Don’t let your hair weigh you down. Try these tricks to gain control of your thick hair and style it the way you want.

Give the look dimension
“The key to styling thick hair is giving it dimension,” said hairstylist Janet Zeitoun Founder and CEO of State of the Art Hair (SOTAH). This can be difficult because thick hair is so dense, but doing things like adding layers or trying different styles can help you to have more control over your thick hair. “You can go from a pixie cut, to a long layer, to a bob,” said Zeitoun. Just make sure you're not making these hair mistakes.

Air dry before blow-drying
When you have thick hair it’s not a good idea to start blow-drying your hair immediately after you get out of the shower. Jenna Mast, New York-based hairstylist, suggests letting your hair air dry for a while before picking up the blow dryer. For straight hair, Mast suggests letting your hair get 75% dry, for curly hair, wait until your hair is about 25% dry. “The goal is to remove the appropriate amount of moisture before manipulating the hair with a brush,” said Mast. “It will save you a TON of time and it's way less of an upper body workout when compared to round brushing.”

Try a shaved look underneath
If you want to be a little more daring with your hair, try shaving your hair at the base of your head. This can eliminate a lot of the bulk. Zeitoun says that many times, when you wear your hair down, you can’t even notice that underneath is shaved because you still have so much hair on top. To add a little more spunk, you can get a fun pattern shaved into your hair.

Start with a good foundation
“Whatever result you want to get starts with your foundation,” said Zeitoun. This means, using the right shampoos, conditioners, and products. Zeitoun suggests sticking to a shampoo and conditioner that is light and adds volume, so that your hair doesn’t get more weighed down than it already is. Finish your look with a smoothing cream. Here are things that your hair can reveal about your health.

Skip the rinse and use dry shampoo
Sometimes it can feel like you have to spend hours on end in the shower to get all of the conditioner out of your hair and then even longer styling it afterwards. Skip washing your hair every time you shower and use dry shampoo. Mast suggests using a foam dry shampoo versus a spray for thick hair. “It removes oil and product buildup and leaves the scalp feeling clean,” said Mast. “The foam allows for more control than a spray, since you apply the foam with your hands.”

Prepare for the weather
When you have thick hair and it’s humid outside, it can be a nightmare to control it. Zeitoun suggests always being prepared for the weather and styling your hair so that you don’t have to worry about it. She suggests top knots, braids, and easy up-dos paired with hairspray and a smoothing cream.

Use thinning shears
To release some of the bulk from thick hair, run through it with thinning shears or a razor on a regular basis. Zeitoun likes to use a razor on the ends of thick hair to release some of the weight, clean up the edges, and give it a more wispy look.

Section off hair
Thick hair and thin hair ties don’t always work together. Zeitoun likes to section off the hair and then style it. “Create foundations with multiple ponytails and connect them all,” Zeitoun said. You can easily connect all of the ponytails into a cute up-do and secure it with pins and hair spray. Know these myths about hair that you need to stop believing.
 
This article first appeared on Reader's Digest

With summer quickly fading away and fall approaching,  it's time to start boosting your color care. Here we share the top 16 most surprising ways you're ruining your dyed strands (and wasting money) without realizing it.

1, Styling Your Hair Every Day
Andrew Carruthers, director of education for Sam Villa, warns that excessive heat, which usually comes from styling, can destroy the molecules in hair color. “Color fading increased dramatically as the industry introduced higher heat irons,” he says, adding that you should look for tools that only reach a safe temperature for color-treated hair.

2. Washing Your Hair Too Often
Because the chemicals in hair color make your hair more vulnerable to water, Maddison Cave, colorist at the Rita Hazan Salon in New York City, explains that you should avoid excessive rinsing. “Try washing your hair every other day or even every three days if you don’t get oily,” she says, also recommending using dry shampoo in between washes to keep it feeling clean.

