Most people want to look good, but may not want to spend a lot of time in front of the mirror. The goal is clean, confident hair that fits your lifestyle, holds its shape, and feels like you. To achieve this, it's important to understand that a great hairstyle starts with a great haircut. No amount of product will save a bad cut.
Before diving into styling techniques, it's essential to understand your hair's texture and thickness. Is it fine or thick? Straight, wavy, or curly? Clean hair is key, but overwashing dries it out. Use a gentle shampoo 2-3 times per week, and condition regularly. This is the most underrated part of styling.
Getting to know your hair can prevent you from wreaking havoc on innocent strands. So, before you pick up a heating tool or brush, learn to distinguish your hair type. Hair typically falls under two categories: Fine and thick.
Your hair is fine if a single strand is hard to see; you struggle with maintaining volume; and locks never feel heavy. You have fewer strands, which are super skinny. Your hair is thick if it feels coarser; bobby pins can’t hold styles in place; and your biggest problem is taming frizz. You seem to have an infinite amount of strands and they weigh a ton.
Regular haircuts aren't just for removing dead ends - they can also make your hair appear thicker and full of life. A good haircut also provides a good foundation for executing any hairstyle you desire.
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Have flat hair that could use a little more bounce? "Try face-framing layers and short, soft layers to boost volume," says Jenny Cho, Suave Professionals celebrity stylist. When it comes to thick hair, Edward Tricomi, master stylist and co-owner of Warren-Tricomi Salons, recommends growing your hair long with density-lessening layers or lopping it off. Just avoid shoulder-length cuts - those can look too boxy and chunky, he says.
The foundation for healthy, luscious hair begins with a shampoo and conditioner formulated for your hair type, along with a deep-conditioning treatment for weekly blasts of moisture. One important takeaway when it comes to products: Different hair types have various needs.
"Someone with fine, straight hair might want more lightweight formulas like mists and sprays because heavy conditioners might weight hair down," says Danusia Wnek, chemist at the GH Beauty Lab. Someone with thick, curly hair, on the opposite end, might want richer oils and thick creams to lubricate strands and might not worry about weigh down. "Selecting products specific to your hair type ensures that formulators and product developers have kept your hair type in mind when creating products," Wnek adds.
Heat Styling: Using heat helps lock in the shape and gives you control over volume and direction. Use a comb or brush to guide your hair where you want it to go.
Product Application: Here’s where guys usually go wrong-they use too much. Start with a dime-sized amount, emulsify it fully in your hands, and apply from back to front.
Read also: Customizing Your Hair Oil Blend
Finishing Touches: For styles that need to stay sharp all day, finish with a few spritzes of grooming spray or light hairspray.
Styling products may be different in nature, but one thing remains the same: A little goes a long way. Always start with an itty-bitty amount and add more if needed.
For everyday grooming, choose paddle brushes. When you blow-dry, use a round brush to easily grab every strand. But watch out for round brushes with metal frames - when combined with hot air from a dryer, it can heat up way too fast and burn your tresses. Your safest bet is to stick with a wooden one. But not all brushes are made equal, and when you factor in bristle types and hair texture, a brush could make or break your hair:
More and more women are starting to embrace their natural hair texture. But, after years of using hot stying tools, it might take time for you to understand what your hair really wants and needs to look its best. For curly girls, “It’s all about using products that are curly girl friendly,” says Michelle Sultan, Creative Director for Imbue Curls. That means not using any products that might dehydrate the hair, like sulfates, mineral oils, waxes, or drying alcohols, she adds. Those with wavy hair can also use similar products to help with definition.
If you have fine hair you've got some versatility when it comes to styling options. You can play with messy 'dos, experiment with chignons and low buns, and straighten or curl with ease. Ultimately, how you wear your hair depends on personal style. For women with thick hair, on days when it tends to get heavy and want to put it up, try braids, side ponytails or high buns. The upside to a dense 'do? “A blowout can last longer,” says Renato Campora, celebrity hair stylist for The Wall Group. “And there isn’t much of an issue with using products because hair won’t get weighed down the way fine hair would.”
