How-To Blowout Giveaway!

There really is so much more to blowdrying hair than simply getting it dry, especially when you're working with hair that is textured and voluminous. It's an art, and stylist, salon owner, and beauty blogger Tequila Fletcher is an artist. Don't believe the rumors, a well done blowout looks good on any hair type. Naturally curly and coiled hair can be made sleek without sacrificing body and bounce, while straight stands can be lifted an volumized. To prove it, Tequila is sharing with us her step-by-step pro tips for getting a perfect blowout for two very different hair types: natural + relaxed. Her tools of choice? amika of course, the Power Cloud Repair + Smooth Dryer, Straight Up Smoothing Balm, Oil Treatment, and Touchable Hairspray... and we're giving them away!

1) Start off with clean and conditioned hair.
2) Section hair into four sections.
3) Apply amika Straight Up Smoothing Balm to hair from root to ends. (Only apply a small amount of product. Too much product will make your hair greasy and weigh it down.)
4) Set your amika Power Cloud Repair + Smooth Dryer on a low/medium warm setting and proceed to dry the hair until 80% dry.

5) Clip all but one section of your hair.
6) Set your dryer to a higher and warmer setting and proceed to continue drying your hair using a medium round or paddle brush. Smooth the hair by sectioning small sections until done.
7) FLAT IRON TIME (do if you need to at this point). For those of you with natural hair, please make sure you are using a flat iron that heats up to 400º. For those of you with relaxed please make sure your not using heat higher than 300º. Smooth out your hair until finished.
8) Finish your hair using by using a few drops of amika Oil Treatment (if desired) and use the amika Touchable Hair spray set your perfect results.

How-To Blowout Giveaway!

Now that you've learned the steps to getting an amazing blowout, we're giving you the chance to win all of the amika tools + products you'll need to make it happen! Enter for a chance to win the ultimate blowout set that includes: the amika Power Cloud Repair + Smooth Dryer, the amika Straight Up Smoothing Balm, the amika Oil Treatment, and the amika Touchable Hairspray. We'll be choosing 5 lucky winners, 2 from Facebook, 2 from Instagram, and 1 from the entry form below. Contest runs Aug. 8-15th. (Open to US only. Prizes are non-refundable, and subject to change based on availability.) 

• For Facebook: LIKE+SHARE this post.
• For Instagram: Follow @love_ amika and @tequilaglamtresshair and repost this picture with #howtoblowout
• Follow the entry rules below. The more ways you enter, the more chances you have to win.

GOOD LUCK everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pro Tip

ProTip: Oil is great for many things, but a moisturizer it is not! Moisture is hydration, and can only be achieved with water or water-based products. Using oil as your moisturizer could eventually dry out your hair. Instead, use amika Oil Treatment as a sealant, to lock in moisture and keep excess moisture out. 

amika: 5 Ways to Fight Frizz

1. Shampoo --the right way...
Use a sulfate-free shampoo that will cleanse your hair without stripping it of it's natural oils. amika Color pHerfection Shampoo will clarify your scalp without leaving your hair stripped + brittle. Shampoo less, shampooing too often can dry out your hair. Instead, opt for a dry shampoo. amika Perk Up Dry shampoo will remove excess oil from your hair, adding texture + lift to refreshen your locks. Pre-Poo, as in before-shampoo, to protect your strands. Apply a conditioner or oil treatment to your hair prior to shampooing. Rinse out or leave-in while you shampoo, to prevent shampoo from completely stripping hair while you wash.

2. Put the towel down...
When possible, air drying is always the healthiest option for your hair. But you can blot with a microfiber towel or T-shirt to reduce friction that can raise the hair cuticle causing frizz.

3. Harness the power of the negative ion...

If you are going to use a blow dryer, make sure it's equipped with a negative ion feature. Negative ions will reduce frizz by closing the hair cuticle. The amika Repair + Smooth Dryer has negative + positive ions. Positive ions dramatically reduce drying time, while negative ions leave hair silky and shiny! Diffuse, to evenly distribute heat in a way that is less damaging to hair and that will reduce drying time. Curly girls, listen up please! Diffusers are the way to go when blowdrying curls; use it to cup your curls so they maintain their shape during the drying process.

4. Moisturize + Seal...

Deep conditioning regularly will restore hair's moisture. Use a deep conditioner like the amika Nourishing Mask at least once a week to strengthen + repair hair. Lock in the moisture from water + conditioning by sealing your strands with an oil/silicone based product. Focusing on your ends, apply a thin coat of a product like the amika Oil Treatment. This will keep hair from drying out, while also protecting it from humidity in the air that can cause frizz. 

5. Hands off, please...

Especially once your hair is dry, the more you fuss with it the more frizz you create!

images (in descending order) via: blog.myfdb.com, (amika), instagram.com/felixfischerhair, fuckyeahfantasyhair.tumblr.com

PRO TIP

ProTip: For hot humid days, rub the amika Oil Treatment into damp hair and then pull hair back in a bun. You will be cool, look chic and be nourishing your hair all at the same time!