3. Using Harsh Shampoo
Nelson Chan, celebrity stylist and founder of Nelson j Natural Salon in Beverly Hills, explains that the ingredients in shampoos and conditioners that contain sulfates and salts are often doing a number on your colored hair. “The solution is to look for sulfate-free and color-safe shampoos,” he says, adding that co-wash shampoos and non-foaming hair cleansers will also be the best for colored hair. “Try to mix conditioner with your shampoo to create a milder cleanser.”

4. Not Using a Thermal Protectant
Jim Markham, celebrity stylist and founder of ColorProof, says that heat protection is an absolute must if you’re using hot tools. “Heat styling can fry the cuticle, leaving hair frazzled, dry, damaged and broken over time.” Be sure to reach for a heat protectant every time you style to keep your color from fading and your hues looking bright.

5. Not Applying a Deep Conditioner Before Swimming
John Barrett, celebrity stylist and owner of the eponymous salon, explains that while wetting your hair before jumping into a pool filled with chlorine is a good option to prevent absorption and color fading, he says that applying a deep conditioner to your whole head before swimming is a great way to maximize color protection and stop any color altering.

6. Not Sealing Your Cuticles Before Washing
“Besides using sulfate-free/co-wash shampoo, apply coconut oil on the ends of your hair before shampooing to protect harsh water and shampoo from stripping your hair color,” advises Chan.

7. Never Using a Hair Mask
Celebrity hairstylist Ricardo Rojas says that after your hair has been exposed to the sun and/or chlorine, it's crucial to nourish it at it's most fragile state. "I like to do a nourishing jasmine or coconut hair mask every three weeks for my clients during the summer months.”  If you don't have enough time to dedicate to a mask, reach for a hair oil formulated with argan oil for the same effect minus the time commitment (apply it to damp or dry hair and style as usual).

8. Not Rinsing Chlorine Out of Your Hair Before Drying
“Chlorine must be removed from hair before it dries,” says Carruthers, adding that once it’s dry, the chlorine bonds to the hair and it very difficult to remove. “If possible, hair should be rinsed with clean water before the chlorine water has a chance to dry.”

9. Dying Your Hair Red
“When considering which hues to dye your hair, maybe reconsider red,” advises Cave, explaining that while it’s glamorous, if it’s not your natural tone, the artificial red pigments tend to leave strands the fastest.

10. Failing to Apply a Leave-In Treatment Before Outdoor Activity
Chan explains that outdoor activities will fade hair color just like heat styling will, so creating a custom leave-in treatment to seal cuticles to lock in hair color before spending the day outdoors or styling is your best bet. “Mix 2 ounces of lemon juice, ½ teaspoon of coconut oil and 0.25 ounces of your favorite conditioner,” he says, adding that we should apply this treatment on hair before and after we go in the sun, and before we start heat styling to keep color intact.

11. Washing With Hot Water
“Even if you are using the perfect shampoo for your hair type, water is a big contributor to fading,” explains Cave, adding that when washing your hair, the cooler the water temperature the better.

12. Using Alcohol-Based Products
Cave warns against using styling products with alcohol listed as one of the main ingredients, explaining that it can quickly dry your hair out, making the color fade much faster.

13. Not Applying Sunscreen to Hair
“The sun produces harmful UVA/UVB rays, which can burn and damage hair drastically while also fading your color,” explains Markham. Chan adds that to keep strands and color protected, you can either wet your hair in the shower first and apply skin-grade sunblock, or you can use a mixture of 2 teaspoons of zinc with 6 ounces of coconut oil. Apply either one of these solutions to hair before exposing it to the sun or going swimming to keep color safe and thriving.

14. Not Soaking Your Hair Before Diving In
“Human hair is one of the most absorbent materials around,” says Carruthers, who says you should think about a dry sponge versus a wet sponge when it comes to soaking your hair. “When that dry sponge is submerged into chlorine-filled water, how much more of that chlorine will it absorb versus a sponge that has already been saturated with clean water?” Because of this absorbency, Carruthers says to thoroughly soak hair with clean water before jumping into a chlorine-filled pool to keep your hair color vibrant.

