THE SOFTEST WAVES: You saw it at the red carpet with Reese Witherspoon, Jessica Biel, Kristen Wiig and Stacy Keibler. The BIG spring hair trend is relaxed, gorgeous, sexy waves. The idea is that your hair looks naturally flawless, soft, and beautiful. Rock this look by changing your part to a center one, flipping your hair over and spraying for volume like Reese Witherspoon. TWO TEXTURES TO TRY: First, lightly tousled waves with a center part ruled. To achieve, prep dry hair with a thermal spray to create shine and hold during heat styling. Loosely wrap large 1-2 inch sections around the barrel of a 1-inch curling iron, hold for 10 seconds, then release. Hand rough waves to define texture, while creating volume and movement in the hair. Mist with a medium hold hairspray to complete and achieve a flexible, polished hold. Secondly, the “wet” look creates a whole new kind of texture. This style combines a slight wave while slicking back all hair framing the face. Set your hair in large braids overnight or encourage any natural waves by using curl enhancing creams or mousses. To complete, evenly distribute a styling gel to the front using a comb to push hair back and produce this ‘wet’ appearance. ...read more

The beauty of hair is a direct manifestation of internal health. How and what we eat determines our hair. It’s essential to get proper nutrients directly from the foods that we eat. Healthy hair diet is very important. Eating a healthy, balanced diet is necessary for the health and beauty of your hair! Great nutrition is the most effective way of getting awesome hair. Paying attention to nutrition will help to beat bad hair days. You do not need a vegetarian diet to keep hair healthy. Having healthy hair requires well-balanced diets that incorporate proteins and vitamins B, C, E, A and K. Hair instantly responds to the addition of protein rich foods such as meats, eggs, cheese, seeds and nuts. Healthy diet must include: • Protein Protein is the building block of hair. Hair is 88 percent protein. Protein will give the shaft of your hair more strength, and will reduce the probability of damage. • Vitamin B The B vitamins are necessary for healthy hair. Lack of B vitamins can lead to oily hair conditions. Sources: green vegetables, beans, sunflower seeds, nuts and peas. • Vitamin C It strengthens the immune system, and assists in metabolizing B vitamins and amino acids into the body. Lack of vitamin C can cause dry hair. Sources: oranges, lemons, limes, melons, berries, red peppers, kale, cauliflower, tomatoes and cucumbers. • Vitamin A Vitamin A is important for the health of your scalp. A lack of it can lead to dry hair. Sources: carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, broccoli, cantaloupe or apricot. • Vitamin E Vitamin E provides lots of benefits for growing vibrant hair. Sources: avocado, rice bran, nuts, dark green vegetables, legume and whole grains. • Vitamin K Vitamin K helps to maintain healthy hair. Sources: seafood, dairy food, fig, brewer yeast, asparagus, broccoli, lettuce, cabbage, dark green leafy vegetables, egg yolk, oatmeal, rye, soybean, liver, wheat and yogurt. • Iron Healthy hair needs iron in the body. Iron is needed to help carry oxygen to the hair. Without enough iron, hair gets starved for oxygen. Sources: eggs, fish, liver, oysters, meat, poultry, whole grains, green leafy vegetables and blackstrap molasses. • Magnesium Magnesium deficiencies lead to hair problems. Sources: meat, fish, fruit, nuts, brewer’s yeast, whole grains and green-leafy vegetables. • Copper Copper is needed for hair structure and is involved in the pigmentation of hair. Sources: milk, bread and green vegetables. • Zinc A lack of zinc can lead to hair loss. Zinc is necessary for building hair protein. Sources: oysters, peas, pulses, haricot beans, butter and kidney. • Water Water is important for hair. Water makes up one-fourth of the weight of a strand of hair. Moisture makes the hair supple and helps keep your hair silky and shiny. Eight to ten glasses of water a day are absolutely necessary to nourish healthy hair. • Essential Fats (EFAs) Healthy hair also needs two essential fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6, that are not produced naturally by the human body. • Omega-3 fats sources: flax oil, algae, cold-water fish, dark-green vegetables, hemp oil and pumpkin seed oil • Omega-6 fats sources: borage, evening primrose oil, safflower oil, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, corn and pumpkin seeds. • Cold-pressed vegetable oils are also essential to a hair healthy diet. Lack of these oils causes dull, lifeless hair along with parched, rough skin. • To supplement your diet, you should consider taking a daily vitamin-mineral supplement formulated for hair. FOODS AND BAD HABITS THAT HARM YOUR HAIR Eating dead food can lead to lifeless hair. These are sugars, chocolate, cakes, cookies, starches, soft drinks, and snacks. Caffeine, alcohol, nicotine and recreational drugs destroy important hair growing nutrients. ...read more