Image via: Angela Lindvall for Marie Claire

amika Obliphica Haircare Line in Modern Salon

The amika Obliphica haircare line is getting praise yet again! Thank you to Modern Salon for featuring the entire "Obliphica Line of Haircare" on their website. The line consists of a slew of styling products all of which are enhanced by more than 190 biologically active compounds found in the sea buckthorn berry, the star ingredient of the Obliphica line. We've harnessed the power of this Siberian native berry, if it can stand up to the harshest climate conditions in the world, then the daily wear-and-tear we put on our hair is certainly no match for this line of haircare products!  Shop the enitire Obliphica line at shop.loveamika.com 

amika Obliphica Hair Care in the NYTimes

"The Beauty World Plucks the Sea Buckthorn Berry" - NYTimes 

The Sea Buckthorn Berry is revolutionizing the beauty world! The New York Times featured amika Obliphica Hair Care as one of the first to embrace the miracle beauty ingredient. The Obliphica collection is based on the sea buckthorn ingredient, which is rich in hair nourishing components like Vitamin A + C, antioxidants, and the rare Omega 7. The line consists of all the products you could possibly need to maintain healthy hair for a variety of hair types. Shop the entire Obliphica Hair Care line at shop.loveamika.com

Halloween Hair: "Pumpkin Hair Mask"

After all of the Halloween fun has been had, you'll be left with hair that is in serious need of some TLC. Being the hair junkies that we are, it's not the candy that we look forward to on Halloween. We prefer sweet treats of the all-natural hair conditioning persuasion, none being easier to find after Halloween than the pumpkin. Instead of throwing out your left over jack-o-lanterns or baking them into pies (you'll have plenty opportunity for that come Thanksgiving), revitalize your hair with this DIY Homemade Pumpkin Hair Mask recipe.

Pumpkin pros:  

• Vitamin-A an antioxidant that promotes scalp health.
• Vitamin-C which helps promote hair health and growth.
• Potassium which helps promote hair re-growth.
• Great for all hair types, especially dry/damaged hair.

Step 1 - Cook your pumpkin.

• Cut your pumpkin into small chunks and combine in a microwaves safe bowl with your preferred cooking oil. (Olive oil and vegetable oil are good choices). 
• Heat until pumpkin is cooked through evenly, and then mash into a paste.

Step 2 - Add plain yogurt. 

• The hair scientists at naturallycurly.com recommend yogurt because it's high in lactic acid and has natural antibacterial properties that cleanse hair, stimulating hair growth and preventing dandruff.
• The proteins in yogurt work to strengthen hair and smooth hair strands to reduce frizz. 

Step 3 - Add your favorite hair oil.

• amika Obliphica Oil Treatment contains oil from the sea buckthorn berry, a few added drops will work to enhance any deep-conditioning treatment.  

Step 4 - Add honey.

• A few teaspoons of honey will work as a natural humectant. It acts to bind water to the hair strands to retain moisture. 

*TIP* The positive ion setting on the amika Power Cloud Repair+Smooth Dryer will open up the hair cuticles, making it easier for the treatment to penetrate the hair strands.

Step 5 -  Apply the treatment, and cover with a plastic cap for 15min. Rinse thoroughly. 

Folica's Video of the Week

Our very own brand manager, Chelsea, meets with Folica to discuss our favorite berry- the Sea Buckthorn Berry, otherwise known as Obliphica. We have harnessed this super fruit into an oil and infused it into our products, creating a rich, lavish treatment for your locks.

Why we love Sea Buckthorn Berry:

• 15 times more vitamin C in one berry than an entire orange
• Combats frizz and breakage
• Works with all hair types
• Contains amino acids, fatty acids, lipids, antioxidants, bioflavanoids, and omega-7
• Smells AMAZING
• Can be used every day

Thanks, Folica!

Amika in InStyle Hair Magazine

The Amika Obliphica Oil Treatment was featured in Instyle Hair! They recommend using the oil to tame the frizzies.

Here's what they had to say:

"As we get older, the hair becomes courser, accentuating frizziness and making it harder to tame, points out hair care stylist Adam Livermore. Add a few drops of vitamin E (or Amika Obliphica Oil Treatment $34, at Sephora) to your shampoo or at-home hair color to soften and protect your strands. Also, ask your stylist for naturally blending layers to help thick, dense strands fall smoothly around 

your head."

We love their beauty tip: "add a few drops of Amika Obliphica Oil Treatment to your shampoo to soften and protect strands."

The straightening comb also received high praise as an expert-approved tool!

