Styling Hair

Most women end up falling into one of three categories when it comes to styling hair.  There are those who will spend hours getting their hair done, those who don't bother doing much more than throwing it in a ponytail, and those who end up somewhere between the two. I fall into the somewhere in between the two because I tend to rely on fairly simply styling to make it look decent.  I have the type of hair that responds like a barometer to the amount of humidity in the air.

When it comes to styling your hair, one of the first things you need to know is your hair type.  Is your hair fine or course.  If your hair is fine, you'll have difficulty seeing a single strand, it's hard to keep volume in your hair, and your hair doesn't feel heavy.  On the other hand, if you have thick hair, it will feel courser, it is hard to keep in place using just bobby pins, and you have a lot of trouble taming the frizz.  Furthermore, you can see a single strand, seem to have a lot of hair, and it's heavy.

It doesn't matter if you have fine or course, you need to get regular hair cuts or trims.  Getting your hair trimmed on a regular basis does more than just keep the ends under control.  It can help your hair look thicker and more alive.  In addition, a good haircut is the foundation for any style you want.  If you have fine hair, shorter styles that frame the face are better where as with thicker hair, one should go for hair that is longer than shoulder length. 

Furthermore, one should select shampoos, conditioners, and other products based on your hair type.  With fine straight hair, one should use lighter weight sprays or mists while those with thick curlier hair should look at richer oils or thicker creams to lubricate and hydrate the strands.  As far as styling products go, a hair gel feels a bit more liquidy but tends to dry into a harder shiny shell.  

Gels are good for making hair spikes in short hair, defining curls, or slicking hair down so it lies flat.  On the other hand, hair mousse tends to be lighter weight and often is found in foam form.  It can add volume to otherwise flat hair. Finally, you have serums and creams that are used for a finished look because they are the lightest of all the styling products.  

If you use a hairbrush, look for one that is more suited for your hair since not all brushes work on all types of hair.  All natural boar brushes are best used on fine hair while hairbrushes that have a mix of boar and nylon are better suited for normal to thick hair. If you have really thick hair, look at a hair brush that is made only of nylon bristles.  My grandmother and mother raised me to use only natural boar bristles and they never worked for my hair so I quit using hairbrushes and resorted to fingers.  It wasn't until years later, I learned why they didn't work for me.  You guessed it, I have the normal to thick hair so I need something a bit more.

As far as actual hairstyles, people with fine hair can wear those messy hairdos, chignons, or buns.  They can also choose to wear their hair straight or curly.  Anyone with thick hair can go after braids, side ponytails, or high buns.  It is estimated that about 95% of women battle frizz at some point.  As stated earlier, a good haircut goes a ways towards helping to tame the frizz but it also helps to use cooler water when washing your hair, wrapping your hair in silk or satin at bedtime, using moisturizing shampoos and conditioners, and avoiding any product with alcohol in them.

On Wednesday, I'll talk about curling and straightening hair properly.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.