DIY Blow Outs

Hi! Clients always ask me how to blow dry their hair at home. I really had no clue so many people struggled with at home blow outs, so I'll break it down so you can look super hot without breaking a sweat!

Start with the right shampoo/conditioner
If you want volume but you're using a super heavy moisturizing mask, good luck! There are shampoos and conditioners made to get you the most out of your hair, without having to wrestle with a round brush. For some, I suggest mixing within a line. I use a repair shampoo and volume conditioner (both Ouai) or a texture shampoo (R+Co) and repair conditioner. I do this because I have ultra fine baby hair that has been bleached to death, so I need moisture and lightness at the same time. Ask your stylist, they know best!

“look hot without breaking a sweat”

Don't start out soaking wet.
Let your mane do some air drying or quickly rough dry with your hands to at least 80% dry for straight hair, 50% dry for wavy/slightly curly hair. (if you have curly-curly hair, you probably aren't regularly blowing it straight. If so, meet your new bestie.) This will save you a LOT of time and will prevent that major arm/shoulder fatigue that I know you're familiar with if you've ever blow dried your own hair.

Put some cream on it
Christophe Robin has the world's best hair products (OUAI is my second runner up). I'm obsessed with this cream that's great for all hair types and aids in giving the best blow out. It's a moisturizing cream that's going to protect your hair and seal your split ends while giving a little hold and a ton of natural shine (aka no greasy effect). I apply creams/oils from ends to mid strands.
For volume, I suggest this dreamy old school mousse by Kevin Murphy. It has a really light floral/grapefruity scent that isn't over powering or powdery at all. Start with a golf ball sized amount and mush into the root area of your pre-dried hair.

grab your tools

Choosing the right tools will help you get the job done as quickly and effortlessly as possible.

The Dyson is worth it
If you blow dry your hair regularly, you will LOVE the Dyson. It's lightweight, FAST, and super easy to use. I use it daily and can still not believe how quickly it dries hair. The size makes it super easy for at home blow drying. I use a medium speed on low heat. I find that very few hair types need it full speed at full heat.

Choosing a brush
My all time favorite brush is by YS Park. It's a mixture of natural and nylon bristles which smooth and control hair. Round brushes are GREAT if you have shoulder length or longer hair. If you have a cute, bobby hair cut, using a Mason Pearson flat brush will give you more control for your style. The best way to find the best brush is by looking to your stylist. Ask what they use and why. There are a lot of variables that go into it and it's sometimes so not worth it to splurge on the $100 brush when you can get away with using the $10 WetBrush.

Seal your style
Don't let all your work go to waste! Lock it in. I like to use an anti-humidity spray all summer. Hairspray is great if your hair just won't hold, but a great blow out will give you the hold you want. If you think you need one, try a soft hair spray before you go ham with aqua net. And always finish with a little light weight oil for shine on the ends.  

Thin Hair!

I have super thin, baby fine, over processed hair. In addition to these tips, I suggest drinking a lot of water and taking hair supplements! Also, there's nothing wrong with faking it. I love adding tape in extensions for the illusion of more hair, or clip ins if it's just for the night!

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As with every hair type, thin hair has quite a list of plusses and minuses. On the one hand, it's generally very soft and smooth. It pretty much always dries quickly. And it looks great in bob. But there are also quite a few things you should never do to thin hair, as they can leave it looking and feeling unhealthy.

For this reason, thin hair can be tricky to deal with. While there are a dozen reasons you might have thin hair, such as stress, genetics, or a fine texture, it all results in one thing — limp hair that's difficult to style. It might get damaged easily when styling, or fall flat moments after leaving your house.

That's why the best thing to do, if you have thin hair, is to choose your cut wisely. "You should not get your hair over-texturized or over-layered in the salon," NYC-based hair stylist Jenna Mast tells Bustle. "A solid haircut will give the illusion of density and movement."

Once you've got that covered, it'll be all about maintaining the health of your hair. Here are some things you should never be doing, if you want your thin hair to look and feel great.

1. Regularly Using Hot Styling Tools

I know, it's tempting to sizzle hair within an inch of its life all in the name of extra curls and body. But do try to resist. "You should never use too much heat on fine/thin hair," Mast says. "In the salon, we very rarely use our hot tools turned all the way up and never do that on clients with fine hair. Having fine hair means that you definitely need to use a heat protector and turn the hot tools down."

2. Sleeping On Cotton Pillowcases

Instead of cotton, what you want is silk, for all that slippery goodness.

"It's a game changer," says Mast. "Very fine hair gets tugged and pulled on even by the best cotton pillowcases. Silk pillowcases really reduce breakage that thin hair is prone to."

3. Lightening Too Much

A few highlights are OK, but you should shy away from doing anything too drastic.

