What can I do to make my hair look shinier?
That depends on your hair type. If your hair's curly, chances are it's dull because of dryness. Switch to a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner and apply four to six drops of a silicone-based shine serum to your wet tresses.
If it's wavy, lather up with a shine-enhancing shampoo and conditioner. Rinse well, then spritz a silicone-based shine-enhancing spray from ends to roots. Dry hair using a blow dryer with a tapered nozzle to direct air down the hair shaft and seal the cuticle.
If your hair's straight, it could be accumulating shine-dulling grease, since straight hair hangs flat against the scalp, where oil is produced. Be sure to use a deep-cleaning shampoo daily and a clarifying gel treatment, like J.F. Lazartigue's Propolis Jelly Scalp Treatment, weekly.
Is it bad to wash your hair every day?
That depends on the kind of hair you have, says Los Angeles hairstylist Philip B. Hair is a dead by-product of your body and needs to be lubricated. When you wash your hair, you are stripping away the natural oils, which some people shouldn't do daily.
If you have oily hair, you may need to wash your hair every day to avoid oil buildup or the "greasies." Wash with a clarifying shampoo (we like Clinique Exceptionally Clean Shampoo) and avoid heavy conditioners, which will sit on the scalp and clog pores, causing scalp acne.
If your hair is normal or dry, you should be washing every two to three days. Brush your hair before showering to distribute the oils on your scalp. Then shampoo twice: first using a clarifying shampoo and then using a conditioning shampoo. Try: Pert Clarifying Shampoo and Philip B African Shea Butter Shampoo.
If you have normal-to-dry hair and you choose to wash it every day, alternate between clarifying and conditioning conditioners to prevent buildup. Try: ThermaSilk Heat Activated Daily Clarifying Conditioner and Rene Furterer Karité Nourishing Conditioning Cream.
How can I get perfect waves like Kate Hudson?
Towel-dry freshly washed hair and apply a volumizing mousse. Comb through to make sure the mousse is evenly distributed. With your palms, gently push hair into waves, then clip waves into place. "This helps achieve a controlled wave with a finished, not frizzy, look," says Ted Giza, a stylist at the Avon Salon & Spa in New York City. Blow-dry with a diffuser attachment. When hair is dry, remove clips and separate waves with your fingers. Add extra gleam by smoothing two or three drops of shine serum over tresses. Do not brush hair after styling, or you'll wreck your waves.
At the office, I prefer to keep my hair up and out of my face, but my hair is fragile and most clips cause breakage. Any suggestions?
I'm going to recommend a headband - so hot right now - in particularly, the rubber-threaded I/M Active headband. It's a step up from something you'd wear at the gym but offers Olympian hold. To make the look more Hilary Duff than Hillary Clinton, inch the band back from your hairline and let a few locks hang loose. Meanwhile, sounds like you could also benefit from spritzing on a strengthening conditioner, like Matrix Biolage Fortifying Leave-in Treatment, before styling.
I'm dark-haired with a serious case of blonde ambition. If I go for it, how can I make sure it looks natural?
Start by thinking of your hair-hue change as an evolution-not a revolution. "It's really a journey to your blonde destination-with several colors as stops along the way," says Brad Johns, Clairol Global Color Director. Every four to six weeks, use permanent haircolor to lighten by one shade until you've reached your desired blonde. Try Herbal Essences Bold 'n Brilliant Color.
My long, thick hair is always frizzy and I can never do anything with it. Help!
There are several ways to combat frizz, says hairstylist Alan Tosler of the tosler.davis salon in New York City. Here are his tips to keep your hair healthy and under control:
1. Get your hair trimmed every 6 to 8 weeks. This will stop split ends from splitting up the hair shaft and causing hair to frizz out.
2. When blow-drying, use a nozzle on your dryer to direct the heat down the hair shaft, smoothing it out, and a round brush with boar bristles. Tosler recommends applying a no-frizz product before styling, like Rene Furterer No Frizz Gel.
