1. Use professional products recommended by  your hair care professional.

• Always buy from your stylist, or at a professional salon. The products you see in grocery stores are more than likely not the same product as what you see if professional salons, and all the low cost products have cheap fillers that don't actually help your hair get/stay healthy, just masks problems. Getting the product from your stylist or local salon ensures you are getting quality product, and if you are for whatever reason unsatisfied do not hesitate to call your stylist or salon and let them know.

 

2. Always shampoo your SCALP ONLY.

• Only shampoo to ends of hair if you have a TON of product (i.e. Gel, mousse, hairspray, etc.) on the ends. If this is required, lather shampoo on ends gently by squeezing instead of rubbing. This will help keep the cuticle happy and not cause split ends.

  • Shampoo opens up your hair’s cuticle to take out any impurities. Your ends usually don’t have many impurities since there are no natural oils getting to them. The rinsing of the shampoo is usually enough to get any impurities out.

  • Shampooing the ends (as well as lathering like in the commercials) only dries out your hair more, and worsens split ends.

 

3. ALWAYS condition from ends up to about 2-3 inches from your scalp.

• Conditioning the scalp is not necessary as the scalp produces natural oils that moisturize the hair at the scalp.

• Conditioner closes the cuticle after shampooing. If you don't close your cuticle you risk split ends and dryness occurring quicker.

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4. Always start at your ends when brushing your hair, especially when wet.

• This will help preventing more breakage, and it will aid in not creating more knots in the hair that you end up ripping through (we all do it, but seriously… don’t.)

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5. If you use hot tools, DO NOT set them past 325°-350°

• Make sure you have hot tools with a dial so you can set the temperature.

• Always use a heat protectant. You can find products strictly for applying on dry hair before straightening or curling, or you can find leave in conditioners (I recommend Mr. Smith's Leave in or Serum: it has UV and thermal heat protection) that have heat protectants in them.  

 

6. Try to air dry your hair as much as possible.

• I apply Mr. Smith's Leave in to my hair after I towel dry it, comb it with my “Wet Brush”, and then do my make up and get dressed. This way my hair has time to dry a bit instead of going straight to blow drying. On the days I have off I let my hair air dry completely.

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7. DO NOT straighten or curl your hair when it’s wet or damp.

• This will damage your hair very quickly.

• If you notice a lot of steam when straightening or curling your hair (and you didn't put any or much product in  your hair) this may mean you didn’t dry it enough. STOP IMMEDIATELY and dry your hair more.

 

8. DO NOT wear your hair up wet!!!!

• When hair is wet it has more elasticity, therefore, as the hair is drying when it is pulled back in a ponytail or braid it will have nowhere else to go but to break. (If you ever notice a “band” of hair on someone’s head (that doesn’t look like layers) that is usually from them wearing it up a lot when their hair is wet. This can also happen if you wear your hair up a lot in a really tight bun, so try to avoid that as much as possible)

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9. Invest in a silk pillowcase and silk scrunchies.

• Silk pillowcases and scrunchies will help prevent breakage while you sleep, and wear your hair up. It also doesn't hold allergens, absorbs less moisture and dirt (helping even with stubborn acne), and a silk pillowcase will help with waking up with smoother, frizz-free hair.

• Using scrunchies instead of elastic hair ties will help eliminate breakage. Silk scrunchies are even better at preventing this.

 

10. Get trims every 6-8 weeks (Unless your stylist recommends to do it sooner).

• Growing your hair out? You still need these trims if you want long and healthy hair. No one wants stringy, damaged-looking long hair!

• Typically trims this often only need about 1/4- 1/2 of an inch taken off.

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11. Do deep conditioning treatments at least 2 times a month (unless recommended by your stylist to do this more often)

• Deep treatments help restore your hair's moisture, strengthens and reduces damage caused by hot tools, products, and even outdoor elements (sun damage, wind, free radicals, ect.)

• I recommend Mr. Smith's Masque or Luxury Masque

 

12. When in doubt, ask your stylist.

• As a stylist we are licensed professionals who have gone to school to be able to make the best decision for each and every hair type. Sometimes it is trial and error as far as using certain products-be patient, and be honest. If a product is not working out don’t hide it in your “maybe-one-day-I-will-use-this” drawer (we all have it… and it’s full of makeup and hair care products). You are spending good money, and the last thing you want to do is be unhappy with what you are purchasing.

• If your stylist has recommendations- LISTEN! (Just like adults giving children recommendations on what to do or not do, there's a reason for it. Be humble, and realize even if the stylist is younger than you they are a professional in this field, and have your best interest in mind.)