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THE HAPPINESS OF
GREAT HAIR
Our Stylists Share Their Best Hair Advice
HEALTHY HAIR TIPS
Haircut
One of the best tips for healthy hair is to ensure your hair looks great by getting regular haircuts. Keep this in mind when choosing a hairstyle: if you find that the stylist needs 30 to 45 minutes in the salon to make your hair look perfect, then when you get home you will never be able to recreate the same look. Instead, you want a haircut that looks natural and requires little fuss.
Make sure the stylist understands the four important aspects of a haircut: density, texture, type, and facial shape. For instance, if you have thick, coarse hair, then you would not want a full perm. If you have a full, round face, you want your hair to be pulled away from the face to make it look thinner. Finally, a good haircut should last six weeks and look great every day.
Work with nature
Everyone has different hair. It might be that your hair is fine, thick, wavy, straight, and so on. To look your best, you need to work with your natural hair. Otherwise, you will find that you become enslaved to your hair and go through constant coloring, relaxing, cutting, chemical applications, etc.
Use products wisely
Go easy on the products. If you apply gel to your hair, use a small, dime-size portion rather than filling the palms of your hands with the product. The same would be true with hairspray. You do not want your hair to appear stiff, but flowing and natural. Therefore, use a small amount of spray and allow your hair to have movement.
Using too many products will cause your hair to appear greasy and weighed down. You want to be careful when mixing and matching products. Instead of applying a leave-in conditioner, styling mousse, gel, and then hairspray, simply shampoo and condition your hair and then use one product. Additionally, it would be best to use the same brands as they are designed to work together for the best results.
Curling irons and flat irons
Many people use irons to achieve their desired look. They are a great tool to get bouncing curls or a sleek professional look. However, more often than not, people go over board with their irons. Take it easy on the flat ironing, people! ???? I have seen more damaged hair come from flat irons than anything else. Always make sure your hair is 100% dry before using any type of iron on your hair. I also recommend using a heat protectant on your hair when using any type of iron. When you do flat iron, pass over a section of hair one or two times and move the iron quickly from scalp to ends. Do not hold it longer in sections or go over certain sections again and again – this is what causes damage!
When curling your hair, I always recommend starting with the iron near your scalp or the mid shaft of your hair and then working your way down to the ends. If you want looser waves, then take bigger sections of hair. If you prefer tighter curls, use smaller sections along with a smaller iron (one inch or less).
Finishing a curly style is easy. If you’re looking for a soft, Hollywood glam look, take a boar bristle brush and lightly brush your curls. This will give you a soft wave. If you’re looking for a tousled, beachy look, flip your head over, and with your fingers, comb through your hair. Then when you flip your hair back, it will be soft and natural. Always finish with a soft hold hair spray to maintain your look for the rest of the day.
Roots
The roots of your hair can be damaged in a number of ways. Therefore, before you start blow-drying or curling, make sure you take care of the roots. For starters, when you blow dry your hair, start by drying the root area first. The same is true when applying hair products. You will get more volume by applying to the roots first and then working your way down.
Preparation
One problem that many people face is that as the day progresses, the hair becomes dull and tired looking. If you are faced with this challenge, then reactivate your morning’s gel or mousse with a simple spritz of water.
Another great tool is to purchase a miniature curling iron that can be kept in your purse or desk. Then at lunch, you can take five minutes to refresh the curls and look just as good as you did in the morning. If you wear your hair long, flip your head upside down and shake your hair. When you bring your head back up, you will have instant fluff and volume.
Body
Dealing with limp, lifeless hair is another common problem. To get the thickness and body you want, you need to make sure your hair is washed with a quality shampoo and conditioner. Then when you dry your hair, bend over at the waist, and blow dry your hair upside down. Once the hair is approximately 50% dry, apply mousse or gel and work it through with a vent brush. Now flip your head over again and dry it until completely dry.
Go easy
Purchase some of the updo tools sold at stores to help put your hair up. This will help it look neat rather than just thrown together. To make this work, you need to gather all your hair as neatly as possible and then wind or roll it in one direction. With the updo tool, put the hair up and then secure it with bobby pins.
Darn those cowlicks
Many men and women struggle with cowlicks. Instead of fighting these areas of the hair, use them to your advantage! For example, you can start a part or sweep the hair over at the location of the cowlick and have a nice lift. Another option is to brush your hair over toward the cowlick with a little bit of gel. The result will be a nice fullness that makes the hair look great and hides the cowlick.
Regular trims
In addition to having a great cut, my last tip for healthy hair is to keep up with regular trims. I have noticed that women will try to stretch the time out as long as possible. Try not to do this! Even waiting one week too long can make a big difference.
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