Jhunt-smith
New Member
I found this info in the style && beauty section on realsimple.com (Take it with a grain of salt)
RS Pick: Remington TStudio Pink Tourmaline Ceramic Straightener, $40, www.remington-store.com.
Treat Your Hair Right
Glossy hair equals healthy, well-moisturized hair, according to the experts. Consider using an effective weekly or monthly treatment (depending on your needs) to hydrate strands and keep them smooth and reflective.
Deep Conditioners
These concentrated treatments contain rich oil-based moisturizers to help alleviate dryness and seal the cuticles, says Charles Dujic.
Best for: Hair that is styled with heat more than three times a week.
Hassle Factor: Low. Use once a week in lieu of a daily conditioner; leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse.
Expert Pick: Shu Uemura Moisture Velvet Nourishing Treatment for Dry Hair, $60, www.shuuemura.com for locations.
Hair Masks
A richer option, masks fill in weak areas on the hair shafts with proteins to create more even and shinier surfaces.
Best for: Chemically treated hair.
Hassle Factor: Moderate. Apply a mask twice a week.
Expert Pick: Kérastase Resistance Ciment Anti-Usure, $36, www.kerastase.com.
At-Home Glosses
The best formulas condition hair with oils and silicones and coat it with a reflective glaze that gradually washes out.
Best for: Brittle, beat-up hair.
Hassle Factor: Low. Once a month, let sit for up to five minutes.
Expert Pick: Frédéric Fekkai Salon Glaze, $28, www.fekkai.com for locations.
Professional Deep Treatments
An in-salon service combines the oils of a deep conditioner, the proteins of a mask, and the silicones of a glaze to boost hair’s health and brilliance. Once the mix is applied, you sit under a dryer to help the ingredients penetrate.
Best for: Extremely damaged hair.
Hassle Factor: Moderate. The service takes about 20 minutes (plus travel time). If you want to skip the visit, the Warren-Tricomi Salon has developed a similar at-home version. Try Warren-Tricomi Repair Green Walnut Masque, $38, www.warrentricomi.com.
Give It Instant Polish
To get glossy hair immediately, style with a shine-enhancing product. These cover hair with a temporary sheen, and many contain lightweight moisturizers to treat minimal damage. A general rule: The thicker your hair, the thicker your product should be.
Shine Sprays
Best for: Fine hair. Whether it’s straight or wavy, fine hair requires only a featherlight misting of silicone. Anything heavier can weigh it down.
The Trick: Instead of spraying onto hair, pump some into your hand, rub your palms together, then run your hands down the surface of your hair. Concentrate on the ends, where hair is drier and duller, says Nelson Vercher, a hairstylist at the Rita Hazan salon, in New York City.
Expert Pick: Mop Glisten Spray Gloss, $18, www.mopproducts.com for locations.
Hair Creams
Best for: Medium to thick hair of any texture.
The Trick: After towel-drying, apply a nickel-size amount to damp hair (use twice that amount on thick hair). For added polish, rub a dime-size dab between your hands, then over dry hair.
Expert Pick: John Frieda Collection Frizz-Ease Secret Weapon Flawless Finishing Creme, $6 at drugstores.
Serums
Best for: Thick, curly hair. A serum’s syrup-like texture glides easily around curls, controlling frizz and errant hairs to create a smooth, light-reflecting surface.
The Trick: Start with wet hair and distribute a nickel-size amount from roots to ends. This will keep curls soft and prevent frizz.
Expert Pick: Phyto Phytolisse Finishing Serum, $30, www.sephora.com.
Shine Gels
Best for: Coarse, very thick hair types.
The Trick: A gel with the consistency of jam coats hair effectively; it delivers light hold and dramatic shine. For added moisture, layer it on top of a leave-in conditioner.
Expert Pick: Barex Hairgomine Smooth Styling Gel, $26, www.beautyhabit.com.
Tip: For a shine fix without products, use a natural-bristle brush, which distributes the scalp’s natural oils down the hair shafts, adding luster.
Essential Tools for Coarse, Relaxed Hair
Avoid bombarding the fragile texture of this type of hair with intense heat from a dryer and an iron every day. “Handle with care” should be your motto.
Shown counterclockwise from top left:
Heat Protectant
When you use a flat iron, you must protect your hair from its direct heat. Use an ultralight liquid strengthening heat protectant before ironing. It contains silicone to add shine.
RS Pick: Biosilk Silk Therapy, $41, www.farouk.com for locations.
Shower Cap
To avoid having to blow-dry and iron too often, don’t wet hair every day (too much heat styling can make hair prone to breaking). Use a shower cap on days you don’t shampoo.