3. When letting hair dry naturally, don't put your fingers through your hair until it is completely dry -- especially on humid days.
4. Avoid washing and blow-drying your hair every day, as this strips your locks of its natural oils. Tosler recommends using hydrating Terax shampoos and cream conditioners every second day.
5. Deep-condition your hair once a week with a hair mask like Avon Advanced Techniques Deep Conditioning Mask.
6. Keep a frizz-control serum, such as John Frieda Frizz-Ease, in your desk at work for midday touch-ups. Pour a few drops into hands, then smooth over your hair for instant shine.
I have recently dyed my dark blonde hair a lighter blonde. I don't like how much upkeep colored hair takes. Is it safe to go to a salon to remove the color? If not, what should I do until it grows out?
Many women hate their hair color once it's dyed, particularly if it becomes high-maintenance to hide dark roots. We asked New York hair color pro Angela Cosmai of Angela Cosmai Salon for some great tips on how to deal with your colored hair.
Rule No. 1: If you've made a mistake with hair color, definitely go to a salon to have it fixed, as using a home treatment could damage your hair. Ask your colorist to use a product with no ammonia and no peroxide to prevent hair damage. A colorist can add highlights or lowlights to improve a bad color and change the look.
If you are growing out color and you don't want to keep re-dyeing your hair at home, there is a product to help cover up the ends. The Beautiful Collection by Clairol (available at beauty specialty stores) is a rinse with no peroxide that will cover the ends while they grow out. Choose a shade closest to the color you want to be (when in doubt always go a shade lighter). Mix half a bottle with shampoo and shampoo hair with the mixture. Leave on 5 to 15 minutes. The color should last three to six weeks.
Why do I have split ends? And how do I get rid of them?
Split ends are a result of wear and tear on the hair and of overdrying and coloring, says NYC hairstylist DJ of the DJ Rubin Salon. Certain hair types, fine for example, are also particularly prone to splitting.
You cannot mend split ends; the only way to get rid of them is to have them snipped off above the split. For women who are wary of cutting their hair short, DJ recommends getting tiny trims every four weeks, and following with deep-conditioning treatments (to keep strands supple and flexible). This type of maintenance routine should ensure that splits don't crop up at all.
Please recommend specific types of hair products that will help my very dry, color-treated hair. It's taken on a strawlike texture!
Color-treated hair that isn't taken care of can often look dull, dry and unhealthy. This is because often the chemicals in hair dyes damage your hair cuticle beyond repair, leaving the ends broken and the hair shaft itself rough and fragile. It's not a pretty picture.
"Moisturizers hydrate colored hair."
The first step is to limit your hair product use to products designed for color-treated hair. These products will contain special intensive moisturizers to hydrate your damaged hair without stripping the color. Start with a good shampoo and conditioner that you can use on a regular basis, then try to use a deep-conditioning hair treatment or mask at least once a week. Massage it into your hair and let it penetrate for about 15 minutes, then rinse and you'll notice your locks looks instantly revitalized. Redken, Artec and Clairol all make excellent hair-care and hair-styling lines designed to keep colored hair in good shape.
Another tip: I've found that not washing my hair every day, and instead washing it only every second day, keeps my colored hair looking and feeling a lot healthier. Keep blow-drying time to a minimum to save your hair from the damaging effects of heat styling.
What can I do to make my hair shinier?
The secret to shiny locks is to keep your hair as healthy as possible. Every hair type needs plenty of moisture to stay glossy and light-reflective.
"Shine enhancers make dull hair gleam."
Step 1: Use a shine-enhancing, hydrating shampoo, conditioner and hair treatment. Try: Freeman Real Shiny Hair Shampoo and Conditioner. An intensive moisturizing hair mask applied once a week, for about 10 minutes, can also dramatically improve the condition of your hair, especially if it's damaged from being colored.
Try: Matrix Biolage Conditioning Balm.
Step 2: Use a glossing product, which is the key to instant low-effort sheen. Choose whatever formula you like best for your hair type. Shine-enhancing serums, hairsprays and gels all coat your hair cuticle with lacquerlike ingredients that make even dull, drab locks look vibrant and healthy. Apply after blow-drying, but use sparingly if your hair is fine or limp, as these products can weigh your hair down.
