1. Apply a professional conditioner designed for your particular hair type. While you can cut corners on the shampoo a little, a top-notch conditioner is essential. In salons, look for products that are made specifically for your hair type. For instance: Use a conditioner made for chemically processed hair if you have colored or permed hair. Additionally, avoid using certain shampoo and conditioner mixes.

2. Pick a style that fits your face and body form. When selecting a new hairdo, people’s biggest error is choosing a style based on popularity rather than how it will best highlight their qualities. Always consider how a new cut will complement or contrast with your facial features and body type before committing to it. Choose a full-bodied cut over a head-hugging doo if your shoulders are broad.

3. Remember to wear UV protection. Wind and sunlight can harm your hair just like they do your skin. Look for finishing products that block UV rays, such as mousses, gels, and sprays, to fight this.

4. Remain on schedule. You probably aren’t aware that your hair splits more quickly than it grows. Even if it’s just a micro trim, you should get a trim every six to eight weeks. They are good because a professional hairdresser knows what to leave on the head and what to avoid removing.

5. Leave handling of chemicals to experts. The requirement for beauticians to attend school to understand how to handle chemicals and hair treatments is justified. Even though the packaging claims that using these goods is really simple, you might still cause irreversible harm. Even if your hair doesn’t fall out, you can end up looking like a clown and having to pay a hairdresser a lot of money to correct your disaster. (Note: Most stylists double their typical color processing rates for corrective color.)

6. Add color for body and interest. Each cut requires a touch of color to be truly stunning. Using a color technique, you can give your tresses more volume and appeal regardless of whether your taste is delicate or spectacular. Highlights, lowlights, color all over, gray coverage—you name it—all it’s beneficial to your appearance.

7. Perform regular conditioning procedures. Your hair is continuously under attack from the wind, sun, cold, and heat, even if it is quite healthy. Your hair suffers more damage during the summer because it takes in chlorine and other pollutants from your pool.

8. Purchase a ceramic ion flat iron. as opposed to using a standard flat iron with a metal plating to fry your hair. Use one of the negative ion flat irons to straighten your hair, give gloss, and add hydration. Personally, we only deal with T3 irons.

9. Pick your styling supplies carefully. Avoid using hair products that cause buildup. If you notice white muck, your product may be coating your hair shaft and is not water-soluble. In addition to the white flakes, build-up results in limpness, breaking, and an inability to curl the hair.

10. Did you know that using a towel to dry your hair after a shower will result in split ends and static electricity buildup in your hair? Instead of rubbing the towel over your hair back and forth, scrunch it up around your hair like you would crackers in soup.

These suggestions will all help you look your best every day, even if they won’t make you appear as though you’ve employed a professional hairdresser. Keep in mind that you wear your hair every day when caring for it. Now, doesn’t maintain it in pristine condition merit the time, money, and effort required?

