Who needs a “Valentine” when you have your parents to voluntarily give you goodies and gifts? Not me! My parents have always been my Valentine throughout elementary, junior high, high school and college. One thing for sure is, they will never break your heart, and do not expect anything in return – only unconditional love.

Last year, my mother called me (as usual) to say “Happy V-Day” and to inform me that she had deposited $100 into my bank account. I was ecstatic! I knew that I did not want to make an impulse purchase, so I thought about it and decided to go to Sally Beauty to purchase a GiGi waxing kit. I was tired of paying $10 for a lip or brow wax each time I needed it.

Waxing might not sound like the most romantic of Valentine’s gifts but it has been THE BEST investment ever. I spent less than $70 for all of the supplies I needed and still had $30 to blow! Not to mention, you can easily spend $70 on a handful of salon visits. I have had my GiGi waxing kit for almost a year now, so when you do the math I definitely came out on the winning side. I brag about it all the time. =)

So who needs roses on Valentine’s Day? They die in a week! Tell your lover (or your parents) that you know exactly what you want for V-day this year!

1. Towel dry and detangle first! Blow drying a dripping wet head just adds time and creates frizz.

2.Hold the dryer above your head and point it down the hair shaft to keep the cuticles smooth, and dry one area at a time.

3. Keep the dryer about six inches from your hair to avoid damage from concentrated heat.

4. Use the cool setting after your hair is dry to set your style and reduce static.

That’s it!

Now tell us about YOUR awesome blow dryer and what you like about it!

These little irons are so cute! When I first saw them I assumed they were some kind of toy. Any tool this size could only be a toy right? Wrong!

As it turns out these little irons are pretty mighty and definitely not a toy. They reach almost the same temperature as a full size iron, so it is able to give you the same styles. Also, since they are dual voltage they’re perfect to throw in your suitcase when traveling!

There are several different types of mini irons to create different hair styles such as a spiral or a deep waver. I know I plan on collecting them all. Have you tried any of these mighty minis? Do you have a favorite?

1. Plugged In Mini Spiral Iron
2. Plugged In Mini Deep Waver Iron
3. Plugged In Mini Pink Diamond Flat Iron
4. Plugged In Mini Curling Iron 1/2″
5. Plugged In Mini Curling Iron 1″
6. Plugged In Mini Crimper

Here I am, a wee lad with a buzz cut, courtesy my dad. How I was able to look happy, I’m not sure. (See text.)

I’m going to get right to the point, then I’ll wander off into a tangent. Which is the opposite of what I usually do.

Have you oiled your clipper?

Beauty pros oil their clippers between every single haircut. Have you oiled your clipper even once?

I purchased my awesome Wahl clipper  about five years ago. It came with attachments and accessories, and also a little bottle of oil.

I’m sure the nice folks at Wahl expected me to use the oil. Why else would they have gone to the trouble and expense to include it?

Guess what? I’ve never oiled my clipper. Not once. Five years is long enough, so I oiled my clipper all by myself this weekend. You can, too!

Here’s how to do it:

ONE

Brush out the stray, lost hairs that are lodged in and around the blades. You still have the brush that came with your clipper, right? If not, a toothbrush will work just fine. But it’s kind of yucky, so use someone else’s toothbrush, not yours.

Make sure the clipper is turned off when you do this. Otherwise, you’ll just chop the hairs off the brush, which accomplishes nothing. Don’t ask me how I know this.

TWO

Hold the clipper upside down. You don’t want oil to seep inside.

THREE

Turn the clipper on, and while it’s running, apply two or three drops of oil across the top blade. Rotate the clipper a little so the oil will run evenly across the blades.

FOUR

Turn it off and wipe away any excess oil with a tissue or a towel.

Here’s why to do it:

Oiling the blades helps reduce friction, which will keep your blades sharper longer. When the oil hit my clipper blades, the clipper’s buzzing shifted to a different octave, which tells me things are running slicker now.

If you no longer have the oil that came with your clipper, don’t despair. Every clipper manufacturer sells its own brand of oil, and you can get it at Sally!

Time for the tangent:

You’d expect the sound of an electric clipper motor to send me screaming into the night.

When I was very young, my dad used to cut my hair with an electric clipper. I’m told I screamed like a shark victim the entire time.

Many months passed. Maybe even years. My dad decided to trim his neck with that clipper. He discovered it pulled hair more than it cut. Dad probably did some screaming himself when he made that painful discovery.

Yes, it’s a sad, sad tale. And all the more reason to oil the blades.

Oil your blades and brag about it! Post a comment here and we’ll all share the glory.

I’m sure you’ve been to the Sally Beauty brush section and looked at the wide variety we carry. So have I and well…how’s a girl (or guy) to know which brush is the right brush??? There are just so many! From big to small, round to square, metal, wood, soft and not so soft and the list goes on. Overwhelming, isn’t it? Keep in mind that this is an important tool for styling your hair and using the wrong brush can actually cause damage to your hair or scalp.  Don’t stress, though. I’m here to help. Here’s a quick guide to brushes:

The Vent Brush as the name implies, has vents that allow the air to flow through. This is used for brushing while air drying. It is also used to detangle the hair when it is wet. People with thick hair, or easily tangled hair, should use this type of brush. One of my favorites is Ion Titanium Vented Ionic Brush.

A Cushion Brush is useful for smoothing hair and also good for detangling. This type is recommended for straight to wavy hair of any length since it will leave the hair sleek and smooth. This one is also popular among the guys since it has a nice cushiony feel.  Beautique Tahiti Wood Cushion Brush is a great one!

The Thermal Brush is a more versatile brush. This type is usually a round brush with stiffer bristles. It has a metal frame that conducts heat from the dryer to help mold the hair while using. For straight hair, this brush helps create volume and smooth. For curly hair, it is used to straighten out the curl while blow drying.  Keep in mind that the longer hair, the bigger the barrel of the brush should be. Beautique Thermal Ceramic Brushes are excellent.

There are also other specialty brushes such as the Teasing Brush, whose main job is just that – to tease the hair and create volume. Spornette Little Wonder Tease Brushes are a popular choice among stylists.

I learned the hard way what type of brush is best for curly hair. It took me some trying and testing with all these different brushes to figure out that curly hair gets detangled with a vent brush while it’s wet, and nothing else should touch the curls once it has dried. Unless of course I want the straight look, then it’s the thermal brush for me.

Let me know what are your favorite Sally Beauty brushes to use and help get your gorgeous looks!