Hair's the Scoop

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According to The New York Times, a recent study suggests that redheads have a greater sensitivity to pain, are more resistant to local inhibitors like Novocaine, and tend to require a higher dose of anesthesia than those with brown, black or blonde hair.

Click here to read this fascinating article in full.

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Crave change? Try one of these fast (and fabulous!) styling tips, courtesy of Frédéric Fekkai Salon Creative Director Alexandre Chouery:

Tousled Waves
When getting out of the shower, towel dry your hair and apply Fekkai Luscious Curls Cream evenly throughout. Part your hair down the middle and braid into two loose braids, like pigtails and secure with elastic. Take your blowdryer and dry the hair for 3-4 minutes. Once the hair is dry, undo the braids for sexy, wavy, loose curls that only take 5 minutes!

Sleek & Chic
To take your hair from day to night or from office to cocktails— make a deep side part in your hair over your eyebrow. Secure the hair in a low slung side ponytail. You can use a little styling gel or pomade to smooth the hair down, or add a nice jeweled clip for all-out glamor.

Modern Chignon
For a quick and easy chignon, put the hair into a ponytail. Braid the ponytail hair and secure the end with an elastic. Then take a few bobby pins and pin the braid up- pull a few pieces loose in the front- the result is chic and sexy... And easy!

Sexy & Voluminous
For really sexy volume, flip your head over and apply hairspray throughout the layers of your hair. Flip your head back over and you will have great volume! The big mistake that most women make is applying hairspray to the top of the hair, which only weighs it down.

Luminous Locks
When finishing a blowdry, give hair a blast of cold air pointing the blowdryer down. This will close the hair shaft and leave hair with intense shine.

Adored by the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker and "Gossip Girl's" Jessica Szohr, Blueprint has quickly become the cleanse of choice for New York's elite. And with all the "hair-raising" benefits, it's not hard to see why...

Just a few of the fabulous results you can expect from consuming these yummy juice blends:

Shiny, Healthy Hair and Scalp
Rich in a variety of nutrients and antioxidants (including A, C, zinc, and sulfur), Blueprint Cleanse juice blends help nourish your body and boost overall hair health.

Delayed Grays
Antioxidants prevent free radical damage of melanocytes (color producing cells), which helps delay the aging/graying of hair.

Hair Growth
Vitamin A, abundant in Blueprint's Green and Carrot Apple Beet blends, and sulfur, found in the Green juice, both promote hair growth.

Reduction in Dandruff and Hair Loss
Finally, Zinc, found in the Cashew Nut Milk, helps prevent hair loss and dandruff.

Blueprint Cleanse is now available across the country, with free shipping being offered to the state of California for the month of August, and free delivery in NYC all year round. Click here for additional details.

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Click here to see what Allure has to say about Shampoo's other half.

Inspired to switch things up? Or will you remain loyal to conditioner "til death do you part"?

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Thanks to readers like you, our community is ever-growing, supportive and diverse. You've helped make Hair's the Scoop a go-to destination for all things tress-related, and inspire me daily to get out there and further our quest for "perfect" hair.

But there's always room for improvement, right?

With your valuable input, I'm sure we can take this site to the next level. So kindly drop a line below and let me know your thoughts. (Are there topics/stars/brands you'd like to see more of? Anything you're not too keen on?)

And remember, leave a comment on this or any post on Hair's the Scoop and you'll automatically be entered for a chance to win a luxurious Ouidad prize package, valued at over $200!

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Check out this article on "work-appropriate locks," featured in the August issue of Marie Claire. It's career-specific, and provides helpful tips on how to ace an interview with the right hairstyle.

Do you pay close attention to hair when applying/hiring for a job?

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Since the start of summer, we've discussed everything from how to win the fight against frizz and stars' frizzy coifs, to what we can expect from the next generation of frizz-fighters.

But now it's time for the ultimate advice— tried and tested, must-have smoothing products adored by people just like you. After all, aren't the best recommendations always from our peers?

So go on, what's your favorite frizz-fighting product?

BBC.co.uk

According to Harrods, a person with hair that exceeds 2 in/5 cm in height voilates their "dress code" and can be denied entry into their London flagship store. A British hairdresser by the name of Lisa Mansour found this out... the hard way.

Mansour recently cut her hair in a Mohican-style haircut to raise £1,300 (about $2,137) for Brain Tumour UK, in memory of her neighbour's eight-year-old grandson. Unfortunately for her, however, the thought behind the hairstyle wasn't enough to convince the luxury department store to bend their rules.

"I couldn't believe it, I felt like I was treated like a criminal and everyone had stopped in the shop and started to stare at me," said the 40-year-old of the ordeal.

Do you think stores should be able to enforce such rules? And is it discrimination, or a return to a more "civilized" culture?

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Everyone has their non-negotiable "splurge" when times are tough, and hair care is most certainly one of mine. I may not frequent the salon as much as I'd like, but I still go for trims and color every so often, and take the opportunity to ask my stylist how I can prolong the time between visits (without making a mess of their work).

If anything, the past year has helped me to perfect my blowdrying and styling skills, and forced me to really take the time to ensure that I'm spending my money on products that are worth their sticker price. And also, to read instructions carefully in the name of conservation.

But ask me to trade in my trusted stylist, colorist, and go-to products, and you'll have a very bitter blogger. I'd rather rinse less often— or even take on a 3rd job— than sacrifice the things that help my hair look its best. I'm crazy that way.

According to a recent report, however, my fellow addicts and I are in the minority. A new study has found that 66% of people are claiming a significant reduction in their hair care spending.

Have you cut back on products, treatments and salon services since the economic crisis began? If so, to what degree?

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To keep our locks looking their best, I've asked Marc Mena of Warren-Tricomi Salon in NYC— who counts the likes of Molly Sims, Rachael Ray, and Anna Paquin as clients— to share his secrets for "summer-proofing" hair:

Get Your Beauty Sleep
Prolong a blowout, or any hairstyle, during the summer by sleeping with silk pillowcases in a well air-conditioned room.

Invest in Silicone
No, not that kind. Use a silicone shampoo to coat and seal the cuticle to prevent humidity from getting into hair. Also, for extra protection, go over hair with cool air once you've finished drying it.

Repair & Protect
be sure to use a weekly conditioning treatment to fight summer dry and unmanageable hair. To get "green" and save a little money, create a simple mask from olive oil, egg yolks and mayonnaise. Mix all together or use separately, and apply directly in to hair. After applying, put a shower cap or plastic bag over the hair to seal in the body’s natural temperature to help activate. Then, rinse out and shampoo.

Seal the Deal
Use anti-humidity hairspray when styling hair. The hairspray helps to shield the hair from humidity. In a hurry? Pull hair into a tight pony tail or bun for a sleek and smooth stylist look.

& If You're a Curly Girl...
After shampooing, apply styling product to each curl, distribute evenly, and be sure to follow your natural twists (never go against the curl). And most importantly—Don't touch hair until it is 100% dry. Once your curls are dry you can separate them and have fun with your hair.