BeautyBrave

Is your hair ready for winter? Let us help you get prepped with these 5 need-to-know tips for healthy, happy winter hair! 1. Make Time for Haircare The stress of the holidays can be overwhelming. Sometimes, the last thing you want to think about is your hair. Our first tip is to take time for yourself whenever possible and give your hair a little dose of TLC. Whether that be an amazing hair mask or a trip to the salon, take time to treat yourself! Even just a little bit of extra care nourishes, repairs, moisturizes, and gives your hair a radiant shine that will last all season long. 2. Watch Out for Winter Dryness Ever notice that your hair dries out when the temperature drops? The main cause of dry hair in the winter isn't the temperature itself, but the lack of moisture in the air. In particular, the ends can dry out very quickly, making your hair look frizzy or dull. We suggest using a hair oil or deep conditioning treatment to combat this dryness and keep your hair looking healthy. 3. Use Sunblock! (For Your Hair) Just because it's no longer summer doesn't mean SPF is any less important. This goes for your face and your hair! UV exposure can damage your hair in the short and long term, so always use a product that protects against the sun. Jousse Vitality Spray is a great one! 4. Up Your Cleanse & Condition Game Let's face it: your haircare is only as good as your products and that starts with a premium shampoo and conditioning regimen. Find a shampoo and conditioner that are free from parabens and sulfates and formulated with high-quality ingredients. A salon-quality shampoo and conditioner will ensure that you're actually getting to the root and cleaning the pores on your scalp, not just the hair that grows out of them. 5. See Your Stylist As always, we recommend making an appointment with your hairdresser. Even just a quick trim freshens up your hair and gives you a healthier, happier hairdo. Thinner, damaged ends are especially sensitive to winter dryness, so be sure to have a professional check in on your hair every 6-8 weeks!

Have you ever wondered what makes this brush so special? Let’s talk Smoothie! Created in 2018, the Smoothie Brush has become a Calista staple. Not only do we bundle it with our Jousse Cleanse and Condition to ensure that our customers have the perfect brush for working product through their hair, but we also regularly recommend it with our other styling products and hot tools. Why? Because the Smoothie Brush was specifically created to be used anytime, anywhere. Made with an ultra-lightweight frame and flexible, soft-tipped bristles, the Smoothie Brush is a flexi-brush by nature. If offers less pulling because it bends to reduce resistance when brushing through knots. It de-tangles gently because the thin, flexible bristles safely glide through hair (wet or dry) without tearing or breaking strands. And to top it all off, it’s incredibly light, which makes it easy to move through strands from root to end and smooth out problem areas. As you can imagine, there’s no real need for a “How-To” when it comes to this hair tool. Using the Smoothie Brush is as simple as it gets. However, we wanted to give you some insight on what some of our BeautyBrave customers love about the Smoothie Brush and how they use this amazingly simple tool to create some amazingly unique looks! “This works especially well on freshly shampooed hair that’s wet and tends to be really knotty. Best brush to use to blow dry your hair.” – Tonya “This brush is my favorite to pair with the Perfecter! I love to create classic curls, set them with Embellish Finishing Spray, and then brush through them for a beautiful Hollywood glam look!” – Sydney “The Smoothie Brush is my travel essential. I take it with me in every purse. You never know when you’ll have flyaways” – Allison “I LOVE using this brush in the shower. I use Mend Masque and this makes sure I get it from roots to ends.” – Chrissy Do you love the Smoothie Brush? Let us know in the comments!

At Calista, we always say healthy hair starts at the root. Another way of putting it is that a clean, detoxed scalp is the baseline for healthy hair. Want to up your hair game for fall? Detoxing you scalp and setting the stage for shinier, healthier locks is the perfect place to start. What is a Hair Detox? Detoxing your hair is giving your scalp a deep cleanse and revamping your routine with high-quality products. Maybe you wear a lot of extensions, have done a lot of at-home color treatments, or just spent a lot of time in the pool this summer. Regardless of why you want to detox, the most important thing is that you do it. Detoxing your hair is going to remove product build-up, clear out dead skin cells, unclog your hair follicles, and give your hair the room that it needs to grow to its full potential.   How Can You Detox Your Hair? Start with the basics: remove chemicals from your hair’s diet. Change your hair routine to only include products that have naturally-derived ingredients. Avoid using conventional hair care products that contain chemical toxins or low-quality ingredients. This will help rid your hair of buildup and start nourishing your scalp. Next, make sure you brush starting at the root. Stimulating the root with a flexible brush helps stimulate hair follicles to speed up growth and clears the scalp of dandruff, acne, and scabbing. Finally, get yourself a reliable heat protectant spray. Whether you use hot tools on your hair regularly or not, a heat protectant keeps your hair looking and feeling healthier all while protecting it from harmful UV rays and other heat damage. Want a little extra push? Give yourself a spa-quality hair masque to really get those toxins out and let those nutrients in! When Will You See Results? Detoxifying your hair is going to help rebalance your scalp. It clears out the product and protein build-up,  stimulates your hair follicles, and restores dull, lifeless hair. When your hair follicles start to meet their potential, you should see the difference in your hair texture within a week. When using our Jousse products, you see a difference after just ONE use! Are you ready to set your hair up for success this fall? Let us know in the comments!

