You’re Doing it Wrong: Dry Shampoo

Remember when dry shampoo first became popular? It was like the godsend we didn’t know we were waiting for. Finally a product that allowed us to skip showers without having the world know how lazy we are! You could practically hear the scalps of oily-haired girls rejoicing. Unfortunately, we’ve taken things a bit far. We’re misusing the product, and our hair is paying the price.

Since my hair is pretty thick and incredibly hard to dry, I tend to wash it once every five days. To make the shampoo last, I spray a little dry shampoo onto my roots every morning. This is far too often. You should only get a day out of your dry shampoo, and then wash,.

So why should dry shampoo be used so sparingly? It’s not just baby powder inside those aerosol cans. Tons of chemicals are being sprayed onto your scalp, which clog the pores and don’t let the scalp breathe. Think of it like nail polish. If you’re wearing nail color 24/7, you’re not letting your nails get any oxygen, which is why they can turn yellow. Scalps should be allowed to breathe as well.

To use dry shampoo correctly, only use on your last day of a blowout, and make sure to shampoo it out the following day.

Basic Training: How to Use a Curling Wand

In our series, Basic Training, we’ll be giving a crash course on simple hair and makeup tricks that you still haven’t quite mastered.

We know trying something new is never easy, but put down the curling iron. Learning how to create waves and ringlets with a curling wand is worth the trouble. Without the clamp in your way, it’s easier to manipulate how big or small you curl. Plus, the dent at the bottom of the curl is a distant memory. So get yourself out of the stone age, pick up a wand and try out our step-by-step below.

Step 1: Hold the barrel so that the base is next to your ear and the wand is pointing down toward the ground.

Step 2: Take a small section of hair and wrap the part closest to your head around the base of the wand which is the part closest to the handle.

Step 3: Wrap the strand all the way along the barrel, leaving space in between each twirl. The more space you leave, the looser the curl.

Step 4: Flip the curling iron up to the release the hair, letting a perfect ringlet fall.

Step 5: Continue by curling the rest of the hair, finishing with a texturizing spray, like to add volume and roughness to the hair.

Step 6: Brush the curls out with your fingertips for an undone look.

Styling Tip: For Old Hollywood waves, curl each section of hair in the same direction. For beach waves, alternate the direction of each wave, one being toward the face and the next away from the face.

How to Get Thick Hair

Many people complain that they have fine hair, many of these people are wrong. “As a hairdresser, I can count the clients who have had fine hair.” People look at the ends of their hair to define their thickness level when they should be looking at their scalp. Still, if you want to amp up your hair’s fullness, try these tips:

1. Take a look at your diet.
Thinning hair can be a symptom of a deficiency in vitamins. Cre8 Salon suggests supplementing your normal diet with vitamins like Biotin or Viviscal, which help to make hair stronger.

2. Use volumizing products.
The next best thing to growing thick hair is faking it. Cre8 Salon suggests volumizing gels and mousses as a way of plumping up the look of your hair. Just apply these products to damp hair before blowing out.

3. Get the right cut.
A proper haircut can change the entire look of your hair. If you want hair to look thicker, Cre8 Salon suggests long layers and a blunt cut (“No razors, no thinning.”)

4. Shorter is better.
Another way to give the illusion of thick hair is to cut it slightly shorter than you originally wanted. By going just a tad shorter, you can actually make hair look thicker.

Tips to Make Hair Color Last

Photo: Getty Images

We work hard to find the products and stylists that will get us perfect hair— and perfect color. How frustrating is it when that color doesn’t last? We asked the experts: How do you make that color last as long as possible? The answers are easier than we imagined.

1. Avoid shampooing daily.
“It may sound dirty, but almost everyone does not need to wash their hair every day. Frequent washing strips the hair of valuable oils that keep strands moisturized, and it strips out your color. Instead, try a messy updo or dry shampoo to refresh your hair between washing,” says Estelle Baumhauser, expert colorist at eSalon.com.

If you must wash your hair every day, wash your scalp only, not your hair. “This will save your color, keep your hair from drying out, as well as save money from over shampooing,” says hair colorist, Frederic States.

2. Use the correct styling products.
A lot of fading happens naturally, so hair doesn’t  look as vibrant. Not using the right products will exacerbate that problem. “It is important to use shampoos and conditioners made specifically for color-treated hair because others are too harsh and will strip the color quickly,” says celebrity colorist Rita Hazan.

