Keep Your Summer Ponytail

Jennifer Aniston's ponytail looks as perfect with a tank as it does with a tux. The secret to its versatility? "We keep the sides super-sleek and add piecey volume to the crown," explains her hairstylist, Chris McMillan. To get the look, gather hair into a low pony and secure with thick elastic. Then split the tail in two and pull both ends to tighten the sides and loosen the roots.


SOURCE: Instyle (http://www.instyle.com/instyle/package/falltrends/photos/0,,20296772_20292544_20647238,00.html)
DATE: July 21, 2009
PHOTO BY: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Get Your Best Haircut and Color

Learn how to get your best hair yet with celebrity stylist Chris McMillan. Plus, a look at the best new trends in hair color.



SOURCE: Marie Claire (http://www.marieclaire.com/hair-beauty/trends/articles/iconic-haircuts-chris-mcmillan)

Hot Summer Hair Tips from Hollywood’s Top 5 Hairstylists

Chris McMillan, Oribe, Garren, Serge Normant, and Eugene Souleiman: The top hairstylists reveal their favorite products for fighting frizz and oil-and everything else summer throws at your hair.

Curiosity certainly didn't help Pandora, or that proverbial cat. But when it comes to our hair, being a little nosy doesn't lead to disaster -- it prevents it. We asked five top stylists (the ones who tend to Julia Roberts, Gisele, Jennifer Aniston, and more) to open their kits and reveal their favorite secret weapons for controlling even the most unruly hair at the height of summer. Here, the ultimate tools and tips for creating luxurious waves, sex-kitten volume, and soft updos that are frizz- (and calamity) free.

EUGENE SOULEIMAN

Souleiman works on more than 20 fashion shows each season -- including Narciso Rodriguez, Dolce & Gabbana, and Stella McCartney. And he's no one-trick pony: He whips up extreme, sharp looks just as artfully as loose and natural ones. He's also the creative director for Wella Professionals.

• Phyto Plage Protective Beach Spray. "Chlorine and salt have a drying, dulling effect. This protects hair from the start, before you go out, but it also restores moisture and vibrancy after you've been in the water."
• Wella System Professional Ultimation Hairspray. "I use this instead of gel in the summer to slick back hair. It's great for clean, tight, shiny buns. Hair spray dries much faster than gel and holds up better in the humidity, and it doesn't get flaky. Spray it at the roots, then comb it through the hair."
• Velcro rollers. "I try to avoid heated styling tools in the summer, since they can dehydrate hair. With these, you'll get tumbling waves and volume without the damage. Comb your hair, then roll it up, not under, to add lift and height at the top. The bigger the roller, the bigger the bounce."
• Wella Color Preserve Shine Wax. "This repels humidity and keeps your hair looking shiny. I like to use it on dry hair, along with a diffuser and my hands, to create a light, bouncy feel."
• Bumble and Bumble Leave In (Rinse Out) Conditioner. "Before heading to the pool or the beach, run a small drop of this through damp hair, then twist your hair up into a messy little bun. It adds a nice satiny sheen. It also moisturizes, so when you come off the beach, all you have to do is rinse with water and style your hair. Or you can skip the rinse and just let your hair down for soft waves.

GARREN

Garren's trendsetting cuts have appeared on more than 1,000 magazine covers (including allure, Vogue, and French Vogue). He gave Victoria Beckham her pixie cut and Selma Blair her short, punkish look at his namesake New York City salon in the Sherry-Netherland Hotel. He also styled Scarlett Johansson's hair for the recent Dolce & Gabbana fragrance commercial.