The best thing about Calista Tools is that they do so many different things. Every tool we sell is multidimensional and dynamic, solving more than just one hair issue at a time. That being said, it can be a little confusing to know which tool is the right choice for fixing your specific hair issues. We’re breaking down the facts about our most popular tools and pointing you in the right direction for the best tool to fix your specific hair issues! Get Rid of Frizz As far as fighting frizz goes, there is no match for the Triangl Pro. Its brush-like shape makes it easy to glide through your hair and slowly but surely eliminate the frizz strand by strand. “I flat iron my hair daily in an effort to stop the frizz and within 3 hours it's always back to the way it was before. I was doubtful about how well the Triangl Pro Heated Detailer Brush by Calista Tools would work but I'm never looking back! It allows me to get straight / non-frizzy hair without all the burning / damage I used to get with my flat iron. It also lets me add a bit of texture / movement to my hair, which with short hair is super important.” – JMM Get Styles that Last The AirGlide is going to be your new best friend. This tool features cool air technology that actively helps your hair style stay in place while you’re styling. "The airflow has been a game changer. 1) Curls last me two days. Two days!! Once in, they’re set. Sometimes on day 2 I refresh a couple around my face. 2) Curling my hair doesn’t make me hot. Maybe a younger me wouldn’t think that was an issue- but some of us ladies don’t need anything bringing the heat. Hallelujah this made a huge difference.” – Fawn Get a Fast Style Anytime, Anywhere Rushing to get ready for a wedding? Can’t find the nearest blowout bar? Want to speed up your morning styling routine? The StyleDryer fixes every single one of these issues. It’s easy, packable, and gives you a voluminous blowout in one simple step. “As for the results of using this dryer…… I’m obsessed!!!! My hair looks and feels absolutely beautiful using this dryer! My curly hair is not frizzy like a regular hairdryer. My curls aren’t there, I have voluptuous volume and beautifully trained bounce to my hair. It literally looks like I just left a salon. I love it.” – Tammie Get That Sleek, Shiny Look The FAUXblo is amazing for many reasons, but the best thing about it is that it truly leaves your hair silky smooth. The soft bristles make it so that hair is infused with extra shine and body with every single use. “The Calista Fauxblo Thermal brush is the best hair brush styling tool I've ever used. I've never been a fan of styling brushes bcuz any time I used one they would get stuck and tangled in my hair and I never had good results with them. The first time I used the Fauxblo brush I was so impressed!! I couldn't believe how smooth and easy this brush moved through my hair!! It gave my hair a smooth sleek shiny curl. I couldn't be happier after using this product it has definitely changed my way of styling my hair from now on. The features of this brush are fantastic!! The amount of heat is perfect and only takes seconds to heat up! Another feature is the beeping sound when it's ready. I gave my hair the perfect beautiful smooth curl I was looking for and I will be using it from now on to style my hair.” – PJ Get More Volume The Perfecter Oval is ideal for bringing serious volume to your hair (especially for shorter styles). Its unique shape lets you lift more hair at once, get right to the root, and give hair a major lift with just a small twisting motion. “I've been looking for a heated brush for volume, and I finally found the perfect one! The others will be trashed! Just got the oval brush a few days ago (received within 3/4 days), and I'm so glad I bought it. It works and is easy to use. I had a hair appointment today, April 6, 2022, and first thing my hairdresser commented on was the volume in my hair.” – Roberta

By now, you’ve heard all about Embellish Root Touch-Up. Whether you’ve watched Maria on QVC, read up on The BeautyBrave Blog, or seen it featured in Good Housekeeping’s 2022 Best of Beauty Awards, it’s made a big splash and is getting rave reviews. What you might not know are what makes it unique and exclusive tips and tricks for getting the most out of this revolutionary product. What Sets Embellish Root Touch-Up Apart? Fibrous Formula The benefits of Embellish Root Touch-Up start with its formula. It’s a lightweight, loose powder created with fibers that actually adhere to the individual strands of your hair. This allows the product to not just sit on your scalp and cover up thinning patches or grey hairs, it actually plumps up each hair strand and infuses volume directly into the hair. The fast-acting formula is also water-resistant, so it won’t come off until you wash it out with shampoo. Unique Delivery System If you’ve tried other root touch-up products, you’re familiar with the sticky sprays and the cumbersome packed powders with brushes. Embellish Root Touch-Up’s design is not only more compact and easily portable, it’s also the best of both worlds when it comes to distributing the product into your hair. We like to say it’s as easy as tap and blend. When you tap the product onto the sponge applicator, you immediately have the widespread capabilities of a spray and the targeted precision of a brush.   Maria’s Favorite Tips & Tricks Hairline Hero Did you know that Embellish Root Touch-Up isn’t just great for covering greys or thinning areas? It’s also a really helpful styling tool if you want your hairline to have a clean, polished look. When you go for a high pony or a slicked back bun, dab Root Touch-Up around your hairline to ensure a uniform color and fullness throughout. Test Before You Tap Just like any product you try for the first time, finding the right Root Touch-Up shade for you could take a few tries. To ensure that the color you chose works best for your hair, we suggest dabbing a sample onto the back of your hand and comparing that color with your shade. Not sure which shade is best for you? Check out our Color Guide here. Mix and Match Did you know that Maria uses the Light Blonde shade in the summer and the Ash Blonde shade in the winter? That’s because summer brings out a lot of highlights and winter brings out more lowlights. This is extremely common! Go with the shade that works for you right now, but don’t be afraid to change it up when your hair calls for it!