Try: L'Oréal Studio Senses the Shiny Look Hairspray.
Can I make my hair grow faster?
Realistically, no. But here are some hair-helper tips that certainly can't hurt. Give yourself at-home scalp massages, says L.A. stylist Philip B. They stimulate the blood flow to your scalp, which helps nutrients get to your hair follicles more quickly. While washing your hair, massage the scalp with your fingertips, starting at the back of the neck and moving around the hairline.
UCLA dermatologist Harold Lancer also suggests taking an over-the-counter vitamin every day that contains antioxidant blends and vitamin B derivatives to help increase hair strength. Dr. Lancer recommends the brand Marlan, available at most major drug stores.
My hair gets very frizzy after I blow it dry. What can I use to keep my frizzies down?
To prevent a fuzzy look after blow-drying, apply a quarter-size amount of styling cream to your locks while they're damp, concentrating product on ends. Next, disperse a quarter-size dollop of light-hold gel (for finer hair) or medium-hold gel (for thick, coarse hair) throughout your hair, so strands are fully coated, recommends New York City stylist Jimmy Paul. Comb your hair into place. With a diffuser attachment on your blow-dryer, dry hair, starting at the nape of your neck and working forward. Stop when your hair is 90 percent dry and allow the rest to air-dry. Also, be sure to use a deep-conditioning treatment once a week to prevent dryness, which contributes to a frizzy look.
The bottom of my hair is very dry, and the top is oily. Can you tell me the best way to treat my oily scalp and dry roots?
Many people have this problem, as your roots are closest to your oil glands. The best way to treat hair that is normal up top and dry on the bottom is to shampoo only every other day - and apply conditioner only to your ends. On the "off" day, when you're not shampooing, simply rinse your hair with water and, again, apply conditioner only to ends. Other remedies for dry ends? Get a tiny trim (ask your stylist to "dust" the ends) every six to eight weeks. Make sure he/she keeps the cut under half an inch, so that growth will be apparent. Also, towel dry your hair gently (roughing it up causes ends to fray) and use your hairdryer no more than two times a week - aiming airflow down the hair shaft but never directly on ends. A deep conditioner applied (just to ends) overnight can also improve the look of the bottom of your hair. Try: Garnier Fructis Deep Fortifying Conditioner.
I have tailbone-length thick hair. It's stick-straight and never holds a style. I like it long, but I would like to give it a new look. Can you suggest a way to update my hairstyle?
For tailbone-length thick hair that is stick-straight and can't hold a style, we advise lopping off a little length - you'll still be able to pull it back if it's below your shoulders. Then get some long, graduated layers - the shortest layer should be no higher than your shoulder. This will give your hair a bit of shape but still allow you to toss it into a high ponytail or a low bun (two great styling options for your type of hair). Another thing to experiment with is a heat-styling tool that will enable you to change the texture of your tresses in no time. We like GHD's Original Ceramic Styling Iron, which you can use to give your hair a super-smooth or curly finish depending on how you use it. To buy online, go to www.ghdhair.com.
My long hair gets superdry in the summer. What's the best way to care for it?
"People with long hair need to treat it with special care or it can get strawlike," says Ken Paves, an L.A. hairstylist whose clients include Jennifer Lopez. To do: Use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner (on ends only) every other day. Rinse with water alone on off days. Avoid heat-styling (blow-drying, flat-ironing) as often as possible, but if you must, prep hair with a protective spray, such as Charles Worthington Results Stay Cool Spray, first. Another tip: When you're at the beach, spread some of the sunscreen you use on your body through your hair so that it doesn't dry out and get crispy.
I have really overprocessed hair due to coloring it. How can I take better care of my hair so that it doesn't look so dry?
When you remove pigment from the hair (lightening your color) it can become dry, says Louis Viel, co-owner of Miano/Viel Salon and Spa in New York. He suggests these tips to combat dry/damaged hair.
