Banishing Bad Hair Days since 1997!™

Long Hair: 101 Tips

Introduction

Rinko Kikuchi Dreamgirls Premiere 12-11-06

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If you talk to ten different long hair care experts you will received ten different opinions about the very best long hair growing, care and maintence tips.

The very best tip for long hair is to develop your own best tips.

Her haunting portrayal of a young handicapped Japanese in Babel who is exploring her awakening sexuality has already won her worldwide critical acclaim.

Recently nominated for her very first Golden Globe Award for her supporting actress role, the 25 year old Japanese born (January 6, 1981 in Kanagawa, Japan) actress was also recently honored at Hollywood Life's Breakthrough of the Year Awards.

Although Rinko is up against some tough competition for her Golden Globe supporting actress award, her incredibly moving portrayal has left an indelible mark on the minds and hearts of her scores of new fans (including yours truly).

Washing And Drying Long Hair:

1. For dry ends, opt for applying jojobo or similar oils to the ends. 2. Try detangling dry hair before washing. This prevents extra tangles. 3. When possible wash your hair in the shower. Leave hair hanging down. Gently pat a sudsy foam down the length. Never pile it up on your head while washing. 4. Concentrate conditioner on the ends. 5. Do a final rinse in cold water - refreshing in summer, worth the discomfort in winter. 6. Air dry whenever possible. 7. Acquire a water absorbent hair drying towel. 8. If you need to blow dry, do it just to remove excessive moisture and allow hair to air dry the rest of the way. 9. If you have to blow dry, keep the diffuser attached to the nozzle so it won't get sucked into the dryer. 10. When blow drying is the ultimate goal, consider plopping or plunking hair into a towel to remove most of moisture before beginning to blow dry. 11. Although some hair experts might disagree, never ever use brush on wet hair. 12. Detangle from the ends up to the roots. Never try to rip through tangles or knots. Work from the bottom to the top. Take your time and work with a "hair friendly" wide tooth smooth comb or pick. 13. Never ever sit near a large electric fan to speed up dry. There is danger of hair getting tangled. 14. Never use a hand dryer in a bathroom. 15. Consider buying trial sizes of newly released shampoos and conditioners without a major investment. 16. Try rotating your shampoo/conditioners. Your hair may respond well to a change in brands. 17. Keep in mind you may need to utilize different products according to the seasons. 18. Remember every scalp and head of hair is different. What works for others may not work for you.

Listed below are some great styling tips:

19. Braid damp hair to set waves. 20. A top knot is another good "style that sets". A top know will have lots of volume when you take it down. 21. Buy a long hair doll to practice different hair braiding styles. Or use a string mop. 22. For an easy and different braid style, divide hair into three individual sections. Make a braid out of each section and braid the three braided sections together. 23. If your hair is straight and you want to add a little texture, set it curlier than you may want. Comb it out before bed and allow it to relax while you sleep. 24. Practice different French Braids. Practice always makes perfect. 25. Learn a variety of different long hair buns. 26. Opt for non-alcohol hair sprays since they are less drying. 27. Use a leave-in conditioner before any heat styling. Avoid heat styling when possible. 28. Select only wide-toothed combs or picks with smooth teeth.

Tear Free Trimming For Long Hair

29. Trim your own hair if you don't have a hairdresser you can trust. 30. If you trim your own hair, put a leave-in conditioner or gel on ends before trimming to keep them in place. 31. Trim the ends of individual hair strands that are split above the split. 32. Frequent tiny trims are less traumatic than infrequent large trims. 33. If you can't trim your own hair, maybe your boyfriend or husband can do it for you. 34. Never let someone who obviously dislikes your hair trim it for you. 35. Don't get more than a trim unless you are absolutely, totally sure you want it. If you have any doubt at all, then that proves you really want to keep your hair long.

Great Styling Tools

36. Don't wear "automatic" barrettes with sharp metal edges. You can paint the sharp parts with clear nail polish to make them dull. You will need to paint several coats. Let each layer dry before adding more. 37. Braid scares or ribbons into your hair for unique looks. 38 Make your own chignon foundations by rolling up nylon stockings into a donut shape. 39. Clean combs, picks and plastic brushes often with diluted dish soap and a soft toothbrush. 40. French twist combs work great and are kind to long tresses. 41. Utilize chignon picks and hair sticks for top knots and rolled buns. 42. Always use coated or snag free elastics on your precious strands. 43. Use sponge rollers. They are very gentle. 44. For the largest selection of hair accessories for long hair visit HairBoutique.com Marketplace.

