We spend a lot of time looking at our hair, touching it, tending to it and choosing the most effective products. Washing, blow-drying, and styling it. Coloring, curling or straightening it. But that doesn’t necessarily mean our hair is healthy. So how do you keep those locks shiny and healthy? Read on to find out.

Do: Take care of your overall health
Hair is an ever-growing tissue affected by our physical well-being. Getting enough protein and iron is vital to hair health. Stress can accelerate shedding, particularly in the shower. A medical condition, such as a thyroid problem could also cause hair issues.

Don’t: Swim unprotected
What could possibly dampen a day at the beach or pool? Saltwater or chlorine. Both can wreak havoc on hair, drying it out, causing split ends, and stripping color. Apply a strong leave-in conditioning treatment to damp hair before hitting the water.

Do: Protect your hair during the summer
And you thought sunburn was bad for your skin? Those rays are just as harmful to your hair, even though it won’t turn red or start to peel. Repeated sun exposure will leave your hair damaged and dry while fading your dye-job. Cover up whenever possible, throwing on a wide-brimmed hat or wrapping a scarf around your mane. Opt for moisturizing shampoos and conditioners that protect against the two types of ultraviolet rays capable of causing sunburn, UVA and UVB, along with an SPF-fortified hair spray. Apply it to your hair whenever you’d wear sunscreen.

Don’t: Tie your ponytail too tightly
They’re convenient and cute but they could lead to traction alopecia or hair loss caused by styles that pull at your scalp. Instead of tying tightly, aim for loose braids, buns, and ponytails, and let your hair down before going to sleep at night.

Do: Tend to your scalp
Apply a weekly scalp mask, which exfoliates and moisturizers. These typically contain ingredients like aloe vera and help minimize flaking while soothing the scalp.

Do: Keep an eye on ingredients
Eyeball shampoo and conditioner labels before heading to the check out line. If a product contains more than two detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, or ammonium lauryl sulfate, it could strip your hair.

Don’t: overdo the appliances
Even if they’re pricier, invest in good tools. Make sure they offer different heat settings and, in the case of flat irons, display the temperature. Hair dryers should have a diffuser to help distribute heat more evenly. It’s still best to let your hair dry naturally whenever possible.

Do: Brush the right way
Spend some time brushing each morning to remove dust, dirt, and dry scalp material. If you’re untangling wet hair, use a wide-tooth comb. Opt for a brush with a natural bristle instead of one that’s metal or plastic as they are less likely to pull hair out.

Don’t: over wash it
Shampooing and conditioning every other day will suffice unless your tresses are extra oily. Washing too frequently causes dryness and pulls out too many of your natural oils so you won’t have as much shine.

Do: Maintain it with regular trims
Parting ways with even half an inch can be excruciating if you’re in pursuit of long, luscious locks. But it’s necessary. Regular trims keep split ends from splitting more and more.

For the best hair results, visit the experts at Legends Salon of Hillsborough.

Whether you are struggling to take your bob longer or just want super long mermaid locks, there are tips and tricks you need to know in order to grow your hair faster and longer.
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Diet
The old saying, “you are what you eat,” couldn’t be truer. Diet is very important for hair growth. You need to be eating sufficient levels of iron, B vitamins, zinc, and protein. Greens like kale add iron and iron is a very important mineral that if not introduced to your diet can cause hair loss. Taking a supplement can also help contribute to the maintenance of healthy locks if your diet isn’t well-balanced.

Stop clogging your follicles
Dirt, oils and product build-up can clog your follicles, hindering healthy hair growth. To avoid this, try to give your hair a rest from overloading the root area with styling products.

Exfoliate your scalp
If your scalp is the gateway to healthy hair, it makes sense that exfoliating it helps promote growth. Use a detoxifying shampoo or a scalp scrub once a week to thoroughly cleanse and remove excess sebum from follicles.

Get a caffeine hit
Caffeine has been found to stimulate the hair shaft by blocking the effects of DHT, a chemical known to damage hair follicles. Drinking caffeine may not be the best way to hair growth, however. Try hair products with formulas that encourage hair growth.

Massage your scalp
Massage stimulates blood circulation, supporting the tiny blood vessels that feed the hair follicles. Gentle pulling of the hair and doing a rhythmic tapping technique are two massage methods to try yourself. Alternatively, try a professional head massage, which will help with stress-relief. This can help your hair grow too!

