Of your hair!
For some, hair can be such a challenge. For others, it just comes natural and for the rest of us; we have good hair days, bad hair days and a whole lot of messy bun days in between!!
How do we fix this?
For starters, do you actually know your own hair type? Do you know what products you should use? Do you know how to do several styles on yourself? You can find the answers to all of those questions PLUS how to grow beautiful, healthy hair (fast) right here!
Disclosure:
Let's figure out hair types
The easiest way to determine which hair type you have is to wash your hair and let it air dry with no products added to it. Below is a list of hair texture descriptions based on the natural shape or pattern of each strand, once it’s been product-free air-dried:
- Straight – when the hair has no bend or curl
- Wavy – when the hair has a slight “S” shape
- Curly – When the hair has a defined curl or loop pattern
- Coils – when the hair has tight curls, spirals or a zigzag pattern
Hair structure
Most people have probably never even heard the term hair structure. The hair stylist in me is all too familiar with this, and so are you and you don’t even know it! It’s something almost EVERYONE complains about when they sit in my chair. Secrets of a hair stylist, shhhhhhh, I can count on one hand how many clients I have heard say they love their own hair. Most everyone wishes they had the complete opposite hair type and structure. So lets talk structure.
- Fine – Thinner than a piece of sewing thread
- Medium- Same size as a piece of sewing thread
- Coarse (thick) – Thicker than a piece of sewing thread
This is the main test to determine the majority of products you will be able to use. For example:
- Fine hair requires a lightweight product, such as; light conditioners, light hold hair sprays and not using a lot of product to weigh the hair down.
- Medium hair requires a mix of both. Regular shampoos and conditioners are great, a mousse or root boost and lightweight hair spray work well.
- Coarse (thick) hair requires a stronger shampoo and conditioner, which should specify on the bottle that is for thicker hair. Mousse, memory hold, root boost or any blow-drying product is great. Stronghold hair sprays are the only thing that will hold a style for a longer period of time.
Hair styling 101
Grab your products, round brush, favorite styling tool (i.e. blow dryer, curling iron, flat iron, wand) and let’s get to work! For an in depth style guide check out my video below.
Tip #1
Use products for your blow-dry sparingly. If you over use a product, chances are, your hair will feel greasy or like you need to go rewash it, which you should at that point.
Tip #2
Blow dry your hair with your hands and fingers until it is at least 90% dry before you ever touch it with a brush.
Once you are 90% dry, grab your round brush or Wet Brush (this brand of brushes is amazing!). My favorite Wet Brush is the Pro Shine Enhancer Brush. It’s a combination of boar’s hair and regular bristles to add a smoothing shine to the hair as you use it.
-If you are using a round brush for volume and style you will want to section off your hair and do a little at a time to ensure maximum volume and dryness. The round brush size you use will depend on length of your hair and desired amount of curl or bend to the hair and how much volume you would like.
A nozzle head on a blow dryer will help your direction of airflow. Just like working with wood, go with the “grain” of the hair. Make sure you are puling the brush from the roots to the ends.
You can either leave the style like this, as a blow out, or use a hot tool (i.e. curling iron, flat iron or wand) to style. If you choose to use a hot tool, a heat-protecting product would be very advisable to maintain the health of your hair.
Hair growth of your dreams
Vitamins are your best friends! Internal and external health is dependent on vitamins in the body. Vitamin E and Biotin are essential for hair growth. If you are looking for foods that contain the best vitamins for hair growth, stock up on sweet potatoes.
Keeping up with regular hair appointments at the salon to get the ends trimmed will help maintain the quality and appearance of your beautiful growing locks. Over the years of cutting hair I have heard many clients say two different things, “Doesn’t your hair grow faster if you get it cut regularly?” or “I don’t want to cut my hair because I want it to grow.” The truth to both of these, your hair grows from the root at your scalp, not the ends of the strand. Not cutting your hair may give you the length you desire, but you will have split ends that are dry and look bad.
A regular deep conditioning treatment (once a week), if you are a hair color client, is a great way to maintain the integrity of the hair. Keep the moisture in the hair, especially recommended for those with curly hair! One of my favorite brands for this is Amika – The Kure or Amika nourishing mask – Soulfood.
Stay away from hot tools such as; blow dryer, curling iron, flat iron or wand as much as you can. If you use any of these styling tools invest in a good heat protectant product for your hair type and needs. Some types of these products include: before blow-drying – mousse or spray, after blow-drying – aerosol spray. Brands I love to use are listed below: