No matter what your hair woe—frizz, flatness, gray roots, oiliness, or dandruff—it only takes five simple moves to get gorgeous hair.
By Abbie Kozolchyk
FRIZZY HAIR
Frizz is as common as humidity in August. But with these tips, it doesn't have to be.
1. STAY HYDRATED. Frizz occurs when dry hair absorbs water from the air, but cream-based moisturizing shampoo and conditioner can prevent it—just be sure to rinse well so hair doesn't look dull or greasy. And lather up only a few times a week: "The natural oils that accumulate in the meantime are good frizz-fighters," says hairstylist Nathaniel Hawkins.
2. DRY THE RIGHT WAY. To keep waves smooth, apply styling lotion to damp hair, then let it air-dry—and resist the urge to tousle. "The more you put your hands through it, the more likely you are to create frizz," says hairstylist Garren. To make straight hair sleek, point the dryer toward the ends— "going against the grain, even a little, can cause frizz," he says. And keep blow-drying until every bit of dampness is gone.
3. COAT WITH CAUTION. Use silicone drops or spray to combat frizz, but don't overdose. Apply a drop or spritz to your palms first, then rub them together and pat them over frizz, starting at the ends and working toward the crown (you can always add more later).
4. OIL WELL. To further ward off frizz, give your hair a twice-weekly oil treatment (pros like jojoba oil). Work about a tablespoon through dry hair, first with your hands, then with a synthetic-bristle paddle brush (boar bristles would just soak up the oil). Leave it on for as long as possible before shampooing as usual; even five to ten minutes helps.
5. CUT AND COLOR CORRECTLY. Avoid overlayering, which makes short pieces stick out and get fuzzy. If you have coarse or curly hair, stay away from razor cuts, as they rough up the cuticle and exacerbate frizz. By contrast, nearly blunt cuts can help weigh down frizz. As for color, steer clear of a full head of highlights or a solid blonde: "Bleaching deteriorates the outer layer of the hair, making it coarser and frizzier," says Hawkins.
By Abbie Kozolchyk
FRIZZY HAIR
Frizz is as common as humidity in August. But with these tips, it doesn't have to be.
1. STAY HYDRATED. Frizz occurs when dry hair absorbs water from the air, but cream-based moisturizing shampoo and conditioner can prevent it—just be sure to rinse well so hair doesn't look dull or greasy. And lather up only a few times a week: "The natural oils that accumulate in the meantime are good frizz-fighters," says hairstylist Nathaniel Hawkins.
2. DRY THE RIGHT WAY. To keep waves smooth, apply styling lotion to damp hair, then let it air-dry—and resist the urge to tousle. "The more you put your hands through it, the more likely you are to create frizz," says hairstylist Garren. To make straight hair sleek, point the dryer toward the ends— "going against the grain, even a little, can cause frizz," he says. And keep blow-drying until every bit of dampness is gone.
3. COAT WITH CAUTION. Use silicone drops or spray to combat frizz, but don't overdose. Apply a drop or spritz to your palms first, then rub them together and pat them over frizz, starting at the ends and working toward the crown (you can always add more later).
4. OIL WELL. To further ward off frizz, give your hair a twice-weekly oil treatment (pros like jojoba oil). Work about a tablespoon through dry hair, first with your hands, then with a synthetic-bristle paddle brush (boar bristles would just soak up the oil). Leave it on for as long as possible before shampooing as usual; even five to ten minutes helps.
5. CUT AND COLOR CORRECTLY. Avoid overlayering, which makes short pieces stick out and get fuzzy. If you have coarse or curly hair, stay away from razor cuts, as they rough up the cuticle and exacerbate frizz. By contrast, nearly blunt cuts can help weigh down frizz. As for color, steer clear of a full head of highlights or a solid blonde: "Bleaching deteriorates the outer layer of the hair, making it coarser and frizzier," says Hawkins.
FLATNESS
Sleek and chic is all well and good, but hair that's so flat it reveals your skull's contours is another matter. Here's how to turn up the volume.
1. LAYER IN MODERATION. Keep hair close to one length. "When you overlayer it—which people mistakenly do in an attempt to create volume—you risk taking away too much bulk and actually decreasing the volume," explains Hawkins, who thinks "an angled or graduated bob that's lightly layered works beautifully."
2. COLOR SMART. Lightening your base color one or two shades "gives the look of more volume," says colorist Rita Hazan of the Rita Hazan Salon in New York City. (Glazes and semipermanent dye "won't do the trick because they are stains, which actually smooth the hair even more," she says.) For women who don't want to change their color, consider using dye for texture—it ruffles the cuticle just enough to create body. In the hands of a skilled colorist, the ensuing damage is minimal—but it's still damage, so try this strategy only a few times a year to see how your hair responds.
3. REVERSE IT. Condition your hair before you shampoo, suggests Hawkins. "You'll still get the moisture and elasticity, but you'll wash out any residue that can weigh down fine hair." On days when hair is really dirty, he recommends shampooing, conditioning, and then shampooing again.
4. DRY WITH CARE. Creating volume in fine hair is like making a soufflé—overwork it and the whole thing falls flat. When blow-drying, work on large sections, holding the nozzle a few inches from the hair and keeping it moving.
5. RAISE IT UP. To boost volume once the hair is dry, lift three-inch sections and allow them to drop through a mist of medium-hold hair spray, says hairstylist Jimmy Paul, "then spray your entire head with dry shampoo and scrunch; the result is hair with lift and a lovely, seemingly no-product finish." For those who hate hair spray, apply mousse to a vent brush and then to damp hair—it won't squeeze the air out of the mousse. "Coat the brush with mousse and run it through one side of your hair, then refuel and do the other side," Hawkins says.
Sleek and chic is all well and good, but hair that's so flat it reveals your skull's contours is another matter. Here's how to turn up the volume.
1. LAYER IN MODERATION. Keep hair close to one length. "When you overlayer it—which people mistakenly do in an attempt to create volume—you risk taking away too much bulk and actually decreasing the volume," explains Hawkins, who thinks "an angled or graduated bob that's lightly layered works beautifully."
2. COLOR SMART. Lightening your base color one or two shades "gives the look of more volume," says colorist Rita Hazan of the Rita Hazan Salon in New York City. (Glazes and semipermanent dye "won't do the trick because they are stains, which actually smooth the hair even more," she says.) For women who don't want to change their color, consider using dye for texture—it ruffles the cuticle just enough to create body. In the hands of a skilled colorist, the ensuing damage is minimal—but it's still damage, so try this strategy only a few times a year to see how your hair responds.
3. REVERSE IT. Condition your hair before you shampoo, suggests Hawkins. "You'll still get the moisture and elasticity, but you'll wash out any residue that can weigh down fine hair." On days when hair is really dirty, he recommends shampooing, conditioning, and then shampooing again.
4. DRY WITH CARE. Creating volume in fine hair is like making a soufflé—overwork it and the whole thing falls flat. When blow-drying, work on large sections, holding the nozzle a few inches from the hair and keeping it moving.
5. RAISE IT UP. To boost volume once the hair is dry, lift three-inch sections and allow them to drop through a mist of medium-hold hair spray, says hairstylist Jimmy Paul, "then spray your entire head with dry shampoo and scrunch; the result is hair with lift and a lovely, seemingly no-product finish." For those who hate hair spray, apply mousse to a vent brush and then to damp hair—it won't squeeze the air out of the mousse. "Coat the brush with mousse and run it through one side of your hair, then refuel and do the other side," Hawkins says.
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