The "Secret" of Great Looking Hair...REAL advice for all textures!

"My hair never does what I want it to. It's like it has a mind of it's own!"

"Why does my color fade so darn quickly?"

"Why does my hair have a different texture in the back/front/top/bottom?"

"There is NO volume to my fine hair"

"I don't have curls. I have frizz!"

"Why is my hair is on my floor/bed, in my car/brush...everywhere but my head?"

You're not alone! We have all heard these common complaints and if you can identify with any one of them, read on! Whether it's due to an obvious cause (you've been affected by illness, you just gave birth, suffered a 'stylist oops',...) or you have always wondered if great looking hair is even possible to achieve, the truth is your hair CAN have a healthier appearance and will improve it's shine, softness, texture and overall appearance depending on how proficient you are at caring for it and your awareness of what to look for when at the salon.

There is a great deal of information out there but a lot of it is geared at engaging you to buy some extra "miracle product" that can probably help you deal with your issues to some extent but most likely won't tackle your struggle/s at the core. Frustrate no more! There are two common causes that are generally behind these all too common hair issues: lack of moisture and/or poor nutrition.

The following recommendations are aimed to help you understand what to do to achieve shiny, soft, beautiful looking locks in just a few weeks! These are tried and true tips that have consistently proven their worth in our private practice and that have the potential to change anyone's hair for the better.

1. AS WITHIN, SO WITHOUT

Keeping a healthy lifestyle equals a healthy appearance. Exercising regularly, drinking abundant water :-) and reducing/controlling stress are contributors of healthy hair growth too. Distinctively, nothing impacts as much on healthy hair growth as proper nutrition.

But let's get real! In the modern world it's sometimes difficult to find the right foods or even the time to cook or eat! So make sure you include in your daily routine a Hair, Skin & Nails complex or take straight Biotin. There have been numerous studies confirming the benefits of Biotin in relation to a stable nervous system and...you guessed it...healthy hair growth! There are no known side effects to this vitamin however please consult with your physician before taking them. There are several brands to choose from in your closest vitamin store and there are vegetarian-friendly options available.

2. ESTABLISHING A PROPER HAIR CARE ROUTINE

Do you know the right order and application of your products at home? Do you skip conditioning? Do you ever deep condition?

A proper washing process contains the following steps:

• Pre-wash: This is an optional step that is highly beneficial to those who have some damage/ excess dryness. It is the process of applying a moisturizing treatment, generally oils like Argan, Coconut, (or even olive oil for those who like the natural products) etc; within a minimum of ten minutes prior to shampooing and make sure to use a plastic cap and wash out well when you shampoo/cleanse.

• Shampoo: A good shampoo (bought from your stylist, opposite to buying the best smelling one at your local store) will cleanse and lightly moisturize your hair but it's main duty is to clean. Therefore it should be applied directly to the scalp and then ran down the rest of the hair, not balling it all up to clean it all at once. Get real about how many times you need to shampoo by checking how your scalp feels, usually it's between one and three times.

• Conditioning: This is a big one! Shampoos are essentially detergents and although a good shampoo will contains moisturizers these might not be enough to create that soft, flowy, shiney finish. Apply conditioner directly on the ends, avoiding the scalp. Conditioner was made to help moisturize the ends: the weakest, oldest part of your hair.

• Deep Conditioning: This is another optional step recommended for people with delicate textures: from wavy to curly hair and fine hair. Also for people who are recovering from damage or whenever you feel your hair is lacking movement, shine or doesn't feel soft to the touch. Your product line of choice generally comes with a deep conditioner. If it doesn't feel free to choose one that is has some or all natural highly moisturizing ingredients. Apply after your regular conditioner but leave in for ten minutes or more and put a plastic cap on. Then rinse.

• Style Prepping: Very important step! Whether you're air or blow drying your hair will need protection from heat, the elements and air contamination. This is when a leave-in conditioner comes in. They come in cream or spray form. Apply and do not rinse, right before styling. BEWARE of moose, gels and hairspray! Keep on reading for more info on this!

The amount of times you wash a week is determined by your hair type and your lifestyle. There is no set number. It's a stylist's job is to help you determine frequency of washes.

Tip: Wanna find out which of your current hair products are really working well for you and which aren't? Click here for a FREE consultation!

3. CHOOSING SUITABLE HAIR CARE PRODUCTS

Let's face it. There's are so many options out there that sometimes even stylists can't keep up. So how do you know you got the right stuff?