Read also: Achieve Voluminous Hair
In a GH tester panel, 95% of testers reported dealing with frizz. There are several ways to help tame frizz, such as getting a good haircut, using cooler water, sleeping on silk. and finding moisturizing shampoos and conditioners that work for you.
If you have fine hair, a lasting boost can require some time commitment and skill. Enter: Teasing. The wrong way to tease hair is starting at the end, and moving the comb up and down,” Cho warns. “It’ll tangle the hair, and it’s a nightmare to comb it out.” Here's how to do it right:
Before you begin, make sure hair is completely dry and de-knotted. Use a fine-tooth comb, or a tail comb, to separate a section of hair at the front; clip it to the side. Take a section at the crown area and hold it straight up. To avoid damage, Cho says to start at the mid-shaft and push the comb down to the roots. Pull the comb out and start from the mid-shaft and backcomb again. Finally, comb the swept-aside section over the teased bump for a voluminous lift.
Curling your hair is a nice way to add volume if your stick straight mane is craving some oomph. First, find a curling rod with a barrel of 1 ½ inches that has a heat setting gauge (the smaller the barrel, the tighter the curls). Fine hair doesn’t require as much heat compared with coarse hair. If you have a heat setting that spans between 1 and 10, set it to 6 for fine hair and 8 for coarse hair.
Prep dry hair by spraying a heat thermal protector and detangling knots. Mist a 1 ½ -inch section near the nape of your neck with a lightweight hair spray because it “defines, maintains curls and keeps them really shiny,” says Cho.
Wind the section around the wand, leaving the ends untouched, for roughly five seconds. When it comes to styling the sides of your hair, tilt your head to keep a safe distance between your skin and the rod to avoid burns. (Cho recommends that novice curlers wrap a towel around their neck.) Repeat, misting and curling section by section until your whole head is complete. Once hair is cooled completely, gently pull and finger-comb the curls for a natural finish. Optional: Lightly mist hairspray all over to set.
Sometimes, we still want to smooth out rough ends. Pick a high quality flat iron - our Beauty experts love the Chi Lava Flat Iron, which excelled in maintaining straightness in Lab tests.
If you have fine or damaged hair, set the temperature to 300 degrees or less. Average hair should be ironed at around 300-380ºF. Crank it up to 400ºF for thick, coarse strands, and "always use heat protectant," says Cho. Speed matters: “If you’re going too fast, your hair won’t straighten,” says Tricomi. “And if you go too slow, that’s when your hair burns and damage occurs.” Pass through methodically, section by section, from roots to tips until hair is pressed sleek and straight. Finish with a hydrating serum from mid-length to ends for shine, and a light hairspray at the crown to curb flyaways and frizz.
Looking to refresh your hairstyle and step into a modern look? Whether you’re preparing for a special event or just want to spice up your everyday style, these simple yet effective hair styling tips will help you achieve that contemporary flair.
Embrace Natural Textures: Celebrate your hair’s natural texture by using products that enhance your curls or waves. This not only saves time but also lends a trendy, effortless vibe to your look. For example, if you have naturally curly hair, opt for a curl enhancer or mousse to define those beautiful spirals. For those with straight hair, sea salt sprays can give you that coveted beachy wave. Remember, the goal is to work with your hair’s natural texture rather than fighting against it.
Master the Art of Blow-Drying: Achieve salon-quality blowouts at home by using a round brush and focusing on lifting the roots. This gives your hair volume and smoothness, perfect for a modern and sleek appearance. Start by sectioning your hair and working from the bottom up. Use the brush to create tension while directing the blow-dryer at the roots to add lift. Finish by smoothing out the ends for a polished look.
Experiment with Different Partings: Changing up your part can dramatically transform your look. Try a deep side part for a bold statement or a middle part for a chic and symmetrical style. Each type of parting can highlight different features of your face.
Opt for a Sleek Ponytail: A low or high ponytail can be both sophisticated and trendy. Use a comb to smooth out any flyaways and wrap a section of hair around the base for a polished finish.