• L'Oréal Paris Vive Pro Smooth-Intense Shampoo and Conditioner. "These products contain UV filters, so they fortify your hair against sun damage before you've even left the house. Once the sun damage has been done, it's hard to repair -- you really want to avoid it from the start."
• Garren New York Styling Crème. "The ideal summer product, in my opinion. It contains sunscreen, and it's also great for sculpting hair right out of the water. Because you only need a small amount to create a sexy, piecey texture, you don't have to worry about your hair getting stringy after a swim."
• Kérastase Nutritive Oléo-Rélax elixir. "If you know that you're going to be on a beach or in a convertible with the top down, apply a small amount of this product to wet hair and then pull the hair back into a ponytail or bun. When you take it down later, you'll have big, bouncy waves."
• Garren New York Straightening & Styling Gel. "I really love this for frizzy, curly hair. It forms a protective seal over the cuticle that virtually locks out humidity. I use it on Carolyn Murphy all the time. Just rake a small amount through wet hair. It creates waves and coils without the ballooning effect."
• PPT Conditioning Salon Treatment. "Many salons offer this treatment now, and it's popular for a reason. It infuses keratin into the hair shaft and strengthens it from the inside out. All of the models use it. It treats existing damage and helps prevent broken ends, so hair looks superhealthy and shiny in the summer, when you want to wear it loose."

CHRIS MCMILLAN

McMillan, whose namesake salon is in Beverly Hills, is the master of tousled layers and beachy waves, which he whips up for A-listers such as Jennifer Aniston.

• Kérastase Nutritive Sérum Oléo-Relax. "It's like a smoothing serum on steroids. A few drops are all you need to combat even the worst humidity. Distribute the serum evenly through damp hair and blow-dry it straight for a sleek look, or let it air-dry for frizz-free waves that aren't overly done."
• EmiJay hair ties. "These are ingenious, and they were created by two 14-year-old girls! They're like satiny elastic ribbons: Loop your hair through one, and pull out a few face-framing pieces to create a messy, sexy ponytail that looks like it's finished with a small bow. Jennifer Aniston and Sarah Jessica Parker are both huge fans."
• René Furterer Naturia Dry Shampoo and Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray. "This is my all-time favorite summer hair trick, especially for oily hair: Sprinkle the dry shampoo at the roots, then flip your hair upside down and spritz the surf spray all over, scrunching as you go. Pull your hair back into a low bun, and you'll have tons of height at the crown without having to tease. And the more it gets roughed up with wind, humidity, and heat, the better."
• Chris McMillan Hair Rejuvenating Shampoo and Conditioner. "These are everyday products for every hair type -- straight, curly, fine, oily, it doesn't matter. They leave your hair feeling really soft and clean. And they smell so summery, like Coppertone."
• Mason Pearson Boar Bristle & Nylon Brush. "This brush glides through hair without yanking or tugging. Brushing is totally underrated, and I don't know why -- it's the easiest way to restore shine. If your hair gets lank in the heat, flip it over and brush it upside down, then add a little serum to the ends. It will make your hair instantly glossy and full."

SERGE NORMANT

Normant's work appears regularly on the covers of allure, Vogue, and W, as well as in advertisements for Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, and Pantene. He has salons in New York City and L.A., and tends to Julia Roberts, among other celebrities.

• Tancho High-Grade Tique Stick. "To manage frizz around the hairline, wash your hair and dab a tiny bit of this wax on flyaways. Cover the area with a wide elastic headband -- position it over your hairline -- and aim a warm stream of blow-dryer air directly on the band. When you remove it a few minutes later, you'll have a smooth hairline."
• John Frieda Frizz-Ease Hair Serum Original Formula. "This never disappoints. It delivers intense shine and makes damaged hair appear healthier. I like to apply it to wet hair and let it air-dry for a natural look that's just a little polished."
• Shu Uemura Satin Design White Tea Polishing Milk. "A fantastic leave-in conditioner that actually maximizes waves -- my favorite look for summer. It works even if you have long, straight hair. Apply the product to damp hair and create two loose braids. You'll get a romantic, rippling effect when you unbraid them. Beautiful."
• Hot Tools Nano Ceramic Curling Iron. "If you have curly hair, there will always be a few areas that aren't willing to cooperate, no matter how many products you use. If you want a slightly more pulled-together look, use this to scatter a few loose curls throughout your hair. It's more summery than a pin-straight blowout, and just as sexy."
• Kiehl's Silk Straightening Cream. "If you do a blowout, this will help protect it, but I also like it for wavy hair. Apply a small amount to damp hair, and air-dry. It keeps the fuzz to a minimum."

