Get Straight Hair Without The Damage

Kiss those summer beach waves goodbye—straight hair is having a major moment this fall. But before you fry your ends with a flat iron, know that there’s a better way to get sleek strands with less damage. Here are some quick tips to save you time, energy and split ends.

The Blow Dyer — Your New BFF
With the right products and tools, you won’t need to flat iron after you blow dry–which means you’ll cut the amount of time you expose strands to heat.

Prep damp hair with a product like Bumble and Bumble Straight Blow Dry ($28, bumbleandbumble.com), which has a gel-like consistency that helps loosen your hair’s natural curves. (A similar product we love: Fekkai Coiff Controle Ironless Straightening Balm ($25, Beauty.com).)

Add an anti-frizz serum, such as Yes To Carrots Anti-Frizz Serum ($7.99, Yestocarrots.com), if your texture is coarse or prone to flyaways. This 99 percent natural cream uses avocado and mango butter to naturally soften and tame strands. And be thorough: “Frizz can be reduced by making sure the hair is completely dry before leaving the house,” says Harmonie Redman, a stylist at NYC’s Butterfly Studio Salon.

If you’re going for a pin-straight look, use a flat brush to blow out hair. Want a little movement and volume? Opt for a round brush. The bigger the brush, the bouncier the blowout.

Finish off with hairspray, like TIGI Catwalk Sleek Mystique Look-Lock Hairspray ($21, Drugstore.com), which has a blend of honeysuckle and lychee to resist humidity and keep locks sleek.

Enjoy Straight Strands For Days
Now that you’ve got those straight locks, focus on making them last—after all, fewer blowouts means less damage in the long run. Swap your daily moisture-stripping wash for dry shampoo, like Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo Spray ($21, Beauty.com).

To prevent frizz and static during sleep hours, switch to a silk pillowcase. Silk prevents split ends, doesn’t tangle hair like cotton (cotton actually tugs at individual strands, causing breakage), and even helps reduce the production of sebum, decreasing the chance of greasy hair.

And most importantly, hands off. “Avoid touching your hair frequently, as that can create friction,” Redman explains.

If You Must…Still can’t resist the flat iron? At least protect your hair. “Look for a treatment-based product, such as Kérastase Fibre Architecte ($42, Kerastase-usa.com), to apply to dry hair when using hot irons to insure optimal hair health. This not only protects your hair from the heat but also promises healthier hair over time, as the heat actually helps the nourishing ingredients penetrate deep into the cuticle layer of your hair.”

Will you forego the straightener for healthier, happier strands?

How To Make Your Hair Grow Longer

Long hair is one of the most sought-after styles for women. Are we really surprised, though? From a young age, girls are taught that a good head of hair can not only land you a prince, it can save your life (Thanks, Rapunzel!). In many cases, though, long hair is easier said than grown, so we turned to some of the leading stylists to get their tips for growing long, luscious strands.

Schedule Regular Trims:

You should make an appointment to see your stylist every six to eight weeks for a trim. According to Fernando Salas, creator of White Sands Hair Care, “Split ends and damaged cuticles will cause your hair to appear thinner with that unwanted ‘stringy’ look. Long hair should always be thick and not weaken toward the ends.”

You will most likely only need to cut 1/2 an inch at each hair appointment, but if this tip seems counter-productive to your goal, then remember this fact from Danielle Bucco-Regazzi, Farouk Systems Creative Artist, “Healthy hair grows faster than dead hair!”

Once you’ve gotten a trim, make sure to use a leave-in serum, like White Sands The Cure 24/7 ($29.99, Whitesandsproducts.com) or TRESemmé Split Remedy Sealing Serum ($5.49, Walgreens.com). This will help further restore your hair and prevent split ends.

Cool it! “I always recommend clients wash their hair with lukewarm water, and then for their final rinse, to use cool water,” says Bucco-Regazzi. “Using cool water will help to seal the cuticle as well as leave the hair shiny. I would not advocate using hot water, because it tends to weaken the hair, often allowing the hair to fall out at a faster rate.”

Take Care Of Your Hair:

Bucco-Regazzi also recommends going to the salon once or twice a week for a deep-conditioning treatment, but if this isn’t in your budget, try an at-home treatment, like CHI Rx Moisture Therapy Conditioner ($8.99, Drugstore.com). Not only does this conditioner feed your hair vitamins to make it stronger and resilient to damage, but it helps keep hair looking shiny.

Salas also suggests that the way you comb your hair can hurt or help it. He says, “Make sure to use a wide tooth bone comb, detangling your hair from the bottom and slowly working your way up since hair is in its most delicate state wet. This will prevent unnecessary breakage from occurring.”

And since you’ll still want your hair to look picture-perfect while growing it out, you will probably be reaching for those heated styling tools. Founder and CEO of Hair Room Service, Michael Duenas, suggests you “use products that are heat protectants, so when you are using styling tools in your hair, it will not be damaged by the heat.” He recommends using Amika Obliphica Oil ($34, Sephora.com). Another great product that works with heat to nourse is Dove Thermal Replenishment Spray ($4.49, Walgreens.com). And when you can avoid using heat on your hair, do it, says Duenas. “The absence of heat will help your hair retain more moisture and stay stronger and healthier.”

Healthy Hair Starts From The Inside:

Ever heard people recommend prenatal vitamins for stronger hair and nails? Turns out it’s true! “After about a month of taking these supplements you will notice a huge change in the rate of growth in your hair,” says Duenas. “Having and maintaining a healthy diet, rich in nutrients, will affect how your hair grows as well. Keep in mind what you add to your body for fuel, aids to the beauty of your skin and hair!”

It seems like the real hurdle to long hair, though, is patience. It’s that in-between length that sends us back to the salon chair for a shorter ‘do. With these tips and products, we might actually get the extra long hair we’ve been craving. Are you growing out long hair?

by Megan Segura

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DailyMakeover.com from Makeover Solutions, Inc., is the web’s leading beauty information site, providing virtual makeover technology and content for women to create personalized makeovers. DailyMakeover.com’s virtual Makeover Studio enables users to see themselves wearing numerous hairstyles, makeup shades and fashion accessories to create their best makeovers, which can be saved, printed, or emailed. DailyMakeover.com is headquartered in New York City.

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