“I always laugh when people spend so much money on their hair color and then go out and buy cheap shampoo and conditioner that will pull your color out,” says  Joel Warren at Warren-Tricomi. ”I recommend that my clients use L’Oréal Professionnel INOA Color Care Shampoo and Conditioner. It’s sulfate free and contains argan oil to replenish the lipids on the surface of the hair fiber for a smooth, shiny finish. Also, it has green tea extracts, which nourish your hair to protect and maintain our color.”

3. Never jump into a pool or the ocean with dry hair.

Always wet it first with plain tap or bottled water. “Strands will absorb the tap/bottled water and help prevent the chlorinated water from bleaching hair,” says States.

 

4. Beware excessive heat or cold. 

 ”You should always use tepid water when washing your hair to make the most of your color, and finish with a final rinse of cool water to seal your cuticle for optimal shine,” says Missi Koebler of Secrets of Hair Design & Day Spa in Butler, PA.

 

4. Seal in the color.

The more you color your hair and blow it dry, the more nutrients are lost, which is why it is so important to use a conditioning treatment to restore those nutrients. You can do a leave-on mask or you can do an oil treatment and sleep with it overnight. It’s almost like putting moisturizer on your face.  

5. Get glossy.

“In between color sessions you can come in for a gloss/glaze to add shine to your color and maintain your color,” says Warren.

 

6. Your hair needs SPF, too.

“The sun will fade your color and turn blondes a little brassy. If you are going out in the sun, look for products with UV protection and protect your hair like you would your face. If you are planning on laying out for a few hours, try putting an oil on your strands, like L’Oréal Professionnel Mythic Oil Colour Glow,” says Warren.

How to Sleep Without Ruining Your Blowout

“You want to make sure to put your hair up in two loose buns, with metal clips, high on your head and sleep on a satin pillowcase,” says Webb. “The clips are so much better than an elastic, because the band can dent the hair and leave marks. Also, the reason it’s better to part your hair down the middle in two sections instead of one, is that you’ll actually end up with more curl on each side. Another thing I started to do, is take the top section in the back of the crown and wrap it in a velcro roller. It will get totally messed up when you sleep, but it actually solves the cowlick problem in that area when you wake up.”

When it comes to freshening up your hairstyle the next morning, Webb says it’s all about your hairline and the crown. “You can even gently wet those areas and re-blow dry them after adding dry shampoo, concentrating on the front. No one is really paying that much attention to the back, but if the front looks fresh and clean it really makes your whole blowout look new again.”

When applying dry shampoo, Webb says to avoid the scalp and the part line, because you can see it. “I tell people to section your hair and draw a line, and apply it under that line and spray and rub it in. Then lift, spray, lift spray section-by-section.”

The New Way to Wear Bobby Pins

Kate Mara attended a special screening of Netflix’s “House of Cards” season two (out today!) with what looked like your average slicked back hairdo. When she turned around, though, she showed what’s probably the most creative use of bobby pins that I’ve seen in a while. Take a look.

Instead of discretely hiding the pins, Kate’s hairstylist used them as an accessory and crisscrossed them through the back of the hair.

Get It Twisted: How To Get A Twist-Inspired Twirl

Get It Twisted: How To Get A Twist-Inspired Twirl

One quick fix to taming your tresses— fresh side twists, varying from effortless to avant-garde, achieved a sleek and modernistic look. Read on for the step-by-step deets on how to mimic the striking style!

For Runway-Inspired Side Twirls: 

1. Part your hair down the middle (it is best if it is slept-on or day-old) and apply a dime-size amount of mousse throughout, then tousle dry using a blow dryer.

2. Section your hair into two halves, then continue to section off into two-inch pieces until all of your hair is divided.

3. With a one-inch curling iron, wrap each section at a 45-degree angle, going in different direction to make the curls look a bit messier.

4. Take the two front/top sections of your hair (that frame your forehead on each side) and twist them away from your face, securing each with a clear elastic band.

5. Connect both sections together on the back of your head with bobby pins. Once secured, mess up the twist with your fingertips, and tease your hair for an effortless, just-rolled-out-of-bed finish.