Ask Mischo Beauty...

This week's question comes from Rachel, who asked the following:

"First, LOVE your blog- secondly, I need your help! I wear my hair straight during the winter (curly during the summer), because it's just easier to care for. With wearing my hair straight, I both blow dry and flat iron so I'm in need of a serious heat protectant! Any suggestions?"

Thank you- and yes, absolutely! I'm glad you've realized that you do NEED a heat protectant, because by the time summer arrives and you begin wearing your hair curly again, your hair will show signs of damage (depending on how often you heat style your hair)! My advice is that you heat style no more than once, maybe twice a week - if possible.

Now, you didn't share your hair type or texture, so my recommendation will include heat protectants that work for a variety of hair types. Please keep in mind that you will need to do research on each to determine which will work best for you. So here are my recommendations:

- Aveda Brillant Damage Control
- Mizani ThermaStrength Strengthening Style Serum
- Tresemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray
- Silk Elements MegaSilk Heat Protection Spray
- Sebastian Trilliant
- Biolage Thermal-Activating Spray
- John Frieda Frizz-Ease Thermal Protection Hair Serum
- Kerastase Nectar Thermique
- Biosilk Silk Therapy
- Paul Mitchell Seal and Shine

And yes, there are many more, but I've listed those I've used and liked - or those I've received great feedback on... oh, and I'm not brand loyal.

I hope this helps. Please stop back by and let us know how you decide to move forward!

If you have beauty questions you'd like answered, please send them to mischobeauty@gmail.com.

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Mischo Beauty's Top 5 Summer Beauty Picks featured on Hot-Coco.com!

I was given the opportunity to share my top five summer beauty picks over on Hot-Coco.com. Check them out and be sure to let me know what you think. I hope you love them as much as I do! Enjoy.

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MIZANI True Textures

Girls with curls, it's time to bid adieu to generic "curly hair" products. Forget nonspecific creams, gels, and puddings that pay little attention to your particular type of curl. Like all hair, curly hair comes in various lengths, shapes, and textures. I love a brand that cares about my curls' personality (and mood swings). If I don't finger it out, my hair typically falls into small ringlets. Lately, I've been feeling a bit more adventurous, so I've been going for a looser, bigger coif. Whether you prefer the later, or like your mane more tame, or anything in between, I recommend Mizani's True Textures Collection. Since I've been using the line, I have more versatility and styling options.

If you want a tighter curl, try their True Textures Perfect Curl Defining Cream Gel. It defines the curl while adding shine, without making the hair hard like gel can. It's a cream and gel in one, which moisturizes and separates the curls.

Nowadays, I am less keen on structure, so I love their Moisture Stretch Curl Extending Cream. The cream is smooth and light, and is ideal for those who want to release an already defined natural curl. Again, my hair is a natural spiral (Type 3), and I use this when I want to let loose!

Even better, True Textures is a complete line with shampoos and conditioners specific to curly hair with a variety of cleansing and conditioning options. Mizani's True Textures Curl Balance Color Safe Sulfate-Free Shampoo gives a deep down clean, without the grassy feeling of the hair being stripped of moisture. And since I've gone lighter for the summer (as many of us do), a color safe shampoo is important.

Their Cleansing Cream Conditioning Curl Wash is my favorite! It's a shampoo and conditioner in one, for those in-between days when you need a cleansing to remove product build-up, but are not yet ready for a proper, time-consuming shampoo-conditioner-deep conditioner-production. Or really, if you're like me and you wet your hair often, it's a great refresh.

The True Textures Curl Replenish Intense Moisturizing Masque is a nice, light, but effective conditioner that provides moisture and a really great shine.

I'd say that this line is ideal for any curly look, whatever your hair feels like. Thank goodness, cause my hair is one moody gal!

Be beautiful, and be well. -Ayanna Shamese

Disclosure: Products in this post were provided for consideration by the company. For more information, please see my disclosure.

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Mischo Beauty Pick: MIZANI Moisturfusion

As much as I loved Mizani products back in the day, I'll have to admit that it's been years since I've used them. And so my reintroduction to them has been with the Moisturfusion regimen of products which includes the Milk Bath (which contains milk of almond and silk proteins) and the Silk Cream Conditioner (which also contains milk of almond and coconut oil). I LOVED the scent of both the shampoo and conditioner, but it was the fact that I found both to be very moisturizing that sealed the deal. I recently relaxed my type 4 hair, and so I'm finding that I need all the moisture I can get!

And because my hair is naturally on the drier side, I chose to use the Butter Rich Deep Nourishing Hairdress followed by a light spritzing of the Gloss Veil Shine Spray as my "blow dry treatment". My personal preference is to us products such as these when my hair is wet and the cuticle is open. This way I'm able to ensure that the products are infused into multiple layers of my hair, as opposed to just the first and possibly second layer.

My end result- well, nothing less then soft, shiny hair! This is perfect for those with drier hair types/issues and works with both natural and relaxed hair (I know because I used them on my hair- both natural and relaxed!).

I'd love to know what your Mizani favorites are and why!

Disclosure: Products in this post were provided for consideration by the company. For more information, please see my disclosure.

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