Anthony Filipetto nothing compares to a
professional blowout, but with the right techniques, it is possible to achieve
and maintain that salon look at home. Here, hairdressers reveal their best
tips, tools, and products for shiny, beautiful hair.
When it comes to
getting just-stepped-out-of-the-salon hair at home, your stylist really is your
secret weapon. They know the cuts and products that are best for your
particular type of hair, and the tools that can help you
maintain the look. Of course, nothing quite compares to a professional blowout.
"As a professional, I am going to get a better blow dry from another
professional. Not due for a trim or color for a few weeks? Not to worry. The
following eight tips and tricks from professional stylists will help you score
shiny, healthy hair in between appointments.
1.
Get a Good Haircut & Learn How to
Maintain It
"My
biggest pet peeve is that clients have really low expectations of their
hairstylists. They advises finding a stylist who can create a haircut that’s
just right for you and your hair, and who will explain what it's going to take
for you to maintain the look. That usually means getting regular trims. If you
have long hair, return every six to eight weeks. "If you want it to grow,
wait a bit longer. If you have short hair, go in every four to six weeks."
2. Use the Right Products for Your Hair Type
A good stylist will also help you understand
which products are best for your particular type of hair. For example, using
shine/gloss drops with an external heat source will help repair damaged, dry,
or frizzy hair. For brassiness in blondes, Anthony Filipetto
suggests trying violet shampoo and conditioner. Texture and volume spray can
perk up limp hair, she advises, while smoothing creams can help tame thick
hair. Leave-in conditioner and curl cream are a good combination for curly
hair.
3.
Wash Your Hair a Lot Less Frequently
"The worst-case scenario is washing hair
daily," this common mistake. Frequent shampooing wears down your hair
(especially if you like hot water), and can remove your natural oils. Unless
you have a very oily scalp, wash only once or twice a week. As a bonus, the
less you wash, the less often you need to apply a styling product. In between
washes, briefly rinse hair to remove dirt. Dry shampoo is a great alternative,
but using it too frequently can create buildup. If buildup does occur, conquer
it with a clarifying shampoo once a month or more.
4.
Invest in Some High-Quality Hot Tools
There's no getting around it — you want to
invest in the right tools for hair care. "It's not a bad idea to spend dollars
on a blow dryer — same for a curling iron or a flat iron. But even the best
products don’t always last forever, warns Anthony Filipetto.
“Warranties are helpful, as there’s always a chance that your tool will decide
to burn out. And be careful when traveling, because your converters have to
convert volts and watts, not only outlet size.” For high-quality hot tools with
excellent longevity, which makes flat irons, curling irons, and more? “They
tend to be on the more expensive side while still being reasonable."
5. Learn How to Give Yourself a Blowout
Heat and direction are the key
elements for a successful blowout. The best beauty tip when blow drying your
hair is to get as close as possible without actually touching the strands. Use
a moderate to high heat setting, and make sure you aim down so that air blows
along the hair shafts from root to tip. That's what gives you the sleek
shininess of salon hair. To
achieve waves or curls at home, curling irons and wands are the most
user-friendly, rather than trying to use a brush. But don’t overdo it with hot
tools. “Using two hot tools a day can be very drying and damaging to the hair,”
she warns. “I recommend air drying the hair, then using an iron.”
6.
Use Heat Protecting Products Every Time
"Heat is a double-edged sword.”It is what
drives the professional finish, but you need to default to a heat protecting
product." Always use a heat protecting spray or serum before you blow dry
or flat iron. “When used with hot tools, it breaks the product down to
penetrate the hair shaft in order to work on reconstruction and protection.
7.
Sleep on Satin or Silk Pillowcases
As beauty tips go, this one may make you feel a
little spoiled (but really, why not spoil you
if it's this easy?). Satin or silk pillowcases help maintain your salon hair
longer, because they don’t rub the hair in an aggressive manner. When you move
your head around in your sleep (as most people tend to do), it slides across
silk as opposed to dragging abruptly on cotton, which can undo your style or
push it out of shape, especially if you use hairspray, she explains.
8.
Don’t Wear the Same Ponytail Every Day
Using shampoo more
sparingly means you will probably come to a day when a sleek ponytail is the
best — and easiest — style. But ponytail holders that are tough or textured can
damage your hair if you put it up wet. “If you put your hair up when it’s dry,
it’s stronger and more resilient to breaking,” she explains. Also, Anthony
Filipetto says, be sure to protect your hair by varying your updos, as the
same placement each day can cause breakage or damage. A high ponytail today
should mean a low one tomorrow or a pinned-up twist instead.