Wash less
Daily shampooing can compromise the scalp’s natural essential oils that stimulate growth, while excessive heat-styling, backcombing, brushing and chemically processing the hair can leave it brittle, appearing to shorten the length from the bottom-up when it breaks.

Loosen tight hairbands
Another common cause of breakage is the hairband. Tight elastics, worn repetitively in the same place cause wear and tear on the hair which is not what you want when you’re growing it out. The wrong band can snag and damage strands, so pick the right type and keep them loose.

Get regular trims
This is not because cutting your hair makes it grow faster but when hair is freshly snipped the ends will appear coarser without their damaged, tapered points. Plus by trimming it regularly and managing damage you’ll have to cut off less hair in the long run so indirectly, you are speeding things up!

To help your hair along in the quest to grow it out, try these simple tricks and follow good hair and body health. Hair that grows relatively quick is a sign that your body is healthy and well taken care of. When you are looking for the best hairstylists to help you during the transition from short to long and everywhere in between, visit Legends Salon of Hillsborough and know that you will get the best possible treatment for your hair’s overall health.

Is “sulfate-free” a good thing? What’s up with parabens? What are the ingredients we should be avoiding completely? Most of us don’t read the entire list of ingredients in our hair products but these labels raise more questions than answers. We are going to take a quick run through of common hair product ingredients, what they do, and what we know so far about their harmful effects if any.
Here is a list of common ingredients with the basics of what we know about each one.
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Diethanolamine (DEA)
DEA acts as a thickening agent in shampoos and conditioners and allows them to form a foamy lather. Based on studies, we know that cocamide DEA can cause cancer under certain conditions. This is based on testing on rodents and using high toxicity of DEA.

Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals
Shampoos may contain preservatives that release formaldehyde. The primary health concern is skin reaction, skin sensitization, or an allergic reaction to something after it comes into contact with skin.

Fragrance
You’d be hard-pressed not to spot the word “fragrance” printed on a hair product label. “Fragrance” can include a mixture of ingredients that makes your conditioner smell like coconut or “morning dew”, but regardless, the FDA doesn’t require companies to specify them, since this information is often proprietary and therefore outside government purview. If you have an allergic reaction to a product, fragrances are probably responsible.

Mineral oil
Mineral oil, also listed as paraffin oil or white mineral oil, forms a protective coating over hair that locks in moisture. Some worry that it could cause cancer since it’s distilled from petroleum, produced during the refining of crude oil—and mildly or untreated mineral oil is known to be a carcinogen. But highly refined, cosmetic-grade mineral oil and other cosmetic-grade petroleum distillates, like petrolatum, are generally of low concern.

Parabens
Parabens such as methylparaben and propylparaben prolong the shelf life of hair and other beauty products by preventing bacteria and mold growth. Some evidence suggests they may contribute to breast cancer development, but most of what we know from parabens come from either animal studies or in vitro studies—cell cultures in the lab. It’s not entirely clear how parabens affect breast cancer risk in humans. If you’re concerned, choose products labeled “paraben-free.”

Propylene glycol
Propylene glycol is an alcohol that helps hair absorb and trap moisture, and can function as a solvent for other ingredients. Compared to other common ingredients, there’s not a lot of concern about toxicity or hazard for propylene glycol.

Sulfates
Often in the form of sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate, sulfates give shampoo its sudsy-ness, and cut through grease and dirt. But they can also strip away natural oils in the process, which can lead to frizzy, dried-out strands, and an irritated scalp. There are not any large hazard concerns with them, but the trend seems to be to find less harsh ingredients.

Silicones
Silicones—whose names often end in –methicone or –oxane—form a waterproof coating over hair that keeps it from soaking up humidity, making them common in straightening and smoothing products. The coating also seals moisture inside the hair and makes it shiny and easier to comb. But some silicones, like dimethicone, can also cause heavy buildup that leaves strands limp and dull.

To state the obvious, whether or not you buy products with the ingredients mentioned below comes down to personal choice and how comfortable you are with the potential risks outlined. For instance, while the connections between parabens and breast cancer risk aren’t clear yet, you can choose to avoid products that contain parabens if you’re particularly concerned about them. At Legends Salon of Hillsborough, we want you to feel safe with our products. We will always disclose the ingredients and recommend products that are safe for you, your hair and the environment.

Visit or call Legends Salon of Hillsborough today!