Incorporate Braids: Braids are a versatile styling option. From French braids to fishtail braids, they add texture and interest, perfect for a modern boho look.
Use Texturizing Products: Texturizing sprays and powders can add volume and definition to your hair. They are great for creating that messy yet chic style that is very much in vogue.
Create Effortless Waves: Loose waves are a timeless style. Use a curling iron or wand, wrapping large sections of hair, and then brush them out gently for natural, beachy waves.
Add Accessories: Hair accessories like headbands, clips, and scrunchies can elevate your look instantly. They add a playful and fashionable touch to any hairstyle.
Go for Bold Cut Changes: Sometimes, a drastic cut is all you need. Consider a modern bob or a pixie cut to dramatically update your look and keep your style fresh.
Maintain Healthy Hair: Healthy hair always looks good. Use quality shampoos, conditioners, and treatments to keep your hair strong and shiny, providing a strong foundation for any style.
Styling curly hair-and writing about styling curly hair-is a blessing and a curse. The blessing part is easy: It's already curly! Volume, bend, hold…all that stuff comes easy to curly hair. No need to kill yourself over how to get texture from falling out-you know, like this. Curly hair can take direction better than just about anything.
But curly hair comes with baggage, too. Sure, it can hold style like nobody's business, but it's delicate in its own way. There's the obvious things, like the fact that curls tend to be on the dryer side and are prone to breakage. And then there are the less obvious things, like the fact that brushes are the enemy. If you have curly hair and intend to wear your natural texture, throw away your brushes. Seriously, just toss them out. Don't even trade it in for a wide-tooth comb.
Because styling curly hair revolves around four real phases: wet, natural and dry, pulled back without much thought, and pulled back with a little more thought.
Not really a style, just a starting point. And the perfect time to figure out your never-be-without-it type of product. For Claudia, with finer curls, it's mousse. "We want to use a product that gives it grip and hold," Neil says. Xiara's working with kinkier, coarser hair, so the product needs some time to really soak in. If this is you, make sure to apply a very moisturizing cream when your hair is close to soaking wet. Neil used Aquage Curl Defining Cream, which "feels like a leave-in conditioner but with a bit more of a hold." This will control the curl and nix the frizz in one scrunch.
Using the Dyson Dryer. Which is the only blowdryer worth your time and hard-earned cash if you've struggled with using tools to dry and style your hair. It cuts down on time in a very serious way. To blow dry natural curls you're going to want a low-heat, low-fan setting along with a proper diffuser attachment. As you're diffusing, there are some hand motions that help the process along. "I don’t know if you want to say this but, ‘Money, money, money’" Neil says, twisting the hair between his forefinger and thumb. "By doing this to the hair cuticle, you can dry the whole thing." Fully dry is important.
The other great thing about curly hair is that buns are easy, always romantic, and all you really need is an elastic or some pins. On Claudia, Neil gathered her hair back into a chignon, but in the middle-back of her head. To keep it from feeling too athletic, he pulled some strands out in the front for some Dilone-esque curls to frame the face. He also pulled one side really tight to her head (using a bit of Aquage Finishing Spray), which gave it a bit of an undercut look. On Xiara, the best way to showcase her texture was a simple ponytail with lots of volume in the back. To hydrate the curls while wet, Neil used Orlando Pita Play Liquid Crown Multi-Oil Concentrate (this helps smooth the strands and hold the shape). To get the right fluff to the pony, he sprayed it down and scrunched with Orlando Pita Play Flash Light Shine Boosting Spray.
OK, if you want to spend a soupçon more time on your hair (and why not? Diffusing and scrunching is so low-impact you might feel motivated to go harder…), Neil got a little fancy for some inspo. Claudia got a loose chignon, this time properly at the nape of the neck, with texture all around, utilizing the Aquage Thickening Spraygel for an almost-wet look. The feeling? Soft but definitely polished. Meanwhile, Xiara got two braids roped around each other and detailed with the appropriately named Aquage Detailing Creme. Proper braiding makes hair happy and healthy, and stays put, which is key. Because if there's one thing girls with curly hair know, it's that natural hair rarely stays where you put it for long.
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