Guy, remember my hard core girl crush for Alexa Chung?

I met her! And I got my picture taken with her. It was at the Madewell party, where her new line Alexa Chung for Madewell was launching. I snuck out of a party Jake was working at to go to this party, and since I was alone, and considering Chung is my hard core girl crush, I was suddenly a shy Reagan, and all my great ideas went out the window.

So, let’s use some imagination. This is what I was going to have Alexa Chung do for us.

I was going to take a little video of her saying hello to all my great Hairdresser on Fire friends, and then I was going to ask her what her favorite hair: trend, product, style or era is. And she was going to answer in her smart, raspy British accent. Using smart British words like….Brilliant! Rubbish! Bloke! Kate Moss!

She would have done it. I know it. Because she is super cool like that. And I saw her doing a little interview with a small fry blog like my own even though the pre-party for press had ended. I know she would have done it, and that is why I’ll never forgive myself.

I can only imagine how fun a little mini Alexa Chung interview would have been.  For me and for you too. So, forgive me. Next time I won’t be so shy.

Q by Carolyn: Does razor cutting make your ends more likely to split and get damaged? I like the look, but I always feel like my layers grow out “fluffy” after a razor cut.

A by Reagan: Yes and No.

Yes, when you’re comparing it to regular scissor cutting. No when you’re comparing it to no cutting at all. Any cutting is good for your hair’s health, but using a razor does thin your ends out, so when heat styling or chemical treatments start to get to it, your already thin ends will split faster than they would had they been blunt cut. But a razor isn’t damaging. Especially a very sharp razor. Razoring is a great way to add texture to your hair cut, and it can make styling so much easier depending on what type of cut you actually have. It can make your hair hold curl better and blow drying easier and faster, it’s a great technique.

Razor cuts are good for people who get their hair cut often, or who have short hair. If you are the -I get my haircut three times a year if that- person, I’d say skip the razor cut. Unless your stylist is using it on your fringe (bangs) or front angles.  Some of my short haired clients who I use a razor on say they go much longer between cuts because it grows out so nicely. So it is also very much a matter of preference.

What do you all think about razor cuts?

Q by Heather: I’m a lifelong blondie and just recently took the plunge into red.  Everyone keeps telling me that red fades the fastest, so what do you recommend for preserving the color so I can extend the time between colorings as long as possible?

I have very fine, soft, limp hair, and have found a color-safe volumizing shampoo/conditioner that I LOVE, so I’d prefer to continue using those, merely adding color protecting products to these products and not replacing my shampoo and conditioner.

A by Reagan: Going from blond to not blond is tricky. Blonds tend to have more porosity than everyone else, so the color fades the fastest. It’s also true that red fades faster that other tones, so you are in double fade fast mode. Here is my recipe for preserving color…

~Use Shampoo for color treated hair (which you’re doing Heath! Good job! Can I call you Heath?)
~ Shampoo less often. Remember how much I like dirty hair? Here is another perk to dirty hair…shampoo strips your color little by little every time you do it. So the less you do it, the less you are stripping! I don’t want stripper hair!
~Use a color depositing Shampoo once in a while (maybe once a week? once every other week?). You have to get one that closely matches your color level. I recommend this one.

*Note* I posted this picture of Christina Hendricks because she is a natural blond who went red when she was just a little girl! And also I posted this picture of her because Madmen is my favorite show and her character is the main reason for that..

I’ve been meaning to write about Keratin for a while now. I’ve gotten several questions about it so it’s really about dang time I discuss it on the blog! If you don’t know what it is, Keratin (or Brazilian Blow Out) is a protein treatment that smooths and fills the cuticle of your hair, dramatically reducing frizz. It is applied to clean, dry hair and then sealed in with a very hot (450 degrees F) flat iron.

Here are some pros:
~Blow drying your hair will be half the job for you
~Blow dries will last days longer
~Blow drying your hair will be half the job for me! (but not half the money, too bad, hehehe)
~Hair will look shinier, healthier and smoothier
~It’s not a chemical process, so it isn’t damaging (aside from the 450 degree flat ironing)
~You might get yourself a boyfriend/husband in like one minute

Here are some cons:
~It’s expensive, my salon starts at $300 and goes higher depending on length and thickness
~You have to use specific sulfate free shampoos
~Some people have said it relaxes parts of their hair unevenly after the second or third time getting the treatment
~You can’t shampoo, tuck your hair behind your ears, use a headband/pony or sweat for three days after getting the treatment, which is inconvenient

Good to know:
~It is not a Relaxer/straightener. It will soften your wave/curls, but don’t expect pin straight hair a la Japanese straightener.
~It last 4-6 months.
~It takes 2+ hours for the treatment.
~Like I said, you can’t shampoo your hair for 3 days, or use a pony or anything that might kink it.
~Some brands are still using formaldehyde in the product, so be sure to google the specific brand before getting it. Most have cut out the formaldy, but just make sure.
~Keratin is best for people with wavy to curly or frizzy hair who straighten or blow dry it. It is really a miracle treatment for this type of person, and it is definitely the newest hair craze. For good reason.
~I don’t get Keratin on my own hair, because I like frizz and also it softens wave, which I don’t want since I wear my hair wavy every day.

If you are the right person for it, it is a really amazing treatment, and very worth the money. I have seen Keratin change people’s lives. I have a regular client with afro-hair who gets keratin and every time she comes in for a blow out, I feel like it is one of those times in your life when you have done something so miraculous in just 45 minutes that you accidentally kurtsy afterwords and everyone whispers about it later. And also since she started getting the Keratin, I no longer feel like I have just spent 2 hours at the gym when I’m done with her. So that’s always nice.

I definitely recommend the Keratin treatment.