You asked, we answered! Here are some of Maria’s top tips for keeping your hair healthy, strong, and stunning all Summer long. Do: Protect Against UV damage This is an absolute must if you’re planning to spend time in the sun this Summer. As we all know, UV rays don’t just cause damage to your skin, they can also damage your hair. Using nourishing products that have UV protection built in or wearing a hat during sun exposure are great ways to ensure your hair doesn’t accrue damage from the sun’s harmful rays. Deep Condition Every season is a good season for deep conditioning, but Summer often leaves us more exposed to the elements than other times of year because of how much time we’re spending outside. Even if you condition every time you wash, a more powerful treatment that actually penetrates strands and helps hydrate and restore your hair can be a total game-changer. Let Loose Summer is not the time to try and force your hair to behave. Not only are you dealing with excessive heat, but humidity can completely wipe out all of the work you put in to taming your curls with a flat iron or volumizing your straight strands. The better option is to play around with fun, loose hairstyles like messy buns, fun hair accessories, or piecey side braids. After all, Summer should be fun! Don’t: Brush Hair When Wet Whether you’re hopping out of the pool or taking a dip in the ocean, keep in mind that your hair is weaker when wet. While it may be tempting to brush through the tangles straight out of the pool, it can also cause more damage. Use a flexible brush on damp hair to avoid adding stress or causing breakage. Use Excessive Heat Much like our tip to let your hair loose this summer, this Don’t advises against over-using curling irons and straighteners in the Summer. Excessive heat can dry out hair and lead to split ends and frizz. Instead, try letting your natural style shine or use any of our heat-safe tools (they feature ionic technology that doesn’t dry out your hair!). Over-Wash Your Hair When you’re out in the sun and potentially sweating nearly every day, it’s easy to want to give your hair a good cleanse and condition on a daily basis. However, this can also strip your scalp of its natural oils. Instead, stick to washing your hair every 2-3 days if possible. Want to extend time between washes? Dry shampoo is an amazing option for refreshing your hair without losing those vital oils! What are your favorite Summer haircare tips? Let us know in the comments!

Summer is here and so are the beautiful new FAUXblo colors! This year, Maria took a different approach to choosing these sensational ombré shades. Instead of being inspired by florals or simple solids, she drew inspiration from some of her favorite Summertime treats. Sweet Summer FAUXblos These three new colors are PERFECT for Summer – fun, bright, and full of personality! When choosing these colors, Maria was thinking about going for a different theme than she normally does. “I wanted to tap into what makes Summer so much fun. It’s about sunshine, warmth, enjoying time with family, and for me, taking advantage of delicious Summer treats!” Maria says that the new colors gave off the sense of joy she wanted to convey for a Summertime collection. “The Pink Lemonade, Blue Snow Cone, and Raspberry Ice colors all had this pop to them that I just love. I think it reads so beachy, so warm and Summery! I can’t wait for our customers to have these beautiful colors in their home to brighten up their bathroom counters and their styling routines!” The FAUXblo TSV Yesterday was the FAUXblo TSV (Today’s Special Value) on QVC! This means Maria is on-air all day long with a brand-new product, showing all of the amazing features, demonstrating on models, and chatting with the hosts. TSV days are extremely special at Calista HQ and take a ton of prep and planning. For example, Maria wanted to update her set to have a more Summery and exciting look. She hand-crafted these flower arrangements with tons of bold pinks, bright yellows, and pops of blue to bring out the beautiful colors of the newest FAUXblos and put every QVC viewer in the mood for Summertime fun! Did you catch Maria on air? Let us know in the comments if you had a favorite segment or if you have a favorite of the new Sweet Summer FAUXblos!

Have you heard? The Jousse Line has a brand new member! Jousse Vitality Spray has made its debut and this ultra-nourishing hair treatment is here to give your hair a serious boost. Why You Need It Created with the spirit of the Jousse Line in mind, Jousse Vitality Spray is our naturally-derived, vitamin-infusing spray that nourishes, detangles, and protects hair. It features a specialty formula that restores shine and vitality while reducing frizziness and even acting as a detangling agent. Best of all, it’s a must-have Summer product because it actively protects your hair against heat damage. Not just the heat damage that comes from your favorite hair tools (Jousse Vitality Spray protects hair against temps up to 450°F) , but actual heat and UV rays from the sun. So not only will spritzing this product on your hair keep it healthy and full, it’ll also help prevent potential damage. How It Works When we clinically tested this product, it was important to us to find out if our customers would benefit from the product right away. Much like our Jousse Cleanse & Condition and Jousse Mend Masque, we found that users were seeing results after the very first use! 92% of participants agree their hair is smooth and shiny after one use. AND 92% of the participants said their hair had more body and shine after one use. You can use Jousse Vitality Spray on wet or dry hair, anytime, anywhere. Simply spray it on, brush it through, and let this product work for you! BONUS: It features a crisp, light scent that offers a hint of sweetness and will leave your hair feeling and smelling great. Ready to try it? Get it here!

