there are formulated products specifically designed to care for your hair in the sun. For example, choose a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. These formulas don’t contain harsh color-stripping detergents that are often used in other shampoos.

Frizz is in during humid summer weather, so you might be using your straightening iron or blow dryer to tame your hair. And since heat damage can cause color to dull, it’s a good idea to enlist a heat-styling spray to protect your strands.

Wear SPF for your hair. The sun can also damage your dye job, so remember to spritz your hair with a UV protectant spray, whether you’re going to the beach, work, or just running errands. And after a long day at the beach, coat your hair with a deep-conditioning mask that helps nourish sun-parched hair. Add another layer of protection to your tresses by using a double-duty hairspray that locks in your style and preserves your dyed hair color up to 75 percent longer.

Washing Your Hair Everyday?

What’s detrimental to your overall hair health is over washing. Instead of washing your hair everyday, which can dry out your strands, skip a shampoo every other day and use a dry shampoo. Once a week, take the time on a hydrating hair treatment. You can find hair treatment services at our hair salon in Bellevue.

Trending Hair: From Subtle to Bold

See the hair trends that will define 2018. Some you will find bold, some are experimental, some are even super subtle. But you’ll definitely fall in love with some of them, you’d be giving one a try this year.

One of the trendiest for the year will be a mix of ‘70s and ‘90s-inspired look. The Retro Real is back – those healthy, fluffy tresses obtained by just using roller sets. No heat needed and easy as pie. Just set it, let it sit, brush it out, and let it do what it does.

The Rounded Understyles are in this year. No more angular looks that used to prevail in 2017. Hair ends are a little more curvaceous, letting hair be more messy.

The Long Pixie is hot in Hollywood. It makes sense as women went for cuts and chops last year. This time, they are growing their ends longer.

Buzz Cuts are becoming the rage as more guys and gals are looking for all kinds of ways to spice up their crops. We’ll be seeing a lot of haircuts with lines etched in them – taking undercuts to a whole new level. Some stars have already embraced the look.

The Classic Bob is here to stay. The style is so versatile, it can be worn straight, curly, or wavy. There are even shagged-out bobs and bobs with bangs.

Structured Updos are always red carpet-showstoppers. Sleek and structured updos are beautiful ways of showing off a woman’s features and her dress while giving an artful approach to her hair.

The Pixie is loved by stylists and is a hot item. Many sport that very low, as low as a woman’s facial structure will allow, close-to-the-face style. It can be a super short pixie or a shaggier pixie. It’s simply letting it go, cutting it off, being free and starting fresh.

Then there’s The No-haircut Haircut. It’s just to look like having gotten a super clean, fresh cut – just soft, healthy ends. That’s all.

Going for a New Hairstyle in Bellevue

Ready to rock a new hairstyle? Go bold and experiment? Then look no further than Geena Moon’s hair salon in Bellevue.

Matching the Hair With the Dress Tips

It’s Prom Season again and don’t say you don’t want to stand out. You’re making every effort to make this event memorable even if you don’t think you’ll make Prom Queen. You might have gotten the dress and you wonder what hairstyle should best complement it. Maybe you’re dying to sport a particular hairdo your friends will envy, but, will the dress shine as well? A few things to consider first.

What’s the neckline of your dress?

Halter tops show a lot of shoulder. Piling all your hair on top of your head can leave your shoulder area looking a little bare, while wearing it all down will cover up that pretty neckline. A good compromise is having a loose fishtail braid thrown over your shoulder. You can wear it up high or start it down at the nape of your neck for a more beachy look. This style is super easy to do as well.

If the dress has delicate elements on top, like spaghetti straps, you want to play off of it with a delicate hairstyle. A tousled side-chignon is the perfect way to create a look that’s feminine and romantic.Subtle jewelry, like long earrings and a small bracelet, can really bring it all together.

A one-shoulder neckline is a show stopper, so you don’t want to cover it up. Asymmetrical necklines are best accentuated by keeping your hair up and away. A sleek ballerina bun with this neckline is an elegant and classic hairstyle for a dress that has an edge. Natural eye makeup, a shimmery highlight, and a bold lip can make a statement with this style.

Are you going strapless?

Strapless dresses are favorite prom styles, and they leave a lot of room to play around with hairstyles. Let some loose waves fall over one shoulder when wearing a dress like this. It’s slightly retro and very glamorous.

