Curly Q’s (& A’s) Series

As we prepare to kick off our 5^th Annual Curly Hair Month in August, we wanted to offer hair tips and answers to all your curly hair questions.  Our resident curly hair specialist, Megan Atkinson, excels in curly hair care but is also a certified straightening stylist.  Many of us know that maintaining curly, frizz free hair, can be tricky, especially when faced with heat and humidity we see here in our area. Luckily Bella Bethesda has the tips, tricks and tools to keep your curls looking fabulous year round.

Curly hair month is also a great opportunity for clients who normally wear their hair straight but would love to ditch their blow dryers and irons when it’s hot and humid. Learn how to manage your curls leading up to curly hair month with Bella Bethesda's Curly Q's (&A's) Series! Below is this week's Q & A with Megan, and stay tuned next week for more of your curly questions answered.

1.     I have curly hair, should I wash my hair every day?

Experts agree that it is not necessary or beneficial for any hair type to wash every day. Doing so can strip your hair and scalp of its natural oils, leaving the ends feeling dry and sometimes causing the scalp to overcompensate for the lack of oil.

2.     What is the importance of products?

Curly and wavy hair needs extra hydrating and strengthening hair because the twist and bends can naturally leave hair exposed and vulnerable without it; add in chemical processes and heat styling and curls can take a real beating. Style wise, curls and waves need an appropriate ratio of moisture and hold, which may vary by hair type and texture as well as seasonally. In general, hair may need more moisture during dry winter months and more hold during humid summer months.

3.     What are some products that will help keep my curls intact if I'm not washing my hair every day?

If you feel like curls don't hold up well after a good night’s sleep, try rinsing with conditioner instead of shampooing. Conditioner still contains surfactant which will help to remove dirt and oil, while leaving your curls hydrated. We also like to use a leave-in conditioner in spray form such as Phytomist or Sebastian Potion 9 Lite to refresh curls.

4.     How do you refresh your curl on the second day?

Avoid rewetting the hair with water because the pH of water is different than that of hair which may cause the cuticle layer to reopen resulting in added frizz. If you rewet the hair, be sure to apply conditioner again and rinse. Conditioner still has surfactant in it (the ingredient found in shampoo that rinses away dirt and oil) but will help to rebalance the pH and keep the hair hydrated. For a quick reset, try misting the hair with leave in conditioner like Phytomist or Deva mist-er right or adding a little Phyto 7 to smooth out frizz and refresh without weighing down the hair or making it greasy.

5.     Are there any good dry shampoos that you recommend for curly hair so I don't have to shampoo every day?

Our new favorite dry shampoo is by Coppola and contains keratin to help strengthen and hydrate hair while absorbing oil and odor.

Weekly Trend: Dimensional Hair Color that Flatters

Bella Bethesda Expert: Boy Sharp

A look that is tailored to flatter your unique features is one that never goes out of style. Bella Bethesda color expert Boy Sharp says that dimensional hair color is a secret weapon for enhancing your natural beauty. While many people consider face shape and skin tone when deciding on a haircut and color, they do not realize the dramatic effect the use of dimensional hair color and placement can have on their appearance. This technique is achieved by using lighter, brighter, warmer or bolder hair colors in certain areas as accents, and darker, deeper or cooler hair colors to contour face shapes and features. A flattering color can also be enhanced with the use of highlights, lowlights and glosses, which create subtle variations in color.

Boy recommends these general guidelines to find your ideal look:

Narrow and long facial features and face shapes: Place contour hair colors on the top of the hairline near forehead, and accent hair colors on the sides near eye and upper cheek. The latter will accent eyes and help remove the appearance of a longer face.

Round or fuller features and face shapes: Use accent hair color near the crown of the head and forehead and keep the contour colors just below the cheek, jaw line and nape areas.

Triangle features and face shapes: Use accent hair colors at and below the cheek areas to widen or straighten the jawline. Avoid placing accent colors right in the forehead hairline.

Pear shape or inverted triangle face shape: Keep accent hair colors to the areas around the top of the cheekbones, forehead, hairline and crown area, and use contour hair colors below cheekbones and around the jaw line.

Square face shape and features: Use contour hair colors from below the cheekbone to the jaw line to soften a stronger jaw, and also along the sides of the forehead area. Use accent colors at the center top of the hairline, and sometimes right above the cheekbone areas.

Weekly Trend: The Knotted Ponytail

Bella Bethesda Expert: Brittany

At Bella Bethesda, we're all tied up trying to create knotted ponytails, a look that is both youthful and delightfully unexpected. This look requires long locks and is the perfect way to get your ponies out of their tired routine. Bella stylist, Brittany, has a few easy steps that will add that little something extra to your updo.

1. Start with dry hair and work a styling pomade throughout your hair.
2. Divide hair into two even sections, straight down the middle of your head. Pull one section to the side and underneath the other section of hair.
3. Tie a knot in the hair and pull tight to secure. Tie another knot below the first and secure the ponytail with a hair tie.
4. To create extra body and a more casual look, tease the remaining straight part of the ponytail with a fine comb and finish with hairspray.

Voila! Who knew knotted hair could be so stylish?

Bella Bethesda supports Inner Beauty

As Bella Bethesda prepares to mark its fifth anniversary, we will celebrate our most creative and collaborative runway show and charity benefit to date.  The October event will provide an opportunity for Bella’s stylists to showcase their talents while supporting the salon’s commitment to giving back to the community, this year to Look Good…Feel Better.


