Beauty in Color: Simple Chic Hair Styles for the Season
By Daria V. Wright

Great hair gone bad? We’ve all had at least one major blowout with our hair. Maybe the aftermath was a bit like chemical warfare as a result of over-processing, a crudely colored coif, or some other hairiffic tale of faulty straightening that left you begging for a hair revival.

Fear not, this month I’m delivering some of the prettiest advice in the nation from Diane Da Costa, Celebrity Stylist & Author of Textured Tresses, just before she kicks off her nationwide American Beauty Tour. (Da Costa’s talented hands have touched the tresses of Lauryn Hill, Lenny Kravitz, and Blair Underwood.) I’ve also discovered a few jewels that will transform your mangled manes into treasured tresses that would make Rapunzel jealous.

Bain de Terre’s unique and delicately scented Sugar & Fig Scalp Scrub ($18 at  baindeterre.com) removes impurities, exfoliates  and energizes the scalp. It is ideal for all hair types including frizzy, parched hair. While fig and a combo of other fruity ingredients serve as moisture therapy for your newly lustrous locks, this scrub can also be used for the body.

Naturally kinky hair tends to be drier, and more prone to breakage which is why Da Costa applauds Phytospecific’s ability to hydrate naturally textured hair. “Nourishing products like PhytoSpecific soften and smooth, while protein strengthens damaged and over processed hair.”

Fusing nature and science, Phytospecific’ s plant derived Intense Nutrition Shampoo ($24 at sephora.com) is ideal for color treated hair, perms or relaxers, and quenches thirsty strands with hydrating panthenol, restructuring wheat protein, and nourishing macadamia and kukui nut oils. Aprés Shampoo with the Phytospecific Nutrition Mask ($28) to replenish lost nutrients in damaged hair. This product strengthens hair with wheat amino acids, repairing illipe butter, and detangles with grapeseed and wood cellulose.

“Ingredients with botanical and essential oil ingredients, like the Phytospecific products, provide the highest quality results for both textured and relaxed hair.  Products made with these ingredients can be used on all textures with great results. While products made for relaxers should only be used on relaxed hair, as they are specifically formulated with protein to strengthen hair that has been protein reduced due to the chemical process,” explains Da Costa.

The summer months are a great time to embrace every kink, curl, and wave on your head with hairstyles that require less maintenance than a blow out or relaxer. “Take advantage of the moisture and humidity in the air during the summer months,” suggests Da Costa.

Sandal season is the perfect time to explore styles such as twist outs, small individual braids, and wash and go hairstyles such as cute yet disheveled up-dos (think gypsy-chic). I adore Barex’s Multifunctional Re-define Crème ($29 at oloffbeauty.com). It offers weightless shine, and is essential for turning curly hair silky straight, or creating well-defined, curls with a flexible hold. Habitual ponytail divas get an insanely smooth look with Barex’s Glass Crystalline Fluid ($29.50). This must-have product fights frizz and creates a smooth, glassy finish.

Ladies, let your hair story this summer read as simple chic. I concur with Barex’s simple mantra penned on the packaging:  "No need for life to be so difficult."

Beauty in color is our monthly beauty column aimed at reviewing products, highlighting color trends, and focusing on the hair care and skin care needs of women of color. Please contact Daria V. Wright if you have story ideas or product suggestions.