7 Tricks Great Hair Stylists Use:

**DO Try This At Home**

The Down and Dirty About Shampooing:

The #1 question is always…

“are professional brands sold in salons and beauty supply stores really any better than drugstore brands?”

Short answer: “YES”… and here’s why:

Drugstore Brands of shampoo are made with the cheapest possible ingredients. Read the label of any shampoo and you’re likely to find lots of stuff with names you can’t pronounce. But the cheaper the final product, the cheaper the ingredients that go into it.

“Name” Brands come in two categories:  

1. The product-only producers like Wella for colored hair, and L’Oreal shampoos for various hair types that you can buy online at drugstore.com or specialty beauty supply stores like www.Folica.com …

and

2. The private label products commissioned by and for stylists and specialty salons like Bumble & Bumble and Paul Mitchell (which you can also buy at www.Folica.com ).

So Tip #1 is:

Use good quality shampoo designed to enhance or correct your hair type or problems.

For more detailed shampoo info, including specific recommendations for your hair type, visit our shampoo page by clicking here.

Tip #2 is:

Step away from the nozzle, while you’re still in the shower, and towel dry your hair after shampooing…

Yes, before applying treatment or conditioner.

Removing a lot of the water will help the product penetrate the hair shaft and give you a better result.

Tip #3:

For Your Final Rinse:

• Tilt your head back and allow the water to run from your head to the ends of your hair. Gently run your fingers through your hair to remove all the conditioner.
• Start with the lukewarm water and gradually add colder water (or turn down the hot water) until your hair is cool through-out.
• This causes the hair follicle to close, protecting it from the elements and sealing in the products.

Tip #4:

Treat Your Hair Right:

Everyone needs regularly scheduled intensive moisturizing treatments.

How often depends on your hair’s condition. For more info, with specific recommendations for your hair type and its condition, visit our treatments page by clicking here.

When applying specialized hair repairing treatments, the products penetrate deeper into the hair when heat is applied. At the salon, they may put you under the hood to enhance the product’s effectiveness.

At home…

1. Cover your hair, with the product in it, with a plastic shower cap (one you can dispose of afterwards) and
2. Heat it up either with your hairdryer (on low) or by getting back in the hot shower or bath.
3. Condition as usual after the treatment (unless the product directions say not to).

Tip #5:

Basic Blow Drying:

Preparing for a good blow dry starts with a good shampoo and conditioning. Follow Tips 1, 2 & 3!

Then, use a thermal protector product everytime you blow dry.

You’ll need:

• A handheld dryer.
• • Smaller ones are lighter and easier to maneuver;
• • larger ones dry faster (because they have more power).
• And a nozzle for directing the airflow precisely, or
• • a diffuser for curly hair.
• A large round brush with real bristles (DENMAN is our preferred brand).
• Clips of various sizes, the large, flat, professional ones work best.
• Hair spray and/or gloss for finishing.

1. Gently towel dry first, now pre-dry by running your hands with fingers spread apart, through your hair, shaking it while doing the initial blow drying. DO NOT OVER DRY.
2. Use clips. Pin the top layers up out of the way and dry the underneath sections first, starting at your neck.
3. Use that cool air button to “set” the dry hair before removing your brush from each section.
4. Use a large paddle brush for a smooth finish. Use a diffuser on curly hair.
5. Finish with a light gloss product for added shine and no frizzies.

Tip #6:

Brushing:

Using a ball-tipped bristle brush can promote healthy hair growth. It must be a brush with soft plastic knobs on the ends of the bristles to keep from scratching your scalp.

DENMAN brands,which you can order through  are recommended by many leading hairdressers.

1. Brush your hair before shampooing (while it’s still dry).
2. Remove the dust and dirt of the day from your hair with a good brushing.
3. Brushing stimulates the natural oil production of your scalp and distributes the oils along the hair strands.

Tip #7:

Quick, Fun Styles:

For a temporarily shorter hair do:

This works best with long layers.

1. Clip the shorter portion that you will leave out on top of your head.
2. Smooth the under section that you want to hide low on the back of your head from the right ear to behind the left ear. Use some gel to hold it and place hairpins vertically behind your left ear.
3. Take the remainder of the underneath layer and fold it back over the pins towards your right ear. Place more hairpins vertically behind your ear.
4. Repeat the back and forth using gel and pins until all the hair you want to hide is pinned up flat against your head.
5. Release the clipped section. It should hide the pins, making you look like you went short – but just for tonight!
6. Finish with a product like Aveda Custom Control to add texture.

Or, create your own hair headband.

1. Take a section from the hair underneath.
2. Use a gel to smooth it and then and wrap it across your head.
3. Pin the section on the opposite side underneath top hair with bobby pins.
4. This is especially interesting if your underneath color is different from the top color.

If you’ve had your hair in a ponytail all day:

This is a simple way to glam it up a bit:

1. Take a centimeter section from underneath the ponytail.
2. Tuck the ends of your ponytail underneath the elastic.
3. Now wrap the loose section around the elastic as many times as the length will permit.
4. Pin the wrapped hair with a hairpin, vertically, under the elastic to hide the pin.
5. Finish your hair with gloss or spray shine such as KMS weightless spray shine.

Or, create a smooth chignon bun:

1. Retie your pony and on the last twist of the elastic don't pull your hair right through.
2. Tuck the ends up under the elastic with a hairpin, leaving a stylish knob shape.
3. Smooth in any frizzies with KMS shine serum.
4. For a more "cheeky flirty" look, leave the ends out and piece them out with some KMS styling grit.

For a wilder look with shorter hair:

1. Randomly clip a few sections around your head.
2. Remove one clip at a time and roll the hair section around your hand then pin it to your head, fanning out the ends.
3. Hold with some Aveda Self Control to give texture.

This look is a little harder than it sounds so it is only for the more creative or those with a patient friend who will help.

Bonus Tip:

For quality products, at great prices, you can’t beat shopping online.

My favorite web store is www.folica.com . They’ve got the hottest brands, good prices and free shipping when your order is $85 or more (combine your order with a friend’s and share the good deals)!

For in-depth hair info, here's a few more articles for you.

Just click on the title you want to read:

Pick the Right Shampoo For Your Hair Type

Treat Your Hair Right: How To Chose and Apply Specialized Treatment Products

Tools of the Hair Trade: Professional Stylist’s Top Picks For Home Hair Care

Pick the Best Hair Style For Your Face Shape AND Lifestyle 

 Here’s to everyday being a good hair day! 

Monica