Rich color and retro 80's cuts are the hot hair news for Summer 2011. 2011 HAIR TRENDS -         Be a tease this summer with big 80's hair and highlights. Side ponytails and hair bows are also making a comeback... -         The pony tail and bob continue to be hot looks, with last year's precision cuts giving way to bold 80's style pixie cuts and spikey fringes coming to the forefront this year as the summer of 2011 heats up ...  SUMMER COLOR -         Bold and assymetrical are the watchwords for 2011, with traditional bright and vibrant highlights of the past, including strawberry and even platinum blond hues predicted to be the hot new look this summer. -         With the addition of dramatic chunks of pastel color, this year the spotlight is definitely on fun and creativity! SUMMER 2011 - CUTS FROM THE CAT WALK      Styles, lengths and cuts were once again all over the place at the Spring-Summer 2011 fashion events, including buns, rolls and bobs, ponytails, and even big hair and teased side ponytails tied up in hair bows, a la the 1980's Madonna look. -         In general, styles are becoming more free and casual compared to super neat precision cuts of the past several years. -         THE BOB: Back again this summer, the classic bob features strong graphic outlines incorporating curves and sharp lines. Go for asymmetry - try one side longer or raise the back and lower the front. Mix lengths gradually, add volume with layers or stick to one length cuts. This is a cut that you can tailor to your face and lifestyle -- a look for the individual. Soften it with wisps or a bit of back combing. -         FRINGE: Still very hot for summer 2011, fringe cuts were tops on many of the runway's top models. Fringe can add elegance or make a bold statement. Look for variations with fringe cuts to bring out your personality and facial structure. Soft and wispy fringes, casual choppy edges and strong bold lines will all be hot. You'll find fringe cuts that go full length, others flowing mid length or brought forward into the eye. It's all about having fun, being sexy and being yourself. -         LAYERS: The cut that complements all the others in high fashion circles this season is lengths of layers with casual textures. The natural look is easy to create with layers of unstyled, free moving hair. Not a lot of curl but plenty of slightly tousled waves added to the volume and texture make this a fun way to style your hair. -         CROP: For summer 2011 the focus continues to be on natural looking movement and volume. Crops are holding their own this season with short unregimented lengths adding textures and bounce to this cut. Forget the solid crop and go for broken edges and textures that use the natural flow of your own hair as the guide.   ...read more

I pride myself in providing you with:• Hair Color that maintains the integrity of your hair.• Hair makeovers that will make everyone’s jaws drop to the floor.• Made for You hair color rather than one size fits all.• Men’s grooming that is quick, easy, and care free.• Men’s color tune up that takes 10 years off in just 10 minutes.• Latest haircuts that will compliment your face shape. Yes, it’s possible!• Formal styles for brides that enhance everything on your wedding day.• Flirty fun party hair.• Removing up to 95% of frizz through the CHI Enviro American Smoothing Treatment.My Promise.• Luxury service at affordable price. Just check out my Prices and see for yourself.• We will solve your hair problems, period! Dry scalp, oily hair, split ends or hair that just does not want to cooperate, it doesn’t matter because I know how to fix it.• 72 hour guarantee on any hair service. That’s right! You have up to 72 hours to fall in love with your hair. Do you know any other hair salon that does that? We don’t!• To use clean and sanitized hair brushes and combs. ...read more