Everything begins with a good wash! If your hair is prone to dryness (meaning: frizz, dullness, lack of movement...), specially if it's chemically treated, always go for products that are labeled as "nourishing", "conditioning", "moisturizing" and "color care". Generally, products that contain extracts of natural moisturizing agents in a higher dose (E.g.: argan oil, shea butter) and a lower dose of sulfates and parabens or none at all, do a better job. Whatever is listed first on the ingredient list will be more abundant in the product formula.

If your hair is fine and non-chemically treated (color, relaxer, waving) do use a "volumizing" hair care line that, again, has abundant yet lightweight moisturizing agents that won't weigh your hair down.

The curlier your hair is the more moisture it will need, that's why products based in oils are a better option for people with extremely curly hair (like myself!). The challenge then is to find a shampoo that can cleanse the strand gently without stripping it of the little moisture it holds and efficiently removes dirt and bacteria from your scalp. Again, this is where a stylist's knowledge would come in.

As general advice, keep your focus on getting an appropriate care line (shampoo, conditioner, leave in conditioner, deep treatment). Products like volumizers, curl enhancers, smoothers and other "effect-creating" products are only there to help enhance the functions of your care line but alone won't "solve" any issues.

There are options for everyone: whether you have embraced your natural hair or you change texture and color constantly. An experienced hairstylist will point you in the right direction. Good stylists are good researchers and it's part of our job to try try and test everything before recommending.

Tip: Finest quality hair care products available here.

4. USE GELS, MOUSSE AND HAIRSPRAY WISELY

These products were created to achieve specific effects on the hair, mainly for updos and special occasion styling, but aren't recommended for daily use. The reason is that these contain alcohols and derivatives of glue. The effect of their continued use is visible dryness which results in dull, opaque and even brittle hair. As time progresses, users generally find they have to apply larger amounts of the product than they did initially to maintain the desired effect, which only creates more dullness, less shine and even breakage, specially if applied on the hair prior to blow drying. That cocktail of chemicals and heat is a recipe for hair death! OUCH!

5. AIR-DRY OR BLOW-DRY?

Simply put, as a stylist I'm a firm believer that anything is possible with your hair as long as it is done correctly.

First and foremost, never leave your hair unprotected! Thus the importance of applying a leave-in conditioner before styling or air drying. This proves specially favorable for those of you who love to roll your car window down in the summer and go about town and run errands...can you say frizzy mess??? It's also very important for those of you who love hot tools: dryers, curling irons, flat irons, etc.

Also, make sure that if you have air dried make sure to apply a moisturizing product: cream, serum, drops, etc. and if possible fix your hair into the protective style of your choice like a braid, a bun or a hair wrap. The idea is to protect your ends!

6. CHOOSING A GOOD HAIRSTYLIST

A good stylist will always do her best to educate you on how to maintain your style at home in a simple way, considering your hair type and your life's demands. Also she/he will explain thoroughly how to take care of your hair specially at critical moments like after any chemical treatment or while going through important body changes.

A good stylist will also know that the foundation of healthy hair is proper nutrition, exercise and proper care, therefore she will advice on vitamins essential for hair health, will keep the gels, mousses and sprays at a minimum at time to style and will let you know when it's best to trim (trims do wonders!).

Also, a good stylist will also be very honest on the effects that any drastic change may have on your hair health. Most importantly he/she will KEEP IT REAL with you on cost of service and ANY expectations you may have on how a certain choice of style will turn out!

7. ENDS MATTER

A professional trim (scissors in good shape and a good technique) can do wonders for your hair! It's up to your stylist to recommend the appropriate time to trim. However a good indicator that you need to trim is when your hair starts to get tangled or ends start looking a little bushy or discolored.

The most important takeaway is that you are aware that YOU (not your stylist) spend the most time with your hair, therefore proper home care is key as is getting guidance from your stylist to make the right choices depending on how much maintenance you really care to do. Hair should be fun, but if you becomes a chore then it defeats all purpose.

With a system in place taking care of your hair will be a breeze PLUS you'll feel the confidence that showing the world your beautiful hair will bring about!

Tip: Looking for knowledgeable stylists and/or good hair salons in East Amherst NY? More info here!

Updates:

August 2. 2016

* Never go to bed with wet hair. The friction of your wet hair against your pillow will cause frizz and dryness. Make sure you hair is at least 90% dry before calling it a night!

* When all else fails and cutting is no option, treatments like botox and keratin are your way to go! These are highly powerful proteins that are able to regenerate/fill the hair strand.

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