15. Not Using a Clarifying Shampoo
Markham explains that once a week, or as often as needed, you should use a clarifying shampoo to give hair a deep-clean of all the impurities your normal shampoos have missed that may cause color fading. If you’re a swimmer or find yourself in chlorine or salt water more often than not, be sure to use this formula two to three times a week. Plus, Markham explains that clarifying shampoos work well for removing hard water minerals, chlorine, medication and unsightly swimmer’s green.

16. Using Shampoos With Pigment
“Shampoos that have color pigment or color-depositing products can alter your dye-job and leave you with less-than-desirable results,” explains Barrett.

This article first appeared on Newbeauty

Over the past five years or so, “parabens” and “sulfates” have become huge buzzwords in beauty—but it seems like nobody ever tells us the reason. Why are parabens bad for you?

We know we’re supposed to avoid them like the plague and tons of beauty products now include that in their marketing, but we’re still not sure if we should give in to the “sulfate-free” and “paraben-free” hype.

Here’s the real down-low on parabens and sulfates

1. They’re chemicals found in beauty products

Parabens are chemicals that have been used since the 1950s to prevent bacteria and act as a preservative in deodorants, lotions, lipsticks, shampoos, scrubs, and more. Sulfates are effective cleansing and foaming agents that can be found in toothpaste, shampoo, and body washes, among other products.

2. There’s a chance that they’re harmful

Studies have shown that some parabens can mimic the activity of the hormone estrogen in the body’s cells, and while estrogenic activity is associated with certain forms of breast cancer, parabens have been found present in breast tumors. Sulfates are concerning because they were found to break down proteins, which can lead to a degenerative effect on the cell membranes. Sulfates were also found to leave residue in the heart, lungs, and brain.

3. But, it hasn’t been proven

However, so far there is no scientific evidence to prove that parabens have any link to cancer, and The Cosmetic Ingredient Review recognizes sulfates as safe up to a maximum concentration of 50 percent if they are properly rinsed off the skin.

4. You can still take the “safe not sorry” route

If you’re weary about taking a chance using products that contain these chemicals, then don’t! There’s a wide range of beauty products that are paraben- and sulfate-free—even at the drugstore.

5. Sulfates are bad for your hair

They can cause a number of problems for your hair including drying, irritating your scalp, fading your color, and even hair loss.

6. However, sulfate-free products aren’t necessarily better

Sulfates are really good at getting rid of any build up in your hair, and with that they also take away natural oils  and can leave your hair rough and dry. However, just because a product is sulfate-free, doesn’t mean you still won’t run into these problems. Many beauty companies have swapped out sulfates for other chemicals, which can sometimes even be worse. To ensure that sulfate-free products won’t further damage your hair, look for products that use fruit or vegetable-based cleansing ingredients.

7. Sulfates can be easily identified

Sulfate is the ingredient that causes shampoos to lather. If your shampoo lathers, it contains sulfates. For a foolproof way to know if your product contains sulfates, you’ll see “sulfate” listed pretty high up on the ingredients label.

8. Parabens are a little trickier to notice

While the most common parabens also have “paraben” in their name—butylparaben, methylparaben, and propylparaben—they can also be listed as Alkyl parahydroxy benzoates.

9. There are alternatives

If you’re looking to steer clear of products that contain parabens, opt for ones that use ingredients such as ethylhexylglycerin (which is plant-derived) or phenoxyethanol, another alternative to parabens, a naturally derived ether alcohol.

10. Use in moderation

No matter what, chemicals are chemicals. Everything is best used in moderation so it’s always a good idea to switch up your beauty routine and rotate between different products.

Originally published October 2014. Updated May 2017.
 
This article first appeared on StyleCaster.com

You’ve been extra protective of your hair since your little brother cut it with his blunt-end scissors in the fourth grade and made you look like one of your experimental Barbies. So why, pray tell, are you still washing your locks with sulfate-ridden products? Enter L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Shampoo. With claims that it’s gentle on color-treated and fine hair, doesn’t strip your strands and still keeps the satisfying suds (and even more satisfying price), the shampoo seems like a worthy contender for your tried-and-true formula. In the name of healthy hair, I volunteered my locks for the cause for a whole month to find out for sure. Here’s what I learned.

