David has been cutting my hair for years. I have seen him progress into a talented and artistic person as well as a stylist. If you are looking for an alternative, unique & professional stylist who is truly an "artist"...give David a try. Seriously. If you havent been to Dolce Vita, go.
Free Tips & Advice on Hair Maintenance
Hair care seems to be one of those subjects that is as vague as the plot in a Quentin Tarantino film. Too often it is something that leads to a lot of over thinking ending up confused and frustrated. The key is simple… Simplify and use common sense. Many of us tend to react to something instead of making the correct choice first. Proper hair care starts in the stylist’s chair. Your hairstylist should be your living, breathing hair encyclopedia. You have to understand, all stylists have their own opinions on how to treat each individual client’s situation so with that said, I will try to pass along the best advice I can. I have compiled some general guidelines over the years either through personal experience or my fellow stylists who’s opinions I hold in high regard.
If you expect your hair to look like a million bucks you are going to have to pony up the extra scratch and stop buying hair care products and accessories at your local grocery store or one stop, (Target, Wal-Mart, you get the picture). Professional hair care companies don’t spend millions of dollars every year on research and development of new and cutting edge technologies to improve the longevity of color and the overall quality of your hair just so you can go to Publix and puck up that $2 stuff that smells like strawberries. You wouldn’t go to Albertson’s to get a haircut, so why would you buy your products there?
9 times out of 10, if you see a commercial for it… consult your stylist before buying it. Quality hair care product companies typically don’t market via the television. A lot of the stuff you normally see on television is marketed for a broad range of people. Just because the T.V. says its the greatest doesn’t mean it is the greatest for you. Your hairstylist knows your hair, if you work together it should be no problem finding a quality product that enhances the beauty of your hair instead of tarnishing it. This leads me to my next big no no. Stay far far away from what I like to refer to as ” Box Color”. You know what I’m talking about, that color they sell in the grocery stores right next to all of the other necessities of modern hygiene. It may seem like a good idea at the time and the price is quite attractive but unless you are out to destroy your hair, STAY AWAY! Once again, these types of products are geared to cover a wide demographic no matter what hair type they have. What ends up happening is someone is out to save a buck or two and the process goes terribly wrong, not always but it happens a lot. That’s when you come to us looking for a hair miracle, AKA Corrective Color. All that money you set out to save gets spent (and then some) trying to fix what you did in your bathroom. Save yourself the headache and let your hair care professional do their job, we do it all day, everyday! Quality hair color doesn’t have to cost a fortune, it can, but its not the law. Be honest with your stylist, if you are strapped for cash let them know. I’m not trying to say you should try to get something for nothing but if you have a stylist who you respect I am sure the feeling is mutual. It never hurts to ask. Trust me, keeping a client is far more important than loosing one over money.
Nothing is better than getting first hand hair care tips from professionals. Well, almost nothing. How about free hair care tips? Free is always better.
No matter what you paid for your professional hair cut and styling, maintaining it at home should be easy and stress free. Hair maintenance should not be a “I don’t want to face my hair this morning” prospect. In order to avoid that, I am providing some of the most basic ‘How-To’ methods for various hair styles, colors and problems that might arise.
How to Care for Color Processed Hair and Hair in General
Because this type of hair can be the most problematic, special care needs to be given to color treated hair.
- Sunlight – Try to stay out of it, or use a scarf, hat or any head covering when you must be in the sun. Color treated hair is more susceptible to the drying effects of the sun than untreated hair.
- Use the ‘leave in’ types of conditioners. They help to keep moisture in your hair.
- Use a specially formulated for color treated hair shampoo and do not scrub your hair as though you were washing laundry on a rock. Gently does it.
- Condition regularly using the high moisture content conditioners that will restore softness and luster to your hair. Using a color enhancing conditioner as your hair grows will help to blend the regrowth with the rest of your hair color.
- Blot your hair after washing. Never rub it vigorously as if you were trying to refinish your hardwood floor. That can cause knotting and damage.
- When your hair is wet use a wide tooth comb to get the tangles out.
- Don’t use your blow dryer like a blow torch. Alternate between cool and warm and use hot only when the dryer and the brush are not on top of each other.
- Use styling appliances (curling irons, etc.) carefully and make sure they are not overheated.
- Use hair spray with whatever moisturizers and sunscreen you generally use for your hair. On color treated hair, the color will last longer.
- Color treated hair can have a perm. Add style to your color if you want a perm. Nothing is stopping you. Your professional will know which perm will work best for your color treated hair.
Maintenance of Varying Hair Lengths
1. Very Short and Short Hair:
-
- Bobs and Blunts .. For most Bob styles, a monthly trim at the salon is needed. For Curly Bobs and Blunt Bobs, trim every six weeks
- Long and Short Cuts .. Get these cuts trimmed every eight weeks to keep them fresh looking
- Short Shag Cut … A trim at the salon every four to six weeks and in between salon visits use a volumizer at the roots and your fingers to add fullness
2. Medium Length Hair Styles:
- Romantic and Longer Bobs .. These cuts require trim every six weeks. Use a diffuser to dry hair
- Paneling is easily maintained by just washing it and using fingers to set hair
- Medium and Wavy Shags require trim every six to eight weeks. With a Wavy Shag, add waves as it grows out.
3. Long Hair Styles:
- Long Shags .. require a visit to the salon every 2 to 3 months to maintain the style.
- Long Hair with Bangs .. needs a trim every 10 weeks
- Long Straight Hair .. can stand a visit to the salon for a trim every 4 to 6 weeks
- Long Curly Hair Styles .. can go without trims for at least two to three months. Always style this hair when it’s wet for best results
- Long and Natural Hair .. Should be trimmed on a regular basis just the same as any other length and style of hair.
- The Long Layered Cut .. Trimmed at least every 1.5 to 2 months to keep its shape. Don’t shampoo every day. The line of this style generally is better a few days after washing.
