Color Me Beautiful

Ingredients to Look For (and Often Choose to Avoid)

Every ingredient has a purpose. These are ingredients I often recommend my clients avoid when there are simpler alternatives available.

Silicones

Dimethicone

* What it does: Creates a smooth coating on the hair, reduces frizz, and adds shine.
* Why I often avoid it: I find repeated use can leave some clients’ hair feeling heavy or coated, especially if they aren’t clarifying their hair regularly.

Amodimethicone

* What it does: Targets damaged areas of the hair to improve softness and reduce frizz.
* Why I often avoid it: While it’s designed to be more selective than some silicones, I still find it can contribute to buildup for some clients over time.

Cyclopentasiloxane

* What it does: Gives products a silky feel and helps spread ingredients evenly.
* Why I often avoid it: it’s commonly paired with other silicones that can leave hair feeling weighed down.

Cyclohexasiloxane

* What it does: Provides slip and improves product spreadability.
* Why I often avoid it: I prefer products that achieve smoothness without relying on silicone-based ingredients.

Trimethicone / Phenyl Trimethicone / Dimethiconol

* What they do: Increase shine, reduce frizz, improve slip, and help protect against humidity.
* Why I often avoid them: In my experience, clients with fine or easily weighed-down hair often do better with lighter formulations.

⸻

Artificial Colours

FD&C Yellow No. 5
FD&C Yellow No. 6
FD&C Red No. 33
FD&C Red No. 40
FD&C Blue No. 1
FD&C Blue No. 2

* What they do: Give shampoos, conditioners, skin care, and cosmetics their colour.
* Why I often avoid them: They don’t improve the performance of the product—they’re there primarily for appearance. I prefer products that focus on functional ingredients instead.

⸻

Fragrance (Parfum)

* What it does: Makes products smell pleasant.
* Why I often avoid it: Some people have sensitive skin or scalps and may react to heavily fragranced products. When possible, I recommend choosing products where performance matters more than fragrance.

⸻

Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives

DMDM Hydantoin
Imidazolidinyl Urea
Diazolidinyl Urea

* What they do: Help preserve products by preventing the growth of bacteria and mold.
* Why I often avoid them: Many brands now use alternative preservative systems, so I often recommend products formulated without these ingredients.

⸻

MI & MCI

Methylisothiazolinone (MI)
Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI)

* What they do: Preserve products and extend shelf life.
* Why I often avoid them: They are recognized causes of allergic contact dermatitis in some people, particularly with frequent exposure.

⸻

PEG Compounds

* What they do: Help mix oil and water and improve texture.
* Why I often avoid them: Many companies now formulate products using alternative emulsifiers, giving clients more choices.

⸻

My Philosophy

There are excellent hair care and skin care brands that create high-performing products without relying on many of these ingredients.

When possible, I encourage my clients to choose products with ingredient lists focused on performance rather than unnecessary fillers, colours, or heavy coating agents.

The goal isn’t perfection—it’s helping you choose products that suit your hair, your skin, and your lifestyle.

🪦Product Graveyard Clean Out!

We all have one… that cupboard full of shampoos, conditioners, styling products, skin care, body washes, and perfumes that promised amazing results but just didn’t deliver.

Bring them to me—or invite me over—and we’ll go through everything together.

I’ll explain:
✨ Which ingredients are working for you.
✨ Which ones may be weighing your hair down or not suiting your hair type.
✨ Which products are worth keeping.
✨ Which ones belong in the “product graveyard.”

If I come to you, we’ll take it a step further! I’ll also teach you professional techniques like blow drying, curling, or Dutch braiding so you can recreate salon-worthy hair at home.

No pressure. No judgment. Just honest advice to help simplify your routine and get the most out of the products you already own.

Let’s clean out the clutter and build a routine your hair will love. 🤍

Why Does Hair Get Greasy So Fast?

Believe it or not, it isn’t always because your scalp is producing too much oil.

Sometimes it’s a combination of:
✨ Heavy styling products.
✨ Product buildup.
✨ Not shampooing thoroughly.
✨ Not rinsing thoroughly.

Think of it this way: if you don’t completely wash yesterday’s products away, you’re adding today’s products on top of yesterday’s. Over time, your hair can start to look dull, limp, and greasy much sooner.

One tip I often give my clients is to double shampoo.

🧴 First shampoo: Breaks down oil, dirt, and product buildup.

🧴 Second shampoo: Cleanses the scalp and hair more effectively, allowing your shampoo to actually do its job.

And don’t rush the rinse! Spend a little extra time rinsing your shampoo and conditioner thoroughly—leftover product can weigh hair down and leave it feeling less than fresh.

Every head of hair is different, so the right products matter. Some heavier formulas can be fantastic for dry, damaged hair but may be too much for fine hair that gets oily quickly.

Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp—and sometimes, it’s not about using more products… it’s about washing them out properly. 🤍

One of the first things I look at is your product routine.

⭐️ Many shampoos, conditioners, serums, and styling products contain ingredients like dimethicone, amodimethicone, cyclopentasiloxane, and other silicones. While these ingredients have their place(rarely), I often find that daily use of multiple silicone-rich products can leave my clients’ hair feeling heavy, limp, and coated over time.

I also see a lot of people using too much product—or not rinsing thoroughly enough. That buildup doesn’t disappear with the next application. It layers.
Healthy scalp= healthy hair !