High necklines look sleek and maybe a little bit mysterious when paired with a clean, simple ponytail. It accentuates your neck and your face at the same time. Pair that with a great makeup, like a very red lip.

More importantly, whatever hairstyle you decide to rock, remember to do it with confidence.

Let Geena Moon style you on Prom Night

Still not sure about the best hairstyles for the Prom? Come have a consult, or better still let Geena Moon do your hair for Prom. Have expert hands do your hair in Bellevue and feel more confident on the big day!

Making Subtle Statements

Hair color trends don’t really change. They just shift. There is a breakout of colors we see everywhere this year that are different from 2017’s full year of cozy and charming (or hygge-inspired) hues. While there are rainbow colors, there are still the popular ’90s-inspired gold and caramel highlights that will both brighten and warm up dark hair.

A lot more women are going for Shades of Gold this year. There will be bright blonds but will have a soft, golden hue to them and brunettes will have subtle, golden flecks weaved in for dimension and shine. This warmth will be huge in 2018 and a ’90s, soft gold, almost buttery hue will be a most requested color. Having gold in your hair is very flattering to almost every skin tone and it is so much shinier than ashy colors.

Caramel Rosé

Caramel Rosé is the perfect marriage of cool pink and warm caramel. It is not too daring. Your hair has that natural-looking color that blends in easily and adds texture and dimension. Your stylist can add a gloss over old highlights or ask for sombré done with ribbons of caramel and pink. Even blonds can try the look opting for orangey tones to bridge the gap between blond and caramel. If you want a deeper take, ask for rich, warm caramel woven into dark hair with a touch of pink. The end result is almost burgundy – but with more dimension.

There are other trending not-so-loud colors this year. If you are blond, the Golden Ombré look can work. Just make sure you have a very subtle, gradual change of color from the crown to the extra-blonde ends. Tiger Eye is a stunning look that features shades like honey, amber, and soft brown painted with a balayage technique. It’s ever so subtle when it grows out. No worry about harsh roots and high maintenance.

The Nude Hair

The Nude Hair is a soft and all natural look designed to complement your skin tone, and perfect to make a subtle statement. Strawberry Rose is when you want to experiment with red but don’t like to commit to maintenance. Dark brunettes can play with some lightness if they opt for Driftwood Lights – just a touch of golden color. Then, there’s Bronde, a fusion of two colors – brown and blonde – that creates a flattering sun kissed end result.

Going for Natural in Bellevue

Add a change to your look and start now by dropping by Geena Moon’s hair salon in Bellevue! Make subtle statements with a new hair color from an array of 2018 hues that speak glow and natural.

Understanding Medication Effects on Hair

While medications are designed to treat health conditions, there will be instances of side-effects, either expected or adverse. Certain medications can contribute to altered hair states, such as excess hair growth, changes in hair color or texture, or hair loss. Where medication-induced hair loss is concerned, any type of hair loss can be devastating to one’s self-esteem.

How do medications cause hair loss?

Certain medications can interfere with the normal cycle of scalp hair growth. During the anagen phase, the hair grows. During the telogen phase, the hair rests. At the end of the telogen phase, the hair falls out and is replaced by new hair.

Many different types of medications are thought to cause hair loss. The type of medication, the dosage and one’s own reaction to the medication will determine the level of hair loss. The ones most commonly associated with the condition are anticoagulants or blood thinners, gout medications as allopurinol, certain anti hypertensive drugs as beta blockers and ACE inhibitors, anticonvulsants, or anti-seizure meds, birth control pills and male hormones, as well as antidepressants. Most chemotherapeutic drugs also cause hair loss.

How is medication-induced hair loss treated anyway?
Firstly, discuss with your doctor and pharmacist about possible hair damage with the medications prescribed. There’s usually a good chance that hair will grow back after the treatment.

Some of my clients have told me about their issue and thought I would do some research on it. There are other factors that may cause hair loss like stress. Again, please consult with your doctor if you’re seeing hair loss or hair-thinning to see what may be causing it.

Hairstyle Tips To Live By Even if Hair Is Curly

Curly hair can be challenging to manage, yet there are some easy and still stunning hairstyles for those with curly locks, either natural or otherwise.

Hairstyles for Curly Hair

The romantic updo. Just air dry freshly shampooed hair, apply a curl-defining cream and gather hair into a ponytail halfway between the nape and crown of the head. Wind the ponytail around the base of the hair tie to form the bun. Three to four bobby pins should secure it into place, then mist with hairspray to lock everything in. Flyaways around the hairline is ok for an added relaxed look.

