Styling Your Hair.

After reading my last post, I'm sure you are all now using a salon shampoo and conditioner, and using it correctly ;-) If you're still unsure of what to get, I can recommend Pureology and Joico. I use them in my salon and swear by them. They contain more natural and organic ingredients and are much more concentrated, making them last longer.

So, your hair is clean, and BLOTTED dry, and you are sat at your dressing table thinking "ok Jo, what now?!"....
I'm going to tell you...
Firstly, styling your hair needs to begin with using the right styling product for you and your style. For example, I have spoken to many people before who have complained of having dry frizzy hair, then have told me that they either use mousse, or nothing.......erm, there you go then...
Everyone, every hair, every style needs a product before styling. It will fight humidity, maintain the style, and protect it from heat and elements. But its getting the right one.
It's really worth investing in a salon product. You will probably only purchase it every 4 - 6 months, and you will be safe in the knowledge you are using the best one for what you want to achieve. Don't be afraid to use more than one product either. you can layer products, just don't use too much.

If your hair is fine and limp, and you want body, go for a volumising foam. Avoid mousses as they can feel a little sticky and it becomes harder to pass your brush through your hair. Thickening lotions are good too as well as sprays but for big bouncy hair, foam is best. Apply the size of a golf ball for medium hair, half again for longer hair. Put it in both your hands and scrunch in, then rub the remainder in to the roots, paying attention to the roots on top. Stick your head upside down and dry it till its very nearly dry. You can then turn the hat on your dryer down, section your hair off and use a big round brush for the rest, or if you are not very good at this, invest in a hot air brush, which will do the same, without the need to dislocate your arms!
Velcro rollers are also amazing for volume. Whack them in dry, warm hair and leave them for as long as you like, but at least 15 mins. If you want to use the irons too, don't straighten the root!

Thick, coarse hair that you want sleek and smooth? Well you really need to be using a creamy product to moisturise. Argan oils are great too as they not only quench thirsty hair, they cut down the drying time but about 40%. They will leave your hair soft and smooth. If you're using irons too, you need to use a thermal protector as well. Apply about the size of a 10p in the same way you would conditioner. You can add more if you feel you need to, but don't overdo it. Don't apply to the roots. Spray on a thermal protector. 8-10 pumps is fine. Dry your hair by pointing your dryer downwards. This points the airflow down, and smooths the cuticle to help it stay shiny. Use a paddle brush to dry as this will help to straighten it too.  Have the heat up high to begin with, then turn it down when the hair is just damp. If you are using the Straightening Irons, only do so when your hair is 100% dry. Section your hair to straighten. Try attacking it full on, and you will end up going over the same bits again and again, and will end up with pretty damaged hair. Take 4 sections straight across. 1 -below the ear, 2- above the ear, 3- temples and 4 - top section.
Serums are great on wet hair as well as dry hair for extra shine.

Natural curls? Believe it or not, even if your hair has just a slight wave to it, you can get a pretty good curl in it if you dry it the right way. This is where mousses and gels work great. Apply a golf ball size of mousse through damp hair. Twizze sections of hair, about half an inch square, around your fingers to promote a natural wave or curl. Do this all the way through in sections, then dig out your diffuser you probably got with your dryer but never used and pop it on your your dryer. Tip your head upside down and gently cup it in the diffuser, but make sure you don't hold it in one place for too long. When its almost dry, and all the blood has gone to your head, flick your head up and do the same to the back, tilting your head backwards. Try not to handle your hair much as this will cause it to frizz up. Do this until your hair is 100% dry. Any moisture left in your hair will make the style drop and cause it to frizz. Serums are great to smooth through damp hair before applying mousse too, for extra shiny curls.

I know I have only covered a few hair types here, but I think it's the majority, so I hope it is of some use.

Stay tuned for more blogs coming up......there's loads left to tell you!

Happy Hairstyling :-)