Great Hair Books

45. All New Beautiful Braids by Mary Beth Janssen-Fleischman 46. Beautiful Braids by Patricia Coen and Joe Maxwell 47. Beautiful Braids by Mary Beth Janssen-Fleischman 48. Beautiful Braids by James Takos with Karin Strom 49. Braids and More by Andrea Jeffery 50. Braids and Styles for Long Hair by Andrea Jeffery and Vickie Terner 51. More Beautiful Braids by Patricia Coen and James Waqenvoord 52. Twists and Braids Made Easy by Mary Beth Janssen-Fleischman 53. Great Braids by Thomas Hardy 54. Hair - A Book of Braiding and Style by Anne Akers Johnson (comes with 3 scrunchies) 55. Salonovations' Braids & Updos Made Easy by Jamie Rines Jones

Long Hair Hazards

56. Be careful when sitting in chairs that fold so hair doesn't get caught. 57. Keep hair pinned up and out of the way when near candles, flames, stoves or similar. 58. Avoid letting hair blow in the wind while riding in a convertible since hair can knot and rip. 59. Braid or twist hair up and away around babies or young children who like to latch onto hair. 60. In an emergency tuck hair down into clothes to protect it. 61. Avoid clothes with buttons on the side or back. Hair can get wrapped around buttons (it's happened to me and it horrible to untangle). 62. Be careful around machinery such as electric fans or any machines with exposed rotating parts. 64. Keep hair pinned down during rain or wind.

Here is some common sense advice for the health of your hair, and in some cases, the rest of you, too!

  1. Don't color - your hair will be healthier.
  2. Don't crash diet - it can cause hair loss.
  3. Don't perm - your hair will be healthier.
  4. Don't smoke - your hair will smell better.
  5. Don't smoke - your hair won't get dull and discolored by the tobacco smoke.
  6. Don't smoke - you will reduce your risk of cancer (Chemo is not good for your hair!)
  7. Don't hang around smokers - see previous three tips.

Long hair is beautiful! Enjoy your own! Enjoy seeing it on other women!

  1. Compliment other long-haired women on their hair. Take pride in it together.
  2. Feel good about how much money you save by wearing long hair. Recommend it to your friends.
  3. If someone compliments you on your hair, savor the compliment.
  4. Remind yourself how few women like their own hair. We do like ours!
  5. Watch "Dr. Quinn" reruns and savor the scenes where Sully brushes Michaela's hair!
  6. Write to fashion magazines and urge them to feature more long hair articles (where the hair is not "made over" to short hair!)

I am 41 years old and want to encourage"older" women like me to keep their hair long:

  1. There is no age limit for wearing your hair long - and if you need convincing, consider the ladies listed below:
  2. Crystal Gayle - born 1951
  3. Jane Seymour - born 1951
  4. Peggy Fleming - born 1948. Her hair isn't extra long, but this lady isn't afraid to let it flow as she approaches age 50!
  5. Jane Fonda - born 1937 - her length fluctuates, but lately has been beautifully long. And she is 60 years of age!
  6. Did you know that silent movie actress Louise Brooks, who was sort of the high priestess of the bob, had long flowing silver hair towards the end of her life? Even she eventually knew the truth about long hair!

Unfortunately, some people will dislike your hair and tell you so, directly or indirectly. Here are some tips about that:

  1. If someone criticizes your hair, try to just ignore it.
  2. If someone says "Your hair is so long" but you're not sure if they are complimenting you or not, just tell them "Thank You."

Answers to the stupid question, "Do you think you'll ever cut your hair?"

  1. A nice, simple, truthful answer: "Probably never."
  2. Say: "I don't think I'd be wearing it this long if I wanted to cut it."
  3. Say nothing. Just look very confused that they'd ask this.
  4. Say: "Why do you think I would want to do that?"

Answers to another stupid question, "How can you stand having such long hair?"

  1. "It's no trouble at all, actually."
  2. "It's worth the trouble."

Answers to someone who suggests, "You'd look so pretty if you cut your hair."

