Professional hair styling tips
We all love that salon fresh feel to our hair, but how do professional stylists achieve that perfect look with your locks? We don’t always have the time or the funds to visit the salon as regularly as we’d like, so how can you style your hair like a pro at home? We’ve suggested 7 of the best tips for getting your hair to look as if you’ve just stepped out of the stylist’s chair.
1. Understand your hair type
Knowing exactly what type of hair you have makes a huge amount of difference to the style you choose and the products you use. Hair usually falls into one of three categories;
Thick - tends to be more coarse, the strands are clearly visible individually. If you can only fit an average elastic around your ponytail once, and struggle to keep hair grips in place then you have thick hair
Medium - if your hair falls somewhere between thick and fine, i.e. has some volume but doesn't suffer from too much frizz, then your hair is likely to be of medium thickness.
Fine - If you have to wrap an elastic around a ponytail numerous times before it is tight enough, you struggle to maintain volume and it can appear lanky quite quickly after washing then it is likely that you have fine hair.
Texture
In addition to the thickness of your hair, there is also its texture to consider. The best way to ascertain your particular type is to leave it in its natural state after washing, then look at how it falls.
Type 1 - Straight - has no natural curl
Type 2 - Wavy - has a gently tousled appearance
Type 3 - Curly - ‘S’ shaped curls - loose to tight
Type 4 - Coily - very tight S shaped or zig zag curls
2. Choose the right hairbrush
Choosing the appropriate hairbrush for your hair type is an essential part of achieving the best styling results. For fine hair, always choose a boar bristle brush, which will be much gentler on your hair and avoid pulling hair out. It will also give it a great shine. For medium thickness hair, you may want to try a boar bristle/nylon combination brush. This should help get rid of any tangles whilst still leaving your hair with a healthy shine. If your hair is thick then you need to be using a brush with strong, nylon bristles in order to get through the knots and tangles.
3. Style according to your hair type
Fine hair - you have a bit more choice than those with thicker hair. You can curl it or straighten it quite easily, or experiment with updos that will all be quite easy to manage. Boost volume by teasing your hair or using a product such as dry shampoo or styling mousse.
Thicker hair - suited to most braids and high buns, the good thing about thicker hair is that there isn’t much of an issue with using products because thick hair won’t get weighed down the same way fine hair would, so styles often hold for longer.
4. Choose products appropriate for your hair type/thickness
Using a shampoo and conditioner that has been formulated for your hair type is a good start. People with finer hair tend to benefit from the use of lighter products such as mists and sprays, which won’t weigh the hair down. Those at the other end of the spectrum with thick, tightly curled hair, benefit from using richer oils, serums and creams in order to inject moisture.
5. Combat frizziness
The best ways to combat frizziness begin with a regular haircut. On top of this, use cooler water to wash or dampen your hair, sleep on a silk pillow and/or with your hair wrapped in a silk scarf and use moisturising shampoos and cleansing conditioners. Avoid products that contain alcohol at all costs as these will dehydrate your hair and encourage frizzing.
6. Curling
If your hair is dry, prep it by detangling it thoroughly and spraying it with a heat thermal protector. For the optimum curling technique, try to use a curling wand that has a barrel width of around 1 ½ inches and a heat setting gauge. If the gauge is between 1 - 10, set it at 6 for fine hair and 8 for thicker hair, as thinner hair requires less heat. Begin at the nape of the neck, misting and curling the hair section by section. We advise placing a towel around your neck first to protect it from accidental burns. Once the hair has cooled, gently pull the curls apart and finger comb them for a natural finish. Apply a fine mist of hairspray over the finished product to hold in place.
7. Straightening
When straightening, it is important to use a high quality flat iron for the best results. The temperature should be set to 300 or less for fine or damaged hair, medium thickness hair should be styled at around 300-380 and for thick hair, a temperature of around 400 is optimum. As with curling, always use a heat protectant spray before styling, again straightening section by section, from roots to tip. Complete by using a hydrating serum from the middle to the tips of the hair and a light hairspray on top to prevent frizz and maintain hold.