The sky-high ponytail. Gather hair into an ultra-high ponytail at the crown and secure with an elastic. To keep the elastic lifted, just stick two or three vertical bobby pins on the underside of the ponytail. Use a curl-defining cream to enhance the ends of the curls and keep them bouncy..

The one-minute side braid. Use a curl-enhancing wave spray through damp hair, and then let air-dry. Part hair naturally, then grab a small section of hair on one side of your head and braid back toward the crown. Pin that section of hair to secure the style, then pull the top layers of hair over it to hide the pins. This is a pretty half-back hairstyle.

The sleek updo. Brush up your hair to ensure super-smooth texture until that point of a high ponytail and secure with elastic. Divide the ponytail in half and twist into a thick, messy twist. Use bobby pins to secure the bun, adjusting the shape and size. Add the scrunchie and wrap it around the bun. Smooth down any flyaways with styling gel and mist all over with a spray hair oil.

There are other styles. The messy half-bun. Gather the hair above your ears into a high ponytail at the crown of your head then twist the ponytail around itself, coiling it toward the base. Secure your bun with bobby pins. Another style is the low bun with braids. Braid your entire hair section by section. Pull braids into a low ponytail or bun, leaving a few out before securing but wrap the left-out braids around the base of the bun. Lock in with a couple of bobby pins. Or grab the hairband and put it on your just prepped air-dry hair with curl-defining cream applied.

The French Twist. Just rake strands back into a mid-height ponytail, stuffing it into a French twist. Secure with three large hair pins at the top, middle, and base of the twist.Deconstruct a bit by touseling some flyaways and tendrils at the nape of the neck and around the hairline. Leave as is or finish with a spritz of flexible hold hair spray. The Classic Slick-Back uses a a high-quality boar bristle brush on air dry hair, then a styling gel is applied through the strands and simply brush back to smooth and slick back curly hair.

Visit Geena in Bellevue

Have questions about how to style your hair? How to take care of your curly hair? Give Geena a call today and make an appointment! Her salon is conveniently located in Bellevue.

Colors on Parade in 2018

The new year ushers in all things new and what better excuse is there to celebrate than grab a new hairstyle and/or a new hair hue. This year bold predictions are out and they’re about bold colors. Look at what’s trending in 2018.

The Ombre

The Ombre is the leading hue for hair in 2018. Flowing downward in soft large waves from the top, ombre is best appreciated in the long haired. It is important that the change in color is gradual – from the dark roots in the crown to the extra-blonde ends.

Salt and Pepper

There’s Salt-and-Pepper hair for the bold and for those who can pull it off without flinching. There’s the even bolder, part orange, part red Burnt Orange – the fiery look of Princess Merida of the movie ‘Brave’, the 11th Disney princess of Pixar Studios. Then there’s Bleached Tone, the hard-to-maintain but statement-making bleached-out color.

Tiger Eyee

Tiger Eye is stunning yet with subtle shades like honey, amber, and soft brown painted with a balayage technique. It tends to grow out without the worry of harsh roots and high maintenance. One of the trendiest hues is Chocolate Mauve – the unexpected outcome of brown and light pink so loved by brunettes because it’s like highlight-treated dark hair.

Nude

Nude is a subtle statement – soft, all-natural, and skin-toned. Jewel Tones is velvety, vibrant, but not ultra-vibrant punk; bold without the intensity. Baby Blonde is a softer and lighter blonde shade, contrasting with dark winter wardrobe; even looks radiant next to paler, wintertime complexions. Blondz is a combination of blonde and bronze, perfect for dark hair. And do you want red hues, without the commitment to high maintenance? Then try Strawberry Rose.

If you are a dark brunette and you just want a touch of golden color, get the eye-catching look of Driftwood Lights. It gives just enough lightness to dark hair. Bronde is the unique combination of brown and blonde; it beautifully suits everyone. The fusion of the two colors create a flattering sun kissed end result. And then, there’s Pop of Green. It’s a shade of green inspired from Pantone’s 2017 color of the year. It’s attractive accent highlight for light-colored hair and an interior highlight for dark hair.

A New You for a New Year in Bellevue

Ready for that color change? Then head to Geena Moon’s hair salon in Bellevue and get your statement-making hair hue now. The colors are just stunning!