“You have a wardrobe of dresses, shoes, tops, pants – all of it. Why should it be any different for your hair?” That’s what Calista founder Maria McCool had to say about the simplicity of changing up your hairstyle. In a sit-down conversation about achieving new hair looks, she talked all about using multiple styling tools, why you don’t always need to go for a dramatic haircut, and why she’s a big believer in the styling tool wardrobe. Changing our hair can often feel dramatic. Whether we finally get the bangs we’ve always wanted to try out or go from long hair to a pixie, it’s easy to think about hair changes through the lens of intense transformation. But at Calista, we’re big believers in the importance of small change.     “We all know our hair. Most of us tend to stay within the same lane and keep the same style. We’re all prone to staying in our comfort zone, but sometimes, we’ll go out on a limb and cut our hair off only to grow it back.” “We want change, but that’s not always the change we’re looking for.” When asked what she would suggest instead, Maria got into the importance of having a styling tool wardrobe – a collection of hair tools that lets you change up your look in a less dramatic fashion. “Having a wardrobe of tools is what really allows you to have a completely different look with the hair that’s on your head in the length and style that it is.” Maria went on to compare having multiple tools in your arsenal to having multiple dresses for an upcoming weekend. “A perfect example is the weekend I’m literally about to have. I’m going away for my son’s graduation and there will be multiple functions – a daytime, outdoor graduation, a black-tie affair, a nighttime party celebration, and a brunch. Every single one of these events requires a different outfit, but also a different hairstyle! I don’t want my daytime hair to be the same as my black-tie gala hair. Packing 2 tools is  going to give me that versatility.” Maria went on to talk about how you really can change your whole look with a tool and how having multiple tools gives you endless styling options whenever you need them. So, where should you start? “Let’s say your everyday style is sleek and straight and you have a great straightening tool that you’re used to. I’d recommend introducing a curling tool that totally changes your look.” You can even compare it to shoes. Maria went on to give this example. “Your everyday tool is like your pair of flats or flipflops. You wear this look regularly and are super comfortable with it. Your change-it-up tool is like your favorite pair of stilettos. You wear this look when you’re wanting to spice it up or feel really special. The sweet spot that I think a lot of people miss out on is that middle ground – like a pair of wedges, a look that you wear when you want a change, but don’t need to do a major transformation. Hair tools can work just like your closet of shoes!” When it comes to styling, Maria is a huge fan of the Triangl for her everyday “flip-flop” look of smooth, frizz-free volume. To change it up, she goes to the Perfecter to get that “wedge” look of volume with a slight curl. And for something special, she turns to the AirGlide for celebratory beachy waves.   Which tools do you have in your styling tool wardrobe? Let us know in the comments!

At Calista, we’ve got tons of styling tools to choose from. But with so many heated brush options, we know you might be wondering which one would be best for you. Today, we’re breaking down all of our heated brushes and helping you figure out which one will work best for your hair type, hair length, and styling goals. Let’s get started! The Perfecter Pro What it does: The Perfecter is what we call a “do-it-all tool.” It can smooth hair, add volume, and create curls. Unique feature: No-burn bristles. You can touch them while you style and not risk damage to your hair or your fingers! Best for: Volume at the root for short hairstyles. The StyleDryer Pro What it does: The StyleDryer is a one-step blowout brush that dries and styles your hair at the same time. Unique feature: Interchangeable brush heads. The StyleDryer lets you choose the right size brush for your hair length and change it as you please. Best for: Giving yourself a classic blowout at home. The GoGo Mini What it does: The GoGo is a mini round brush ideal for touching up hairstyles and styling on the go. Unique feature: Compact size. You can style hard-to-reach places like behind the ears and along the hairline that other tools have trouble getting to. Best for: Packing for touch-up emergencies or last-minute styling. The Triangl Pro What it does: The Triangl Pro is a detail-oriented tool that lets you flip, direct, lift, and de-frizz hair. Unique feature: Triangular-shaped plates. The unique shape of this tool gives you styling options that round and flat tools cannot. Best for: Handling frizz and flyaways. The FAUXblo What it does: The FAUXblo is a blowout short-cut. It gives you the look of a classic blowout without having to wash or dry your hair. Unique feature: Soft-tipped bristles. This tool features 1000 ultra-soft bristles that gently style hair and won’t cause tangles or frizz. Best for: Smoothing out thick, coarse hair. Which Calista heated brush is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

The season of change is upon us and at Calista, we’re all about taking this seasonal opportunity for a BeautyBrave moment. Whether you’re taking a chance on a new style, changing up your hair color, or just wanting to keep your hair healthy with the weather change, we’re giving you all of our favorite Spring hair tips to keep your look fresh and your hair strong! Time for a Trim Before you take measures to get your hair healthier, it’s important to get rid of any breakage or split ends that are weighing it down. Not only do split ends prevent hair from growing longer and stronger, they also make your hair appear dry and frizzy. Pop into the salon for a trim and get your hair on the right track for spring! Condition, Condition, Condition Just because the weather is warming up doesn’t mean that conditioning is any less important. In fact, warm weather brings its own challenges that regularly conditioning your hair can only help prevent. Because conditioner helps seal the cuticle (the outer layer of your hair), it actively helps defend against split ends while also ensuring your hair stays hydrated and healthy. Try a deep conditioning hair mask for maximum moisture! Keep Frizz at Bay Warmer weather bring longer days, mood boosts, and much to look forward to! Unfortunately, it also brings humidity. Humidity is an increase of moisture in the air. This moisture can cause the hair to fold on itself or to stick to other strands of hair, which often results in straight hair taking on a strange wave pattern or curly hair curling up even more (and not in a good way). To prevent this, we recommend an anti-frizz serum, styling products with de-frizzing properties, and as always, using an ultra-hydrating shampoo and conditioner regimen. Maria’s Tip: Frizz still weighing down your hair? Try using the Triangl Pro Heated Detailer Brush to smooth out frizz. It features Ionic Technology that releases negative ions which don't open up the hair shafts, allowing the hair to remain smooth and sleek. Protect Against the Sun We’ve said it before but it bears repeating: the sun can damage your hair the same way it can damage your skin. Using products that protect against UV rays is the best way to ensure your hair remains healthy during the spring and summer months. Here’s a tip you’ll only get on the BeautyBrave Blog: We have a new product coming out that will help prevent sun damage! Stay tuned!  