"Never lighten fine hair too much because it will take away from the depth of the hair, causing it to look even thinner," says celebrity colorist Michael Boychuck, of COLOR Salon in Las Vegas. "Instead, use bayalage, hair painting, or highlighting techniques when going for a lighter shade as opposed to an all over color."

I'm never going to tell you not to get all over color, we'll just have to work on your hair health with olaplex/supplements. Be blonde, friends! <3

4. Using Products Containing Sulfates

The next time you're picking up some hair care products, go ahead and read those labels. "Avoid ... products containing sulfates and always opt for a sulfate-free shampoo and lighter density conditioners for thin hair to avoid weighing it down," Boychuck says. You'll notice a big difference.

5. Shampooing Every Day

If you can swing it, try to wash your hair every couple of days instead of every day. "The more you shampoo your hair, the more you are removing the healthy oils ... that are protecting and keeping your hair healthy," says hair expert Amber Fillerup Clark of Barefoot Blonde and creator of Barefoot Blonde Hair. "And the less you wash it, the less you have to blow dry and straighten/curl." Which, as you know, is incredibly damaging.

^^GET THE FOAM. Stop waiting! I can finally go once a week washing my hair. You guys, it's major.

6. Using Products Not Meant For Your Hair

When choosing a hair product, don't just grab any old thing.

"You should use shampoo and conditioner for your hair type," says Fillerup Clark. "Generally thin hair is flat and lifeless, so you'll want a thickening or volumizing shampoo and conditioner to give it a little bounce."

7. Overusing The Blow Dryer

Not everyone has hair that air dries into something manageable, so totally skipping a blow out can be tricky. And yet, it may be something worth looking into if you have thin hair. As board-certified facial plastic surgeon and hair expert Vish Banthia, MD, FACS tells me, too much blow drying can dry out your hair and make strands limp. The best option, if you need to dry your hair, is to use the coldest setting.

^^I suggest buying the Dyson and asking your stylist which setting is best. I'm best with low heat, medium airflow. Dryers aren't a one size fits all, but the Dyson makes it quick and easy for at home blow outs.

8. Drying It With A Towel

Do you get out of a the shower and rub a towel all over your head? If so, you may be causing all sorts of breakage. It's better to use a cloth (like an old T-shirt or a microfiber towel) to gently blot your hair dry. As hair expert Lisa J. Anderson Stubbs tells me, this will prevent the hair cuticle from becoming rough, which can help reduce frizz.

9. Pulling It Back Tightly

The last thing you want to do with thin hair is pull it back tightly, Mast tells me. You should avoid super tight pony tails and braids, as they can yank hair out at the root. Not good.

^^ Sometimes things are misinterpreted and that's fine! You know when you have such a tight ponytail that your hair snaps from wrapping the band too tightly? To avoid that, I tell girls with baby hair to use these guys instead of the old school kind or rubber bands.

10. Applying Too Many Products

Thin hair is naturally a bit limp, so you don't want to weigh it down with excessive product. "Too many treatments/oils will make your hair appear greasy," Mast says. And, it'll require extra shampoos. All bad things for thin hair.

^^this was written before I became addicted to my new conditioner. It's totally not a #AD-post...the products are just crazy good and have changed my hair for the best. The rose oil is great on the skin and not greasy at all on hair. I NEVER used hair oils before this guy. Amazing.

11. Cutting It While It's Dry

If your stylist usually cuts your hair dry, ask them how they feel about cutting it while wet instead. As Bernhards Ziverts, master stylist and owner of Matii Salon in NYC tells me, starting a hair cut with clean wet hair and then finishing on dry hair may help add thickness and fullness.

Avoid these mistakes, and you'll likely see a big improvement in the look and feel of your hair.

https://www.bustle.com/p/11-surprising-things-you-should-considering-avoiding-if-you-have-thin-hair-58720

IG Beach Waves How-To :)

Here's the thing about the perfectly tousled, beach waves hairdo: It looks so "I woke up like this," but in reality, the look is actually kind of hard to pull off.

If you've spent about a million hours in front of the mirror with a curling iron trying to create a 'do that is supposed to appear gloriously care-free, join the club. Getting beach waves is not as low-maintenance as it seems — unless you seek out some serious advice from the pros. Which is exactly what we did.

Here are some expert tips on how to get the beachy hair of your dreams.

1. Fake it

This is the No. 1 recipe for year-round beach hair, and we have New York City hairstylist Jenna Mast to thank for sharing her secrets.

“If you have flat hair, try using a sea salt spray. I like to add a few loose curls around the face using a large curling iron or flat iron. Then I reach for my favorite beach spray, Oribe's Après Beach," says Mast. "Start by spraying the hair minimally — you can always add more product. Then I scrunch the hair and really shake it out for that supermodel beachy look. Some girls immediately shy away from salt sprays because they don't like that knotty feel. To avoid that, don't overspray and keep spray away from the scalp.”