Most of us are busy and don’t always make it to the hair salon as often as we’d like. Sometimes we end up with four inches of root growth before we return for a color. When hair salons are thought of as more than just a chore to fix hair, a wide range of positive aspects being to emerge. Chat with the team from Legends Salon in Hillsborough NJ to see what they can do for you!

There many benefits of going to the hair salon and we’re here to tell you about them.
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Think of your hair stylist as your hair doctor
Hair stylists have gone to school to become experts on hair. They can diagnose problems, make recommendations, and provide helpful products to promote healthy hair. Working with a stylist can be one of the most educational meetings of your week. They will work with you to get the look you are trying to achieve and they know what works and what doesn’t on all hair types. You trust your regular doctor for your health; start trusting your hair doctor for your hair.

Stress relief
Going to a salon is very relaxing. Designed with comfort and relaxation in mind, salons are a mini-retreat from work, kids, and errands. Many salons offer mini hand and head massages as you are being shampooed. It is a nice little way to relax if only for a few minutes. Even relaxing under the dryer while your hair color is setting is a little relaxation as well. You will leave the salon feeling pretty and refreshed.

Be pampered
People relax in different ways and salons offer many different options. Sometimes getting makeup applied or hair extensions added is amazingly relaxing. Choose a treatment that you like and visit your salon often. Even salons that solely offer hair services always have something appealing that you can do to help you relax.

Talk therapy
Salons are well known for being social places, so it is a great place to vent or get things off your mind. Stylists are like informal counselors that will let you talk the entire time you are in their chair. Don’t worry though; they also know that some people like to come in just for their hair and not to socialize. The client sets the tone for having discussions or remaining quiet.

There are numerous reasons why visiting the salon is good for you, psychologically and physically. There is something relaxing for everyone; you just have to figure out what it is for you! When you are looking for a little getaway from life for a couple of hours, visit the experts at Legends Salon of Hillsborough. We offer many services and with our relaxing atmosphere, you are sure to leave feeling refreshed.

Enjoy the many benefits of visiting your hair salon and start relaxing today!

Finding a hair salon can be a daunting task.  It’s hard to find someone we trust to make our locks look luxurious.  Our hair is part of who we are and just like finding a doctor to take the best care of us on the inside, we need to find someone who can take care of us on the outside.  One hair salon in Hillsborough that is generating quite a bit of buzz is Legends Salon and we’re going to tell you why.
Often finding the best hair salon is hard because you aren’t sure what to look for and once you make an appointment at a place you think may be a good fit, you may leave there feeling defeated and disappointed.  If you know what to look for in a hair salon, then it would take some of the trouble out of looking get you on the right track to finding the best place for you and your hair.

At Legends Salon of Hillsborough, we know how to help you achieve the look you want.  We are a full-service salon and our stylists take the time to consult with you individually.  This way they can understand your needs and wants.  They get to know you and your personality because, in the end, the hairstyle you have reflects the person you are.  We help you achieve the look that fits your features and lifestyle.  We offer the best in high fashion hair color and up to the minute cutting techniques for the whole family.  Our goal is to help you look and feel your best.

If you are still on the fence about visiting us, a few things to take into consideration are thinking about what you are looking for in a salon and how to make sure Legends Salon of Hillsborough is the right fit for you.  You want to think about what YOU want, not what the trend is or what your best friend’s hair looks like.  It may look great on her or that celebrity you’ve been eyeing but it doesn’t mean that’s the look for you.

Think about your hair texture, issues you may be having with it and the overall color it is now and the color you want it to be.  Going into a salon loaded with knowledge about your own hair is the first step to getting the hair you want.  You want to tell your stylist everything so that they can do what’s going to be best for your hair.

Not all salons take the time to understand their clients but at Legends Salon of Hillsborough, we want to get to know you.  It helps us to determine the best look for you while helping you manage and maintain healthy beautiful hair that will be easy for you to manage when we aren’t there to do it for you.

If you are looking for a full-service hair salon in Hillsborough, visit our salon and stay and chat with us awhile.  We are here to help you put your best foot forward!

​Just like your skin, your hair can get dry in the winter also. Like flaky skin, parched strands suffer in the cold. It’s pretty easy and necessary to keep your hair looking radiant even in the winter. Here is some practical advice from your hairstylists and hair salons, along with updates on hair hydrating technology.
Treat your hair delicately

​Hair may not be alive like your skin cells, but you still have to treat it right. You wouldn’t throw your cashmere into steaming hot water, so look after your hair and treat it the same way. If you have a dry, itchy scalp it is because you are using hotter water when it’s cold outside. Try lukewarm or even cold on your locks.