It’s time to give the 411 on one of our favorite texturizing products. With reviews that say everything from “Nice lift with no stickiness” to “BODY FOR DAYS!!”, 02 Texturizer has certainly made an impression on our BeautyBrave customers. But for those of you who may not know much about this game-changing product, we figured it’s best to go back to the beginning! The History of 02 Maria created 02 Texturizer Spray in 2018 as the first product in our Stratosphere Line. A series of products dedicated to taking the “heaviness” out of hairstyling, the Stratosphere Line started as Maria’s solution of giving her clients all the body and texture they wanted without leaving behind the sticky, heavy product buildup that comes with so many styling products.   Why You Need It The basic principle behind 02 is effortless texture that won’t weigh you down. It is formulated with an oxygen base, meaning it has a lighter quality than hairspray and creates definition and texture without stiffness. As a buildable product, it’s great for giving your hair both a light, piecey quality or a serious dose of body, bounce, and volume. 02 can be used on any hair length,  is packed with absorbent minerals that help detoxify hair, and, according to many of our customer reviews, “It also smells delightful!” Styling with 02 When it comes to styling with 02, the process is rather simple. Simply spray the product in your hair, work it into your strands with your fingers, and watch your hair come to life with texture and body! For a little extra boost, Maria recommends spraying up and into your style, locking the volume in at the root, and creating visible lift that helps your hair reach new altitudes. (wink, wink) So…are you ready to try 02 Texturizer? For more tips and a peek behind the curtain, check out our amazing how-to video here!

At Calista, we create products that can work for all hair types. However, we also believe in personalization. Creating a routine with products that are best for your specific hair type will give your hair more body, help prevent breakage, and create an overall healthy, shiny appearance. Check out the guide below to choose the best products for your hair. Not sure what your hair type is? Check out this post before reading! Fine, Oil-Prone Hair If your hair is on the finer side and tends to contract oil, it’s best to avoid heavy products, especially as the weather warms up. Hair products created to help remove oil from the scalp, such as a volumizing dry shampoo or clarifying shampoo and conditioning regimen, will give you the best bet at keeping your hair looking full and preventing it from being weighed down by product.   Frizz-Prone Hair If you’re prone to frizzy hair, humidity is not your friend! As the weather warms up, it’s important to use hair products that have polymer or copolymers that help coat your locks to actively fight frizz (our favorite is Embellish Texturizing Definer). If your hair can get a little frizzy, it’s also super important to use a heat protectant spray when styling so as not to further damage fraying strands! Color-Treated Hair The most important products when it comes to color-treated hair are always going to be your shampoo and conditioner. If you use a shampoo that will contribute to color fade, you’re looking at major problems preserving your look. Using a hydrating shampoo and conditioner duo that’s created with color-preserving properties and naturally-derived ingredients will protect your hair and help the color stay rich and vibrant.   Thick, Dry Hair The opposite of fine and oily hair, ladies with thick, dry hair should be using as many hydrating products as they can find, especially as the air gets more humid. A thick, restorative hair mask works great for giving your hair an added boost of moisture and ensuring your locks stay smooth and moisturized.   Still not sure what your hair type is? Click here to find out!

No matter how much haircare advances, certain wives’ tales seem to continually make the rounds. Whether you hear it from you cousin’s friend’s hairdresser or read it in a random Facebook post, hair myths still run rampant. We decided it’s time to debunk them! Check out these 5 common hair myths and why you should stop believing them. Myth 1: Brushing Your Hair More Often Makes it Healthier We’ve all heard that doing “100 strokes a day” with your hairbrush is the key to healthy hair. However, this is entirely not true! It turns out, excessive brushing can be very damaging to your hair. Instead, brush only as needed and be sure to use a hairbrush with bristles that stimulate the scalp.   Myth 2: Conditioning Greasy Hair Will Make it Worse This one seems like it would make sense – why add more moisture to hair that’s already oily? However, greasy hair doesn’t come from conditioning your hair. The “grease” that builds up in your hair comes from a natural oil produced by your scalp tissues. Using a hydrating shampoo AND conditioner is necessary to properly clean your scalp and prevent this buildup from weighing down your hair.   Myth 3: Plucking One Gray Hair Will Cause Two to Grow in its Place This is completely false! First of all, when your hair starts to gray is determined by aging and genetics. While it is not a good idea to pluck hairs from your head as it can lead to scarring or early thinning, tweezing a gray hair here and there will not cause more gray hairs to grow. If you’re worried about gray hairs, talk to your colorist or look into a root covering product that can help conceal unwanted silver strands. Myth 4: Using the Same Shampoo Consistently Will Cause it to Stop Working Wrong again! While it’s great to try out different shampoos and find one that really works for your hair, you don’t need to shop around for a new shampoo every few months if you don’t want to. There is absolutely no proof that sticking with a product that works for you will cause it to lose effectiveness over time.   Myth 5: Getting Regular Trims Makes Your Hair Grow Faster Listen, we would never advise you not to get your hair trimmed. Regular trims can help prevent split ends and keep hair looking and feeling healthier. However, those consistent cuts are not magically making your hair grow faster. Trims simply help get rid of the broken strands and weak ends. Have any other hair myths you’d like us to debunk? Let us know in the comments!

