Try these tips and tricks of the trade to bring out the best in your hair's natural texture to create an amazing hairstyle.
Anyone who has baby-fine hair and has to listen to her girlfriend with a thick, curly hairstyle complain is likely to think, "Get over it, already!" Still, embracing what nature gave you does require a trick or two. Here are some tips to start you down the path to hair happiness.
Super-Fine Hair
It's a fact: Most women with super-fine hair long for more locks.
Volume is the number one request of women nationwide, and no one
acquires supermodel status without a significant, head-tossing mane.
Celebrity hairstyle secret: Half of Hollywood has faux hair in the form of extensions or wigs. Start with this mantra: I'm proud of my soft, touchable locks.
Now, ask yourself how far you'll go to make the most of them. The system uses ultrasound to meld the keratin-like bases of human hair attachments to your real strands, and it can take locks from barely there to super-thick in about 2-1/2 hours.
If you don't have lots of cash to trash, get the best cut for your hair type.
Blunt is best, say top stylists, but you can and should add some layers, which create movement. Keeping the length above the collarbone or shorter helps too, as does asymmetrical styling. Always use volumizing or thickening shampoos, conditioners and stylers. For instance, PureOlogy's Thickening Masque contains highly refined volcanic ash to increase the diameter of the hair without weighing it down. The trick with most volumizers is to avoid using too much and to concentrate products at the roots. Musts to avoid: Growing hair super-long, weighing down ends with products, and over-conditioning locks.
Curly & Frizzy Hair
You might be surprised that this one is a no-brainer. With all the new smoothing and frizz-fighting products on store shelves, all you need is a cut with lots of layers to control bulk and movement, and the right products. Just mix smoothing balms and frizz-fighters together and distribute evenly on damp hair. Use your diffuser attachment when drying and you'll avoid frizz. Because curly hair has less shine, add a shine serum over the top. Haircolor also boosts sizzle and helps keep the cuticle smooth and compact.
When the weather is humid, look for smoothing shampoos, conditioners and styling products labeled "anti-humectant," and hair won't go wild during the day.
An old school trick: Comb through a straightening balm, then remove the ends of a clean aluminum can and smooth your hair over it to dry, securing ends in place.
To keep some curl, reach for a curling wand; the diameter of the tool determines the size of your reshaped curl.
Coarse & Wavy Hair
Many of the same styling tricks for curly and frizzy hair apply here, but coarse needs a special cut. Ends should not be razored, but scissor-cut so they lie flat. Mid-length cuts best control this hair type. When coarse hair is cut super-short, it tends to pop up at the sides. Make hair behave by applying perming solution to 'poppy' ends and comb it through before processing with the hair smoothed down with saran wrap. The new Nioxin Smoothing System for medium-to-coarse, unruly textured hair might be just what you've been looking for. Waves can look fabulously retro when you comb through a heavy-hold gel and use your hands or long clips to mold and shape hair into deep waves. Once hair has dried, smooth pomade over the top after liquefying it between your palms. Avoid long, blunt cuts.
Straight & Boring Hair
Most women with this hair type don't realize that it can be as versatile as super-curly locks. The same way you can wear curls in any style from natural to straight, reverse the processes and you can do the same with straight hair. Check out body perms, as opposed to chemical straighteners. Whereas curls can be blown straight, straight hair can be curled up in a variety of ways.Ask your stylist to add layers and cut-in texture, and your locks instantly come to life. If you wear it super-long, get heavier layers through the front. Strong, geometric lines also make the most of this hair type, which will fall right into place. Add further excitement with color or change the texture any way you want. A hot roller set is the fastest way to change your look for a day. The biggest no-no: straight and center parted — that's boring with a capital B!