Strong Hold UpDo To create a long lasting updo, make sure to start with a solid base. Securing a strong ponytail or plait will keep your updo in place and give you a great starting foundation for your hairstyle.   Straight Locks To achieve straight locks with a hair iron, apply a heat protection product to limit damage and straighten your hair in small sections to create an even and professional looking result. To finish (and to keep your straight look and avoid any fly-away pieces), smooth some hair serum over your strands.   Curl Your Hair Naturally For a more natural finish when using a curling iron, curl your hair in different directions.   Timing Your Curls For the best result curl your hair several hours before any big event so that it can settle. A medium to strong hold product is also good for maintaining your curls.   Bridal Hair from all Angles It's important to trial your wedding hairstyle, but even more important is taking photos of your hair from all angles. That way you can really make sure the style suits you and your dress perfectly.   Same Curls Different Look Got curls and feel like a change? No problem! For a formal hairstyle and defined curls use a curling iron, for something casual scrunch your hair with mousse, and for loose curls use heated rollers.   No Cringe Wedding Hair To avoid a “What was I thinking?” moment when looking at your wedding photos in the years to come, choose a classic hairstyle that is feminine.   Master Your Curls Master your curls with curling balm to reduce frizz and help your curls sit better, or a paddle brush to help tame them.   Outstanding Updo’s An updo will hold better in day old hair. Why? Clean hair is too soft and will stop your style from staying in place.   Give Me a Break Styles To give your hair a break from heat styling, experiment with updo’s.   Curls Bounce Back Curls are back in fashion again, so why not try a shorter Marilyn Monroe look, or go longer for something a bit more voluptuous and bouncy.   Straighten Out Your Curls Pay 1,000s of dollars to chemically straighten your hair, or try some cheaper options: straightening lotions, blow-dryers, straightening irons, or hot rollers.   Keep it Straight Want to make your hair nice and straight? Use a concentrated nozzle on your hair dryer and aim it at your locks in a downward direction. This will keep your hair flat and help make it straighter.   Step Back in Time Hair Vintage hairstyles are all the rage again. For a retro look, set your medium length hair in a side part then apply big heated hair rollers. When it's cooled create old school Hollywood waves by gently brushing with a paddle brush. Step back in time before you step out this weekend. ...read more

Bleach your hair into oblivion? Tired of split ends? Follow these beauty tips to rescue your mane. Hair Problems: You have cut your bangs too short. Quick Fix: To help disguise the length of your bangs, sweep them to the side until they grow out rather than wearing them straight down on your forehead. Coat damp bangs with a pea-size drop of light-hold gel, then blast them to the side with a blow-dryer. You can also camouflage your handiwork by pulling the hair off your forehead with stylish bobby pins or a headband. Hair Problems: Split Ends Quick Fix: Split ends cannot be fixed or mended; they can only be cut off. Be gentle with your hair and use a deep conditioner twice a week to help prevent further damage. Try to minimize the stress on your strands between cuts by avoiding vent brushes with plastic bristles, shampooing every other day and protecting hair from heat-styling by using a leave-in conditioner. Hair Problems: You OD'd on highlights and your hair's bleached out. Quick Fix: An all over, demi-permanent color (washes out in four to six weeks) in a hue one shade deeper than your highlights to get rid of brassiness. If your hair still isn't the shade you want, weave in some lowlights to reintroduce the darker undertones you have lost. Hair Problems: Dry, Dull Hair Quick Fix: Try leave-in conditioners that can add moisture to your hair and protect it from environmental damage that could lead to additional moisture loss. Look for products that contain hydrating botanicals such as rice milk, bamboo milk and milk thistle. Alternate your regular shampoo with a clarifying one once every few weeks to prevent product buildup. ...read more

