Hair Sugar is Getting Remodeled

Hi Sweet Friends,

The boutique is getting remodeled and the main store will be opened pretty soon. I'll keep you posted on specifics. Here is a sneak peek inside:

The designer is awesome and she shares the same love for everything cute and girly. I definitely consider her a friend of mine so it's not work at all. Fun girly fun!

Yes we Did!

I am overjoyed with my country and the type of change we made last night. Congrats to President Barack Obama. I look forward to the change ahead!

Curl your Weave While Sleeping!

So you got this fly new weave install. It's curled perfectly...but now it's time to go to bed. What in the world are you going to do? For some of us, wrapping your weave is just a task that is not worth it so if you want to maintain your curls just roll your hair on flexirods! They are much softer to sleep on then regular plastic rollers and they work really fast. Sometimes I use them when I am getting ready to go out. I'll curl my hair first, then put in the flexirods and shower and apply my makeup. Flexirods really are a time saver. Some friends of mine use them and then wrap their hair after to give it some body. They are flexibile like their name!

How to use them:

1. Part your curled hair in 4 sections ( I use about 2-3 flexirods per section)
   
2. Roll your hair in a spiral the same direction your curls form
3. Bend the flexirods, so the ends cross over each other, to secure them in place (this part can be tricky so you may have to play around with it a bit).
4. Continue this for each section. The more flexirods you use, the curlier your hair will be.
   
5. Use either a satin scarf or bonnet to put over your hair and flexirods so you can sleep, shower, etc.
6. When you take out your flexirods, try to take them out in a spiral motion.
7. Run your fingers through the curls to separate them some and go!

Optional tip: Sometimes I use a brush and brush my curls out for a very lose wave. Flexirods work great!!!

How to Color Your Extensions

I found this great tutorial on how to color your hair extensions (before you have them installed). Make sure you read through the entire forum to see all the advice Stefani Diamond offers on coloring your own extensions. Having your extensions colored and highlighted can make it look more natural and add some pizazz to your hair. Stefanie also says that having your hair colored perfectly can eliminate the need for wearing so much makeup so check it out! You should always practice first on some extra hair that you had not planned on using before you try on the extensions you will have installed. If you get it just right you can save yourself some money on having your extensions colored professionally. As always, I recommend a professional if you just don't have the patience or don't want to spend time learning or practicing how to do this yourself. Enjoy!

Read the Hair Coloring Tutorial

So here is a follow up post. I tested this tutorial out myself on some test hair that I had laying around. The original hair color was pretty dark, somewhere between a 1(jet black) and 1b (off black). I used the L'Oreal Feria Bleach Blonding, Lightening Kit 200 for the highlights and L'Oreal Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Colour 3x Highlights, Permanent, Bronze Shimmer 58 for the brown color underneath. The key to this, which I just learned, is to use the bleach to lighten the base color a few shades. I left it on for about 5-10 minutes. Next I rinsed the bleach and put the brown all over color on top. The base is really pretty because it has different tones of brown that look natural. For the highlights I used my rat-tail comb to weave a few strands out, placed them on foil and then used just the bleach on those strands. I left that bleach on the longest...almost an hour (I don't think the developer in the bleach kit is that strong).

I was pretty nervous about trying this at first but that tutorial helped SO MUCH. Using bleach, you can watch the dark color lift through the stages of reddish brown to blondes. I also had some honey blond color on hand just in case the bleach turned the hair white. The key to remember is to be patient and don't worry about being perfect. Your hair color should look like the sun did most of the work so don't be afriad to have some uneven lightening and highlights. Also remember to get vivrant all over color like the brown I used, using bleach first for just a few minutes made that brown color really pop! Remember to treat your extensions as if it were your own so you must must must CONDITION CONDITION CONDITION. I will always color my own weaves now!! Woohoo!

Let me know what you think!

Inside the Sweet Boutique!

Hair Sugar now has a YouTube channel! Turn your YouTube station to our channel to get tips and live commentary on anything hair weave related. Subscribe and enjoy the show.

Solange Performing Live on Today's Tyra Banks Show!

Solange Knowles performed today on the Tyra Banks Show and um that hair was So-lovely! Check out the video below.