Deep condition your hairbrush
Get a natural bristle brush and after you clean it, deep condition the brush regularly with a hair serum, oil or leave-in conditioner. This way, when you brush through your hair, it gives it extra shine but without weighing it down.

Humidity counts
The main cause of dry winter hair is not the temperature but the lack of moisture in the air. Use humidifiers and avoid space heaters as they suck out moisture in the air. Switch to ionic hair dryers because they use less heat to get the same effect.

Coat your hair
The trick is to trap moisture, which is essentially how hydrating shampoos and conditioners work. Traditional creams don’t adhere well to hair so make sure you are using something that is more oil based.

Keratin
In salon services can now hydrate and soften but leave hair texture intact. Keratin can be used as a long-lasting conditioner, not just to straighten unruly hair. This essentially will help your hair stay hydrated in the winter.

Read the label
There may be hidden drying agents lurking in your styling products. Stay away from styling products with alcohol, as they tend to dry out hair even more. If you have a favorite conditioner that contains silicones, you may want to switch for a silicone-free version. Silicones can build up with repeated use and coat the hair too much, making it dull and lifeless. Use pure argan oil before blow-drying to prep the hair and again afterward to finish the style.

There are so many ways to keep hair hydrated and healthy during the winter months but we hope these few tips will give you some ideas. For even better protection against old man winter, visit your local hair salon in Hillsborough for best results. Your hair doesn’t have to be dry in the winter months, it can remain happy and healthy all year long. You just have to have the right tools.

For the best hair care in winter and beyond, visit the experts at Legends Salon of Hillsborough. We have the right treatments for dry lifeless hair and tips for after you leave the salon to ensure your hair remains hydrated and healthy even after you walk out our door.

​When your hair is healthy and shiny you can do anything with it. When it’s weak and brittle it won’t do much at all for you. If you want your hair to cooperate, it all stems from making sure it’s happy and healthy. If you think your hair doesn’t do anything, it’s time to get to the root of the problem. You need to listen to your hair and you need to find a hair stylist in Hillsborough who will help you figure it all out.
It has been said that washing your hair every couple of days and getting regular trims (every six to eight weeks) is the best way to keep your hair healthy. But, your hair knows best what it needs and you may have hair that these rules no longer apply. Today’s hair products and tools are made gentle that they actually help prevent damage so washing your hair every day isn’t necessarily a bad thing anymore. It really all comes down to your hair type and what it needs.

Daily shampooing isn’t necessarily a bad thing as long as you are using products that won’t cause your hair to either dry out or become too greasy. If you are trying to grow out your hair, cutting it often isn’t actually going to help. The best way to determine what your hair needs is to feel it. It should be soft to the touch, no matter what your texture is. If it isn’t soft or has changed texture, you need to figure out what is causing damage to it.

Heat may be a culprit to your hair troubles. Heat can be caused by your blow-dryer or hair straightener (or curling iron). Try keeping a distance between you and your blow dryer. This will allow the power of the air between your hair and the heat source to dry your hair quicker. As for your heat styling tools, make sure you are using ones that have been tested to be safe for your hair. With so many tools on the market, you are bound to find one that won’t damage your hair.

Before you do any heat styling, you need to prep your damp hair with a protective spray or leave-in treatment. This will help protect your strands and keep your hair healthy and soft so that repeated heat treatments don’t do permanent damage. Using the best shampoos and conditioners will allow you to wash your hair every day if you need to. If you are a swimmer, for example, you need to be able to wash your hair every day because the chlorine from the pool can do more damage than bad shampoo. But if you have good hair products, you are tackling the battle of dry hair from over washing.

Whatever shape your hair is in, find a good hairstylist who will be honest with you about the condition of your hair and will work with you to bring your tresses to the beautiful condition your hair was meant to be in. At Legends Salon of Hillsborough, we use only the best products and tools on your hair to give it vibrancy and life and we want you to know how to take care of your hair when we aren’t there to do it.

Let us help you bring your hair back to life.

​Hair exists in a variety of textures. There is no rhyme or reason as to what we were blessed with in the hair category. It is important, however, to know what kind of texture we have. This will allow us to understand how to take care of it. When we think of hair texture, there are three main aspects to consider: curl pattern, strand thickness, and density. There are other aspects to consider as well.
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Regardless if your hair is straight, wavy, curly or kinky, we all have 3 basic textures: fine, medium, and thick, which can also be called coarse. Texture is not how the hair feels but describes the thickness of each individual strand. The comparison is typical to a piece of thread. If your hair is fine, it’s thinner than the thread. Medium hair is usually the same width and thick or coarse hair strands are thicker than the piece of thread.