Why Does Damaged Hair Tangle?

Healthy hair has a smooth outer layer called the cuticle. Think of it like shingles lying flat on a roof.

When hair becomes damaged from heat styling, bleaching, sun exposure, or everyday wear and tear, those cuticle layers begin to lift.

⬆️ Raised cuticles catch on neighboring hairs.
🔄 The strands twist around each other.
🪢 That’s when knots and tangles happen.

The more damaged the cuticle becomes, the more friction your hair creates—making it harder to brush, more prone to breakage, and more likely to develop split ends.

✂️ This is why regular trims are so important. Split ends don’t just stay at the bottom of the hair—they can continue splitting farther up the strand, leading to more breakage and making it feel like your hair “just won’t grow.”

If your goal is long, healthy hair, I generally recommend a trim every 2–3 months to keep those ends healthy and prevent excessive breakage.

Healthy hair isn’t just about the products you use—it’s also about protecting the ends you already have. 🤍

What Is Hair Porosity?

Hair porosity is your hair’s ability to absorb and hold onto moisture.

💦 Low Porosity Hair
• Cuticle is tightly closed.
• Moisture has a hard time getting in.
• Products tend to sit on the surface.
• Hair often takes longer to get fully wet and longer to dry.

🌊 High Porosity Hair
• Cuticle is more open.
• Moisture gets in easily… but escapes just as quickly.
• Hair may dry out faster, feel frizzy, or tangle more easily.

✨ What affects porosity?
Your genetics play a role, but chemical services, heat styling, UV exposure, and everyday wear and tear can all increase porosity over time.

Understanding your hair’s porosity can help you choose the right products and routine for healthier-looking hair. 🤍

🧬 Why Is Your Hair Curly, Wavy, or Straight?

Ever wonder why some people have pin-straight hair while others have curls or waves?

It all starts below the scalp—in your hair follicle.

🔹 Round follicle = Straight hair
🔹 Oval follicle = Wavy hair
🔹 Flat or elliptical follicle = Curly or coily hair

As your hair grows, the shape of the follicle influences the shape of the hair strand.

✨ Fun fact: Your follicle shape is largely determined by your genetics. That’s why some families have naturally curly hair, while others have naturally straight hair.

Your hair is unique from the moment it starts growing! 🤍

⭐️ This is also why curly hair feels like it “takes longer to grow” because it has further to travel before moving past the scalp!

🌱 The 3 Stages of Hair Growth

Every hair on your head is in one of these 3 stages:

🌿 Anagen (Growth Phase) – This is when your hair is actively growing. About 85–90% of your hair is in this stage at any given time.

⏸️ Catagen (Transition Phase) – A short stage where the hair stops growing.

🍂 Telogen (Resting & Shedding Phase) – The hair rests before naturally shedding, making room for a new hair to begin growing.

💡 It’s completely normal to shed 50–100 hairs every day. Hair shedding is a healthy part of your body’s natural hair growth cycle.

The next time you see a few hairs in your brush or shower, don’t panic—your hair is simply doing what it’s designed to do! 💛

What 22 Years behind the chair has taught me

* Expensive products don’t fix neglected hair.
* Consistency beats perfection.
* The healthiest hair usually isn’t the hair that’s trying every trend.
* Confidence is the best hairstyle.
* Most clients are harder on themselves than anyone else is.

Be kind to yourself.

Book in advance! My weekends are shot until September!

A little about me… 🤍

I’m Kelsey! I’ve been doing hair for 22 years, and still very much love what I do. There’s nothing better than seeing someone leave my chair feeling more confident than when they walked in.

One thing that’s really important to me is making my services as accessible as possible. I know everyone’s budget is different, which is why I offer tiered pricing. Great hair shouldn’t have to feel out of reach.

When I’m not in the salon, you’ll probably find me at the barn with my horse or hanging out with my dogs. I also love to travel whenever I get the chance!

If you’ve never been in my chair before, I want you to know that my goal isn’t just to give you great hair—it’s to make sure you feel comfortable, listened to, and leave feeling like the best version of yourself.

To all of my amazing clients over the past 22 years… thank you for trusting me, supporting my small business, and keeping me doing what I truly love. ❤️

Hope to see you soon!

☀️ Summer Hair Survival Guide 🌊

Between the sun, the lake, chlorine, and wind, summer can be tough on your hair—but a few simple habits can keep it healthy and your color looking fresh!

✨ Wet your hair with clean water before swimming. Hair acts like a sponge, so if it’s already wet, it’ll absorb less lake or pool water.

💧 Use a leave-in conditioner before heading to the beach or lake for added moisture and protection. (Silicone free -or your hair will burn and turn brassy)

🧢 Wear a hat when you’re out in the sun for long periods. UV rays can fade color and dry out your hair.

🚿 Rinse your hair as soon as possible after swimming to remove chlorine, minerals, or lake residue.

💜 If you’re blonde, use a purple shampoo only when needed—not every wash—to help keep brassiness under control.

✂️ Book regular trims. Sun and dry air can make split ends worse, and trimming them early keeps your hair looking healthier.

Healthy summer hair doesn’t happen by accident—it just takes a little extra care.

Need a refresh before your next lake weekend? I’d love to help! 💕