  1. "Actually, I think YOU would look prettier with LONG hair, but I have my taste and you have yours."
  2. Just stare at them as if they've lost their mind.
  3. Say, "That's funny, most people tell me how pretty I look BECAUSE my hair is long."

Answer to a dumb remark someone else is apt to say to you if some other lady cuts her long hair, namely, "You'll be next!"

  1. "Don't count on it."

And my last tip, so we can keep enjoying the Long Hair Site for a long time to come:

  1. Keep sending Frank your photos, interviews, tips, and feedback!

Relatively unknown in the United States before her stunning work in Babel, Rinko has been making the rounds of the Hollywood Red Carpets and showing off some fabulous hair style chops.

Rinko Kikuchi Hollywood Life's Breakthrough of the Year Awards 12-10-06

DailyCeleb.com All Rights Reserved

At the December 11th premiere of the much touted Dreamgirls, the petite Rinko (5" 6") rocked the Red Carpet in an uber feminine frock accessorized simply with a white and black pearl necklace and matching earrings.

Her golden blonde tresses were swept to one side and then pulled back into a smooth twist with a few random soft strands allowed to escape along the back in a flirtatious fashion.

The tresses along the crown were lightly tousled as if fingers were carefully deployed to lightly lift and separate the strands. The crown was styled to create a slight "hair bump".

The finished look provided a resemblance to lightly runched fabric with a hairstyle that was sleek, sexy yet dressy.

Follow the steps below to steal Rinko's Sleek Updo Pony.

Rinko Kikuchi Hollywood Life's Breakthrough of the Year Awards 12-10-06

DailyCeleb.com All Rights Reserved

1. Since this style works best on aged hair do not shampoo unless you prefer to do so.

If you do shampoo be sure to also condition hair with products created for your hair texture, type and current condition.

If your hair is colored or chemically treated like Rinko's be sure to use products that address these special needs to prevent the development of dryness or damage.

2. Use a comb with a tail and create a short side part extending from the hairline on the right side of the face towards the back of the head.

Note: This part should only be 1/2" to 1" in length.

3. Direct front section of hair off to the opposite side. Back comb the hair directly behind the hairline to create fullness and volume. When desired height is accomplished smooth hair lightly with fingers.

4. Use fingers and smooth the sides and top of the hair directing it towards the back of the head as you would when createing a ponytail.

Rinko Kikuchi Hollywood Life's Breakthrough of the Year Awards 12-10-06

Fox/TV All Rights Reserved

5. Capture hair into a ponytail configuration, holding the pony in place with your fingertips on one hand. The new pony should rest at the middle of the back of the head between the nape of the neck and the top of your head or what is known as the crown section.

6. Do NOT wrap the base of the ponytail in an elastic band.

While holding the pony with one hand take the very tip of the ponytail and wrap it once up and over the base. Push the pony hair up so that the hair along the hairline section is pushed up.

7. Pin the newly loop securely in place with bobby pins the same color as your hair. As you pin, push hair along the top of the head up to create messy fullness.

8. Back comb the tail of the pony and then smooth light with fingers. Fan the ponytail over the top of the pinned base.

9. Apply styling wax or paste to your fingers. Gently use fingertips to lift individual sections of hair along the hairline to give the hair a messy ruffled look.

Finish with a firm holding hair spray. One to try is Paves Professional Firm Hold Repairing Hair Spray. which has been voted as a great Elnett style spray.

Rinko's Curled Bun

When Rinko appeared at the 2006 Hollywood Life's Breakthrough Awards she set her Glamour Thermostat to high.

Rinko Kikuchi Hollywood Life's Breakthrough of the Year Awards 12-10-06

DailyCeleb.com All Rights Reserved

Wearing a classic little black dress that featured a demure front coupled with a daring backless cut, Rinko combined the look of old Hollywood with lots of sexy back accented by a silver medallion style medal that dangled seductively between her shoulder blades.

Rocking red strappy pumps and lush red lipstick added instant accessory sizzle.

Wearing her highlighted blonde tresses in a half up/half down side-swept hairstyles was the perfect choice to finish her glamorous and feminine look that had a hint of sizzle.

The half up/down style was framed in the front on either side by side swept strands and sleek side swept bangs.

A pumped up crown added balance to Rinko's petite face and her heart shaped facial structure.

Long loose sensual ringlets cascaded down from the deconstructed soft updo in the back with a few curled twists cascading from the nape of the neck.

