If you watch the tabloids, you know that even the stars have bad hair days. It just seems that when the professional stylists are out of the picture, it is inherently human to have a less than glamorous mane. But you can do your part to stay ahead of the battle by following these great tips for hair care.
1. Use a professional conditioner that is formulated for your specific hair type.
While you can skimp a little on the shampoo, a good, professional conditioner is a must-have. Look for products in salons that are customized for your hair type. For instance: If you have a color or a perm, choose a conditioner that is for chemically processed hair. And stay away from those all-in-one shampoos and conditioner combos.
2. Choose a cut tailored to your face and body shape.
The number one mistake that people make when choosing a new hairstyle is to pick a style based on popularity rather than how it will enhance their features. Always choose a new cut based on how it will enhance or detract from your facial features and build. If you have broad shoulders, choose a full-bodied cut over a close-cropped head hugging doo.
3. Don’t forget your UV protectants.
Just as your skin gets damaged by wind and sun, so does your hair. To combat this, look for finishing products such as mousses, gels, and sprays that block UV rays.
4. Keep your appointments.
Did you know that your hair will split faster than it will grow? You need to get a trim every 6 to 8 weeks, even if it’s just a micro trim. A good hairdresser makes them good because they know what to leave on the head, not take off.
5. Leave chemicals to the professionals.
There is a reason why beauticians need to go to school to learn how to handle chemicals and hair processes. You can do irreparable damage with these products even if the package says that it’s way easy. And even if you don’t make your hair fall out, you could end up looking like a clown and paying a stylist big bucks to fix your mess. (Note: Most stylists charge double the rate for corrective color than they do for normal color processes)
*Storytime. Don’t mess with your hair.
I love vivid colors, and I was bleaching my hair forever with the thought that I know what I’m doing. My hair is dyed black most of my life, except when I changed it in one day to some brighter color. It was fine most of the time if you don’t count massive split ends and dry hair. Then I packed with a ton of moisturizers and oils, to look decent.
Until one day when I decided that I want my bangs to be blue right now. I bought a color remover and succeded to get out the black, and got orange bangs. I was not satisfied and without thinking, I put bleach on it to get out the remaining pigments. It has begun to change in white, and I was like Yuhey! BUT, when I started to wash off, I washed off my bangs to…
You can imagine how devastated I was, the only luck I have is that it was only my bangs and not the whole hair. I was left with minimal hair, and I didn’t look completely like an idiot, which I was.
So learn from my mistakes, and don’t try to bleach your hair at home by yourself. The professionals know how to do it without damaging your hair. That’s why they called The Professionals.
6. Get color for interest and body.
Every cut needs a little bit of color to make it truly breathtaking. No matter whether your taste is subtle or dramatic, you can add interest and volume to your tresses with a color process. Highlights, lowlights, all-over color, gray coverage, you name it, it’s all good for your look.
7. Do weekly conditioning treatments of your hair.
Even if your hair is extremely healthy, it is constantly on the attack from wind, sun, cold and heat. During the summer months, your hair is battered even more when it absorbs chlorine and other chemicals from your pool.
8. Get an ionic ceramic flat iron.
Instead of frying your hair with a conventional metal plated flat iron. Straighten your tresses, add shine and infuse moisture with one of the negative ionic flat irons.
9. Choose your styling products wisely.
Avoid products that leave build-up on your hair. If you see white gunk, that means that your product is not water-soluble and may be coating your hair shaft. Build-up causes limpness, breakage, and inability to curl not to mention the white flakes.
10. Did you know that if you use a towel after your shower to dry your hair you are causing split ends and adding static electricity to your hair?
Don’t rub the towel back and forth over your head, scrunch the towel around your hair like you would scrunch crackers in your soup.
While all of these tips won’t make you look like you’ve hired a personal hairdresser, they will help you look the very best that you can each and every day. When it comes to hair care, remember that you wear your hair every day. Now isn’t it worth the time, effort and money that it takes to keep it looking spectacular?