1. Don't overcolor. Single-process color should only be done once a month and highlights only need to be done every two to three months.
2. After coloring, use a deep-conditioning treatment.
Try: Pantene Pro-V Essentials Ultimate Hair Therapy. Apply conditioner in the shower and cover with a plastic shower cap with holes in it. Stand in the steam for 5 to 10 minutes to open the cuticle and allow the conditioner to penetrate.
3. Use a shampoo and conditioner for color-treated hair to protect the color and keep hair looking healthy.
Try: Wella Color Charm Care Rehydrating Shampoo and Conditioner for Color Treated Hair
If you darken your color and still feel your hair is dry, the cause probably isn't the color. "Overstyling and constant blow-drying is a big cause of dryness," says Viel. Try to avoid blow-drying every day. To keep hair shiny-looking all day, Viel suggest using a shine-enhancing finishing product.
Try: VO5 Sheer Hairdressing Lightweight Leave-In Anti-Frizz & Shine Creme.
How do I make my hairstyle last all night?
Layering styling products is the best way to ensure your do's staying power, says Elizabeth Stenstrom of the L Salon and Color Group in San Mateo, CA. To make sure hair doesn't fall flat, apply volumizer twice - the first time to damp roots and the second time to dry roots (after you've styled your hair). Keep face-framing tendrils in place by spraying your fingers with hairspray, then running them down the length of these shorter strands. Also, when using hairspray in general, be sure to spray it all over your hair (flip your head over and spray in toward your roots) - not just on the top layers.
I just got a great short haircut, thinking it would simplify my life. But I've tried everything to re-create what the stylist did in the salon - to no avail.
Believe it or not, your hair is suffering from trauma - a major cut can do that. Because you've cropped it in places other than where it naturally curls, it may be popping up in annoying places. A strong but flexible styling wax twisted around the ends will help. Blast for a few seconds with a blow-dryer on the coolest setting. Try Pantenee Pro-V Texturize! Sculpting Wax.
That depends on your hair type. If your hair's curly, chances are it's dull because of dryness. Switch to a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner and apply four to six drops of a silicone-based shine serum to your wet tresses.
If it's wavy, lather up with a shine-enhancing shampoo and conditioner. Rinse well, then spritz a silicone-based shine-enhancing spray from ends to roots. Dry hair using a blow dryer with a tapered nozzle to direct air down the hair shaft and seal the cuticle.
If your hair's straight, it could be accumulating shine-dulling grease, since straight hair hangs flat against the scalp, where oil is produced. Be sure to use a deep-cleaning shampoo daily and a clarifying gel treatment, like J.F. Lazartigue's Propolis Jelly Scalp Treatment, weekly.
Is it bad to wash your hair every day?
That depends on the kind of hair you have, says Los Angeles hairstylist Philip B. Hair is a dead by-product of your body and needs to be lubricated. When you wash your hair, you are stripping away the natural oils, which some people shouldn't do daily.
If you have oily hair, you may need to wash your hair every day to avoid oil buildup or the "greasies." Wash with a clarifying shampoo (we like Clinique Exceptionally Clean Shampoo) and avoid heavy conditioners, which will sit on the scalp and clog pores, causing scalp acne.
If your hair is normal or dry, you should be washing every two to three days. Brush your hair before showering to distribute the oils on your scalp. Then shampoo twice: first using a clarifying shampoo and then using a conditioning shampoo. Try: Pert Clarifying Shampoo and Philip B African Shea Butter Shampoo.
If you have normal-to-dry hair and you choose to wash it every day, alternate between clarifying and conditioning conditioners to prevent buildup. Try: ThermaSilk Heat Activated Daily Clarifying Conditioner and Rene Furterer Karité Nourishing Conditioning Cream.
How can I get perfect waves like Kate Hudson?
