Pro Hairstylists’ Tips for Gorgeous Hair

It doesn’t matter what type, style, texture or length your hair may be, we all just want one thing – to have great, healthy hair every day with as little hassle as possible. However, the reality is different. Most of us simply don’t have the time to invest in getting our hair to look like it’s been done by a professional. We want instant, effortless solutions that will give the same results.

There are a lot of tips and tricks you can use to make your hair look amazing, from washing routines to styling, but according to the pros, these six would make an excellent basis for your hair care that you can later improve.

Determine your hair type

The first step is to determine your hair type so you don’t wreak havoc on your strands giving it unsuitable treatment. Hair is commonly divided into two categories – fine and thick. Fine hair has thin strands that are hard to see, lacks volume and has no weight. On the other hand, thick hair is coarser, often wild and frizzy, has lots of heavy strands and can’t be held down by pins.

One particular sub-group is Afro-Caribbean hair. This type of hair has a very specific texture and form and as such, it requires specific products and care. On the plus side, there are lots of great hairstyles you can have done at the salon or learn to do by yourself. Among the popular ones are natural hair twists that do require some prep time, but once you do it, your hair will always be ready. Or you might opt for a ‘fro hawk as it requires no detangling – you simply use a few hair pins or a banana clip, and you’re ready to go. Afro-Caribbean hair also needs to be regularly moisturized both at the scalp and the ends.

Rethink the way you wash your hair

There are a lot of opinions out there as to how often you should be shampooing your hair, and many women have changed their washing habits worrying about possible hair and scalp damage. According to the experts, less is more. Over-washing your hair can definitely cause damage to your hair particularly if it’s been chemically treated, bleached or dyed, or it’s naturally very porous and dry.

Washing removes the natural proteins and oils from hair so to avoid damage, you should keep it down to three times a week at the most. Obviously, every woman is different and it will all depend on your hair type. 

Choose suitable hair products

The basis of healthy, shiny hair starts with the choice of a suitable shampoo and conditioner whose formula fits your hair type. Once a week, you should also give your hair deep conditioning treatment. Again, all of this would depend on the type of hair you have.

For instance, for fine, straight hair you should use lightweight mists and sprays as heavy conditioners would only weigh your hair down and make it look greasy and lifeless. Contrastingly, thick and curly hair would greatly benefit from a formula rich with oils as it would lubricate the strands and give them more form and definition.

Get the right hair tools and accessories

The right tools and accessories will make your hair care much easier and faster. Customize your collection to fit your texture and hair type, but make sure you have these essentials – a lightweight hair dryer that won’t cause damage, the right hairbrushes, hair ties and bobby pins that match your hair colour and high-quality clip-in pony extensions to add more volume when you need it.

For daily care, opt for paddle brushes, and when you blow-dry, a round brush is best as it easily grabs every strand. Avoid round brushes with metal frames because they heat up from hot air from your dryer and you can burn your strands. It’s best to stick with a wooden one.  The choice of brushed is quite extensive but not all of them are great. Make sure you choose the one that genuinely suits your texture and hair type.

Condition the right way

Good conditioner applied correctly is another crucial element of a healthy hair routine, for any hair type, but especially for thick, highly textured, curly tresses. This hair type is always in the need of deep conditioning. Don’t rush things here and rinse after two minutes. Deep conditioning will provide the necessary moisture and feed the hair giving it the protein it needs. Keep your conditioner on either while you’re taking the shower or cover your hair with a plastic cap and apply heat using a hair dryer. Experts even advise you to shampoo less and use leave-in conditioners.

To ensure your hair fully absorbs the conditioner, towel-dry it after you’re finished shampooing. Leftover moisture will prevent the conditioner from penetrating the hair shaft and giving it the much-needed moisture that keeps your hair looking attractive and healthy.   

Application is also important – the conditioner should be applied on the mid-length and ends, not on the roots as it may cause your scalp to become greasy quicker.

Always use protection

As mentioned previously, metal brushes and hot air can cause damage to your hair, so it’s essential you provide as much protection to it as you can. Whenever you blow-dry your hair, use a heat protectant. There are many affordable products on the market that will condition your hair from the inside out and protect it from damage.

Also, when you dry your hair, try to keep the hair dryer a bit away from your strands to prevent split ends. To be sure what the right distance is, blow the hot air onto your hand and notice how fast you have to pull away when it’s quite close to your skin.

Whatever your hair type may be – curly or straight, thick or thin, oily or dry – the pro tips listed here are universal. You may need to make some tweaks and tailor the haircare routine to your hair and schedule, but once you master the essentials, you’ll be on your way to having fabulous and healthy hair every day!