Think you know hair extensions? Think again! As old as civilization itself, our desire to remake ourselves into what we REALLY think is beautiful dates back to the Ancient Egyptians…who wrote the book on beauty. Not just the originators of hair oils, makeup and formal hairdressing…they also were the first culture to fully embrace add-on hair with decorative wigs & hair pieces.

Check out this infographic on the history & evolution of hair extensions.

Dry shampoo is one of those wonder products we can’t even remember living without. The days of post-gym shampoos, canceling plans with friends because we have to wash our hair and succumbing to flat, limp locks, have long ago left our memories. Yet, there are those days when too much dry shampoo leaves our hair feeling even grimier. So this begs the question: can you overdose on dry shampoo?

The answer is yes. Just because it’s a miracle product, it isn’t actual magic—like anything else, there is a such thing as too much dry shampoo. Second and third-day hair is acceptable to blast with dry shampoo, but once you hit that fourth day, it’s time to wash. Go too long without a wash, and “the product will mix with the oils on your scalp, and will create a paste-like substance which doesn’t look or feel good,” says Davines master Session Ambassador Joseph DiMaggio. Remember: dry shampoo can only absorb so much oil, so please, don’t count on it to do the work of a proper shampoo. Eventually you’re just layering more and more product on top of your grease, which, pass.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t still use it every day—you just need to be careful about how you use it. If you’re using it to soak up heavy-duty scalp oil, daily use is a definite no-go. “If you’re using it lightly to finish or mattify your hair, then you can use it everyday,” says DiMaggio.

The biggest danger of overdosing on dry shampoo? Clogged pores. That’s right: it’s not just something you need to worry about on your face. The pasty dry shampoo/oil mix will prevent the hair follicle from breathing. Once clogged, the pores on your scalp will go into overdrive to flush out the product with more oil. See the vicious cycle we’re creating here? You try to fight oil and create more oil. DiMaggio says that you should wash your hair twice a week to ensure your pores remain healthy and unblocked by buildup.

So how much shampoo is too much? If you don’t brush the dry shampoo through your hair, you can overdose in one application. Yikes! “Brushing it throw allows even distribution so the product doesn’t clog up your roots,” DiMaggio tells us. “Plus, this allows the oils on your hair shaft to be absorbed in addition to the oils on your roots.”

And if you’re using dry shampoo as a styling agent, overuse can actually end up doing the opposite of what you want it to. “If you have very fine hair, using too much dry shampoo can decrease volume and make hair more limp,” says DiMaggio. Avoid this by lifting the top layer of hair and spraying underneath at the root, rather than dousing all your hair indiscriminately. This way, you’ll have lovely grease-free—and healthy—locks!

When it comes to growing longer hair, the number one enemy of fairy tail length is breakage. For every inch you are growing, you could lose twice as much due to bad habits. Not only do you risk losing length but also thickness as well, and long, thinned out hair is not a cute style. Here are some golden rules to avoiding breakage as much as possible.

1. Treat your hair like a cashmere sweater. The more you manipulate your hair by brushing it, washing it, even touching it, the bigger are the chances that strands will break. A few broken hairs may seem harmless, but in no time you will find your ends will look thinned out and uneven. Be sure to always manipulate your mane in a gentle way. Cut your nails regularly to prevent snagging in the shower while cleansing and detangling.

2. Don't exaggerate the process Too much of a good thing can be bad. Using deep conditioner every other day can leave your hair overly moisturized, lacking structure. It doesn't depend on the type (protein rich, moisturizing, oil-based, etc.) but more on the effect of your water. The process of deep conditioning keeps the hair in contact with water for an extended amount of time. On top of that, all the emollients in your DC (deep conditioner) add on to the hygral fatigue that your hair experiences. Your hair will "macerate" and lose the outer layer, cortex, leaving the strand weak and prone to breakage. Even if you have colored, dry or processed hair, most people shouldn't use deep conditioner more than once every 2 or 3 washes.