Towel-dry freshly washed hair and apply a volumizing mousse. Comb through to make sure the mousse is evenly distributed. With your palms, gently push hair into waves, then clip waves into place. "This helps achieve a controlled wave with a finished, not frizzy, look," says Ted Giza, a stylist at the Avon Salon & Spa in New York City. Blow-dry with a diffuser attachment. When hair is dry, remove clips and separate waves with your fingers. Add extra gleam by smoothing two or three drops of shine serum over tresses. Do not brush hair after styling, or you'll wreck your waves.
At the office, I prefer to keep my hair up and out of my face, but my hair is fragile and most clips cause breakage. Any suggestions?
I'm going to recommend a headband - so hot right now - in particularly, the rubber-threaded I/M Active headband. It's a step up from something you'd wear at the gym but offers Olympian hold. To make the look more Hilary Duff than Hillary Clinton, inch the band back from your hairline and let a few locks hang loose. Meanwhile, sounds like you could also benefit from spritzing on a strengthening conditioner, like Matrix Biolage Fortifying Leave-in Treatment, before styling.
I'm dark-haired with a serious case of blonde ambition. If I go for it, how can I make sure it looks natural?
Start by thinking of your hair-hue change as an evolution-not a revolution. "It's really a journey to your blonde destination-with several colors as stops along the way," says Brad Johns, Clairol Global Color Director. Every four to six weeks, use permanent haircolor to lighten by one shade until you've reached your desired blonde. Try Herbal Essences Bold 'n Brilliant Color.
My long, thick hair is always frizzy and I can never do anything with it. Help!
There are several ways to combat frizz, says hairstylist Alan Tosler of the tosler.davis salon in New York City. Here are his tips to keep your hair healthy and under control:
1. Get your hair trimmed every 6 to 8 weeks. This will stop split ends from splitting up the hair shaft and causing hair to frizz out.
2. When blow-drying, use a nozzle on your dryer to direct the heat down the hair shaft, smoothing it out, and a round brush with boar bristles. Tosler recommends applying a no-frizz product before styling, like Rene Furterer No Frizz Gel.
3. When letting hair dry naturally, don't put your fingers through your hair until it is completely dry -- especially on humid days.
4. Avoid washing and blow-drying your hair every day, as this strips your locks of its natural oils. Tosler recommends using hydrating Terax shampoos and cream conditioners every second day.
5. Deep-condition your hair once a week with a hair mask like Avon Advanced Techniques Deep Conditioning Mask.
6. Keep a frizz-control serum, such as John Frieda Frizz-Ease, in your desk at work for midday touch-ups. Pour a few drops into hands, then smooth over your hair for instant shine.
I have recently dyed my dark blonde hair a lighter blonde. I don't like how much upkeep colored hair takes. Is it safe to go to a salon to remove the color? If not, what should I do until it grows out?
Many women hate their hair color once it's dyed, particularly if it becomes high-maintenance to hide dark roots. We asked New York hair color pro Angela Cosmai of Angela Cosmai Salon for some great tips on how to deal with your colored hair.
Rule No. 1: If you've made a mistake with hair color, definitely go to a salon to have it fixed, as using a home treatment could damage your hair. Ask your colorist to use a product with no ammonia and no peroxide to prevent hair damage. A colorist can add highlights or lowlights to improve a bad color and change the look.
If you are growing out color and you don't want to keep re-dyeing your hair at home, there is a product to help cover up the ends. The Beautiful Collection by Clairol (available at beauty specialty stores) is a rinse with no peroxide that will cover the ends while they grow out. Choose a shade closest to the color you want to be (when in doubt always go a shade lighter). Mix half a bottle with shampoo and shampoo hair with the mixture. Leave on 5 to 15 minutes. The color should last three to six weeks.
Why do I have split ends? And how do I get rid of them?
Split ends are a result of wear and tear on the hair and of overdrying and coloring, says NYC hairstylist DJ of the DJ Rubin Salon. Certain hair types, fine for example, are also particularly prone to splitting.
You cannot mend split ends; the only way to get rid of them is to have them snipped off above the split. For women who are wary of cutting their hair short, DJ recommends getting tiny trims every four weeks, and following with deep-conditioning treatments (to keep strands supple and flexible). This type of maintenance routine should ensure that splits don't crop up at all.
