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Hair Tips
Styling
No matter what your hair type, there's only one point in the drying process when hair can actually be styled. It's that critical moment when your hair suddenly goes from damp to dry. Use your fingers and blow-dryer to dry hair until it's just slightly damp -- then pick up your styling brush.
If you don't have time to style your whole head, concentrate on the front and sides of the hairline, which frame your face, and the diamond section on the top of the head, which creates the top layer of the hairstyle.
Here's how you can style your rained-on hair:
Conditioning
You should use a conditioner every time you shampoo or use a blow-dryer, hot rollers, or curling iron.
You should leave conditioner on your hair for the full length of time stated on the package, then rinse thoroughly. Rinse until hair feels smooth but not coated or slimy, and no more bubbles are going down the drain.
Here's how you can tell if you're using the right amount of conditioner: Well-conditioned hair is manageable, shiny, combs easily, and responds well to blow-drying; overconditioned hair feels heavy or limp.
If conditioner seems to make your hair oilier, you may be using a product that's too heavy for your hair type -- or you may not be rinsing thoroughly.
FYI: Though most conditioners don't build up on hair, some contain shine-promoting molecules that shampoos and styling products can stick to over time. If your conditioner stops giving you great results, use a clarifying shampoo once a week.
You can sneak in a deep-conditioning treatment when you're pressed for time: Try slathering it on damp hair, then tucking it under: a shower cap (while you shave your legs); a baseball cap (while you take a brisk walk); or a towel (while you relax in your gym's steam room).
You should use a deep-cleaning or oily-hair formula every five shampoos to get the most from your regular formula and remove buildup caused by conditioners, volumizers, and styling products.
Coloring
Going to color your hair yourself? You're better off picking a shade that's within two to three shades of your natural color. Trying to go too light can leave you with orangy hair.
Once you've chosen a shade, you need to pick a tone. Warm tones -- such as red, gold, copper, and auburn -- generally look good on women with darker, olive skin and dark eyes. Cool tones -- those that have a green or violet base to them -- are called ash, and they look best on women with light eyes, and pale skin that has a reddish undertone.
Use a kit that lets you weave more than one color into your hair. Use a little more of the lighter shade at the front of the head and around your part to mimic real sun streaks. And choose the kit that's intended for your hair color. Superblond formulas can make darker hair turn orangy.
Follow the package instructions exactly, including doing a patch test to see if you have any allergic reaction to the product, and a strand test to see what shade you'll end up with before committing your entire head to it.
Tip: While you are coloring your hair, protect your body. Wear rubber gloves while applying the color and dress in an old bathrobe or T-shirt. Wrap cotton or tissues around the base of your hairline to protect the skin on your neck.
No matter what your hair type, there's only one point in the drying process when hair can actually be styled. It's that critical moment when your hair suddenly goes from damp to dry. Use your fingers and blow-dryer to dry hair until it's just slightly damp -- then pick up your styling brush.
If you don't have time to style your whole head, concentrate on the front and sides of the hairline, which frame your face, and the diamond section on the top of the head, which creates the top layer of the hairstyle.
Here's how you can style your rained-on hair:
- Use a wide-tooth comb (carefully!) to detangle. Don't add more styling products -- you'll be redistributing those you used earlier.
- Blow-dry until hair's just a little damp. If you're at work, the hand-dryer in the bathroom makes a passable substitute -- or let hair air-dry.
- Take a few long curler clips (available at most drugstores) and insert them wherever you want to restore wave or shape.
- Let hair set for a few minutes, remove the clips, and shake.
Conditioning
You should use a conditioner every time you shampoo or use a blow-dryer, hot rollers, or curling iron.
You should leave conditioner on your hair for the full length of time stated on the package, then rinse thoroughly. Rinse until hair feels smooth but not coated or slimy, and no more bubbles are going down the drain.
Here's how you can tell if you're using the right amount of conditioner: Well-conditioned hair is manageable, shiny, combs easily, and responds well to blow-drying; overconditioned hair feels heavy or limp.
If conditioner seems to make your hair oilier, you may be using a product that's too heavy for your hair type -- or you may not be rinsing thoroughly.
FYI: Though most conditioners don't build up on hair, some contain shine-promoting molecules that shampoos and styling products can stick to over time. If your conditioner stops giving you great results, use a clarifying shampoo once a week.
You can sneak in a deep-conditioning treatment when you're pressed for time: Try slathering it on damp hair, then tucking it under: a shower cap (while you shave your legs); a baseball cap (while you take a brisk walk); or a towel (while you relax in your gym's steam room).
You should use a deep-cleaning or oily-hair formula every five shampoos to get the most from your regular formula and remove buildup caused by conditioners, volumizers, and styling products.
Coloring
Going to color your hair yourself? You're better off picking a shade that's within two to three shades of your natural color. Trying to go too light can leave you with orangy hair.
Once you've chosen a shade, you need to pick a tone. Warm tones -- such as red, gold, copper, and auburn -- generally look good on women with darker, olive skin and dark eyes. Cool tones -- those that have a green or violet base to them -- are called ash, and they look best on women with light eyes, and pale skin that has a reddish undertone.
Use a kit that lets you weave more than one color into your hair. Use a little more of the lighter shade at the front of the head and around your part to mimic real sun streaks. And choose the kit that's intended for your hair color. Superblond formulas can make darker hair turn orangy.
Follow the package instructions exactly, including doing a patch test to see if you have any allergic reaction to the product, and a strand test to see what shade you'll end up with before committing your entire head to it.
Tip: While you are coloring your hair, protect your body. Wear rubber gloves while applying the color and dress in an old bathrobe or T-shirt. Wrap cotton or tissues around the base of your hairline to protect the skin on your neck.
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