ORIBE

Oribe's signature look -- big, wild hair with tons of body and, often, piles of hairpieces -- has fans including Heidi Klum. His salon is in South Beach, Florida.

• Oribe Smooth Style Serum Moisture and Hold. "Dryness makes hair look awful, so I developed this product. Create a deep side part and polish hair on the crown with a little serum; let the rest go naturally."
• Miss Jessie's Original Curly Buttercreme. "I love enormous, sexy waves and curls, but you need to give them some direction. Apply this to damp hair, then twist and wrap it into a low bun. When you unwind it after it dries, you'll have really beautiful waves."
• Oribe Imperméable Anti-Humidity Spray. "I spritzed this on a few girls who had gotten blowouts and sent them for a walk on Lincoln Road, along the beach. They all returned looking perfect."
• Leonor Greyl Huile de Palm. "I use this palm oil when I want the hair to look sun-drenched. When your hair's still wet, rub a small amount between your hands and apply it from midshaft to the ends. It will look gorgeous."
• Chrome Hearts Hair Barrettes. "These hold your hair in place, and they don't slip out like bobby pins. If your waves start to wilt in front, clip them back. It freshens up your entire look."
Color Fast

To keep your hair color from fading:

APPLY SUNSCREEN. "The chemicals in dye make hair more vulnerable to UV rays, which bleach out color," says cosmetic chemist Jim Hammer. Products with UV filters, such as René Furterer Summer Oil, offer protection.

START A SHADE DARKER. Request a color that's slightly richer than the one you had intended. "The more pigment you have, the longer it will take to fade," says colorist Negin Zand of Sally Hershberger Los Angeles.

TRY A GLOSS. A clear salon gloss can extend color by two to three weeks.

HAVE A V8. "Chlorine turns blonde hair green," says Zand. A rinse with V8 or any tomato juice should do the trick: "The red totally neutralizes the green."


SOURCE: MSN Lifestyle (http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-look/makeup-skin-care-hair/articleallure.aspx?cp-documentid=20801479)
AUTHOR: Liana Schaffner

Inside Allure: Three Hairstyles with Bangs

The most frequent request I get these days is for bangs of all types—and I love them. Bangs are so sexy and provocative—when they're long and swoopy, they twitch off the tips of your eyelashes, and when your bangs are straight across, your eyes look more intense because they have a frame around them. They look different on everyone; depending on the length and thickness, you can change your look entirely.

Long and Blunt

I cut long, straight bangs—the most popular style right now—on Penélope Cruz and Camilla Belle. The trick is to make sure the bangs aren't too thick, or they'll overwhelm your face. Hair is denser in the middle of the hairline and thinner at the sides, so be sure your hairdresser doesn't cut the middle of the bangs too thick. These bangs work on all hair types, but if your hair is wavy, you'll have to blow-dry your bangs so they lie flat.

STYLING Spritz your bangs with water, comb them flat, and blow-dry them with a nozzle attachment pointing straight down. Use your fingers to pull the bangs straight. If you have very curly hair, use a small, round, natural-bristle brush to pull them taut.

MAINTENANCE Almost every stylist will give you a free bang trim every few weeks, but if you need to snip them, use sharp scissors and cut them when they're dry and straight. Brush them toward the middle of your face into a point and hold them together, but don't twist them. Then cut at the bridge of your nose, which will make them slightly longer at the temples and look balanced. Since you're pulling them taut, they'll bounce back up a half inch when you release them. If you want them shorter, go to your stylist.