Let’s face it: keeping your hair hydrated in the winter is a struggle. Maria even says that the end of January is when her hair feels the most dry and difficult to manage. That’s why she created a product specifically formulated to address it! Jousse Mend Masque was released in 2017 and was created as a supplemental hair treatment to work in tandem with our previously released naturally-derived shampoo & conditioner, Jousse Cleanse & Condition. Comprised of many of the same hair-healthy ingredients like quinoa extract and caffeine, Jousse Mend Masque is a richer, more hydrating formula that deeply penetrates hair strands and infuses them with moisture and fortifying amino acids that help prevent breakage, lock in moisture, and repair existing damage. By using this treatment 1-3 times per week, you can seriously improve the health of your hair – especially in the winter! Maria recently posted a video on Instagram with a trick to super-charge your Jousse Mend Masque usage. Check out this recap below or click here to watch it for yourself! Maria’s Super-Charge Trick   When you get out of the shower with wet hair, squeeze a quarter size amount of Jousse Mend Masque into your palm and work it into your hair. Do this a second time to really ensure you're getting plenty of product into your hair. Use the Smoothie Brush to comb it through and evenly distribute the product from roots to ends. Use your fingers to massage it right down into your scalp.       Next, get a piece of saran wrap from your kitchen and wrap your hair. Avoid your face and make sure you're only wrapping your hair. Once your hair is securely wrapped up, take a t-shirt and wet it in the sink. Wring it out and put it in the microwave for 1 minute.         Wrap the damp, heated t-shirt around the saran wrap. The saran wrap will help lock in the heat, which will help the product penetrate deeper and more effectively.           The results? Incredible shine, body, volume, and plenty of bounce!

New Year’s resolution season is upon us! Whether you’ve vowed to spend less time on your phone or decided to make it your personal goal to hit those 10k steps every single day, we’re all out here trying to change for the better. At Calista, we’re most interested in how we can help you achieve the hair you’ve always dreamed of. Our team got together and talked through some of the best ways to set New Year’s resolutions for your hair – keep reading to find out how you can set the perfect hair goals for 2022! Be Specific Like making any goal for yourself, being specific is the best way to hold yourself accountable. When thinking about hair goals, don’t go for something like “Get better at styling my hair” or “Choose a new style.” Goals are best made when we use language that is detailed and measurable. For example, “Learn how to style a blowout” or “Grow my hair 3-5 more inches” are goals that target a specific skill or benchmark. Setting goals aren’t vague will ensure you’re able to determine whether or not you’ve actually met them. Pick Your Products Wisely Once you have a goal in mind, it’s time to think about how to achieve it. When it comes to hair, choosing the right products will always have an impact on results. If your goal is to learn to style a blowout, buying a blowout brush and a volumizing product will help you get started. Get both in our amazing Blowout Kit! If your goal is grow your hair out, starting with a nourishing shampoo and conditioner regimen will put you on the fast track to success. Talk to your hairdresser about the best products to choose for your specific hair type! Not sure what your hair type is? Learn more here! Be Consistent Goals are so much fun in the beginning stages. They feel exciting, new, and achievable. However, as the months pass by and we realize that change isn’t instantaneous, it’s easy to want to give up. Don’t! The number one key to achieving any and all of your hair goals (all goals, really) is consistency. Having trouble learning how to create perfect curls? Watch more tutorial videos and keep going! Feeling hopeless when it comes to nailing down the perfect everyday routine? Try another product that might work better with your natural hair! We believe in you! And more than anything, we want you to believe in yourself. Happy 2022 BeautyBraves! Let’s make it the best year yet.