Top US Hairstylist Predicts 2018 Trends

Being New Year, everyone is watching out for the next hair trends. Every new year breeds new hairstyles to gawk at, talk about, and copy. Celebrity hair stylist Clayton Hawkins, who works with Alison Brie, Elizabeth Olsen, and Dakota Johnson, predicts the biggest hair trends for 2018. Let our professional, freelance hair expert, of both Los Angeles and New York, guide your next big hair decision. Here are his Top 5 best bets.

The Curly Shag. You’ve drooled over ‘Flash Dance’, that 1983 American romantic drama, where lead star Jennifer Beals sported that shag that every American girl wanted and had. It’s back, though chicer and more refined. We’ve seen a lot of celebrities rock the shag, like Alison Brie and Alanna Arrington, but they wore it full-bodied and with texture. Hawkins even urges those with real curly hair to try the trend.

The Sleek & Chic. Bone straight hair isn’t going anywhere in 2018. Sporting these long and very straight locks require only your constant friend – the flat iron. Keep handy, too, your serums and oils for that added sleek and shine. And if fly-aways are peeking out at the ends, be sure you have your handy hairspray to tame them.

The Classic Blowout. Many Hollywood stars walk the red carpet with the most luscious, bouncing locks ever to grace Awards Night. Jessica Biel and Hailey Baldwin are just two of those classic beauties who wear their hair with the signature aplomb. It’s got volume, body and bounce, suitable to those who wish to flaunt. Curly or straight, medium-length to long, with a shock of gold or platinum or simply black-brown, the blow-out is still a red carpet favorite.

Bangs. Dare to have bangs in 2018, if for a change. The fringe over the forehead that comes in many styles – full, side-swept, blunt, wispy, or arched, is the quintessential adornment that complimented many women since the 50’s. Our hairstylist to the stars personally prefer the Bardot Bangs, center-parted style which is chic, laid back, and flattering on most face shapes.
Did you know that 2018 is the year of Ribbons? The trend was all over runways in the past spring, and they look really chic, especially on cool textiles like leather and velvet. Bows and ribbons have proved that they’re not just for young girls anymore. Movie stars have been photographed in big events wearing designer outfits and a ribboned ponytail.

Watch Out for Hot Trends in Bellevue

Come by Geena Moon’s hair haven in Bellevue and be one of the first to rock a trend from any one of the aforementioned predictions. Surely there’ll be one suitable to your hair type, facial features and personality.

Shampooing and Other Hair Health Habits for Kids

Teaching your child the rudiments of healthy hair care can be a fun and exciting challenge for both you and your child. Firstly, teach your child how to wash his/her hair in simple steps to help the child develop healthy hair-care habits. Then you can also show your young one other tips to maintain lovely locks.

Teach your child how to wet hair and scalp with warm water to make ready for shampooing. With a drop-size of shampoo in the palm of your child’s hand, rather than on his or her head, makes it easier to apply. Shampoo is applied to the scalp and gently massage the roots of hair. This is better than applying the shampoo on hair only. If so, it will lead to dull and coarse hair. You might end also with flyaway hair ends. Also, rubbing shampoo into hair, rather than massaging it, can lead to hair breaks.

Teach the child also to use a conditioner, especially so if his/her hair tends to be dry or is curly. Now your child must know that it is always good to rinse well. Hair must be suds-free for that ensures all dirt and shampoo are washed away.

Help your child wrap a towel around the wet hair, so as the towel absorbs excess water. Rubbing hair dry with the towel can damage the hair, causing it to break. Combing out damp hair gently with a wide-tooth comb is another healthy practice. Use gentle strokes; yanking or pulling can pull out or break hair. Help kids develop other good hair-care habits to prevent hair damage. For example, consider styles that don’t require heat and chemical treatments; if heat must be used, then the lowest heat application is alright. Understand that relaxers, dyes, and other hairstyle products use chemicals and can damage hair. Children must not have long and too-often treatments, if at all. Loosen up braids and ponytails also.

Outdoor hair care is also important for children. Such as, after a swim. Make sure to wash away pool chemicals, to shampoo for normal to oily hair, and conditioner also for dry or Afro-American hair. To protect your child’s hair from intense sun heat, a wide-brimmed hat is helpful.

