Little known insider secrets to tame frizzy hair

As the summer days approach, so does the humidity triggering our hair to become uncontrollable and seemingly impossible to maintain. But don’t worry, it’s possible to turn those frizzy hair curls into beachy waves, or the “frizzy-ness” into a more sleek and smooth look this summer. This is a common concern my clients have in the heat of summer and I’m always excited to share these tips. Here are some simple steps to follow to say “goodbye” to summer frizzy hair.

Shampoo

• Don’t wash your hair every day. Only wash it every couple of days to keep its natural oils. Learn how to create some second day hair looks.

• Use a moisturizing shampoo which is low in alkaline. High alkaline shampoo tends to dry out your hair.

Conditioner

• Always, always, always use conditioner.

• If you have fine or thin hair use a volumizing conditioner.

• Use  only a small amount on the ends and work it through your hair.

• For all hair types, use a leave-in conditioner. This will help control your “flyaways” and protect your hair from heat.

The Right Product

• Some of my favorite products are Moroccan Oil Frizz Control and Eufora Pure Polish. These products will control your frizz without weighing your hair down or making it feel oily.

• Always use a product that has UVA and UVB protection.

• Apply these products while your hair is still wet.

• Emulsify a dime size amount of product in your hands to get an even application. Repeat till proper amount is achieved.

• Everyone’s hair is different. After a couple of applications you will know how much product is right for you. But remember, less is more! You can always add more product but using too much can cause your hair to look and feel oily.

Hot Styling Tools

• If letting your hair air-dry doesn’t work for you, or you just want a smoother look,  use hot tools.

• Hot flat irons are great to tame down summer frizzy hair.

• The hotter and more powerful the blow dryer, the better it is at smoothing your hair. The high heat will help make your hair smooth and shiny.

Contributing author Nadwa Yono is a professional hair stylist and owner of Nadwa Hair Spa in West Bloomfield, MI making Oakland County her home. More info on Nadwa and Nadwa Hair Spa can be found at NadwaHairSpa.com and on Facebook.

Got a question, war story or comment about this topic? Click on the "Leave Your Comments" link at the very bottom of this article. Some of my best ideas for future articles come from reading reader comments. I'd love to hear from you!

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How to Style Your Hair Smooth Without Using a Flat Iron

The flat iron may be the most popular hairstyling tool for achieving smooth hair. It is a quick, simple way to get that flat finish, but the direct heat from the iron often creates more damaging effects on the hair than a blow dryer.

Here is an easy way to achieve virtually the same smooth look using a blow dryer and a few brushes that you probably already have in your drawer.

What you will need:

• Use a heat protector, smoothing serum or styling gel on wet hair before you begin drying.

• Make use of the directional nozzle that came with your blow dryer. The directional nozzle is an important tool in your styling arsenal as it helps keep the flow of air right where you want it, instead of blowing all the hair around, causing frizz.

• Finish the hair with argan oil or another shine product. It will seal the cuticle, taming fly-away’s and adding that final touch of glam.

Start with a Paddle Brush

Do the majority of the drying with a paddle bush; a wide brush with lots of bristles close together. (Don’t even think of using a vent brush.) A paddle brush will grab the hair tighter for a smoother result. Brush hair from the base of  the neck upward and forward, following the brush with the blow dryer as you work your way through the hair. It may be easiest to turn your head upside down while blow drying to get the back of your head.

Blow dry the hair in the opposite direction of the way you want it to end up, drawing it smooth from roots to ends with the paddle brush.

It is at this stage that your hair may become fairly frizzy and you will think you must be doing it wrong. But don’t stop! At this point you’re halfway there!

Next, use a Round Brush

Don’t let the round brush scare you. I have tangled a round brush in my hair before, but trust me, once you learn the trick to using a round brush, you will love it!

Once the hair is 75% dry or more using the paddle brush, use a round brush to finish the drying process. Waiting until this point in the drying process to use the round brush will save you time and save your wrists from getting tired from the turning.

The size of the round brush you choose will be determined by the length of your hair and the amount of fullness or bend you want on the ends of the hair. The larger the brush, the smoother your finished hair will be. A brush with a metal center will  help expedite the drying and smoothing process.

Be aggressive, but don’t abuse your hair. Stretch the remaining wave out of the hair as you blow dry finish your style with the round brush. The trick to keep from tangling your hair in the brush is to NEVER wind the hair on the brush from the ends all the way to the roots. You can use the round brush from the roots to the ends in order to get the hair completely smooth, but  don’t wind the hair on the brush until your brush reaches the ends of the hair. Dry the hair until it is bone-dry. If you leave any moisture in the hair, it will revert.

That’s it!  By now your hair will be smooth and shiny in a healthier way!

Got a question, war story or comment about this topic? Click on the "Leave Your Comments" link at the very bottom of this article. Some of my best ideas for future articles come from reading reader comments. I'd love to hear from you!

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Getting out the Door with Second Day Hair

Going to the hairdressing salon walking out with a gorgeous blow dry, sleeping on it and waking up with bed hair . . . UGH, a woman’s worst nightmare. In this competitive culture we all live in, who really has the time these days to be shampooing, blow drying and styling their hair every day?

Here are a few easy tips that in few minutes the morning after can save the day and make the most of that flat, limp and most likely oily hair.

A Partial Shampoo

To restyle a little, pull your hair back in the shower with a headband or shower cap and wash just the bangs or front section of your hair. It will give a freshened look to your hair without a complete shampoo, blow dry and style.

A Dry Shampoo

There are many dry shampoo products on the market, one of my favs is Fudge Dry Shampoo in a can. A good dry shampoo will absorb oiliness while adding life back into your hair, alternatively talcum powder does the trick too if you’re in a pinch. Apply the product lightly on the oily areas, massaging it in thoroughly and then brushing your hair. I find dry shampoos a much gentler solution to continuous shampooing which can dry out your hair and strip out too much of the natural oils your hair needs to stay healthy.

The Old Reliable Ponytail

If you prefer to just put the hair up in a messy pony tail is the way to go, lightly tease your hair at the crown and pull back into a low ponytail pulling out a few pieces to soften your face, it’s a casual trendy way to make the hair look like it was done that day.

Head Bands

Headbands were made for hiding second-day hair, try experimenting with stretchy fabric options, skinny silk scarves, or hard “Alice” bands. This is an especially useful accessory for blondes as you’ll be able to hide your part, which is where oil can make your roots look even darker.

Wear a Hat

Another option is big floppy hats, which I love for their versatility as they hide a multitude of sins.

Hope these tips help you ladies and save many a painful second day hair occurrences

Contributing author Kimberly Louise hairstylist and owner of NV STYLING HAIR & BEAUTY in Sydney Austraila Kim is a stylist and makeup artist with 15 years experience in the industry, being able to be creative and inspire others with her work is her passion. You can follow Lindsay on Twitter and FaceBook.

For further discussion on the dry shampoo techniques you might want to check out these other articles:

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• Update on the “No Shampoo” Controversy
• Dry Shampoo Controversy Rages On
• No Shampoo Controversy is Worth Tracking
• Are you washing your hair too often?
• When a Daily Shampoo is Not an Option

Barb Quinn on Google+  

Got a question, war story or comment about this topic? Click on the "Leave Your Comments" link at the very bottom of this article. Some of my best ideas for future articles come from reading reader comments. I'd love to hear from you!

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