In case you missed it, Maria did some helpful how-tos for holiday hairstyles on our Instagram and Facebook pages! We’re going through each style for short and long hair and recapping her amazing tutorials so you can have the holiday look of your dreams! Holiday Headband   Before getting into the more complex styles, Maria showed us the magic of a simple headband. A perfect bit of sparkle for long hair or short, you can use your Triangl Pro to smooth hair straight, lift it at the root, and top it off with a sparkly holiday headband. “If you want to get your BeautyBrave on, go for a no-bang look!” – Maria     Simple Twist   This style is a simple look that adds a lot of glamour. To start, tease your hair from the bangs all the way through the crown and on each side. Smooth hair with your fingers or comb and add a little bit of hairspray to get some texture. Twist hair to meet in the back and place a bobby pin with a pretty broach.     Twisted Up-Do   This up-do is perfect for short hair and builds on the previous look! Pull the sides to the back and pin them in place like you did in the previous look. Continue pulling hair from the sides to the back to gather more and more hair, creating an up-do look. Cross pin them by taking two bobby pins and placing them on the hair like an “X”. This helps keep the hair in place and makes for a more secure hold than just a single bobby pin. Hide those bobby pins with some great hair pieces if you want to add a little pizazz.   Classic French Twist   If you want to go full-on up-do, here’s another idea! Take the whole top section and clip it off. On each side, twist a section and add more hair as you twist. Cross pin those sections in place at the back. Spray a little bit of hairspray to add texture. Take the top section down and do a nice strong back comb to thicken out the area and give yourself the density to style. Add hairspray as you go to give yourself volume! Twist the hair into the back and pin it in place for a classic French Twist look.     Faux French Braid This style is great for longer hair. You’ll need small hairbands, bobby pins, hair pins, and Embellish Finishing Spray for a little bit of volume and shape. Section your hair into 4 parts. Take first section and tie it with a rubber band in the back. Drape the ponytail over the front of the head to get it out of the way. Repeat on the other 3 sections. It’s truly as easy as 4 ponytails! Take the first section ponytail and lightly back comb it. Split that ponytail around the second ponytail. Back comb the second ponytail and crisscross ponytail 1 underneath. Split ponytail 2 around the third ponytail. Repeat on ponytails 3 and 4. Create a simple braid with the remaining hair. For a more classic up-do, wrap the long braid around itself and pin it in place.   Want to watch the videos? Check them out here and here!

The holidays are here and it’s time to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list! We know you’ve started your shopping for all the haircare lovers in your life and checked out our amazing holiday deals, but we wanted to feature some other brands we love whose products are high-quality, affordable, and perfectly #BeautyBrave. Beekman 1802 Milk Wash Exfoliating Jelly Cleanser   The Milk Wash Exfoliating Jelly Cleanser from Beekman is a perfectly lightweight jelly formula that purifies skin, dissolves makeup, and lightly exfoliates to help keep skin soft, moisturized, and clean. An ideal gift for anyone looking to add a light daily cleanser to their skincare routine!     Doll 10 T.C.E Super Coverage Treatment Concealer TCE = This covers EVERYTHING! And believe us when we say, it really does! Doll 10’s concealer not only provides flawless coverage and reduced puffiness, it also gives skin a perfectly illuminating glow. Coming in a wide variety of shades and featuring collagen pigments and vitamin C, it’s our go-to concealer for total coverage and total nourishment.   Philosophy Amazing Grace Perfume   Clean, simple, beautiful: these are the words we use to describe Philosophy’s signature scent, Amazing Grace. Give the gift of a beautifully feminine scent and help encourage a lovely lady in your life to embrace her beauty with this best-selling, award-winning floral fragrance.     Josie Maran Argan Lip Sting Plumping Butter Give the gift of the perfect pout! Josie Maran’s Lip Sting Plumping Butter features their proprietary lip-plumping complex that visibly enhances lips for that on-trend juicy pout. Formulated with soothing manuka honey and moringa butter hydrate, this cruelty-free, paraben-free lip product is all you need for smoother, fuller-looking lips.   ShaveStix The perfect gift for anyone looking to simplify their shave! ShaveStix is a revolutionary shaving balm that softens your skin and gives the ease and hydration of shaving cream without any of the mess! Made with 25% coconut oil, their recipe is clean, vegan, and packaged in an easy-to-use stick so you can glide it directly onto skin.   Laura Geller Baked Blush-n-Brighten Marbleized Blush Give the gift of a gorgeous glow! We love the iconic marbleized blush from Laura Geller! The rich powder delivers fresh color on all skin tones while the famous formula protects your skin with anti-inflammatory properties.     Dr. Denese SPF 30 Defense Day Cream Just like you need to take care of your hair, you need to take care of your skin! We love this anti-aging day cream from Dr. Denese that has SPF 30 UVA/UVB broad spectrum protection while acting as a light coverage BB cream. Featuring their melanin technology, it naturally matches your skin tone and gives a beautiful matte finish.   Mally Beauty Evercolor Shadow Stick Extra Velvet At Calista, you know we love a multi-use hair tool. Mally’s Evercolor Shadow Stick Extra Velvet is the multi-tasking makeup tool that will change your daily routine for the better! Acting as a primer, eyeshadow, liner, and brush all in one, this smudge-proof, transfer-proof product gives you a beautifully sheer wash of color for a look that lasts all day long.   Smile Actives Advanced Teeth Whitening Pen We like to say “you’re never fully dressed without great hair”, but Smile Actives makes products that adhere better to the original phrase – AKA, they’re all about the smile! Their Advanced Teeth Whitening Pen is a great stocking stuffer for everyone on your list! This twist-action whitening pen features a soft-bristle brush tip and their ultra-concentrated formula so you can whiten your teeth by up to 6 shades in just 7 days!  Sara Happ Vanilla Bean Lip Scrub What says warmth in the winter like vanilla bean? The very first scent of lip scrub Sara Happ ever made, this comforting aroma is paired with her iconic formula that leaves your lips feeling soft and supple! Another great stocking stuffer that keeps dry, cracked lips at bay all season long! Derma E Vitamin C Serum Give the gift of brightness with Derma E’s Concentrated Vitamin C Serum! A fast-absorbing, high-potency formula, it deeply penetrates skin to hydrate and deliver antioxidant protection. Skincare lovers will go crazy for this one!