Be conscious about the many things that damage your child’s hair. They can accumulate over the years leading to unhealthy and unattractive hair. The best way to prevent unhealthy hair is to teach children healthy hair care habits.

Bringing Up Healthy Hair-Conscious Kids in Bellevue

When you bring your young kids at Geena Moon’s, we are sure to give them more helpful tips to care for hair. Hair demonstrations make a big impact in their learning process. That’s only here in Bellevue.

Linking Your Hair To Your Health

Look at the following interesting factoids and know if a bad hair is linked to bad health.

Dandruff is not contagious. True. White flakes are not harmful to you or to others. What causes it? It can be an overgrowth of a fungus. Possible risk factors are oily skin, stress, obesity, cold, dry weather, and eczema or psoriasis. An anti-dandruff shampoo used daily may help. Yellow dandruff may be seborrheic dermatitis, an inflammatory skin condition that can occur where there are lots of oil glands. It may be due to fungus, hormones or a neurological condition. It’s treated the same way – use anti-dandruff shampoo and do see your dermatologist.

If you’re shedding 100 hairs or more a day, it is no cause for alarm. 90% of your 100,000 hair follicles are producing hair at any given time, the other 10% are in a resting phase. The hair that falls out in 2 to 3 months is replaced by new hair, and the growth cycle starts over again.

Any of the following can shock your system – surgery, vaccinations, giving birth, some medications, crash diets, severe stress, thyroid problems. They can force your hair into resting state. After a couple of months, they fall off, sometimes in handfuls. In most cases, new hair starts growing right away.

In alopecia areata, your immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, causing hair to fall out suddenly. There may be bald, smooth patches. Hair may grow back on its own, and treatment may help it grow back more quickly. If your nutritional deficiency is serious enough, like for someone with an eating disorder, hair can fall out. If you have a very low-calorie diet, lacking in sufficient nutrients, you can stunt hair growth or leave hair dull and limp. A crash diet can cost you your hair? Your hair needs protein and iron to stay healthy, along with omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and vitamin A.

If your hair is going gray, it’s not always due to aging. Some people not yet 40 have already gray hairs. Then it may be genetic. Anemia, thyroid issues, vitamin B12 deficiency, and vitiligo can cause premature graying, but graying is not usually a sign of poor health.

Unlocking Hair Myths and Truths

Know more about hair health and body health links from your hair salon in Bellevue. We may be able to help you clear up some misconceptions you thought as true all along.

Common and Not So Common Hair Loss Causes

You can categorize reasons for hair loss in a few subgroups. Hair loss can be genetic, or due to diet and lifestyle, skin conditions, a hormonal imbalance, improper hair care and treatment. It can also be an autoimmune system disorder you might have, a particular medical treatment, or drugs you’re taking. Aging is another cause, however, many mature women still keep a headful of hair though there is some shedding. With age, the rate of hair growth slows down, hair becomes brittle and thinner.

Androgenic Alopecia is also called female pattern baldness, accounting for 90% of hair loss in women. You inherit it from either or both sides of the family, increasing over time and not responding to diet change nor remedies that are for non-genetic hair loss. Minoxidil or other OTC drugs may help. On the other hand, you might be producing excessive sebum, another genetic condition where too much oil blocks the hair follicles from producing hair.

Diet and lifestyle might be blamed for your hair loss.

Taking anabolic steroids to boost body-building or for a medical condition like polycystic ovarian disease, and having deficiencies in some vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, and essential fatty acids can lead to hair loss. Lack of iron and protein in your diet, excessive vitamin A, and exposure to toxic metals can affect hair regrowth. Well-known hair loss triggers like stress and smoking should be avoided. A change in diet and lifestyle can cut off hair loss.

Do you have patches of hair loss?

Check your skin condition. Fungal infections, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis can do damage to the scalp. Have a dermatologist look into it and follow the prescription.

You might have a hormonal imbalance brought about by post childbirth, menopause, birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and thyroid imbalance. Again, these may be managed and treated.

Also, you might have autoimmune conditions like Systemic Lupus which attack healthy follicles, or Alopecia Areata, which can resolve with treatment. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause shedding of hair, as well as certain medications and drugs.

Long-term use of hair extensions, excessive styling and treatments, and constantly pulling on your hair are improper hair care routines that need addressing.

Know More About Hair Loss

Experts like your hair stylist in Bellevue can enlighten, give advice and recommend treatment by a specialist if need be. Drop by for a serious hair loss talk with Geena Moon.