Tyra's hair was gorgeous too! First, I just LOVE the dark color on Mizz Knowles. It goes great with her complexion and gives her a more grown and sexy look. The ringlets work well for her too and she can go from a more tamed curly look to a more Tina-Turneresque wild look. One thing to note about curly hair with weave is this: THE GREASY JERRY CURL LOOK ISN'T CUTE! Solange is well aware of this with her look. Those sassy ringlets are not wet at all and are extremely shiny. When wearing curly hair it's important to keep your extensions conditioned and soft. Using products with frizz control help a lot.

Fun Curly Hair Tip

For a wilder look like Solange's below, wash your hair, let it air dry then comb out the curls with a wide tooth comb. Next, take a large barreled curling iron and put some big ringlets in your hair and fluff it out with your fingers when done. Bam! Wild Child hair! The curls will hold better like this because the extensions are naturally curly so the curls lock in place.

Remembering the Towers

Hair Sugar would like to take a moment of silence to remember the Twin Towers today on September 11th.

Michelle Obama ROCKED Her Hair!

I must acknowledge the hair magnificence on the podium last night at the Democratic National Convention. Mrs. Michelle Obama's hair during her speech at the convention was gorgeous! The speech was amazing but I would like to discuss the bouncy flowy shiny hair of hers she had. It looks like there could be some possible extensions in there just for thickness but whatever is in there is definitely workin' for her!

Before and After


That hair was rockin! We don't know for sure if she had some additional hair last night but sometimes adding a little bit "extra" can just enhance the style you already have. This works great for the supafly bobs people are wearing these days. Don't want to cut your own hair into a short bob? Let the weave handle it! Check out some pictures of my bob last winter:



Short and sassy is oh so classy like Mrs. Obama ;).

Sweet Style Shortcuts - 5 Steps to Wavy

Ever have a lazy hair day? Maybe you don't want to call it a bad hair day because you still want a fly-fabulous hairdo. With weaves you can be very versatile with the texture EVEN IF you wear straight hair. The hair I wear is 16 inches of beautiful Indian hair. However, there are times after I wash it where I don't feel like going through flat ironing or curling it so here is a quick shortcut for getting wavy texture in straight hair:

1. After washing and conditioning your extensions, make sure the braids underneath are dry. You can use a blow dryer or sit under a hooded dryer.
2. The extensions will be dry for the most part, but this can still work :). Part your hair in 4 sections. You may want to spritz a little water on each section to dampen it but just lightly. You don't need soaking wet hair for this to work. You can also use a small dab of Biosilk on each section.
   
3. Braid each section into an old school visit your grandma plait. Secure the ends with a rubber band.
   
4. When you are done gather your braids and tie your hair down with a scarf to sleep. The braids can stick out of the scarf.
5. This is best done overnight so the waves have time to set. In the morning, take those braids out and get read for lovely waves!

This is a pretty easy style to keep up with also. Each night before bed just re-braid your hair, securing the ends with a rubber band, and tie your hair back down with a scarf. You can add more braids if you want even more waves in your hair. Another option is to braid your hair soaking wet and then sit under the dryer for deeper waves. That is a little too much work for me though! Here are a few pictures to help you out:

Before with braids


After with waves


Enjoy the waves and post pictures of your own if you try it out!
Smooches XX!

The Hills is Back with New Hair!

The Hills is back on MTV starting off season 4. If you missed the premiere last night check it out here. Ok so this post is not a rehash of the premiere, even though, it was EXCELLENT! This post is about the hairdos...and yes my friends, most of them were weaves ;).

Some of the cast members went from short to long from the last season to the new season. There was only about a 2-3 month time period between season 3 and season 4. Check it out!

Lauren
(Season 3, Season 4 and Season 4)


Heidi
*the older image of Heidi is from season 1
(Season 1, Season 4 and Season 4)


Holly
Heidi's little sister - Season 4 is the first time I have seen her but she got some weave installed!
(Before during and after weave install)


So my friends, don't be fooled by the increased hair growth between seasons. It's a weave! I am not knocking them at all because it's all about instant gratification when it comes to your hair...sometimes! Hair extensions are very much an accessory just like a pretty new shiny red handbag. ;).

To Weave or Not to Weave?

