Protein Each Day Keeps Hair Breakage at Bay

A quality shampoo and conditioner are the foundation of any good hair care regimen. But if you're like most women, then sometimes your hair requires a little more oomph to keep it looking its best. That's where protein treatments come in. These simple, at-home remedies can play a vital role in repairing some of the damage done to your hair everyday like refusing to leave your house without using a flat-iron (Guilty!) If you're unfamiliar with them, here's a little info on how they work. Protein treatments are specialized conditioners meant to fortify and rebuild the structure of the hair. Your hair is mostly made from protein and when it becomes stressed from styling, chemicals--yes, hair coloring counts--and aging, some of that protein is lost, creating gaps along the hair shaft. These weak spots are sensitive to breakage, which can create a challenge if you're trying to grow your hair out. What protein treatments do is fill these gaps just like concrete on a cracked sidewalk to increase hair's strength and structure. If your hair is fairly healthy, try incorporating a protein treatment in after a wash at least once a week. But if you have chemically-treated hair or hair that is prone to breakage due to genetics, health deficiencies, etc., then you want to up it by throwing one in every-other to every wash. glo essentials Reparative Keratin Leave-In Treatment

Inspirational Lights Giveaway

Tweet #whatinspires you to @gloProfessional between now and January 31st. Fifty will win a set of Inspirational Lights Candles!

All About Oil

Don't you sometimes wish there was a magical product out there that could make your hair, nails, and skin look fabulous in one swoop? Well there is, and it's called oil. Oil can take the sting out of chapped skin (clove), detangle your hair (coconut) and refresh your senses (lavender). Yes, we know, oil can be messy, confusing to use, and not everyone loves its slippery feel. But is is the ultimate, all-purpose conditioner, and when combined with the right ingredients, oil creates long-lasting smoothness wherever it is applied. And here's why: Just like a bandage, oil works by keeping the good stuff (water) in and the bad stuff (drying conditions) away from your skin, which makes it a moisturizer. Oil is also an emmolient which is just another fancy word for skin softener. But don't get it confused with a hydrator. Contrary to popular belief, oils do not rehydrate your skin--only water can do that. Instead oils work with water to plump up your skin and keep it that way. Here is a list of some popular glo products that contain oil and how you can use them. glo essentials Infinite Shine Smoothing Oil: Contains argan and coconut oil to reduce dryness, frizz, and fly-aways. Also reduces drying time. glo therapeutics Smoothing Salt Scrub: Grape seed oil, wheat germ oil, lavender oil, and peppermint oil all work together to lock in bath-time moisture glo minerals Lip Ritual: Sweep apricot kernal oil, peppermint oil, thyme oil, and clove oil smooth lips underneath your favorite gloss or when worn alone.

Year of the Dragon

Yesterday marked the beginning of the Year of the Dragon (January 3, 2012-February 9, 2013), the most powerful of the 12 signs of the Chinese Calendar. And just like the Greek zodiac (Capricorn anyone?) the Chinese zodiac is full of signs and symbols to help explain the unique personalities born underneath it. If you were born during a Year of the Dragon* chances are you would be described as fiery, eccentric, generous, and a natural leader. Sound familiar? We thought so. Now show off that great personality of yours by wearing colors that represent your best assets. GOLD for luck intelligence, and creativity glo minerals Dust 24K in gold RED for passion, pride, and luck glo minerals Gloss in poppy GREEN for vigor and generosity glo minerals Eyeshadow in rainforest or fern. *1904, 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012

How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes

Unlike their disposable foam counterparts, a set of quality makeup brushes requires regular maintenance if they are going to go the long haul, give you more bang for your buck, and most importantly, reduce your chances of breakouts from dirt, debris, and old skin cells that collect overtime. While ideally, you would cleanse your brushes after every use, a good rule of thumb is to give them a thorough scrub at least once a week. Here's how: Hold the brush underneath warm water to remove large makeup particles. It's important that you do this at a downward angle to avoid water entering the ferrule (metal clasp) and loosening the fibers. Apply a mild dish soap or shampoo to the fibers and gently work it into a lather. Try to avoid spreading the fibers too much, which can also loosen them. Rinse, and slightly press the fibers together to help them retain their shape. Lay the brush on its side on a paper towel to dry and refrain from using it until then. Another option is to invest in a brush cleaner (glo minerals brush cleaner) for a quick effective clean between multiple uses. Simply spray, and wipe clean on a tissue.

Kate's Go-To Day Look

Watch and learn as Kate McCarthy walks us through her go-to look for daytime makeup! We love her tips and tricks for application and the simplicity of this gorgeous easy-to-wear look.

Put a Stop to Over-Processing

If what you want is runway-ready hair, but what you've got is a mop of ragged strands, than chances are you're dealing with a case of over-processing. Over-processing is when the integrity of the hair fiber has been compromised by chemical treatments like relaxers, texturizers, perms, color processing, or bleaching. Read on to find out how these processes can affect your hair and what you can do to go from "don't look!" to "look at me now!": Hair is a fibrous (i.e. stringy) protein made up of three layers: the medulla, inner cortex, and outer cuticle. Chemical treatments work by interacting with the various layers to achieve specific results. For example, when you lighten your hair, a bleaching agent like hydrogen peroxide goes deep into the cuticle where your natural pigment is stored to remove it--unlike a temporary dye that merely sits on top. Over time, these processes can create create weak points that can lead to breakage and dull locks. Do a quick strand test to see if this describes you. Part your hair into several sections as if you were getting a blow-out and give it a good look. If it is rough, brittle, broken, split, or unintentionally discolored, you may have a hair mishap on your hands. Not to worry, with the right pampering treatments, you can rehabilitate damaged locks and get your hair back to healthy and fabulous. Quick Hair Rehab Remedy It is important to nourish hair to keep it healthy and beautiful from scalp to tips. Protein is important for strength, and moisture for pliability. Grab a product that fits your hair's specific needs and apply it generously after you wash. Cover hair with a plastic cap, and either sit under a hooded dryer* for 15-20 minutes on medium heat, or let hair and treatment product sit for 30 minutes after it's been warmed and wash it out. Follow up with a leave-in conditioner and style normally. We recommend glo essentials Reparative Keratin Leave-in Treatment, Intense Replenish Hydro-Nourish Conditioner *Heat expands the hair cuticle so nourishing ingredients can be delivered to where they are needed most.