How to cut lace fronts, frontals and lace front wigs

If you are buying a lace front wig, lace frontal unit, etc, then as you know, there is extra "lace" material that should be cut away to custom fit your own face. Please do NOT use regular straight scissors/shears to cut this extra material off. I want to scream whenever I see a perfectly straight cut around the hairline!!!

Instead buy some "pinking shears." They have zigzag teeth. They can be found in the sewing areas of the department stores or in fabric shops. Do not be afraid to cut into the wig's lacefront hairline some with the pinking shears. A slightly "messy" cut will deliver the most realistic hairline!


Typically, you would have to pay for a lace front class like I did in order to learn the proper technique, but I felt the need to let my followers know as a gift. So please keep our secret to yourself unless become a follower of this blog site. Smile. Regardless, please show your support by clicking on "Follow" and get connected to me! No extra emails will be coming your way. Visit as often as you would like at your own convenience! Thanks!

Secrets to Smooth Edges

IF you have any curl in your hair, then you probably fight with controlling your front hairline. i.e. your edges! Well, here are a few tips!

If you have over-curly hair, instead of relaxing . . . . try blow-drying with a round brush that has an aluminum/metal cylinder after you have gotten most of the water out of the hair. I just mentioned three key points. "Aluminum/metal cylinder" will finish ironing out your almost dry hair as it absorbs the heat from the blow dryer. If your hair is too wet, then the brush may cause too much tension and pop. So after you get the edges dry and straight, then use dabs of Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding and a soft boar brush to remoisturize and add shine.

If you have slightly curly hair, then while the hair is wet, you can use a little Paul Mitchell Sculpting Lotion and Paul Mitchell Foam around the hairline then use the Blowdryer to finger massage the hair straight until it is dry!

Less healthy options will include heavy gels, but if you just need a quick fix then some noteworty gels are Hicks Total Transformations "Smooth Edges" as well as NuExpressions styling gel.

"Good Hair" Movie - six months later

Okay, The movie hype is over. Chris Rock's "Good Hair" has put Jason Griggers on the map. According to Bronner Bros update in the Feb 2010 show guide, his appointment book has been expanded to months in advance with clients calling from around the country.

I remind you that Jason is a Caucasian male hair stylist that does ethnic hair. "Marcel irons" included. I found it humorous that the "Black focussed" movie actually sent business away from the "Black pockets." But it is all good! A good stylist is a good stylist!

Our Black stylists have to learn to integrate as well. Good hair stylists have to learn hair and all hair types! Embrace continued education!

Congratulations Jason!

Finding a Hair Expert

When seeking a hair stylist, you can't go just by the number of years in the business. I have met quite a few hair stylists with over 15 years of being licensed, but majority of those years were part-time status.

Full-time hair stylists should work at least 40 hours a week in the hair industry. When they are not "behind the chair," they should be researching new industry trends, teaching, or being taught something new.

You really need to be looking for a stylist that is technically savvy and a thinker. Hair and Hairdressing is a lot of chemistry! You want a stylist that thinks like an engineer; not a mechanic. They all have a place in this world, but it is based on your individual needs. A technically savvy hairstylist would start with a consultation before taking you to the shampoo bowl.

A hair expert also will have learned how healthy hair feels and looks. Because hair is long does not mean that it is at its ultimate health. If a stylist knows the feel of hair, then they know that they need more than two products on their backbar. Special circumstances require special needs. For example: There are some hair types that relaxer residue will not rinse clear unless you shampoo it out. Sometimes the base may have been too heavy for the hair type, but regardless of how you get to the situation, you want a hair expert that can feel the hair and know that you may have to shampoo before conditioning. Believe it or not, there are some relaxer systems that recommend conditioning while the cuticles are open, then shampooing. I would caution against that order because there are some hair types that water alone will not rinse the relaxer completely clear.

Now, for the folks performing relaxers at home, box relaxers will cause a calcium buildup if it is a calcuim hydroxide based relaxer. Decalicifying with Organic Root Stimulator (ORS) Olive Oil Creamy Aloe Shampoo occasionally during your maintenance in-between relaxer touchups will help as well.

There are a lot of product lines out there. Learning what is out there and finding what works for each individual client takes DEDICATION. Full-time dedication. If you want to be in the "cattle call," then the service prices are cheap. That is just to get your "hair done."

Now, if you want a hair expert and a personalized regimen surrounded around your allergens, hair type, and lifestyle, then it will cost you more. However, beauty is priceless.

Weather, Travel and Hair!

Have you ever relocated and/or travelled to a different area and all of a sudden your hair starts to break?

It is the weather. God forbid if you are in a city where the weather is constantly changing.

What do I mean by this? There is both dry heat and high humidity weather that you have to be on the lookout for.

If you travel to parts of Texas, Los Angeles, and any other "dry heat" city, then you need more moisturizing conditioning treatments. Very little protein. Protein treatments and dry heat can cause breakage. If you are travelling to a dry heat area, then please buy a moisturizing mist such as Pureology Colourmax spray for your hair while you are there or make sure that you receive a pure moisturizing treatment such as Graham Webb Back to Basics Coconut Mango conditioner or Pureology Hydrate conditioner if you want some scalp stimulation.

IF you are in a high humidity area, you do not have to worry about hair breakage, but you may worry about holding a style! You need more protein added to the hair in order to hold the style in high humidity areas. Always balance the protein with a moisturizing conditioner. A good protein boost would be Paul Brown Hawaii's Ressurrect conditioner. It is a good balance of protein and moisture. Redken's Real Control Intense Renewal Masque layered with the Pureology Hydrate Conditioner is also a good protein plus moisture treat for the hair.

Some areas of the South has high humidity one day and dry heat the next; this is dangerous conditions for those who do not shampoo everyday. If your focus has been to keep some protein in the hair to combat thermal styling/flat ironing, then a dry heat day in the middle of the week can be a recipe for breakage. Just keep a Moisture Mist around. Paul Mitchell has one and Pureology has Colourmax. It is not going to drench the hair or mess up your style. It is going to mildly soften the hair; yet maintain your style.

Now, on the flip side, if you know that a high humidity day is coming, humidity block and/or hairspray is needed. Joico has an award-winning humidity Block spray. Spray it liberally. It is not going to make it stiff. Just restyle after you spray it throughout the hair. You will still have the same movement in the hair. Now, if you need the curls to hold, then use a holding spray after the humidity blocker.

Sounds like a lot of work? Weather is unpredictable; but it matters . . .