Knowing what not to do to your hairstyle is just as important as what you do to create the hair of your dreams. Like everything in life, there are dos and don'ts.   1. Don't go to the salon unprepared to request the hairstyle you wish to wear. Many hair consumers mistakenly believe that their hairdresser can work miracles, can read their mind and can instantly pick out the best hairstyle for them. There are many variables to consider when it comes to selecting a hairstyle and it is up to the hair consumer to do their homework and research their own hair options. Face shape, lifestyle and budget all play into the final style selected.   2.   Don't select a hairstyle or haircut that is impossible to maintain at home on your own.   3. Don't skimp on proper hair care or hair styling products. Some hair care lines sold in drugstores may work for some types of hair and some styles. However, if you have highlighted or chemically processed hair or require added volume or control, the less expensive non-salon lines might not do the trick and could make styling your hair a constant challenge. Consider your options. You may be able to compromise by buying both mass market and high quality products and alternate between them for best results. Or maybe your hairstyle requires high quality hair care lines. Be honest and don't work hard to achieve a great style only to undermine it with products that don't support it.   4. Don't use the wrong hairstyling tools. There are many different tools available to create fabulous styles. These tools range from blow dryers and curling irons to hot rollers and round brushes. Make sure you use the proper tools when re-creating your style. If you are unsure what tools to use, ask your hairdresser to give you a lesson at the salon. It may be impossible to copy the style your professional hair consultant designed for you if you don't deploy the same styling techniques, products and tools. I do not feel like I am doing my job unless you can create at home what I do behind the chair.   5. Don't overuse hairstyling products. Less is more when it comes to utilizing styling products. Over using products risk developing product build-up on your hair, using a clarifying shampoo will remove this buildup and leave your tresses feeling a new.   6. Don't be a slave to hair trends. Hairstyles change constantly as fashion change. Instead of being a slave to hair trends, find a hairstyle that works best for you and maintain that base look. If you want to update your tresses to keep them looking fresh, opt for a change in hair color, highlights, lowlights or slight texture. If you look great in a bob, keep that as your basic style but work with your hairdresser to keep it looking contemporary.   7. Don't ignore hair accessories as a fabulous hairstyling option. Some hair consumers mistakenly believe that hair accessories are only applicable for young people or certain types of hair. This is not correct. Any hair accessory can be adopted for any age, hair type, texture, fashion or style.   There can be just as many don'ts as there are dos when working with your own personal hairstyle. While it is important to follow the dos, it is also necessary to keep the don'ts in mind to achieve the hairstyle of your dreams. ...read more

Anyone who thinks that curly hair styles means carefree hair style probably wears a wig. Fortunately, curly hair is easy to master once you understand the basics of curly hair management. Your Natural Curl Pattern Styles for natural curly hair should always complement your hair's unique curl pattern. Not everyone knows how to "read" that pattern and the results could be disastrous. Layered hair cuts are one of the most suitable haircuts for short to medium length soft curly hair. It is easier to maintain and give your curls a good structure. Excessive hair weight is a curl's worst enemy! When your hair gets too long and heavy it tends to pull down and straighten your curls. Visit your stylist at least every six weeks. If you have thick curly hair, or your hair grows quickly, then every four to five weeks might be better for you. The Right Hairdresser The most important thing to know is that not all hair stylists understand the subtle nuances of cutting naturally curly hair. If you are searching for a new hair stylist, don't be afraid to call and ask if they have a curly hair stylist or specialist on their staff. If they say no, or act like you just asked the dumbest question that they have ever heard, hang up and move on. From Straight to Soft Curly Hair Style Soft, cascading curls of hair, edgy waves, and romantic ringlets or a la movie queens from the '40s. It's the latest curly look from the red carpet that called "Hollywood glam". If your curls are to keep their shape for a long time and look as natural as possible, the best things to use are rollers. If this is what you looking for then learn about waving technique like the “S Wave Thermal Set”. This technique combined with a wave solution is much gentler and easier on the hair than a traditional perm while creating natural-looking, soft curls that last up to three months. It is suitable for those with straight or slightly straight hair types and creates the perfect foundation or base for a multitude of curly hair styles. From Natural Curly to Straight or Soft Curly If you have hard to manage natural curly hair and want to have straight OR soft curls and romantic waves, then you need to consider a re-texturizing service with your hair stylist. This option allows you to relax your curly hair to straight or re-create the curls in a new soft “S wave” hair style. From Relaxed to Natural Curly Hair If you have already relaxed hair and you like to get back to your natural curl, you can consult your hair stylist to use a gentler relaxer to make the transition easier. Keep Your Curly Hair In Shape Resist the temptation to wash your hair every day.It is fine to rinse it daily but curly hair should be shampooed once or twice per week if possible(This fact depends on your curls type, shampoo and its PH value). That is because curly hair is the result of the way that proteins in you hair called sulfides bonds (disulfide bonds) and harsh shampoo can break those bonds, so if you like to shampoo your hair regularly then use extra-mild or natural shampoo or your beautiful curls might become dry and also straighten a bit as a result. Use conditioning treatment after each wash. Let your hair dry naturally if you have the time. If you are going to use a blow dryer then use a diffuser so your curls don't get packed down too tight. Protect your hair in direct sun, wind or when driving in an open car with hat and rinse your hair after swimming. Use The Right Products for Curly Hair Use products that are made especially for curly hair. You need shampoo and conditioner that will enhance, support and protect your style and natural curly hair rather than weigh them down. You can spritz new life into your sagging curls by misting them lightly with water and letting your hair dry naturally. Rather than water, use shine spray to restore and refresh your hairs natural curls. The real secret in beautiful curls and manageable curly hair style is "shine". The structure of your hair fiber is different than straight hair and does not reflect the light in the same way. The best way to deal with this is to use shine products like serums and shine enhancers or shine sprays. Curly hair is reactive to weather conditions and high temperatures; it is the humid climate that can make your curly hair ridiculously frizzy. The frizz is a result of dehydration of the inner layer of the hair shaft from having not enough moisture. ...read more

