Best Shampoos Ever

The last blog discussed the worst conditioners, as rated by consumers, on the market for hair extensions. Well, today I wanted to discuss the best and most moistening shampoos available. These are listed in an order presented by consumers across three major product review websites. I combined the top results to create this list.
Niki Motz, Owner of Pelo Hair Los Angeles

1. BioSilk Volumizing Therapy. This shampoo is a paraben and sufate free formula, perfect for dyed extensions and virgin hair. It also contains UV blockers to protect the hair from fading or losing its luster.

2. Dove Cool Moisture. This shampoo is infused with cucumber, green tea, and Dove's patented Micromoisture Serum to nourish hair, replenish lost moisture, and leave hair soft without weighing it down under heavy moisturizers. I love it because it truly softens hair extensions that may have been over worn or over heated.

3. Redken Clear Moisture. This shampoo leaves all hair clean, light, airy, smooth, and shiny. Some products claim to moisturize hair, when essentially they put a lot of wax on hair to make it look healthy. This product doesn’t do this, leaving it looking clean and light day in and day out.

Do you have a product that you love? Send us your info, photo and story so we can share it with our customers.

Conditioner – What You Shouldn’t Be Using

While our real hair extensions are made from the finest hair, the extensions have been removed from their host source. You want to use good conditioner when washing your Pelo Hair Los Angeles hair extensions. This said, there are some rather harsh conditioners available on the market that you need to stay clear of. These conditioners are listed below:

1. Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly Conditioner, $3.99. This product tends to dull out hair and not shine it up. Plus, it creates knots, not “tousles”.

2. Nexxus Keraphix Restorative Strengthening Conditioner, $18.99. This is a mid-level conditioner, just under twenty dollars. This conditioner is a good reason why price point doesn’t matter. It promises to repair and soften hair. It doesn’t. In fact, it makes hair more brittle but this only shows the next day. There seems to be a flaw in the formula according to many of our clients.

3. Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Conditioner, $6.99. Many people like this brand because it smells good and it is organic. However, for hair extensions, it isn’t ideal. It has a sticky feel to it, which leaves hair easily died out. There hasn’t been anything good on the internet composed about this conditioner.

Have questions about what products you should be using? Feel free to call us at the store or reach out on Twitter.

Until next time,

Niki Motz of Pelo Hair Los Angeles

3 Ways Your Damaging Your Hair Extensions

I was recently asked if it is possible to ruin human hair extensions. I was puzzled. Why would it NOT be possible was the first thing I thought to myself. Human hair is human hair. The person who asked me the question explained the hair was “dead” because it was removed from the host and already killed so damage couldn’t happen. Well, this isn’t true at all. You can always remove hair that has been removed from the host.

Ways to ruin your hair extensions:

1. Cheap brushes. First, brushing hair extensions should be minimal. Don’t apply the 100 strokes rule every night. Second, cheap brushes can knot hair or tear it. If you buy gold standard hair extensions then spend the extra money for a quality brush.

2. Perms. Sure, they are on their way back into style but they can damage hair in a big way. If you want curly hair, buy naturally curly hair extensions or a wig. Perms have to be redone every four to six months and it is a heavy process. Avoid the damage by using hot rollers, a curling iron or buying already curly hair.

3. Too much shampoo. You do not need to wash hair extensions every day or every other day. You should only wash your hair extensions when dirty or every other week. Even once a week is better than once a day. Too much washing of hair (extensions or not) will dry out and damage your mane.

Until next time,

Niki Motz, Owner of Pelo hair Los Angeles

Secrets to Colored Hair

We sell virgin hair extensions and colored hair extensions. Since our hair is 100% real and ethically-sourced hair, you do have to care for it the same as you would your own hair. This is especially true when you purchase colored hair extensions from us here at Pelo Hair Los Angeles.

Here are 5 tips to keep your colored hair extensions looking bright and shiny.

1. Use mild shampoo. We sell products for this or you can buy baby shampoo. You don’t want to use too much shampoo, a harsh shampoo or shampoo the hair more than needed. Each shampoo will break up the dye pigments and make the hair lose its luster quicker.