Embellish isn’t just any product line – it’s the line that started it all! Take a trip down memory lane and learn a little more about how the Embellish line came to be, which products came first, and how you can use them to up your hair game. Embellish Texturizing Definer “The clapping product” as some call it, Embellish Texturizing Definer was the first member of the Embellish Line. Maria McCool came up with this product in 2007, deciding that her clients needed a styling product that would act like a tool. In Maria’s words: “I think the reason Embellish has a cult following with the customers and the hosts is because it was one of the first fiber technology formulas to ever be used in a styling product that when applied to dry hair.” We recommend using Embellish Texturizing Definer to turn your haircut into a hairstyle! Maria says it best: “It gives you added lift at the root, tons of volume and fullness, and beautiful texture! The fibers adhere to the hair, they plump it up and make it pliable so you can manipulate it and get your hair to do what you want it to do.” Embellish Finishing Spray The next product in the Embellish line hit the scene on QVC in 2010. Maria wanted to create a hairspray that didn’t just let you create hold, but also let you build volume. She says, “Embellish Finishing Spray was one of the first lacquer free, water free, fiber technology formulas to ever be used in hairspray. I always say ‘not all hairsprays are created equal.’ I designed it to work on everyone, it can multi task and it’s instant great style that lasts!” We recommend using Embellish Finishing Spray for hold, volume, and lift! In Maria’s words: “The fibers adhere to the hair, plumping it up, making the hair pliable and buildable so you can get your hair to do things it would never do before! Embellish Texturizing Foam After years and years of more product development, the next member of the Embellish line finally came to be! Maria developed Embellish Texturizing Foam in 2019 so her clients would have a product that allows them to lock in volume before even reaching for the hairdryer. She says, “Embellish Texturizing Foam lets you plump, lift, thicken and add the volume by infusing your hair strand by strand with our Embellish Technology before it’s even dry! It swells the strand from the inside out - plumping it up to create more movement and lock it in!” We recommend using Embellish Texturizing Foam to prep hair for styling, thicken up each strand, and bring on volume like never before. As Maria puts it, “Embellish Foam is going to give you a totally new look! Because of the formulation, it’s going to take slightly wavy hair and double its wavy texture, plump up baby fine hair, and let you get more out of your styling tools! Each curl you put in with an iron, rollers, or your Perfecter is now getting an assist from a product that now only makes it easier, but gives your hair the memory to make it last all day!" Embellish Root Touch-Up The last of the bunch and newest product to enter this uber-successful styling line, Embellish Root Touch-Up is in a league of its own. Born out of necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic, this product was officially released in 2021! Maria says, “My clients needed a product they could use to get color in their hair when they were unable to get to the salon. Embellish Root Touch-Up has that famous Embellish fiber technology but adds a dose of color in the process!” We recommend Embellish Root Touch-Up if you want to add some coverage to your roots, volume to your crown, or give some thinning patches a little more fullness. With 11 different shades, there’s a match for everyone! As Maria puts it, “Embellish Root Touch-Up gives you the wide-range coverage of a spray with the targeted application of a brush. It’s the best of both worlds and lets you apply the exact amount of color you want!”  What do you think should be the next Embellish product to enter the line? Comment below and let us know!

GoGo Minis are back in stock! That means it’s time for a quick brush up on how to use this small-but-mighty styling tool. Weighing in at only 3.5 oz, the GoGo is 7” long with a 1” thick barrel, making it ideal to stash in your makeup bag, keep in your desk drawer, or toss in your purse. Keep reading to find out how to use this tool for all of your small-scale styling needs! The Basics While the GoGo is a full-powered tool, its size doesn’t make it the best choice for styling a whole head of hair. If you have short or particularly fine hair, it could do the job. However, for longer or thicker hair, we recommend The Perfecter Pro! The GoGo is best for creating small curls, smoothing hair, or touching up problem areas. Next, remember a heated round brush is specifically made to style and brush through your hair so that you have a more natural-looking curl and less opportunities to burn or singe your hair. Because the bristles are hard, too much twisting too quickly will lead to the tool getting stuck and rolling up from the bottom of your hair or taking too big of a section can also lead to a tangle. Hair styling is a learning process so be patient with yourself and take your time!   Fixing Frizz + Touching Up Because the GoGo is created with ionic technology, its small size makes it perfect for fixing frizzy areas on your crown, hairline, or bangs. Ionic Technology breaks up the water particles in each hair strand which then penetrate the hair shaft and leave hair feeling hydrated and help prevent tangles or frizz. Use the GoGo to smooth frizz by slowly brushing it through frizzy sections of hair. Its compact size lets you get close to your hairline, touch up around ears, and easily fix flyaways by gently brushing through your hair and letting the technology do its job! Creating Curls To create small curls with your GoGo, start by brushing through a strand that’s around 0.5” thick. Hold the GoGo behind that strand and keep the tool vertical. Place the top of your strand into the teeth at the top of the GoGo and slowly turn the GoGo back towards your head, allowing the teeth to comb through your hair as you turn. Once you’ve made one full rotation, hold for 5 seconds and allow the curl to set. Continue this process as you move down your strand, keeping the tool vertical and turning it slowly as you go.