Our staff began our commitment to Look Good...Feel Better on Monday, June 11 when 15 stylists participated in a half-day training session at the American Cancer Society. The American Cancer Society’s Look Good…Feel Better program provides support for women with cancer to look and feel beautiful again, empowering them to regain their self-image and the confidence to face the challenge of a lifetime. This nationwide program offers free workshops and educational resources that address hair and skin changes and concerns, and offers lessons on the following:

Wig Wear - Learn how to pick a wig that's right for you and how to take care of it.

Beauty tips - Discover a 12-step make-up guide that will give you a gorgeous glow.

Skin and nails - Find methods for dealing with discolored nails and dry skin.

Head wrap - Learn how to cover your head with a stylish scarf or trendy turban.


The workshops are facilitated by 14,000 volunteer beauty professionals in more than 3,000 locations nationwide. During the past 22 years, the program has served more than 750,000 people with cancer in the U.S. and more than one million people with cancer around the world.  Now that our volunteered staff have completed the certification training, they are entered into the American Cancer Society's database and noted as an active LGFB volunteer for our area.  The program is made possible through a national collaboration of the Personal Care Products Council Foundation, the American Cancer Society, and the Professional Beauty Association/National Cosmetology Association.

Another unique opportunity for our stylists will be a nationwide cut-a-thon on October 10, where Look Good...Feel Better has partnered with Sexy Hair, a beauty product line.  A portion of our total sales will be donated to Look Good...Feel Better. Sexy Hair can now add their name to many legendary beauty brands that have teamed up with Look Good...Feel better such as Revlon, L'Oreal, Arbonne, Elizabeth Arden, and Avon.

Our staff is committed to this partnership and look forward to the upcoming challenge.  We are dedicated to improving the self-esteem and quality of life undergoing treatment for cancer and proud to help make a positive impact on the lives of men and women who are fighting this disease.  For more information about this organization please visit http://lookgoodfeelbetter.org/.

Weekly Trend: The Messy Chignon

Bella Bethesda Expert: Amanda

Say "oui" to a classic French hairdo that is the epitome of effortless style. The chignon is one of the easiest updos to achieve and is perfect for every occasion, from running errands to walking down the aisle! A saving grace for hot, humid weather and bad hair days, the bun can be styled to be slick and modern or soft and romantic. This updo is appropriate for any age group but works best on thick, long hair. To get the look, follow three basic tips from Bella Bethesda stylist, Amanda:

1. Tie your hair back into a ponytail. Separate the ponytail into two even sections and spray each with hairspray.

2. Pull the right section around the ponytail toward your left ear, loop under and secure with bobby pins.

3. Repeat Step 3 with the left section and secure with bobby pins and finish with hairspray.

You don't have to always start with a regular ponytail at the back of your head. Try a side ponytail before creating your chignon and you have a charming updo perfect for special occasions.
And for a more dramatic and modern look, Bella stylist Brittany recommends the top knot. To get the look, slick hair back into a high ponytail to create a bun that sits close to the top of your head. If you don't have thick or long hair, hair filler or extensions can be added to intensify this mod style.

Weekly Trend: Blunt Fringe

Bella Bethesda Expert: Megan

Full, dramatic bangs offer an instant dose of cool to any haircut. This style is replacing softer, side swept fringe and is certainly not a look to hide behind. Bella Bethesda's fringe expert, Megan, is a huge fan of this fresh cut and recommends it for clients with straight or wavy hair. Just beware: those with curly hair or hair with unruly growth patterns should stay away from this style. Megan also says it is crucial you consult with your stylist about which type of fringe is right for your face shape. In general, wide, blunt bangs work best on the following face shapes:

Oval: Since this is the most symmetrical face type, it is the perfect canvas for any type of bangs!

Long and Oblong: Blunt, wide bangs are your best friend if you have a long, narrow face. This cut will add width and balance to your features.

Square: This face shape should embrace a full bangs that are cut narrower in the middle.

Straight across, wide bangs can draw attention to the widest part of heart shaped and round faces and should be avoided. Instead of trying this trend, opt for longer, side swept bangs that hit below the chin to create the illusion of a longer, more balanced appearance.

Bella Bethesda stylist and makeup artist Tania shows off edgy bangs with straight hair.

Weekly Trend: Voluminous Blow Dry

Bella Bethesda Expert: Jenn

Let your hair down and embrace the timeless look of the big, bouncy blow dry. This look adds tons of volume and is appropriate for any age or occasion. Even if you are not genetically blessed with the tresses of Kate Middleton, you can easily boost locks by knowing the proper blow drying technique.
Bella Bethesda Salon's stylist, Jenn, shares her tips for getting a straight from the salon look at home:

1. Evenly distribute a volumizing product such as Phyto Volume Actif throughout clean, damp hair. Rough dry about 80% of your hair motioning downward with small sections.

2. Start by blow drying the section closest to the nape of your neck. Pull hair in an upward motion with a round brush.

3. Continue to dry your hair as you work your way up the head, section by section.

4. Once you get to the crown of your head, press the "cool" button on your hair dryer and let the hair cool on the brush before pulling it away from the hair. This is called setting the hair. Finish with hairspray such as Phyto Light Hold if desired.

5. For even more body, use hot rollers to create loose, smooth curls.

This look works best on medium to thick hair but is also a great technique to boost limp, fine hair. An added bonus, this blow dry is a fantastic way to work your arm muscles!