Please recommend specific types of hair products that will help my very dry, color-treated hair. It's taken on a strawlike texture!
Color-treated hair that isn't taken care of can often look dull, dry and unhealthy. This is because often the chemicals in hair dyes damage your hair cuticle beyond repair, leaving the ends broken and the hair shaft itself rough and fragile. It's not a pretty picture.
"Moisturizers hydrate colored hair."
The first step is to limit your hair product use to products designed for color-treated hair. These products will contain special intensive moisturizers to hydrate your damaged hair without stripping the color. Start with a good shampoo and conditioner that you can use on a regular basis, then try to use a deep-conditioning hair treatment or mask at least once a week. Massage it into your hair and let it penetrate for about 15 minutes, then rinse and you'll notice your locks looks instantly revitalized. Redken, Artec and Clairol all make excellent hair-care and hair-styling lines designed to keep colored hair in good shape.
Another tip: I've found that not washing my hair every day, and instead washing it only every second day, keeps my colored hair looking and feeling a lot healthier. Keep blow-drying time to a minimum to save your hair from the damaging effects of heat styling.
What can I do to make my hair shinier?
The secret to shiny locks is to keep your hair as healthy as possible. Every hair type needs plenty of moisture to stay glossy and light-reflective.
"Shine enhancers make dull hair gleam."
Step 1: Use a shine-enhancing, hydrating shampoo, conditioner and hair treatment. Try: Freeman Real Shiny Hair Shampoo and Conditioner. An intensive moisturizing hair mask applied once a week, for about 10 minutes, can also dramatically improve the condition of your hair, especially if it's damaged from being colored.
Try: Matrix Biolage Conditioning Balm.
Step 2: Use a glossing product, which is the key to instant low-effort sheen. Choose whatever formula you like best for your hair type. Shine-enhancing serums, hairsprays and gels all coat your hair cuticle with lacquerlike ingredients that make even dull, drab locks look vibrant and healthy. Apply after blow-drying, but use sparingly if your hair is fine or limp, as these products can weigh your hair down.
Try: L'Oréal Studio Senses the Shiny Look Hairspray.
Can I make my hair grow faster?
Realistically, no. But here are some hair-helper tips that certainly can't hurt. Give yourself at-home scalp massages, says L.A. stylist Philip B. They stimulate the blood flow to your scalp, which helps nutrients get to your hair follicles more quickly. While washing your hair, massage the scalp with your fingertips, starting at the back of the neck and moving around the hairline.
UCLA dermatologist Harold Lancer also suggests taking an over-the-counter vitamin every day that contains antioxidant blends and vitamin B derivatives to help increase hair strength. Dr. Lancer recommends the brand Marlan, available at most major drug stores.
My hair gets very frizzy after I blow it dry. What can I use to keep my frizzies down?
To prevent a fuzzy look after blow-drying, apply a quarter-size amount of styling cream to your locks while they're damp, concentrating product on ends. Next, disperse a quarter-size dollop of light-hold gel (for finer hair) or medium-hold gel (for thick, coarse hair) throughout your hair, so strands are fully coated, recommends New York City stylist Jimmy Paul. Comb your hair into place. With a diffuser attachment on your blow-dryer, dry hair, starting at the nape of your neck and working forward. Stop when your hair is 90 percent dry and allow the rest to air-dry. Also, be sure to use a deep-conditioning treatment once a week to prevent dryness, which contributes to a frizzy look.
The bottom of my hair is very dry, and the top is oily. Can you tell me the best way to treat my oily scalp and dry roots?