Hairstyles for older women don't fall very far from the styles that younger women wear. In today's world older women are younger and younger. So too are the hairstyles they wear. If you are an older woman, looking for a new hairstyle, don't worry. You aren't limited by age, to the type of hairstyle you're able to wear. The most important step when looking for hairstyles for mature women is deciding what it is that you like! Choosing a style is very important, in the process of tailoring it to fit older women. Not only should a hairstyle be tailored to fit your facial shape, but it should also fit your taste. Merge the style you want with what's popular. You don't have to get rid of your long hair in order to stay current. Long hairstyles for older women will always have some appeal. There are so many current hairstyles today that incorporate long hair well. The side swept, hairstyle is one of the year's most popular styles. It has a trendy fashion, but really dates back, to the 50's. The side swept hairstyle can be worn over whichever shoulder you want. Some women choose to alternate. This hairstyle for older mature women can be achieved, by incorporating a smooth bang. Many older women are using curls at the end of the hair to complete the side swept style. Others are also making this style a ponytail design, too. It does not matter which hairstyle you choose, hairstyles for older women are very versatile. Some women will even choose to add a splash of color to their new look. Highlights can also be a great way to incorporate color and low lights help give the illusion of thickness to thinning hair. ...read more

If your hair is FINE and STRAIGHT and you want to create BODY, apply a volumizing mousse to wet hair, flip your head over and blow0dry until hair is just damp. Finish drying using a large round brush to add body. If your hair is WAVY or CURLY and you want to PREVENT FRIZZ you want to dry hair in small sections from the nape of your neck upwards. Then apply a frizz-fighting cream to ensure it stays smooth. Lock in the style by flat-ironing your hair in sections. If your hair is COARSE and you want it SMOOTH, apply a softening cream from roots to ends while hair is still damp. Use a blow dryer with a comb attachment that straightens the hair as it dries so a flatiron will not have to do all of the work. ...read more

AVOID OVER WASHING. Twice a week is ideal, but every other day is fine if you have very oily hair. And remember to wait at least a full 24 hours after coloring to shampoo your hair; this allows time for the color pigments to settle into the hair shaft. LATHER WITH CARE. Cleanse with shampoos formulated to color-treated hair. Many regular shampoos contain harsh detergents that strip hair of color. USE A COLOR-DEPOSITING SHAMPOO. To kick your shade up a notch, cleanse once a week with a product made to refresh your color and shine. But beware: such shampoos can actually change your color if used too often. CONDITION, CONDITION, CONDITION.Since dehydration zaps color fro treated hair, apply a deep conditioner once a week. USE APPLIANCES WISELY. Excessive heat styling can make color turn brassy. Remember to prepare your locks with a good professional thermal protector. ...read more