3. Diminish damage from The Evil Four Bleaching, coloring, relaxing and heat styling. You should be free to experiment with colors and styles as much as you want. Take all precautions needed to diminish damage, like asking for Olaplex when coloring (please try to avoid the DIY route with this unless you are a pro), using the lowest heat possible, and choosing an alternative to relaxing like a keratin treatment. Keep in mind that bleaching is really the worst you can do, so try to opt for naturally coloring instead. And bleaching relaxed hair--you are playing with fire, girl!

4. Goodness in, goodness out A healthy diet and drinking a lot of water is not just a meaningless mantra. It really works to strengthen your hair. You will notice fuller, shiner, healthier hair when you start taking care of what you put inside your body. Eat plenty of vegetables, whole grains, green tea, and fruits.

5. Don't mix brand collections Try not mixing and matching too many products. I am guilty of it. Once you find out what you like, stick to it. It is good to discover new products once in a while, but your wallet and your hair will thank you for a bit of routine! Be sure not to mix and match collections or ingredients that don't mix well together-- products are formulated with specific intent. Unless you are an experienced chemist, leave the experiments in the lab and out of your hair.

6. Let your boyfriend rub your shoulders, not your hair Protective styles are popular for a reason. Your hair can really grow faster if it doesn't always rub against your shoulders. This is especially important if you are trying to grow out your hair from below the ear to armpit length: it is the hardest step! I saw a huge improvement in my growth rate since I started working 8 hours a day in a job where I am forced to keep my hair off of my neck.

7. Cutting your hair on a routine basis is unreal I am still amazed when I hear a stylist saying that everyone should cut their hair every x amount of weeks--that is completely untrue and really only depends on your hair type and hair health. Pay close attention to your own hair health, if you see single strand knots or split ends it's time for a trim or a dusting.

8. Be an impartial judge Take some time to assess the situation of your hair and be honest with yourself. Are you noticing a lot of split ends since you introduced that super-hyped product into your routine? Maybe that particular product is not a good fit for your hair, and that's ok. Give it to one of your friends or family members if you don't want to toss it.

9. Proteins and moisture need to be in balance with one another. Have both in check! Try alternating between products containing proteins and products that are formulated specifically to moisturize. If you use too many proteins your hair will break because it has no elasticity; too much moisture and your hair will become so elastic that it will be extremely weak. Find your balance, it will not be the same for everyone.

The dishevelled look is a classic style that can be worn successfully by all ages and hair types. Not be confused with ‘messy’ or ‘scruffy’, it is a timeless haircut that is full of character and suitable for all occupations – meaning you don’t have to sacrifice professionalism in order to update your look. Think of it as sprezzatura for your hair. Yet the most desirable aspect of this hairstyle is the practicality of it. The overall length of the cut is often longer, which will keep your head warmer during the colder months, but it doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. Imagine being able to wear your winter woollies – a fitted beanie or on trend trapper hat – to go outdoors, then simply rub your hands through your hair to style once you reach your destination.

It is the ultimate get-up-and-go cut…

The Dishevelled Look This type of hairstyle looks great on most face shapes, although I would avoid leaving too much width on the sides if you have a rounder face. In this instance, simply ask your stylist to keep them slightly more tapered.

Even though I wouldn’t class this haircut as high maintenance, ideally you would get it tidied up every three to four weeks to keep it looking its best. For those of you who visit your stylist less frequently, try getting the sides cut a bit shorter than you usually would to stop them from growing out too quickly and ruining the proportions of the style.

Look to maintain some movement within the entire haircut. Having the style cut with a razor accentuates natural movement, especially if your hair is slightly coarser in texture. As a stylist, I would razor the back and sides and then point cut the shape on top.

Whether it’s been cut with scissors or a razor, it’s important that your stylist creates a strong shape with neat edges. There also needs to be a lot of texture through the top, in order to prevent it appearing ‘blocky’. By adding texture, I mean the hair should be ‘cut into’ and not thinned out. This is so the haircut maintains its density – otherwise it will look too ‘fluffy’ when styled.

Click here for examples and how to style

So there you have it, an easy to maintain, stylish AND practical hairstyle to consider this winter. Yes, the quiff and short back and sides are timeless classics, but a slightly less precise, dishevelled cut can help breathe new life and a sense of character into your look.