My Ends Looked a Little Less Like Straw
Full disclosure: It’s been about seven months since I’ve had a haircut. Needless to say, my ends have seen better days. Which is funny because I am actually obsessed with having super-soft, fluffy hair. Hair masks and serums are only a temporary fix, though, which is why I was genuinely excited when, after a month of using L’Oréal Paris EverPure, my hair just felt…better. It certainly didn’t reverse my split ends, but it did make them a lot less brittle. How did I first realize this? Within a few days of making the switch, someone at work asked if I had gotten a fresh blowout. (I may have cried a little.)

I’m Planning to Push My Hair Color Appointment
Fun fact about me: My natural hair color is a flat, mousy shade of brown, so I dye it to get that extra dimension and general oomph. Normally, I get it touched up every six weeks. (I should actually do it at four, but I stretch it as far as I can because professional dye jobs ain’t cheap, y’all.) That said, I got my hair done a week before going sulfate-free. That was five and a half weeks ago. And I don’t feel like I need to go back anytime soon. Of course, the color is not as vivid as day one, but holy highlights, it is brighter than it usually is by this time. This is probably a good time to mention I’ve also been using the coordinating sulfate-free conditioner, which has an anti-fade formula. Double whammy, I guess.

Shocker: I Didn’t Miss the Suds
Mostly because when I lathered up, it produced the same level of froth I know and love from regular shampoo. The first time I used it, I loaded up because I thought I’d need the extra amount to feel clean. (I’ve tried cleansing conditioners in the past, and even though I knew they weren’t supposed to lather much, I always felt like they weren’t really working.) Not the case here. I had suds for days. The next time I washed my hair, a couple nights later, I used a normal amount and still had the same soapy results.

So You’re Probably Wondering If I Live a Sulfate-Free Life Now
The answer is yes—mostly. I’ve always kept a nice, full shower rack, so I still have some other shampoos in there that I’d feel guilty throwing out. But once they’re gone, I’m planning to make the official swap for good. L’Oréal Paris EverPure smells good (it has a rosemary scent,and I got another herb-smelling body wash to match) and it’s not salon expensive. So, yeah—see ya later, sulfates.
This article first appeared on PureWow

Sure, trying to fit a hair dryer into your already overstuffed luggage may sound like a pain in the butt, but trust us, you’ll want to start making space for it after reading this.

According to an in-depth investigation by ABC, hotels have a plethora of issues when it comes to cleanliness. And though this issue has been well documented, what hasn’t been focused on until now is just how gross hair dryers in hotels can be.

Chuck Gerba, a microbiologist who worked with ABC for their hotel cleanliness experiment, swabbed items in nine different Los Angeles-area hotels to find out which ones are the nastiest, and he was not impressed with what he found. “There must be some things you can do with a hair dryer that I am not aware of, because some of them were pretty germy,” he said.

The investigation noted that items like the hair dryer may become even dirtier than sinks and toilets because they are often overlooked as an item in need of cleaning by housekeeping, and thus can go days – or even years – without ever being disinfected.

And it wasn’t just in low-cost motels that Gerba found the hair dryers to be particularly disgusting. According to ABC, Gerba tested the dryers at a number of hotels, which varied in price from $98 to $500 per night.

Beyond the dryers, Gerba also found that six of the nine bathroom sinks he tested had germ levels considered excessive.

“The biggest concern in a hotel room is picking up cold, flu virus or viruses that cause diarrhea,” Gerba said. “It doesn’t take very many to make you ill.”

Gerba also noted that looks and price can be deceiving when it comes to hotel health safety. He added that some of the items often found in low-cost hotels, like plastic cups in wrappers or plastic bags for the ice buckets, can actually offer more germ protection than their swankier counterparts.

So next time you travel, perhaps pack a blow dryer, or let your mane go au naturale – you are on vacation, after all.
 
This article first appeared on Travel + Leisure