Many people have this problem, as your roots are closest to your oil glands. The best way to treat hair that is normal up top and dry on the bottom is to shampoo only every other day - and apply conditioner only to your ends. On the "off" day, when you're not shampooing, simply rinse your hair with water and, again, apply conditioner only to ends. Other remedies for dry ends? Get a tiny trim (ask your stylist to "dust" the ends) every six to eight weeks. Make sure he/she keeps the cut under half an inch, so that growth will be apparent. Also, towel dry your hair gently (roughing it up causes ends to fray) and use your hairdryer no more than two times a week - aiming airflow down the hair shaft but never directly on ends. A deep conditioner applied (just to ends) overnight can also improve the look of the bottom of your hair. Try: Garnier Fructis Deep Fortifying Conditioner.
I have tailbone-length thick hair. It's stick-straight and never holds a style. I like it long, but I would like to give it a new look. Can you suggest a way to update my hairstyle?
For tailbone-length thick hair that is stick-straight and can't hold a style, we advise lopping off a little length - you'll still be able to pull it back if it's below your shoulders. Then get some long, graduated layers - the shortest layer should be no higher than your shoulder. This will give your hair a bit of shape but still allow you to toss it into a high ponytail or a low bun (two great styling options for your type of hair). Another thing to experiment with is a heat-styling tool that will enable you to change the texture of your tresses in no time. We like GHD's Original Ceramic Styling Iron, which you can use to give your hair a super-smooth or curly finish depending on how you use it. To buy online, go to www.ghdhair.com.
My long hair gets superdry in the summer. What's the best way to care for it?
"People with long hair need to treat it with special care or it can get strawlike," says Ken Paves, an L.A. hairstylist whose clients include Jennifer Lopez. To do: Use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner (on ends only) every other day. Rinse with water alone on off days. Avoid heat-styling (blow-drying, flat-ironing) as often as possible, but if you must, prep hair with a protective spray, such as Charles Worthington Results Stay Cool Spray, first. Another tip: When you're at the beach, spread some of the sunscreen you use on your body through your hair so that it doesn't dry out and get crispy.
I have really overprocessed hair due to coloring it. How can I take better care of my hair so that it doesn't look so dry?
When you remove pigment from the hair (lightening your color) it can become dry, says Louis Viel, co-owner of Miano/Viel Salon and Spa in New York. He suggests these tips to combat dry/damaged hair.
1. Don't overcolor. Single-process color should only be done once a month and highlights only need to be done every two to three months.
2. After coloring, use a deep-conditioning treatment.
Try: Pantene Pro-V Essentials Ultimate Hair Therapy. Apply conditioner in the shower and cover with a plastic shower cap with holes in it. Stand in the steam for 5 to 10 minutes to open the cuticle and allow the conditioner to penetrate.
3. Use a shampoo and conditioner for color-treated hair to protect the color and keep hair looking healthy.
Try: Wella Color Charm Care Rehydrating Shampoo and Conditioner for Color Treated Hair
If you darken your color and still feel your hair is dry, the cause probably isn't the color. "Overstyling and constant blow-drying is a big cause of dryness," says Viel. Try to avoid blow-drying every day. To keep hair shiny-looking all day, Viel suggest using a shine-enhancing finishing product.
Try: VO5 Sheer Hairdressing Lightweight Leave-In Anti-Frizz & Shine Creme.
How do I make my hairstyle last all night?
Layering styling products is the best way to ensure your do's staying power, says Elizabeth Stenstrom of the L Salon and Color Group in San Mateo, CA. To make sure hair doesn't fall flat, apply volumizer twice - the first time to damp roots and the second time to dry roots (after you've styled your hair). Keep face-framing tendrils in place by spraying your fingers with hairspray, then running them down the length of these shorter strands. Also, when using hairspray in general, be sure to spray it all over your hair (flip your head over and spray in toward your roots) - not just on the top layers.
I just got a great short haircut, thinking it would simplify my life. But I've tried everything to re-create what the stylist did in the salon - to no avail.
Believe it or not, your hair is suffering from trauma - a major cut can do that. Because you've cropped it in places other than where it naturally curls, it may be popping up in annoying places. A strong but flexible styling wax twisted around the ends will help. Blast for a few seconds with a blow-dryer on the coolest setting. Try Pantenee Pro-V Texturize! Sculpting Wax.