RS Pick: Benefit Bathina Shower Cap, $14, www.benefitcosmetics.com.
Flat Iron
Use it to touch up sections of dry hair around the face or at the roots.
RS Pick: Ion 1-Inch Color Brilliance Tri-Nano Ceramic Styling Iron, $80, Sally Beauty Supply.
Silk Scarf
Sleep with your hair covered in a kerchief made of satin or silk to protect from breakage and keep it smooth.
Conditioner
“Choose a leave-in that is as light as water so that the hair retains its body,” says stylist Shirlena Allen. Apply it to towel-dried hair every time you rinse or wash in the shower. A heavy, creamy conditioner will weigh down relaxed hair.
RS Pick: Elasta QP H-Two Leave-In Moisture Sealing Conditioner, $4, www.savebeauty.com.
Essential Tools for Coarse, Wavy Hair or Coarse, Curly Hair
“Conditioner is your most important tool,” says Ouidad. Steer clear of oily products, which build up residue and flatten out curls, and opt for implements that are gentle on hair.
Shown counterclockwise from top left:
Hair Spray
When you blow-dry your hair straight, “hair spray controls flyaways and keeps hair in place without a sticky, tacky feeling,” says Allen.
RS Pick: Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Finishing Spray, $14, www.paulmitchell.com for store locations.
Leave-In Conditioner
Make this hair type wash-and-go: On damp hair, with your fingers, rake through a quarter-size amount of leave-in conditioner, which will activate and define the curl pattern.
RS Pick: Redken All Soft Velvet Whip, $15, www.redken.com for store locations.
Paddle Brush
On days when you blow your hair straight, use a flat paddle brush, which keeps hair smooth as you dry.
RS Pick: Creative Products Birchwood Paddle Brush, $16, www.creativetool.com.
Setting Lotion
To help tame frizz and bring out natural curl, apply a setting lotion to wet hair. You can dilute it with water depending on how much hold your hair needs.
RS Pick: Mizani Masters Line Setting Lotion, $16, www.mizani-usa.com for store locations.
Flat Iron
Following a blowout, Allen uses a flat iron “to smooth frizz and make the hair shine.”
RS Pick: Hot Tools Ceramic Titanium 1-Inch Flat Iron, $54, www.hottools.com for locations.
Tip: If you wear your hair naturally curly, there’s no need for finishing products at all. When moisturized with enough conditioner and setting lotion, your hair will behave
RS Pick: Remington TStudio Pink Tourmaline Ceramic Straightener, $40, www.remington-store.com.
Treat Your Hair Right
Glossy hair equals healthy, well-moisturized hair, according to the experts. Consider using an effective weekly or monthly treatment (depending on your needs) to hydrate strands and keep them smooth and reflective.
Deep Conditioners
These concentrated treatments contain rich oil-based moisturizers to help alleviate dryness and seal the cuticles, says Charles Dujic.
Best for: Hair that is styled with heat more than three times a week.
Hassle Factor: Low. Use once a week in lieu of a daily conditioner; leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse.
Expert Pick: Shu Uemura Moisture Velvet Nourishing Treatment for Dry Hair, $60, www.shuuemura.com for locations.
Hair Masks
A richer option, masks fill in weak areas on the hair shafts with proteins to create more even and shinier surfaces.
Best for: Chemically treated hair.
Hassle Factor: Moderate. Apply a mask twice a week.
Expert Pick: Kérastase Resistance Ciment Anti-Usure, $36, www.kerastase.com.
At-Home Glosses
The best formulas condition hair with oils and silicones and coat it with a reflective glaze that gradually washes out.
Best for: Brittle, beat-up hair.
Hassle Factor: Low. Once a month, let sit for up to five minutes.
Expert Pick: Frédéric Fekkai Salon Glaze, $28, www.fekkai.com for locations.
Professional Deep Treatments
An in-salon service combines the oils of a deep conditioner, the proteins of a mask, and the silicones of a glaze to boost hair’s health and brilliance. Once the mix is applied, you sit under a dryer to help the ingredients penetrate.
Best for: Extremely damaged hair.
Hassle Factor: Moderate. The service takes about 20 minutes (plus travel time). If you want to skip the visit, the Warren-Tricomi Salon has developed a similar at-home version. Try Warren-Tricomi Repair Green Walnut Masque, $38, www.warrentricomi.com.
Give It Instant Polish
To get glossy hair immediately, style with a shine-enhancing product. These cover hair with a temporary sheen, and many contain lightweight moisturizers to treat minimal damage. A general rule: The thicker your hair, the thicker your product should be.
Shine Sprays
Best for: Fine hair. Whether it’s straight or wavy, fine hair requires only a featherlight misting of silicone. Anything heavier can weigh it down.