Steal Rinko's Curled Bun Hairstyle - Step By Step Instructions

Rinko Kikuchi Hollywood Life's Breakthrough of the Year Awards 12-10-06

DailyCeleb.com All Rights Reserved

The key to copying Rinko's Red Carpet Ringlet Half Up/Half Down Curled Bun hairstyle is to start with stick straight strands that are long enough to be put up into a high ponytail and to create carefully sectioned "panels" of hair that will eventually be merged seamlessly to create the soft cascading curls.

If you love Rinko's hairstyle but have naturally wavy or curly strands the look can be easily accomplished but requires that you first wash and blow dry your hair straight.

This style can be created on either newly washed tresses or tresses that have slightly "aged" to help prevent slippery strands from sliding out.

Follow the steps below to steal Rinko's Half Up/Half Down Ringled Style:

1. Shampoo and condition hair with products created for your hair texture, type and current condition.

If your hair is colored or chemically treated like Jaime's be sure to use products that address these special needs to prevent the development of dryness or damage.

Rinko Kikuchi Hollywood Life's Breakthrough of the Year Awards 12-10-06

Fox/TV All Rights Reserved

Note: A great celebrity hair line is the entire Paves Professional line of celebrity inspired products that Celeb Hairdresser Ken Paves uses on all the tresses of his famous clients (Jessica Simpson, Carmen Electra, Jessica Alba) with great results.

2. Finish with a cool/cold water rinse to close the cuticle and help add natural shine.

3. Towel blot - do not rub - hair with an absorbent towel.

4. Depending on your hair texture, type and condition apply a moisturizing heat protecting conditioner or a cocktail which includes a leave-in conditioner and/or defrisant product along with a straightening balm.

It's your option to work with all three types of products or select only those that your hair might require to create fullness and movement.

5. Gently detangle hair from ends up to roots using a "hair friendly" comb or your fingers.

6. Separate hair into individual 2" strands.

7. Start at the back of your head using a round Boar's head or similar style brush to build in volume for each of the individual strands while directing the air flow of a blow dryer down the shaft from roots to ends.

Continue to blow dry until each section is 100% dry.

Rinko Kikuchi Hollywood Life's Breakthrough of the Year Awards 12-10-06

DailyCeleb.com All Rights Reserved

8. Once hair is 100% dry use a Boar's Hair or similar brush, a comb, or your fingers, and carefully divide hair into different sections.

9. Make a part from ear to ear. This creates two sections of hair.

10. Clip the front section of hair out of the way while working on the back section.

11. Starting with the remaining hair below the new part, use a small barrel curling iron and create a series of spiral curls.

12. Once the curls are cool, working from one side of the back of the head to the other, gently fold the base of the curl up and pin firmly against the back of the head allowing the middle and ends of the curls to gently cascade down towards the neck.

13. Continue to fold and pin up the bottom section of hair until a waterfall of loose curls are formed along the back of the head.

Note: When possible, use bobby pins in the same color as your current hair color. Place the bobby pins in an X formation for extra anchorage.

14. Unclip the top section of hair.

Rinko Kikuchi Hollywood Life's Breakthrough of the Year Awards 12-10-06

Fox/TV All Rights Reserved

15. Create a side part extending from the hair line back to the top section of hair. Use a comb of brush lightly smooth a panel of hair down and over the left eye. Curl the ends with a curling iron and drape of the left ear, pinning the ends into place behind the ear.

16. Pull a few loose tendrils from the other side of the face and lightly curl.

17. Take the rest of the top hair and curl with a curling iron. Create two or three big loose looped curls, pinning the base of each curl along the crown to create a full looped profile. Allow the ends of the curls to cascade down over the curls in the back.

Experiment with the shape of the top curls until you find a balance that works for you and your hair.

18. Finish with a spritz of hairspray like Paves Professional Firm Hold Repairing Hair Spray.

For lots of extra hair or volume you may wish to use volume enhancing styling products, add-on hair pieces or back comb strategic sections of hair to achieve lots of lush fullness.

Optional Hair Style Look: Punk Princess Ponytail

Rinko Kikuchi Hollywood Life's Breakthrough of the Year Awards 12-10-06

Fox/TV All Rights Reserved

Japanese hair, as a rule, has a very different texture than Western or European hair.

