The past 4 months have been a challenge for all of us – whether you were deemed essential and worked tireless hours, you were confined to your home with little outside contact, or worst case – you were sick. Now that everything is slowly opening up and returning to “normal,” we’re all trying to adjust to this new lifestyle. Salons were one of the many businesses that had to remain closed throughout the majority of the quarantine (depending on the state), and everyone was DIY-ing their haircuts and color. Thankfully, many salons are back open, but only at a limited capacity and no one really knows what will happen these next few months. That’s why this week we decided to focus on what you CAN do at home to get that fresh-from-the-salon feeling we’re sure you’ve been craving!

A big part of the salon experience (especially for women) is not just getting a haircut – it’s the ambiance, the chit-chat with your stylist, the relaxing smells, and the overall feeling of being pampered. It’s very difficult to replicate this on your own (even more if you have zero experience doing hair!) and there will never really be a replacement for the salon experience. HOWEVER, we at Paul Joseph Professional have a few products and tips that can help you gain back even a little bit of that spa-like feeling.

First and foremost, it’s all about picking the right shampoo/conditioner for your hair type. We depend on stylists to make this decision for us, but it’s really easy to ask yourself a couple questions that will narrow down the selection. 1. Is my hair color-treated? 2. Is my hair fine/thin? 3. Is my hair oily? It’s quite simple from here – if you have color-treated hair, you go for a color-protecting, sulfate free shampoo & conditioner (such as LOCK IT IN Color-Protecting Shampoo & Conditioner) to keep your color vibrant and your strands moisturized. If you have thin/fine hair that needs a boost, look for something with “volumizing” in the name, or anything “lightweight” so it doesn’t weigh your hair down (like our STACKED Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner.) And if your hair is ultra-oily, you may need something stronger, like a clarifying shampoo (we have REAL CLEAR Clarifying Shampoo). And make sure to smell them first! Paul Joseph Professional uses scents like basil mandarin and coconut to create that escape-from-the-world spa-like feeling. Don’t underestimate how impactful the scent of your hair product can be!

The most challenging part to do at home is the blow-out – so challenging in fact that there are salons dedicated ONLY to blowing out your hair! While the technique can be difficult to get the hang of, it’s also about using the right products to get the results you want. There are many blow-out and blow-dry sprays on the market, and most will help to dry your hair faster and create a shiny finish (like UPGRADE Quick Blow-Dry Spray) which is the key to a nice finish. If your hair us especially unruly, we recommend combining the blow-dry spray with a leave-in treatment or conditioner which will re-moisturize dry hair and keep your waves and curls bouncy and flexible (such as INTENSITY Leave-In Treatment.) And finally, finish off your look with a moisturizing and nourishing serum or oil (like ENHANCE Shine Serum) to pull everything together and give you that professional touch. These products, combined with a wet-hair brush, a steady hand, and a good hair dryer, will have people asking you WHERE you go to get your hair done! Now is the time (since we have so much of it lately) to educate yourself on little things like this – because you never know what the future holds!

So stay safe out there, experiment with your hair styles and products, and take the time to pamper yourself. Because you can’t help others without helping yourself first! 😊

Hair & Photo by: Kim Bruno @kimmykimster

Golden highlights, soft balayage, icy platinum… it’s finally summer, which means it’s time for blonde, blonde and more blonde! (Or, if you’re a hair stylist – bleach, bleach and more bleach!) Despite it’s bad reputation for causing damage, we at Paul Joseph Professional know that hair lightening is a major part of the beauty industry (and it’s not going anywhere!), so we have some tips and products to help you protect your bleached hair this summer and all year long!

1. PREPARATION! Prior to any color or chemical treatment on your hair, it’s important to start with a clean, pure canvas. Product buildup and environmental pollutants (ie. smoke, dirt, etc.) can prevent the treatment/bleach/color from fully penetrating the cuticle, leaving you with less than ideal results that will fade quickly. Therefore, we recommend using a moisturizing clarifying shampoo to strip away impurities left on your hair and scalp without over-drying. If you use a shampoo that doesn’t replenish your hair’s moisture, the bleach will dry you out more, causing breakage, dullness or even hair loss.
   
   We recommend using REAL CLEAR Clarifying Shampoo prior to any bleach services. It’s mild yet effective and contains the patented “LUSTRE  X” – a conditioning agent which will keep even the driest hair soft and  manageable.