The Trick: Instead of spraying onto hair, pump some into your hand, rub your palms together, then run your hands down the surface of your hair. Concentrate on the ends, where hair is drier and duller, says Nelson Vercher, a hairstylist at the Rita Hazan salon, in New York City.
Expert Pick: Mop Glisten Spray Gloss, $18, www.mopproducts.com for locations.
Hair Creams
Best for: Medium to thick hair of any texture.
The Trick: After towel-drying, apply a nickel-size amount to damp hair (use twice that amount on thick hair). For added polish, rub a dime-size dab between your hands, then over dry hair.
Expert Pick: John Frieda Collection Frizz-Ease Secret Weapon Flawless Finishing Creme, $6 at drugstores.
Serums
Best for: Thick, curly hair. A serum’s syrup-like texture glides easily around curls, controlling frizz and errant hairs to create a smooth, light-reflecting surface.
The Trick: Start with wet hair and distribute a nickel-size amount from roots to ends. This will keep curls soft and prevent frizz.
Expert Pick: Phyto Phytolisse Finishing Serum, $30, www.sephora.com.
Shine Gels
Best for: Coarse, very thick hair types.
The Trick: A gel with the consistency of jam coats hair effectively; it delivers light hold and dramatic shine. For added moisture, layer it on top of a leave-in conditioner.
Expert Pick: Barex Hairgomine Smooth Styling Gel, $26, www.beautyhabit.com.
Tip: For a shine fix without products, use a natural-bristle brush, which distributes the scalp’s natural oils down the hair shafts, adding luster.
Essential Tools for Coarse, Relaxed Hair
Avoid bombarding the fragile texture of this type of hair with intense heat from a dryer and an iron every day. “Handle with care” should be your motto.
Shown counterclockwise from top left:
Heat Protectant
When you use a flat iron, you must protect your hair from its direct heat. Use an ultralight liquid strengthening heat protectant before ironing. It contains silicone to add shine.
RS Pick: Biosilk Silk Therapy, $41, www.farouk.com for locations.
Shower Cap
To avoid having to blow-dry and iron too often, don’t wet hair every day (too much heat styling can make hair prone to breaking). Use a shower cap on days you don’t shampoo.
RS Pick: Benefit Bathina Shower Cap, $14, www.benefitcosmetics.com.
Flat Iron
Use it to touch up sections of dry hair around the face or at the roots.
RS Pick: Ion 1-Inch Color Brilliance Tri-Nano Ceramic Styling Iron, $80, Sally Beauty Supply.
Silk Scarf
Sleep with your hair covered in a kerchief made of satin or silk to protect from breakage and keep it smooth.
Conditioner
“Choose a leave-in that is as light as water so that the hair retains its body,” says stylist Shirlena Allen. Apply it to towel-dried hair every time you rinse or wash in the shower. A heavy, creamy conditioner will weigh down relaxed hair.
RS Pick: Elasta QP H-Two Leave-In Moisture Sealing Conditioner, $4, www.savebeauty.com.
Essential Tools for Coarse, Wavy Hair or Coarse, Curly Hair
“Conditioner is your most important tool,” says Ouidad. Steer clear of oily products, which build up residue and flatten out curls, and opt for implements that are gentle on hair.
Shown counterclockwise from top left:
Hair Spray
When you blow-dry your hair straight, “hair spray controls flyaways and keeps hair in place without a sticky, tacky feeling,” says Allen.
RS Pick: Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Finishing Spray, $14, www.paulmitchell.com for store locations.
Leave-In Conditioner
Make this hair type wash-and-go: On damp hair, with your fingers, rake through a quarter-size amount of leave-in conditioner, which will activate and define the curl pattern.
RS Pick: Redken All Soft Velvet Whip, $15, www.redken.com for store locations.
Paddle Brush
On days when you blow your hair straight, use a flat paddle brush, which keeps hair smooth as you dry.
RS Pick: Creative Products Birchwood Paddle Brush, $16, www.creativetool.com.
Setting Lotion
To help tame frizz and bring out natural curl, apply a setting lotion to wet hair. You can dilute it with water depending on how much hold your hair needs.
RS Pick: Mizani Masters Line Setting Lotion, $16, www.mizani-usa.com for store locations.
Flat Iron
Following a blowout, Allen uses a flat iron “to smooth frizz and make the hair shine.”
RS Pick: Hot Tools Ceramic Titanium 1-Inch Flat Iron, $54, www.hottools.com for locations.
Tip: If you wear your hair naturally curly, there’s no need for finishing products at all. When moisturized with enough conditioner and setting lotion, your hair will behave