That is the question many of us ask ourselves. Weave can be good for many reasons and I have listed two major ones below:

• -Growing out your hair, a relaxer or color
• -Versatility - You can go from a Rihanna boy cut to Beyonce locks in moments without making any major changes to your own hair!

I made the "weave conversion" change about three years ago and my hair has probably grown about four to five inches every year since then. I wanted to grow out my relaxer and some bad color I had. My hair underneath the weave is the strongest it could EVER be. Now don't get me wrong, any 'ole weaving technique won't get you the growth results you want so here are some good tips to remember.

1. Choose a good stylist! - You are going to have to invest good money in a good stylist who specializes in weaves. There are some stylists out there who ONLY provide weaving services so the good ones are definitely out there. If you need recommendations let me know! The foundation of your weave is in the braids underneath so this has to be right before any long Rapunzel Locks are sewn in.
   
   
2. Care for your own hair! - Even though your weave is the main attraction, you must still care for your hair underneath. WEEKLY washing and conditioning is a must! I recommend getting a hair color squirt bottle, putting some scalp cleansing shampoo in it with mostly water and using that to get to the scalp. As far as conditioning goes, try to use one that will soothe your scalp. Remember, these products you use on your scalp don't have to be for the weave hair itself. They should be formulated to treat your scalp for moisture and cleansing. Something with peppermint in it is excellent. I recommend a few shampoo's and conditioner's below, that add some tingle to your scalp, in the Hair Sugar Must Have's section.
   
   
3. Take good care of your hair extensions! - Moisture, moisture and more moisture! Your hair extensions need moisture. Since the hair is not growing from your scalp, you need to supply it with the same vitamins and minerals your real hair gets. I highly recommend Dove, Pantene or Nexxus products for your extensions. Also a light leave in conditioner can help with detangling. OIL ALERT: PLEASE DO NOT PUT GREASE OR OIL IN YOUR HAIR EXTENSIONS!!!! If you wear Indian hair, the hair only needs moisture from deep conditioning. You can use a silicone-based product such as Biosilk for in between shampoos. Oil will make the hair stringy and overly shiny in a Grease Lightning type of way. Please, no oil!
   


4. Choose your extensions wisely! - This is probably one of the most important items you need to invest in. You must invest in premium quality human hair. Indian hair is one of the best types of hair extensions you can buy. The textures are very versatile and can blend with the kinkiest of hair textures. You can go between straight and curly with a flat iron and if you take proper care of your hair, it could last you up to a year. Why pay $300 for hair extensions and put $20 hair in? Indian hair does cost more than your normal beauty supply hair however, it will last you way longer. You do the math :). Hair Sugar specializes in selling premium Indian human hair. Our store will launch in the late fall so check back often for updates.

Hair Sugar's Product Must-Haves

Rosemary Mint Shampoo With Sea Moss by Carol's Daughter

Nioxin Cleanser & Scalp Therapy System 3

I hope you take the weave plunge! Stay tuned for weave and hair growth challenges!

XX - H.S.

Need a Mobile Hair Stylist?

In need of a personal hairstylist who can come right to your home in the Atlanta, GA area? Visit http://studioelle.blogspot.com/! Elle can come to your home and provide you with a multitude of services. Check her site out and give her a call at 404.539.7372.

Happy hair styling dears!

The Display Window

Lisa Price, founder of Carols Daughter Webcast

Lisa Price, empireista extraordinare had a live webcast July 21st at 12 p.m. EST and it was fabulous! Users were able to call in or ask questions in the Ustream.tv chat room on the Carol's Daughter Channel. Lisa discussed how she started out, where she is now and where she is going in the future with her beauty empire. Callers ranged from salon owners to book authors and Lisa answered questions they had about her business and offered advice about their businesses. Hair Sugar was able to ask a question! You know we are going to bring it back home always! I asked a question about the effectiveness of the decision to open an online store along with the physical store. Lisa explained how much it helped her business and helped her to reach new customers she may not be able to reach in just one store.

Hair Sugar's boutique is 100% online AND our focus is on an experience. We will reach you, even if you are on your laptop in Japan in a coffee shop. Much like Carol's Daughter, Hair Sugar is a lifestyle for your hair. Accenting your hair with extensions, weaves, wigs, etc., weve got what you need honey!

Check out Lisa's webcast
Streaming live video by Ustream

In love and hair,
Hair Sugar