Hair secrets

Everyone wants beautiful healthy hair. Why do some people have it and some people don’t? How do you make the most of what you have? What are some styling and maintenance tips and tricks? Read on, my friend…

Genetics, of course, play a role in the color and type of hair you have. They also play a role in whether or not you get to keep your hair (men!). Some people are blessed with thick hair and others have thinner hair. Even the hairshaft itself can vary in thickness. Hair color is also determined by the genes passed along to you from your parents.

These days, you don’t have to be “stuck” with anything. There are so many options when it comes to hair. This is one of the many things that makes it fun to be a girl! You can color your hair; cut it, have it styled differently, put it up, keep it down, wear it curly, have it straightened, highlight it, have extensions…the possibilities are endless!

It’s important, when considering a haircut, to take into account several factors. First, you should take a look at your lifestyle. Are you low maintenance or high maintenance (just kidding! – sort of!) Seriously, though, if you like to wake up and walk out the door, a hairstyle that involves time and work is probably not going to be for you. Make sure you have the time and the “tools” required to make the haircut you choose look it’s best.

The shape of your face should also be a factor in deciding on your most flattering look. Think about which facial attributes you want to play up or play down. The general face shapes are round, square, heart, oval, and oblong. How can you find out what shape your face is? Generally, if your face is oval, the length is 1.5 times the width. It’s proportional and you can usually wear any hairstyle and it will look good. If your face is round, usually the length of your face will equal the width of your face. Good looks for this shape include a style with height at the top, long length hair, and cuts with no fullness on the sides. If your face is oblong, it means it is longer than it is wide and shorter styles and layers will flatter your face. For more information on flattering hair styles for you, you can visit Hairstyle.com.

Now that you have found the perfect cut, how do you maintain the health of your hair? First, a very slight trim or “dusting” every 6-8 weeks will help keep hair healthy, manage split ends, and allow for growth.

It’s also a good idea to do a deep-conditioning treatment once a week. There are a lot of home treatments you can do. Your stylist probably also has a deep conditioner you can purchase and use at home once a week in the shower. You can also find products on-line. A lot of conditioning treatments/hair masques can be applied and left on for three to five minutes. This gives you time to shave while you wait for the magic! There are also other conditioners that require a longer application. These, you would most likely apply and then wear a foil shower cap for the recommended time (usually 20-30 minutes). After that, you can rinse and style as usual.

Diet is also a very important factor in the health of your hair. It’s important to make sure you get all your nutrients and vitamins. It’s also important to get enough protein in your diet, as hair is made up of protein. Drinking plenty of water and getting the essential fatty acids in your diet is critical as well for healthy shiny hair.