2. PROTECTION! Once you achieve the blonde of your dreams, you’re going to want to maintain it as long as possible – the less you have to touch it up, the less damage you’ll cause. The two biggest culprits of hair damage/discoloration during the summertime are UVA/UVB rays and chlorine. The radiation from the strong summer sun can degrade the protein in your already fragile bleached hair (causing dullness, frizz, and breakage), and the chlorine from your refreshing pool can turn that blonde an unflattering shade of green. For these reasons, we recommend using a leave-in conditioning treatment that can shield against the absorption of UV rays and chlorine. The conditioning element will also keep your hair moisturized – a very important factor for color-treated hair.
   
   For UVA/UVB and chlorine protection, we recommend INTENSITY Leave-In Treatment. This water-based formula (containing sunflower seed extract) is ultra-hydrating, nourishing, and absorbs the UVA/UVB rays and chlorine so your hair doesn’t!

3. PREVENTION! Besides the damage, brassiness is the other major issue bottle-blondes run into. The environment plays a role in this as well – your hair absorbs common pollutants which can create a yellowish/brassy tone. Usually by the time you notice it, you need to re-bleach or re-tone your hair to get rid of it – but there’s a way to prevent it from happening all together! That clarifying shampoo you used prior to your hair treatment is the star of the show yet again – it’s super-cleansing nature will remove impurities that may discolor your hair before the brassiness is apparent. By using a clarifying shampoo once a week, you can keep those golden or icy tones radiant for longer – reducing your need for salon visits and touch-ups.
   
   To beat the brass, we once again recommend REAL CLEAR Clarifying Shampoo. When used once a week along with your regular hair care routine, you’ll notice less discoloration and a brighter, healthier looking blonde!
   
   

Now you have all the tools to be smart about bleach this summer – and beyond! So go out and show off that sparkling blonde!  

Banner Photo & Hair by: Kim Bruno @kimmykimster 

No matter your hair type, it’s likely that you use SOME sort of hair product on a regular basis – a leave-in treatment, a pomade, hairspray, gel, etc. Thankfully these products have come a long way and aren’t nearly as harmful for your hair as they used to be. There’s still one downside to putting anything in your hair – it builds up! Although most products gets absorbed into the hair and scalp, or comes off naturally during the day, a significant amount WILL remain on your head. This can lead to dandruff, an oily/greasy appearance, breakage, or can even hinder the growth of new hair. No thank you!

Most people think the pesky build-up issue is solved with a simple hair wash and you’re back to a fresh clean slate. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. With the rise of the “anti-sulfates” movement, the general public usually opts to use a gentler shampoo as to not cause hair damage or color fade. And while it’s true that sulfates add intensity to the cleansing process, they are not always harmful; and in some cases, they’re necessary!

Think of your hair as a car for a moment. Especially in these New England winters, the exterior will take a real beating from salt, sand, and muddy slush. Then the springtime rain comes and washes that all away – giving the appearance of a clean (well, cleaner) car. But rain doesn’t have a whole lot of pressure, and that caked on salt and mud doesn’t budge. So you take your car to a car wash where specialized tools use pressure, soap and water to deep clean and you’re left with a sparkly looking-like-new result. Great! But if you looped back around and repeated the process multiple times, the paint is eventually going to wear down. That’s how sulfates work. When used in moderation and when truly needed, they can be extremely helpful.

So when and how should you be using a clarifying shampoo (such as REAL CLEAR)? There are a couple types of situations that call for deep cleaning. First, and as previously mentioned, build-up. Based on the texture of your hair, using a clarifying shampoo from once a week to once a month is recommended to break down the product build-up, unclog your hair follicles, and remove excess oils. Without all that weighing you down, you’ll notice the appearance of shinier, more voluminous hair. And underneath, a healthier scalp less prone to drying and dandruff.

The second use for clarifying shampoos is to create a “blank canvas” for color application. Many products these days protect the hair by creating a film around each individual strand. This film prevents outside toxins and/or heat treatments from penetrating and causing damage or color-fade – all good things! However this film will ALSO prevent the color from effectively bonding to the hair and it won’t last as long as it should A shampoo such as REAL CLEAR will remove that barrier when used prior to coloring, allowing for a stronger bond and longer lasting color.