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Cheap Hair Need Not Look That Way

“Cheap Hair Need Not Look That Way”There may be no such thing as a knock-off haircut. Still, you can come close to the $4OO a-cut look if you understand just what makes it seem so special. It’s not that every strand falls exactly in place; today, it’s the opposite. Hair that looks sexy and tousled without a lot of fuss or that swings on its own is just what you want.

How to get it on the cheap? Top-notch salons, like New York City’s Bumble and Bumble, provide advanced training for the staff, and they need models. Usually it’s free; if not, you’ll pay a nominal fee. Don’t consider it a drawback if you can’t choose the exact cut–it will be stylish and suited to your features.

Check out salons’ websites, or simply call the best salons and ask about training models. Also, look for salons with tiered pricing; you’ll pay less for a cut from a junior stylist than from a mere experienced one. Another option for a smart, affordable cut? Try a barbershop if you want a sassy short style. Guys have been taking advantage of cheap, precision cuts for decades; if you want a great short cut or a geometric style, give barbers a shot.

Some salons that are affiliated with specific manufacturers are required to provide the staff with ongoing, advanced education to carry particular product lines. The best ones carry the higher-end lines. Often, they’re designated “official affiliates,” as opposed to salons that simply sell products. To locate these establishments, call manufacturers whose products you like (or check their websites), and look for an “official” salon in your area that participates in hair cutting and coloring education. Also ask if the manufacturer itself holds training classes in your area, either at an advanced academy or a product distributor. Offer to be a model and you could get a fabulous new cut from one of their best educators.

Full-Spectrum Beauty
Look at celebrities and you’ll realize that it’s not just their haircut, but amazing color, that makes them stand out. Use the same tricks noted above to find a place to get color on the cheap. In general, the richest-looking color is close to your natural shade and includes a few subtle highlights or panels of color. This is because healthy hair looks lush, while locks that have been bleached from brunette to light blonde usually appear dried, fried and lifeless.

You can get great looking haircolor at home if you choose a conditioning color carefully. Make certain you understand how the shade on the box will look with your existing color (this is usually explained on the back of the box), and follow directions precisely. When you do a re-touch, enlist a friend’s help so you can get it right. At-home, repeated coloring from roots to ends can leave hair looking too dark and cheap.

Choose a slightly darker and richer, or lighter and brighter shade, based on the season. Fashionable color always goes deeper for fall, lighter for spring. Today’s dimensional color kits are available at your local drugstore. Add two to three tones to your hair from a single box—you don’t have to try to create your own highlights and lowlights. With a sassy new snip and shimmering haircolor, you’re on your way to a sophisticated, salon style.

Take It Easy
Nothing ruins a great cut and color more than unhealthy locking tresses To avoid split ends, dryness, fizz and flyaways, deep-condition your hair regularly and use a leave-in conditioner. Always use styling products with sunscreens to prevent color from turning brassy.

The more you pamper your locks, the better they’ll look. One simple way to do just that is to use a thermal protector every time you heat-style. For a silky, glossy look, mist it on before blow-drying and flat-ironing.

If you have natural curl or hair that tends to fizz, resist the urge to manipulate it into something it’s not. Embrace its body and sexy texture. Fine hair shouldn’t be tortured into a style either. Use jumbo-sized rollers or blow- drying to get strategic volume, say, at the crown, and settle for a smoother look that is closer to your natural texture.

The more you try to get what you don’t have–be it color, volume or curl–the less likely it is that your hair will look its absolute best. When all else fails, today’s clip-in, human-hair extensions are very affordable, and can last for a year or two if you take good care of them, Given the fact that they’re what most celebrities rely on for fabulous locks they may be the only real investment you’ll need.

Article courtesy of Harris Publications

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