Friday, February 22, 2013

Tips For Creating And Maintaining Trendy Straight Hair Styles

by Melissa L. White
Licensed Hair Stylist
Certified Hair Extension Artist
 
For those who don't have naturally straight hair, recent trends of sleek, polished, straight hairstyles leave an them feeling cheated and envious of those who do. You know - the grass always looks greener on the other side - and as much as we know that women with straight hair look jealously at those who have gloriously curly hair that's full of body and bounce, it's hard not to feel slighted.

I know that try as you might, it can be extremely difficult to maintain the look of super straight long hair despite the hours of elaborate steps you take. In San Antonio straight hair can be extremely difficult because of the heat and humidity. But, the job can be simplified if you follow just a few basic steps I've outlined below. Of course, these are general rules of thumb that will need to be tweeked for your hair type, length and condition of hair.

  • Use products that are appropriate for straight hair
  • Consider smoothing treatments such as the Brazilian Blowout
  • Consider quality hair extensions for needed length
  • Buy a quality blow dryer
  • Use your flat iron at the right temperature
  • Practice, practice, practice
  • Learn the "art" of wrapping your hair at night
  • Use products that will help hold your straight look
  • Keep your hairbrushes clean

Straight hair actually catches light and reflects it more than wavy or curly hair, which can often make straight hair look healthier, shinier and longer! The beauty of wearing straight hair is it's ability to transform your entire look quickly and easily. The challenge then becomes how to keep that look going all day, despite conditions that tend to make our hair "pop" back into frizz and curls.

Beautiful Straight Hair

The best way to ensure that you're using the right hair products is to talk over your routine with your hair stylist. Go beyond just a quality shampoo and conditioner, and consider the products that you'll need before and after your blowdry and flat iron styling. First, you want the right product that will help protect your hair from the drying effects of drying and styling your hair. Then you want to maintain the look you've created, you'll definitely need the right type of products that will help it last all day.

Your stylist can recommend products that are most appropriate for your hair if you explain the look you're shooting for. Remember, products that work well for a full head of beachy waves won't work well for the long straight hair look, so it will require an additional investment in more products. Knowing this in advance, and spending your money on the right products will end up saving you money in the long run. I've known many women who've spent much more than needed because they've had to try so many different products that didn't work well. One of the products I like for just about any type of hair is the Acai Brazilian Dry Oil by Brazilian Blowout. It nourishes and reconditions as it leaves beautiful smooth hair.

The other consideration for the long straight hair style is to take the time to practice. Don't expect to master the look in a single attempt. It's not wise to attempt the look for the first time when getting ready for a big important event. Practice until you feel comfortable with your blowout technique, using a large round hairbrush and drying in small sections until the hair is completely dry in order to get your hair smooth. A tip not to overlook: take the time to keep your hairbrushes clean. This is important when trying to create a smooth, silky-smooth look.

Then, practice more with your flat iron. If you've got thin hair, you might not want to go all the way up to the root, but if your hair is kinky, you may need to. Use the fewest number of passes on each section. It's better to keep your sections small so fewer passes of the flat iron are used. This will help prevent damage to your hair. And, use the heat setting appropriate for your type of hair. You don't want to use the high settings unless your hair is very thick or course. Start low and slowly work your way up in heat until you find the setting that works in just a few passes.

One of the things that is often overlooked is what you do with your hair at the end of the day, after you've washed your face, applied your skin care products and are getting ready to retire for the evening. I'm used to providing my San Antonio hair extension clients with instructions on home care techniques for maintaining their hair extensions, and I've personally tried dozens of methods I've heard about over the years. While braiding and buns may work for hair extensions that may be curled, it won't work well if you're going for the stick straight look.

One method I've heard about is one that my grandmother actually used in her days. Women back in the days of the beehive hair-do used variations of this method. It's simple and it works. Remember hearing of satin hair bonnets? We've all heard that satin pillowcases are the best for maintaining beautiful skin, because the satin doesn't create wrinkles like cotton pillowcases. Back in the 1920's through 1950's, silk and satin bedding was extremely popular for this reason. And, they're great for hair because they don't cause kinks, wrinkles or tangles. So what do you do with your hair?

It's fairly simple once you do it a few times. Simply wrap your hair around your head using a good smoothing brush. Use a few bobby pins to keep the wrap in place as you work your way around your head. Cover your hair in a good satin scarf or a satin head wrap (look in specialty stores for wraps that velcro close). The wraps are easy and comfortable to sleep in and in the morning your hair just needs to be let down and brushed out. Apply a bit of smoothing product if needed and you're set for the day! Many women who use this technique can go days between shampoos which is great for your hair.
  
Being able to wear a hairstyle that shows off shiny, silky straight hair can definitely add to your arsenal of favorite looks that will be extremely popular this spring. Almost any type of hair can achieve the look with a couple of good tools, quality products, and practice.
 
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
Melissa White is an experienced, licensed hair extension artist and stylist whose passion is to bring out the natural beauty in everyone by enhancing their own individual features with the use of exquisite hair extensions. Melissa has over 10 years of extensive training with the industries top hair extension companies in the newest techniques. Melissa is also a certified Brazilian Blowout stylist. Originally from Boston, Melissa has been in San Antonio for the past 8 years. She believes that everyone should be able to access and afford the hair of their dreams . . . thus the creation of Extensions of Yourself, San Antonio's first salon which specializes exclusively in quality hair extensions.