Basically, I have three hairstyles – straight, wavy and homeless.
For those of you who know me, the quote above is basically my life. I have never been one of those girls who was great at doing braids or funky styles. I blame this on the facts that I only had a brother and that my mother kept my hair short until I was in the sixth grade (thanks a lot, mom!)
However, over time, and with the never-ending supply of hair tutorial videos, I have started to expand my three hair style arsenal to include a few more easy to do styles. This has all been made possible with a few tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way.
So don’t fret, my hair challenged sisters; here are some tips and tricks that will help get you started.
Don’t wash your hair everyday
When I was younger, I used to wash my hair every day and, at the time, it worked for me. However, now that I’m getting older, I’ve found that waiting a couple of days between washes is better for a couple of reasons:
Time – I don’t know where I found all this time to wash and blow dry my hair everyday but now that I’m older, sleep is way higher on my priority list.
Oil – Washing your hair everyday makes your scalp release more oils (as you are stripping away the supply and it’s trying to replenish it). When you train your hair that it won’t be washed every day, you will notice that your hair will become less oily.
Easier to style – Day old hair is so much easier to style. This is because the oil and dirt provide more texture, making it easier to style and hold.
However, when I do finally wash my hair, I will give it a double shampoo. This is exactly what it sounds like – I will shampoo once, focusing specifically on my roots (which I find gets all the dirt and grime off my scalp and hair) and then a second time, focusing on the ends.
Hair products are your friends
When you don’t wash your hair every day, you need to ensure you have a few key products to help keep your hair looking fresh. This includes products like dry shampoo, heat and styling serums/sprays, and hairspray.
My go-to favourites are,
Dry Shampoo: No Drought by Lush
Hairspray: Control Force Firm Hold by Aveda
Heat and Styling: Hydrating Styling Cream by Moroccanoil
Invest in a good straightener
Instead of buying multiple tools (curling iron, straightener, wand, etc.), investing in a straightener that can serve multiple purposes is totally worth it. When purchasing a straightener, it’s good to look for one that has multiple heat settings (and not just an on and off switch) and has curved edges (which will allow you to curl your hair).
I recently purchased the Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium Prima3000 and I absolutely love it! This straightener allows you to both straighten and curl your hair and has 5 different heat settings (can reach up to 465 degrees). It also came with a 4-year warranty.
Accessorize
Hair accessories are life savers.
Anytime that I’m running late, and I don’t have time to do my hair, I will accessorize with a headband. And it seems it’s always on these days where I get the most compliments on my hair (go figure!).
However, not only do I like to use headbands to disguise my unwashed hair, I also like to use them to add a little something extra when I curl my hair.
The best part? Hair accessories do not have to break the bank. You can get some pretty great deals if you hit up places like Ardene’s or Claire’s.
Try hairstyles videos/tutorials where the model has the same hair as you
Are you wondering what the hell am I talking about? This concept was foreign to me too until I learned it (and then it made a whole lot of sense).
Whenever I would look for online hair tutorials or hairstyles I wanted to try, the model almost always didn’t have hair like mine.
Why is this problematic?
As a brunette, if I’m trying to copy a hairstyle of someone who is blonde with lots of highlights and lowlights, the hairstyle is not going to look the same on me as it does on her. This would often lead to me being disappointed with the way the style turned out, even if I was able to replicate it.
Therefore, when you’re looking for different styles to try, it’s a smart idea to look for tutorials that feature a model with their same hair colour and texture as you. This way you’re more likely to be happy with the way it turns out.