Obliphica Oil Treatment Review on Product-Girl.com

@llglossy from www.product-girl.com "set out on a mission" to grow out her hair 2 years ago and found that "the key is protecting the ends of my hair and preventing heat damage. Amika Oil Treatment is a savior!" Learn how to "fend off crispy ends," read her full review on our Oil Treatment and how she uses it here.

amika Obliphica OIl Treatment on Good Day LA

Good Day LA's Style File recommended Beach Bag Beauty Essentials to make you look and feel your best. amika Obliphica Oil Treatment made the cut. Click here to watch the clip.

Hitting The Beach or Pool This Weekend? Read These Tips First

If you are lucky, you will be frolicking in cool waters this weekend. There are tricks to keeping your hair at its beautiful, healthy best after a swim. Below find a collection of expert tips on how to protect your tresses while taking a dip.

From RealBeauty.com:

Hair soaks up chlorinated water like a sponge. The chlorine build up has a greenish cast which is visible on blondes and brunettes alike. To prevent his try "Saturating your hair with conditioner before hopping in the pool is your best defense against chlorine discoloration, but lazy girls who skip that step would fare well to rinse with a clarifying shampoo après swim to remove any hue-altering impurities."

From CBSnews.com:

"Make sure you carry a bottle of water with you so you can wet your hair throughout the day before jumping in for a swim — a big, water-filled spray bottle is a good option to throw in your beach tote."

From MarieClaire.com:

If you don't have a glamorous beach hat to protect your scalp, "prevent a sunburned scalp by combing a small palm full of white sunscreen (yellow formulas can tint pale hair) through your strands, starting at the roots."

From Afrospuffsandponytails.com

"Chlorine and salt water both dry, discolor, and damage hair. Chlorine binds to the hair, filling in gaps in the hair shaft. Mineral deposits in salt water make hair brassy and brittle. Both severely dehydrate hair. Imagine how these elements affect delicate, kinky/curly hair which tends to be much drier than straight hair... Follow up with a little club soda; it makes for a good post-pool rinse. I recommend wearing a swim cap as often as possible."

From the Birchbox Blog:

"After frolicking in the surf and sitting out in the sun, my hair can be left stripped and coarse. Also, given that the beach tends to be a pretty humid place, it’s important to tame frizz. I love the Amika Obliphica Hair Treatment because it restores shine and health and deals with frizz and fly-aways without being too heavy."

From RealBeauty.com

""When hair is very dry, the cuticle is open and strands feel rough—like a piece of Velcro," explains Michael Duenas, founder of Hair Room Service (a deluxe service that provides hairstyling house-calls to celebs). Use a deep conditioner with ingredients like Omega 7 and Vitamin C to hydrate hair."

Obliphica Oil Treatment Review on Sickthanaverage.com

Sickthanaverage.com did a piece on our Obliphica Oil Treatment. They share a lot of great info on Sea Buckthorn Berry aka Obliphica you'll want to read this.

Hot Ingredient = Sea Buckthorn, says BeautyBlitz.com

According to BeautyBlitz.com Sea Buckthorn is the hot ingredient! The nutrient rich ingredient has been "a part of traditional Chinese medicine for centuries" and is now "popping up as a hot ingredient for hair and skin." amika™ Obliphica Oil Treatment was featured, "fried frizzy strands can get some much needed nourishment." See the full piece here.

Delightful Vintage Clothing and Hair Accessories

We spoke to the owner of Fille De Joie one of our favorite vintage spots in Williamsburg recently. Obsession usually propels the most successful entrepreneurs and her story is no different. She is a self-confessed shopaholic. She described, I think rather aptly, the shopping sensation, "as something cannot be controlled, it is a women's hysteria. Women are always chasing something that alludes them that if they had it they would be on top of the world." In her case her shopaholism has worked to her advantage because she has amassed a trove of exuberant vintage that has some faithful fans in Brooklyn and Manhattan. She says she loves the women that shop at her store: "They are very spirited, they are self-inspired, the pieces talk to them."

She is originally from St. Tropez and has been antiquing and vintage shopping since she was 9 years old. She appreciates vintage for the craftsmanship and quality materials. As well as the romanticism, "it is full of promises, secrets of more happiness."

On the subject of hair she mentioned (without us prompting her, I swear!) that he favorite current product is an Argan Oil Hair Spray. She had just returned from Puerto Rico and had been swimming in the pool and ocean. Her hair was very dehydrated. She found the Argan Oil didn't weigh down her fine hair. We will have to deliver her some amika™ Oblphica Oil Treatment and Shine Spray for sure :-).

We asked her about the very charming hair piece she was wearing that day. It was a fringe of Victorian beads that she had fashioned into a hair clip. Occasionally she finds sewing details like appliques and beads that she rescues and turns them into beautiful adornments for the hair. They are all one of a kind. Stop by her store to see if she has any on hand and view her collection of fabulous vintage fashion.

Fille De Joie
197 Grand Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
718-599-3525