2. Condition the bottom of the hair extensions first as they are the driest part of the hair. We suggest using a moisture-rich conditioner and combing it through the ends of the extension first, leaving it on for three minutes, and then conditioning the balance of the hair together.

3. Use cold water. Warm water is a mistake as it breaks up the dye pigments. Cold water will not only help keep hair color looking salon ready, but it also helps you keep your hair's health and shine.

Still have questions about buying dyed hair extensions or taking care of them? Please contact us! My team of experts can help you match-order specific products and shades based on your needs.

Niki Motz, Owner of Pelo Hair Los Angeles

Asymmetrical Parts

We here at Pelo Hair Los Angeles love to help our clients decipher what trends will stay around for a while and which ones will be a flash in the pan. Lately, it seems asymmetrical parts are making a comeback and we don’t anticipate this trend dying down anytime soon.

Why asymmetrical part? Well, it works for any shape face and fixes imperfections – well, it gives the appearance of a correction. Whether the asymmetry is in your nose, eyes or lips, a deep or off-center side part can instantly bring harmony to any imbalanced facial feature.

Adding soft, wispy bangs to an asymmetrical part is a great way to correct face symmetry or hairline problems, especially with eyes that may appear too close together or too far apart. The worst thing you can do for eyes that are too close or too far away is to cut a blunt bang and part your hair down the center.

Below are some photos of great asymmetrical parts, which can be achieved with any of our Pelo Hair Los Angeles products.

Niki Motz, Pelo Hair Los Angeles

Summer of the Bob

2014’s Summer Season will be the season of the Bob. Now, you can always add in some Pelo Hair Los Angeles Extensions after summer, when Fall 2014 is going to be the season of waist length straight hair, but if you want to know what the trend for 2014 is – keep reading.

The 2014 Bob trend will feature three main styles of the Bob. The first is going to be the chin length sleek bob. This means lots of hair gel and super straight hair with no volume. Personally, this style isn’t for me but fashion is what it is.

The other Bob style will be the shoulder length Bob with a heavy bang. To achieve this look, you will have to blow-dry your hair to obtain a lot of volume or add in our extensions, which have to be cut, to get more volume. Yes, this summer’s Bobs will be extreme. Either you have a lot of volume or you have none. There will be no in-between.

Finally, the third Bob trend for summer 2014 will be red hair. Yes, deep and dark red hair will be the major trend for June, July or August 2014. So, be prepared to wash out the hombre blonde hair and trade it in for really garnet toned hair if you are going with the trends.

Now, these trends are just what they say they are- trends. If you don’t like a Bob haircut or red hair, don’t go this route. Originality with style is always in style.

Until next time,
Niki Motz, owner of Pelo Hair Los Angeles

Are Extensions Bad for Your Hair?

There is a myth running around the beauty world that hair extensions, real or fake, are bad for your natural hair and scalp. Well, this is wrong. Hair extensions will only damage your natural hair and scalp if they are applied wrong or not taken care of. Like any cosmetic procedure, upkeep is crucial and how the application process proceeds is even more important.

If you buy hair extensions with my company, Pelo Hair Los Angeles, or any other company- the key is to have a professional apply the extensions. According to Allure.com, “Professionals should have undergone training; this is not something you want to have done at your local nail salon. And you should go back to your stylist for maintenance at least once a month. The stylist will make sure that the extensions are on properly, and if one is pulling at the hair, they'll remove it and reapply it the proper way. They can also rotate the areas that they put the hair extensions on so it's not the same group of hairs under stress every time. Rotating means less damage to the hair follicles. “

Clip-in hair extensions also don’t pull as much as other extensions. If you have a super sensitive scalp, or prior damage, then this may be a good option. Again, no one type of extension is better than the other re: damage. In fact, damage is very minimal when hair extensions are applied correctly and well cared for.

Still have questions? Please feel free to call or visit me at the store. I’m always happy to offer insight on our products and hair extensions in general.

Until next time,

Niki Motz, Pelo Hair Los Angeles