TweetFollowing in tow with this month’s giving spirit, celebrity hairstylist Billy Lowe in Beverly Hills will be donating 20% of all October proceeds to the Breast Cancer Foundation. Located in a private studio within the Chess & Berman Salon Building, near the Loew’s Hotel in Beverly Hills, Lowe works his exclusive magic by appointment only. <... >

TweetOctober is our charity issue. Plus it’s Breast Cancer Month to boot, so we’re providing a roundup of products whose sale proceeds help fund initiatives to eliminate the disease. Breast cancer affects millions of women every year, and each of us at some point in our lifetime will sadly and most likely know someone who <... >

TweetTired, wind-swept hair and a “˜do that’s irritated by pollutants and the every day vicissitudes of living in New York City. What’s a girl to do? Once you’ve tried every shampoo in town (and then some ““ those imports can be tempting), the hair still looks a little frazzled. Hair masques may not have the <... >

Tweet Clarify Straightening, coloring, curling, oh my! The things we do to our strands to make them look sensational. I love trying new hues and “˜dos every day of the week, but by the same token you have to care for your hair with the right products if you are going to experiment with styles. <... >

TweetIn a not so far away land, but far enough from the hair melodramatics of the Beverly Hills woman, resides the quaint yet sophisticated Luxelab Salon in Santa Monica. A plush environment without Hollywood theatrics attracts those of no-nonsense attitudes and celebrity clientele in search of designer haircuts. One would only suspect that Barbie, now <... >

TweetI know I shop during a time when new products are sprouting up like mushrooms, and it’s hard for me to stick to something more than a few weeks. Before you can blink, I’m off to test the next brand of strand-perfector that looks both eye-catching and affordable. And just when I think I’m definitely <... >

TweetSuffering from limp strands? Looking for a little lift and tons of texture? Vying for volume at the crown? If you’ve answered an emphatic “yes” to any of these questions, then wait “˜til you get your mitts on Aveda’s Pure Abundance Hair Potion, a magical brew that pumps up the volume. I’m not going to <... >

If you’re like me, picking a hairbrush is like picking a toothbrush. Yes you know the basics (brand names, durability, price point all factor into the equation), but do you really know what you want? Or is the process a treasure hunt, filled with mysterious clues and perhaps a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?

We spoke to a few hair gurus. This is what they told us about picking the perfect hairbrush:

There are specific types of brushes for specific uses. A round brush is good for styling. A paddle brush (the thing that looks like a paddle with cushioning, bristles and a bare back) is great for everyday brushing.

Good things come in threes. Most brushes have three types of bristles: boar, nylon and metal, or a combination thereof. Boar brushes tend not to go too deep into the hair, but stay on the surface. But they are used by stylists because they smooth the cuticle of the hair and help it glow like tinsel.

“Most styles start with a paddle brush” says Sandy Taylor Furst, Master Colorist and Stylist at the Raymond Marc Salon in Walnut Creek, CA. “If you want more body, then graduate to the round brush.” Before you start to dry your hair and brush with a paddle brush, put some hair cream or oil on your hair (a light spritz will do). “Don’t put oils on your scalp, “says Taylor Furst. “Only mid shaft and at the ends of your hair.’

Some good paddle brushes include the Oak Styling Collection Brush from Creative Hair Tools ($23.90), which detangles hair easily and is great for long hair. This one has boar bristles and added nylon which protects the scalp while stimulating it.

A less expensive but good detangler is the new “Ouchless” brush by Goody, which is great for thick, full hair that needs a little streamlining. The embedded cushion also prevents hair from collecting at the bristle’s base.

It’s hard enough keeping hair in shape during yet another hot and humid summer, what with having to fend off frizz, dryness, and sun damage, but its about to get much easier to balance the delicate ecosystem atop our heads.

And getting smart about your hair means understanding that a healthy scalp equals healthy hair. After 10 years of research and development Phyto has launched a revolutionary new shampoo, Phytoprogenium. This contains Progenium, a breakthrough active ingredient, which encourages the activity of beneficial bacteria while eliminating harmful germs from the scalp.

The formula for sizzling summer hair starts with the botanical ingredients found in Progenium. Two types of sugar alcohol derived from natural resources like straw, milk, wood, and bran stop harmful bacteria from adhering to hair and promote the generation of good bacteria that promotes hair growth.

When I was a little girl, I’d dread the summer. I had curly hair, and during the cooler, dryer months, my mom would blow it out straight for me. However, as the heat and humidity came, she threw up her hands and apologetically handed over the headband. The battle was lost, and I knew I was destined to resemble a brillo pad for the next few months ““ the whole time running scared from every mirror in my wake.

Curls can be hot and sexy, but not when Madame Frizz Fest comes along. And while thermal reconditioning treatment worked out great for me, as the roots began to grow back in, I felt the familiar gnawing grow in my gut. I needed a solution. Praise the lord, a lot has changed! There are some great tools of the trade out there now for gals suffering a similar atmospheric injustice. No hats required.

Eager for a hot summer style? The first step to maintaining hair’s health (and moisture!) is a good shampoo and conditioner. We loved Activate’s Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner. Enriched with Activate’s salon-quality Hydro-Infusedâ„¢ Complex, these products are a blend of Cupuaçu Butter, Vitamin E, and a bunch of other powerful vitamins and minerals. Something about this concoction works ““ I just came in from 99-degree humidity weather”¦and am frizz-free! My hair already started to feel revitalized, shinier, and softer. Check out the entire Activate Beauty product line at www.activatebeauty.com ““ it’s surprisingly affordable as well!

After washing but before using any styling tools, it’s imperative to give your hair some moisture-rich coating. (You wear boots in the snow; why should your hair be different?) Again, Activate impressed us with their Straightening Cream ““ a powerful hydration preservant and humidity barrier. Fabulous results too from Garnier Fructis Style Shine Cream-Gel, which worked to maintain hold and style without feeling stiff or sticky. Garnier Fructis contains fruit microwaves, so your hair will also smell delicious ““ even when mixed with other products and heated tools! Honorable mention too, in this category, to Dove’s Smooth & Soft Anti-Frizz Cream/Weightless Moisturizer. For those days that your hair feels extra brittle and dry (or that you may be using extra heat on it) ““ this is a gem to add to the mix. It’s also great to use after styling to tame those annoying fly-aways.