2. Twist it

While Stephanie Johnson, a licensed hairstylist and makeup and fashion photographer in Dallas, is also a big fan of the salt spray for year-round beach hair, she highly recommends kicking it up a notch by twisting and diffusing.

"The trick is to scrunch the hair while you diffuse or dry," Johnson says. "Diffusing is best. Salt sprays can feel drying, though, so you can mimic that with a good grooming spray (my new favorite is Suavecito Grooming Spray) on towel-dried (meaning still damp) hair and scrunch while drying. You can twist hair into little twists before diffusing too."

Johnson adds, "These styles don't work well if your hair is too long or you haven't been keeping up the trims for the ends. It's also good to have some layering and movement if you're wanting to accomplish this look."

More: People Are Swearing Wasabi Can Give You Thicker, Fuller, Longer Hair

3. Curl it

But wait, there’s more. Mast was more than happy to walk us through a full beach-wave tutorial, using a curling iron, that’s easy enough to master at home.

“For some, having ‘undone’ beachy texture won't fly at work or date night,” she explains.

To get a more refined and polished beach look, here are Mast’s expert tips.

1. First, choose the appropriate curling iron size. “I typically use a 3/4-inch to 1-1/2-inch curling iron and determine size by the length and density of the hair. If you have really super-thick, shoulder-length hair and use a smaller iron, you will end up with a lion’s mane. Longer lengths do best with a larger iron, too, as a small iron will take much longer,” Mast says.
2. Once you've chosen the best curling iron or wand, section out the bottom of your hair. She continues, “I imagine splitting the hair into thirds: The first parting will be right above one ear, all the way around to the other ear; the second will be at the points of recession on the hairline; and the last section will be the top dropped down.”
3. Before curling, make sure you've applied heat protection! Mast explains, “I am very forgiving with my sections, as perfection is not a boho beachy look. Take your first section and start the curl at the mid-lengths. I always curl away from the face first. If the hair is long, I keep the ends out to give a more natural look. Continue around the head, alternating curls away from the face and towards the face. If you do it haphazardly, it looks haphazard, so have a plan.”
4. Drop the second section and repeat. “For the last section, really pay close attention to making sure you're not starting the curl too high, which would result in a dated look. Speaking of dated look, right now you might look like you're getting ready for prom. That's ok! Leave the curls in their little coils until they are cooled — don't be tempted to pull them down or loosen them up yet,” Mast says.
5. Put on the finishing touches. “Once the curls have cooled completely (about 5 minutes), skip your hairspray and reach for a texturizing spray. If you don't have a texture spray, you can use dry shampoo. And my favorite part: Shake it out! Mess it up! Get your hands in your hair and really make it look lived in. For added hold, scrunch a tiny bit of mousse in for added separation. It should take you 20 minutes max,” she says.

4. Braid it

Braids are one of the beautiful basics of beach hair, according to Mast, especially when you use a leave-in conditioner to prevent tangles, dryness and faded color in the sun. For the rest of the year, Mast suggests giving the braid another go, saying, “It can be as simple as a three-strand side braid or fun double French braids, whatever you can do.” Mast says that the best part of this look is that you can easily transition from day to night by taking the braid out — leaving you with gorgeous, soft beach waves with zero styling time and no heat damage.

More: 10 Things No One Ever Tells You About Hair Masks

5. Wing it

Here’s a good one for those of us who may have hit the snooze alarm one too many times on a Monday morning. Erica Harriss, founder of Saving Grace Beauty, suggests letting Mother Nature do the work by allowing hair to air dry for a more natural look.

“If you can't quite get here, dry your hair about halfway, and air-dry the rest,” she says.

Even better, Harriss suggests, “Don't wash every day. This allows your natural oils to condition, protect and repair the hair shaft.” And when you do shampoo, she says, “Only use shampoo on the scalp. Use any excess suds near the ends. They don't need the cleansing strength up near your scalp requires. Dry shampoo fans, be sure to add moisture. Most formulas are designed to absorb oils, just what your ends need to avoid split ends.”

6. Treat it

If you’re just coming off the dog days of summer and so desperately want to try one of the beachy looks above, it’s important to give your sun-damaged hair some TLC first, Johnson says. She suggests, “Weekly masks aren't just for winter hydration, but for combating the sun and the drying damage of chlorine. Use it once per week if you have severe damage or dryness. If you're feeling good about how your hair feels, then apply every two or three weeks to maintain.”

http://www.sheknows.com/beauty-and-style/articles/1015727/how-to-keep-summer-beach-hair-all-year