Another consideration is the predominance of hard and heavily chlorinated water in Japan, especially in and around major cities.

Japanese hairstyling methods are also very different and utilize excessive heat styling with a strong connection to blow drying.

Excessive use of heat, hard water or chemically treated water will cause even the softest hair to become rough and naturally frizzy.

Embracing her natural fine and coarse texture which has been highlighted, Rinko transforms her tresses into a Punk Princess style.

The look is easy to achieve with Rinko's natural texture. The key to the look is messy tousled tresses which appear to need a good smoothing. However, the key is to strive for the look.

Rinko's Pop Princess look is great for unwashed strands. If your hair is naturally smooth you will need to gently backcomb and tease the front fringe and the tail section of the ponytail.

Follow the steps below to steal Rinko's Punk Princess Ponytail.

Rinko Kikuchi Hollywood Life's Breakthrough of the Year Awards 12-10-06

DailyCeleb.com All Rights Reserved

1. Since this style works best on aged hair do not shampoo unless you prefer to do so.

If you do shampoo be sure to also condition hair with products created for your hair texture, type and current condition.

If your hair is colored or chemically treated like Rinko's be sure to use products that address these special needs to prevent the development of dryness or damage.

2. Use a comb with a tail and create a part extending from the middle of the hairline in a half moon shape to the middle of the right ear lobe.

3. Separate strand of hair along the newly created part and clip aside.

4. Using your fingers or a boar bristle brush smooth the rest of the hair off the forehead and direct back towards the crown.

Capture the hair into a ponytail that has a base that sits up on top of the back of the head or the crown.

Note: It is important to create a ponytail base that has height.

Rinko Kikuchi Hollywood Life's Breakthrough of the Year Awards 12-10-06

Fox/TV All Rights Reserved

If you are having difficulty getting the ponytail base high enough, bend over at the waist and create the ponytail "upside" down which will give you more lift potential for the base.

5. Before wrapping the base of the ponytail in a "hair friendly" Blax or Bungee, carefully separate a 2" section of hair out from the ponytail direction it up and over the top of the head towards the front of the hairline.

Note: The goal is to direct a separate section of hair so that it forms a panel of side swept hair along one side of the face.

6. Wrap the remaining hair in a "hair friendly" Blax or Bungee Bands.

7. Use a brush or comb and "back comb" or "tease" the tail of the pony to give it lots of "texture".

Rinko Kikuchi Hollywood Life's Breakthrough of the Year Awards 12-10-06

DailyCeleb.com All Rights Reserved

Continue to back comb until the desired texture is created.

8. Repeat the back combing and teasing in the fringe area.

9. Unclip the side strand over the ear and tease lightly.

Finish with a firm holding hair spray.

One to try is Paves Professional Firm Hold Repairing Hair Spray. which has been voted as a great Elnett style spray.

This style offers lots of additional options including:

1. Wearing a side pony 2. Creating two side pony tails. 3. Positioning the hair higher up on the head. 4. Experimenting with different parts: middle, opposite site.

The beauty of this Punk Princess style is that it is versatile and open to any unusual twists that you create.

Other Options: HairDo By Jessica Simpson & Ken Paves

HairDo 22" Straight Vibralite Synthetic Extensions 16 Hot Fashion Colors

HairUWear All Rights Reserved

Another option is to instantly change your hair length, color and style with one of Ken Paves' HairDo options from HairUWear.

Ken and Jessica Simpson developed a spectacular line of clip-in hair that can transform your hair in a matter of minutes with no permanent changes.

If your natural strands are not long enough for a ponytail, clip on a HairDo piece and instantly wrap it into a top knot.

Summary

Rinko Kikuchi made her stage debut in the play "Suigin" directed by Hideshisa Tachibana.

The young actress is thrilled to receive notice for her work outside of her native Japan. Although she is not fluent in English, she worked hard to make her acceptance speech at the recent Breakthrough Awards in English.

Even though her role required that she appear nude she has expressed being comfortable with the requirement since it honored the character and the story.

Rinko also has explained her complete trust in the director and the rest of the acting team for Babel. On IMDB she is quoted as saying "so my concern was not the nudity itself, my concern was that the most important part of the film (was) to describe her (Chieko) emotionally".

What's next for the sword-fighting, motorcycle driver and accomplished horseback rider?

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