The Smoker’s Hair

There are more than 4,000 chemicals and gases found in cigarette smoke. To just think that after the lungs inhale them, they are brought by blood circulation all over the body. No organ is free from cigarette toxins. Your own hair will show the ravages, even if you don’t look hard enough.

The smoker’s hair is brittle, looking lackluster and malnourished. The top hairs are especially vulnerable to breakage; you can feel the brittleness as you run your hand through. You will notice longer hair strands in your comb or brush, indicating the hairs broke at the top. Bad cases are thinning hairs, shedding, and premature baldness. Simply put, smoking speeds up the rate you lose hair, while it slows down the rate at which hair regrows.

Even smoke from cigarettes can damage the hair follicles, making them shrink and wither. Some may die but the rest will be unhealthy and will be unable to produce healthy hair. The hairs reproduced will grow in brittle and break easily. Smoke will also impede blood flow to the follicles, causing them to prematurely age. Smokers may experience graying hairs much earlier in life, causing damage to melanin-producing cells that give color to hair. An increase in the androgenic hormone DHT, known to contribute to balding, is also influenced by smoking in the male population.

Smokers can be deficient in certain vitamins, minerals and antioxidants needed by the body for optimal function. Vitamins A, B, C, D, calcium and iron among others, important for healthy growth of hair, can be lost. Vitamin C is a particular concern as it is essential in collagen production. Another is the vitamin B family, important for the liver that detoxifies the body of harmful toxins, including those of cigarettes.

If the above-mentioned are not damaging enough, consider secondary smoke that others unintentionally inhale, including family members and little children. It is well studied that passive smoking is as dangerous to health as active smoking. Also consider that odor of cigarette smoke that tend to adhere to clothing, skin and hair. It is one of the most unpleasant stale odors to non-smokers.

Friendly Advice from Bellevue

We at Bellevue hair salon cannot stress enough the perils of smoking to health and hair. You know how you’d get your healthy, glorious hair back. Stop the brittleness, early graying, and hair loss … and keep the vitamins. Know more at Geena Moon’s hair salon in Bellevue.

The Anthropology of Hair

While all hair types are essentially made up of the same components – the outer cuticle, middle cortex and medulla, the internal supporting structure – different races present small regional differences. There are three main classifications of hair type based on race – Asian hair, Afro hair and Caucasian hair (or European hair).

Hair Follicle

What creates the difference is the shape of their hair follicle. The follicle is a skin organ that produces hair. The shape of follicles differ in each of the hair classification; it is the shape of the follicle that determines the shape of the hair strand that grows out of it.

Asian hair grows out of a round hair follicle (sometimes slightly oval) and grows out usually straight. That is because of how it is implanted on the scalp. It is regarded as the most dominant hair type in the world. An Asian can have as many as 80,000 to 140,000 hair strands in the scalp, growing at approximately 1.3 cm per month, the fastest growing among the three races. However, it is the least dense among them. This density doesn’t seem to contribute to hair loss among Asians, which is not so common. But westernized Asian women tend to notice thinning of their hair.

Caucasian hair, on the other hand, grows out of oval-shaped hair follicles, resulting to straight to curly hair. Growing at a rate of about 1.2cm a month, it grows at an oblique angle to the scalp and is slightly curved. Caucasians have the most dense hair. Blondes have more strands on their scalp – about 146,000 hairs. The black-haired have about 110,000 hairs, brunettes 100,000 and redheads about 86,000. In spite of the density, genetic hair loss is highly prevalent in this race.

Afro hair, generally dark brown to black in color, is the slowest growing of the lot, at 0.9 cm a month, and have only 50,000 to 100,000 hairs on a healthy adult. The African has oval to elliptical-shaped follicles producing curly to coiled hair strands. The hair grows almost parallel to the scalp, twisting around itself as it grows.

However, African-American hair have several types. Some sport straight hair, typical of mixed ancestry. Some have soft, deep waves with little to no curl, others are curly and others kinky, which is tightly curled or wiry.

This only means that no particular ethnic group has any advantages when it comes to hair; considering the differences, different care is needed for each type of hair.

Different Strokes for Different Folks in Bellevue

Know what styles and treatment approach are best suited to your hair. At Genna Moon’s, we understand hair types and what works best for certain characteristics of hair. Come by for a hair consultation in Bellevue.