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Beauty & Fashion

2009-10-01 15:50:00

Can you pass along some secrets?

Question: How can I learn the inside secrets that hairstylists use?

Answer: Stylists are often asked to share their secrets. The fact is, they’re not secrets at all, but part of the education process and the experience of trial and error. Oh, there may be secrets to a color formula, or a texturizing technique, but just as a great chef holds the secrets of a special recipe, the basic ingredients and technique in preparation are the same. Most stylists are more than happy to share their experience with clients. Also, I’ll share a few tips on how you can help yourself! Cut and Color Tips • Maintaining perfect posture while you’re getting your hair cut will allow your stylist to give you more even results. Believe it or not, if you cross your legs, you throw off your alignment, which can result in a lopsided cut. • Before you have your hair colored, permed, or straightened, tell your stylist what chemical hair treatments you’ve had in the past so that they can determine how the chemicals that are already in your hair will interact with any new chemicals. • To keep hair color looking fresh between touch-ups, twice a week rub a small amount of color-enhancing shampoo into roots at bedtime. (Blow-dry roots to keep pigment from rubbing on your pillow.) Shampoo out the next morning. Straightening Strategies • When blow-drying your hair straight, be sure to get it completely dry. Any moisture left in the hair will cause it to expand, or frizz. When straightening hair with a round brush and blow-dryer, allow each section to cool a second or two while it’s still wrapped around the brush to lock the smoother shape into the hair. If you have a “cool” button on your dryer, this will speed the process up. • To iron in a sleek finish, use a flat iron. First blow-dry hair, smoothing it with your fingers. Once hair is dry, brush it out with a flat paddle brush; apply shine-enhancer or heat-activated spray. Working up from the ends, flatten 1/2-inch sections with the iron; doing bangs last. Hair will stay sleek for two or three days. Beautiful Hair Secrets • More shine, less shampoo. Don’t wash your hair every day unless it is oily. Daily shampooing can strip away the natural oils needed to coat the hair shaft and reflect light. You can let hair go two days without lathering up if hair is dry, damaged or color-treated, and one to two days with normal hair. Refresh your style without shampoo by rinsing with warm, then cool water. Style Like a Pro • For more control, lift sections with a flat brush and blow hair forward. When hair is completely dry, blow it all back, away from your face. Bend over and shake your head. Finish with a texturizing product. • Instant hot rollers. To add more volume to your hair, buy three metal round brushes. Section hair at the crown into three sections and mist with styling spray. Roll each section around a brush, the way you would set hair with rollers, and spray again with the styling spray. Moving the dryer back and forth, heat the brushes until hair is warm then let hair cool before unwinding. • To prevent the greasies, apply styling gel, mousse or cream by rubbing a dab between palms and raking hands through your hair, starting at the back. Do the ends first, and gradually go up the hair shaft. Stay away from the scalp. Don’t fry your hair when using your curling iron. For silky curls, start with dry hair. Spritz on a heat-activated styling spray to protect tresses. Take skinny sections of hair, about 1/2 inch to one inch wide. (Make sure ends are tucked into the clamps of the iron or they’ll flip up.) Hold each section in the iron for no more than 30 seconds.