Before digging out the spongy pink curlers or running to your stylist for a hasty perm, check out these effective alternatives for an evening of uncustomary curls! Curling Iron Inexpensive, relatively user-friendly and quick for minor touch-ups, this device can give you a glam look with a few minutes investment. If you are donning only a partial head of curly locks, a curling iron could be just the tool you need for an immediate response to your need of a few well-placed curls. Glamorize your up-do with a curling iron by emphasizing your style with a few loose spiral curls around your face or one or two seductively sweeping along the back of your neck. Creating these curls can be a quick and easy process, but do not forget to spritz them with a little hairspray, or else they may not last the entire evening! Another common use for a curling iron is tending to your hair’s ends. Tuck them under or flip them out a bit wildly, but you will not get the same results with a set of hot rollers! A curling iron is versatile enough to curl precisely the strands that you want curled, in whichever manner you wish to achieve. Even if you wish to curl more than a few small sections of hair, a curling iron is capable of curling your entire head as well. Time Involved: Curling Iron use may take anywhere from 5 minutes or less to 45 minutes or more, depending on your desired style. Hot Rollers A bit more expensive than the curling iron, hot rollers can achieve a full head of flawless curls, in less than 10 minutes to under an hour. Hot rollers generally have a small amount of wax inside that is heated when the set is plugged into an electrical outlet. When the curlers are ready for use, the color may change color so that you know to begin applying them. Forget about fighting with the curling iron and trying to decide which way you want the curl to spiral. Instead, enjoy the remarkably easy process with hot rollers-once you have fastened the curlers in your hair, your hair will all curl simultaneously! Tip for Hot Rollers- Try to wash your hair the night before you want to employ the hot rollers. Sometimes very clean, sleek hair tends to resist curling. If you do shampoo the same day, it is a good idea to use a styling product such as a non-sticky hairspray or gel to retain the shape of the curls. Time Involved: Hot Rollers may take about 3 minutes to warm up and anywhere from 5-10 minutes to apply, and about 10-15 minutes to set. Add additional time as necessary for styling your locks if you intend to use barrettes, bobby pins or other adornments and styling products. Curling Iron versus Hot Rollers Both beauty appliances require time to heat up. Hot rollers are very easy to use when styling the whole head or a section, but don’t count on them to curl your ends out or under. Leave that to the curling iron! Curling iron gives greater flexibility for choosing between loose spirals and tight ringlets, but you can always brush out your curls formed by hot rollers to achieve the style you desire. Hot rollers allow you to create maximum volume by over-directing each section of hair as you wrap it around the roller. Curling irons are much easier to transport when traveling. Hot rollers save more time if going for a full head of curls. Success rate for curls enduring the entire evening may also be better. Both devices are useful in and of themselves-the best advice for you is to try them both and see which you like the best! ...read more

Every season brings a new trend in hairstyles. In fall, sleek bobs are considered the go-to hairstyle, while spring, undulating waves and crops cuts are cool. The problem with all this fickleness is that you barely learn how to do one look when another takes its place. Add to this the fact that most of us want what nature did not give us and the result is a whole lot of unnecessary fussing, twisting and tugging. Vow to banish bad hair days forever. Throw away those hats, turbans and other cover-ups, unless you want to use them for a hair accessory. Rely on the following 8 commandments of control, and you will look like you have me at your house.   Start with a Great Cut – The most obvious indication of a great cut is that it falls right into place and is simple to style. If your stylist spent 45 minutes fussing to finish it, chances are you will not be able to re-create the look at home. A good cut falls into place, even on windy days. It also works with your hair texture and type.   Do Not Fight Nature – TOO Much – If you try to wear your ultra-curly hair in a long, sleek look or bleach your black hair to an arctic blonde, you will become a slave to either upkeep or bad hair days. Even if you are willing to pay for the upkeep, chemicals and styling abuse from too much heat and product take their toll on the health of your hair. Layers and finger-styling work better for curly hair than blow-drying and flat ironing; a rich, warm brown probably looks better on a dark brunette than a pale blonde does.   Do No Overuse Products – Mixing too much gel and silicone shiner, then adding hairspray over the top will leave you with dull-looking locks that feel gummy. A small amount of product gives you control; too much weighs hair down. Your hair texture, length and density dictates how much product you should be using. Also consider the type of product. For example, you can get away with applying much more mousse than super-hold gel. In general, start with a dime 0sized amount of gel and setting lotion; use a half-dollar of mouse; mist on just 3 or 4 pumps of spray-on gel, leave-in conditioner, volumizer and finisher; use just a drop or two of shiner, glosser and pomade. Remember you can always add more, but you do not want to start all over at the sink.   Use Rollers Right – Whether you prefer Velcro® or heated, rollers are perfect for achieving today’s curls and waves. If you are using cold rollers, set your hair when it is damp. Do not apply any product until hair reaches the damp state; it will just take longer to dry. Add a bit of product when hair is barely damp and roll up rollers, positing the largest-diameter ones at the top and over direct the hair for maximum volume. Allow them to dry completely (speed up the process with a hair dryer), the unwind rollers carefully.   Think Roots First – When you are blow-drying, lifting hair and blow-dry the root area first. Concentrate the most product at this area, bring just a small amount through to the ends. This will give you height and volume. Once you have dried to root, continue to dry the shaft and ends using a smaller diameter brush if you want end curls.   Be Prepared – If your hair starts out great and poops out by mid-day, be ready for it. A small bottle of water can be used to mist hair lightly and “re-activate” product. Most professional products have “memory”. Today there are lots of purse-sized curling irons and setting tools that you can use for quick touch-ups between office and dinner. If you have long hair, wrap it into an updo during the day; when you let it down, you will have instant, long lasting volume.   Add Body – Always start with freshly shampooed hair. Bend at the waist and begin drying as you finger-style your hair. When 50% of the moisture has been removed, add most of your gel or volumizer and lift hair with a vent brush or large toothcomb. Continue drying, and then flip your head up. If it is humid outside, use a tiny amount of product to re-define waves – just rub in between your palms and finger-style it into dry hair.   Get Regular Trims – The best way to avoid a bad hair day is with a great cut, regular trims are essential. In fact, most women who have bad hair days go much longer than 4 to 5 weeks between trims. Even if you want to grow your hair longer, keep it neatly trimmed. If hair is grown out so much that it has little shape left, use gel to smooth it or flip up ends if they are long enough. If you hair has none of the shape from the original cut, that is when you find yourself resorting to ponytails, hats and paper bags.     ...read more

Turn Down the HeatYou do not have to completely swear off blow-drying. Just do it right. Your hair will be much better off if you start blow-drying when it is not dripping wet. Blot, do not rub, wet hair with a microfiber towel, which is less damaging than the classic terry-cloth turban. Use a heat-protective spray or serum. Shampoo SmartlyI always say you can reduce the times you shampoo to three times a week. But if you have fine and/or oily hair, you do not have to walk around looking dirty. Shampoo daily, but thoroughly drench your hair with water before you lather up. Then concentrate on just the hair two inches closest to the scalp, since that's where sebum collects. And rinse really, really well under the coldest water you can stand. Stock your shower with products that have the words "anti-breakage, "strengthening," or "renewal" on the label to thicken hair and seal split ends. Blow-Dry GentlyStretching your hair with a brush while you incinerate it with a blow-dryer is not so hot for your hair's health. But you can fight frizz less harshly. A good-quality blow-dryer dries so quickly that there really is not time for the hair to overheat. Also, try do not yank too hard on the hair and keep the nozzle as far away as possible. Straighten Extremely GentlyDo not overexpose hair to the flatiron. Read the manufacturers' instructions and do not exceed the maximum suggested time. (It's typically about five seconds.) Fans of chemical straightening should consider switching to a keratin treatment, which adds a smooth coating to each strand but does not mess with the cortex. Mend Your EndsGet a great deep conditioner. The ingredients are not that different from those in your daily conditioner, but they are much more concentrated and they leave behind a smoothing film that will not wash off for days. Using a deep conditioner overnight once a week if the damage is severe—just make sure you place a towel over your pillow. ...read more