That dream hair can often seem unachievable (and some of it is...). Having a plan and understanding your hair however, can get you closer! And that's where your favourite Hairstylist comes in!
I'll note just a few of my basic tips for you below (there's way more hair goals then listed but here's a start). You should always feel comfortable to ask your hairstylist for tips on maintaining your hair and achieving your hair goals (along with whether they are achievable or not!)… If you don't feel comfortable, is it you or your Hairstylist?
There are so many reasons are hair can be unhealthy or looking a way we don't want it too. And a hairstylist can help with getting to the bottom of that and creating a plan for you... Besides, it's what we love to do!
Keeping in mind that our internal and external health will often be the biggest factors standing in the way of healthy, beautiful hair. Whether we are stressed, have been sick or even a diet change, they all affect our body and often show up in our hair health. Starting the conversation about it is just the beginning. AND you should never feel ashamed or embarrassed to ask for help!
THE BASICS
Washing your hair regularly with quality products that leave your scalp and hair feeling soft and fresh. How often you wash depends on your hair type (oily scalp you will wash more and dry scalp less often).
When the bottle says 'wash, rinse, repeat.' they mean it. Use a little bit of shampoo until it easily lathers over the surface of your whole scalp (don't forget the spot at the back!)
Condition twice if your hair needs it (mine sure does!)
DO NOT USE HOT WATER!
FOR LONG HEALTHY HAIR
Regular haircuts, think every 2-4months depending on how quickly your grows (hair grows slow, less often, hair grows fast, more often).
A hair mask ritual, if not every time, every other time you wash your hair, use a hair mask instead of your conditioner AND let it sit for at least 10-15mins, even better if you rinse and repeat.
Brush regularly (is a soft bristle, paddle brush and start gently from the bottom, holding your hair near the scalp if needed)
Add a treatment to your haircuts to really help the overall strength and shine to your hair
THICKER HAIR
Use a thickening product and shampoo+conditioner (Davines Replumping)
Use a styling product for hold before you dry it (Davines Volumizing Mousse, Texture Serum, etc.)
Blowdry with your head upside down to dry your roots
Add some curls/wave and a hairspray for hold
Come in often enough to have your split ends cut off (split hair is and looks thinner and less healthy)
If there's been a recent change in hair loss or hair health, consult a doctor (have blood work done). A hairdresser can also advise, though we can not diagnose any in balances internally (Davines Energizing is our favourite hair growth booster, once you know the root cause)
TOUCHABLE CURLS
Use conditioner as a leave (Davines Love Curl)
Then add your hold/styling product (Davines Curl Building Serum)
Use a hydrating shampoo+conditioner (Davines Love Curl or Smoothing)
Schedule haircuts every 3-4 months
Have a hydration treatment done with your haircut
Use cooler water when washing. This will close the cuticle, creating less frizz
BRIGHT BLONDES
Use a deeply hydrating shampoo+mask (Davines Nounou, Nourishing)
Interchange with a purple/silver or brightness shampoo+conditioner (Davines Alchemic, Heart of Glass)
Schedule a treatment at every colour service + once a month in between
Schedule your colour services consistently, every 6 weeks-4 months (Platinum-Balayage)
If you aren't having your blonde refreshed every 2 months, schedule a gloss and treatment in between to maintain the tone (or change the tone up!)
COLOURED HAIR
Schedule consistent appointments for roots and all over colour, 4-12 weeks
You don't need to have the colour pulled through every time if your tone is lasting (honestly I love a slightly lighter tone on the ends, its the original balayage look!)
Wash with cooler water to keep your colour longer
Use Colour shampoo+mask at home (Davines Minu or Alchemic)
Lastly, I wanted to give all you beauties a brief look into my hair life! I love my hair, but I haven't always... I also did not grow up understanding hair and tried so many things with so many fails! Honestly, I strongly feel that I would still not love my hair if I never learned about it. Now I know how to manipulate it to get a look I love out of it. And if you've been following me long enough... there have been no shortages of looks and styles that I have dawned for y'all!
ALICIA'S HAIR SERCRETS
Use dry shampoo everyday, starting the day you wash it! (I despise washing my hair)
I use lightener on my hair even when I am dawning a solid colour (I have mixed Asian and Caucasian hair, and it leans to the straightest it can be. So I like to pre-lighten my hair for damage and then colour my desired shade over top!)
Always use a hair mask! Because of the above, I'm always trying to balance the overall health of my hair. And even though I damage it, I still want to be able to run my fingers through it!
I always blowdry my hair (okay almost always). For my straight, oily hair a fresh blowdry always looks better and lasts longer than if I just let it hair dry (I am also lucky in that, I can rough dry my hair with or without a brush in 10mins)
Product is a must! Whether its hold before I dry it or hold after I've curled it. And definitely all the dry shampoo!
Your biggest take away? We aren't actually taught that much about hair... or taking care of our bodies for that matter (from hygiene to a balanced diet for your body to effective exercise). Hairstylists have a minimum of 2-3 years just learning about hair and scalps. We are here to offer you the knowledge, specific to you, that you were never taught! If your Hairstylist isn't volunteering the knowledge, ask! And if they still don't have any of that good good for you, it might be time to find a new Hairstylist!
Let me know your hair goals!