Hair texture
Fine hair
Fine hair is the most fragile texture and can be easily damaged. People with finer hair tend to have more hair than people with thicker hair strands. Fine hair can tend to be oilier than other hair types. For those of you with fine hair, you may find it difficult to hold a style. Your hair is light and can fall flat against your head. Volume is not often attained. Structurally, fine hair has two hair layers: a cortex and a cuticle.

Medium hair
Medium hair is the most common hair type and often covers the scalp very well. This hair texture is not as fragile as fine hair and can be manipulated into styles easily. Structurally, medium textures have two layers: the cortex and cuticle and may contain the medulla.

Thick or coarse hair
This hair texture is strong because structurally it contains all three hair layers: the cortex, cuticle, and medulla. The medulla, the innermost layer of the hair shaft is pretty much a series of empty spaces. It’s an area filled mostly with air and protein. This hair texture usually takes longer to dry than others and can be resistant to various chemical treatments. It can tolerate heat well and resist breakage better than the fine or medium hair.

Hair type
In general, there are 4 basic hair types: straight, wavy, curly, kinky curly. This is based on the shape of the hair fiber.

Straight
Naturally straight hair is the strongest of the types and reflects light to the eye the best giving it a glossy appearance.

Wavy
Wavy hair has s-shaped curls down its length or much of the hair can appear straight with slight bends towards the ends of the hair. Wavy hair can frizz fairly easily and requires care to achieve perfect waves.

Curly
Curly hair tends to do so down the entire length of the hair shaft. Strand thickness can range from fine to coarse but is most often fine. The greatest challenges for curly hair are frizz, lack of curl definition, shrinkage and dryness.

Kinky-curly
This hair type has the tightest curls ranging from fine to coarse with S-shaped and z-shaped curls with everything in between. It is the most fragile of the types. If curl definition is a challenge for curly hair types, it’s almost an impossibility for kinky-curly hair.

This is a quick tip sheet to help determine the kind of hair you have. Once you know and understand your hair, you will know how to take care of it better. For more tips, contact the experts at Legends Salon of Hillsborough.

​​Moving to a new city is a wonderful, exciting time. You are in a new environment; new home, new work and you are meeting new friends. There is a lot of pressure that comes along with moving, however. Adjusting to life in a new place can be like culture shock and one of the biggest things women face when moving is finding a new hair stylist. Sounds silly but it’s something that can take awhile to figure out.
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If you are looking for a new hair stylist, there are some things to keep in mind. In order to find the right fit for you, you need to first look for a salon that fits your style. Research salons in the area you just moved to and find one that matches your taste. Do you like things casual and comfortable, upscale and sophisticated or trendy and modern? Often times, hair stylists will work in a salon that fits their style also. Read our article about finding the right salon for you.

Once you have decided on a salon, call them and tell them what you are looking for so that they may recommend the right stylist in their salon for your needs. Don’t be afraid to ask to interview multiple stylists in the same salon. They won’t take offense. We all understand how finding the right hair stylist is just as important as finding the right doctor or contractor or babysitter. It’s not an easy process!

Look for an experienced stylist. He or she will have had countless hours styling hair and can tell you their background with ease and confidence. New hair stylists shouldn’t be put out of the running, however. If they were trained at a good school and are under the tutelage of someone incredible, chances are, they may be a nice fit too. One of the important things to consider is, will their personality fit with mine? This may sound funny but if you are spending a few hours at a salon every couple of months, don’t you want someone you can talk to? You not only want to talk to them about life and other things, you want them to understand what exactly your hair is all about so that they can take care of it the best possible way. And by having this rapport with them means that if something they do to your hair upsets you, you can tell them without hesitation.

At Legends Salon of Hillsborough, we have incredibly trained and experienced hair stylists who understand the importance of finding the right person to tame their tresses. Our stylists are specialists in their field and they continually train in every aspect of color enhancements and the latest hair designs. We are proud to have the finest group of stylists in New Jersey. Legends Salon has a very diverse staff that will meet all needs possible. It’s not just about getting a haircut or getting your hair colored and we know that. It’s about an experience and a lifestyle.

Come in and let one of our amazing trained stylists give you that superstar look you deserve!