Supershort and Tousled

Really short (two to three inches) bangs à la Amber Valletta in the '90s take some daring but look fantastic. They're as dramatic as a short haircut. Warning: If you have very curly hair or don't intend to blow-dry daily, don't get short bangs. If they air-dry, they'll puff up and look like you're wearing a stuffed animal on your head. And you never want your bangs to be shorter than the middle of your forehead—that's when you get to sticking-out territory.

STYLING When your bangs are too short to wrap around a brush, pull them straight down and blast them with a blow-dryer. Don't use a flatiron—they'll stick out like straw. Once they're dry, comb them down to lie flat or use a dab of pomade and tousle them—think of early Joan Jett.

MAINTENANCE I don't advise trimming short bangs yourself. Better to let them grow long than to cut them too short.

Side-Swept

This is the style for women who want to ease into bangs. The good thing is that they blend with the layers around the face. It's easy to brush these bangs to the side, and they almost disappear. Side-swept bangs work on any length hair—I recently cut them on Mariska Hargitay, who has a pixie cut, but they're just as flattering on really long hair.

STYLING If your hair is straight, spritz your bangs with water, and blow-dry while pulling them with your fingers. If it's wavy, use a small-barrel round brush. Brush your bangs in the opposite direction from the way they fall. Then, as your hair is cooling, smooth them to the correct side to keep them from falling flat.

MAINTENANCE These are difficult for a nonprofessional to cut. If you want to trim them, buy thinning shears and cut them a half inch to one inch. Be sure to hold the scissors at the same angle that your hair is cut so the trim is discreet. Thinning shears don't remove too much hair, and they leave a nice, imprecise line.


Source: Allure.com (http://www.allure.com/magazine/2008/12/chris_mcmillan_bangs)
Date: December 2008
Author: Chris McMillan

Inside Allure: Five New Ways to Wear a Headband

Headbands have been a hairstyle for centuries, so it's hard to call them a trend. Their appeal is that they work on all hair types; no one can really mess the look up; and, with a little bit of creativity and styling, a very simple headband can be truly stunning.

Plastic

A plastic headband about an inch and a half to two inches wide is perfect for a bob or hair above shoulder length. Brush hair out smoothly and push the headband straight back without parting your hair. It's a chic '60s-mod look—Brigitte Bardot did it well.

Wire Mesh

Every season, a fashion show introduces a great new headband. One I particularly loved was at Bottega Veneta's spring show (Macy's carries a similar style). It looks like a wiry, handmade mesh headband; it's so interesting, you really don't have to do anything else to your hair—just slip it on. If you want to dress it up a little, twist your hair into a loose bun at the nape of the neck first.
Wrap

Goody makes black wrap headbands that are two inches wide, like the one Janet Jackson wore in her "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" video. That's one of my all-time favorite looks—a teased French twist in back with this headband in front. First, push the headband to just behind the hairline, then pull out any bangs or short layers and push them to one side. Gather the rest of your hair into a big French twist. You can anchor the headband with a bobby pin behind each ear.

Sunglasses

Most women use sunglasses as a headband without thinking, but a little effort makes a big difference. First, get a fluffy blowout with large, loose waves. Part the hair in the middle, and push a pair of big plastic glasses straight back to the middle of the head. If you do it right, it's a sexy '70s look. Plastic glasses work best because the nose bridge won't get tangled in the hair, and the arms won't crease the layers around the face.

Elastic

Push two thin elastic bands onto your head, the first an inch from the hairline and the second an inch behind that. Tease the hair behind the bands and twist it into a bun (à la Jennifer Garner), or wear it down (as Bardot did with one wide band). The smoothness in front balances the roughness in back.

Source: Allure.com (http://www.allure.com/magazine/2008/12/chris_mcmillan_headbands)
Date: December 2008
Author: Chris McMillan

How to Break Up With Your Hairstylist

Ending a relationship with your hairdresser can be as messy as any other breakup—and potentially more frightening, considering those scissors near your throat. But trust me, I've cut hair for 20 years, and with a little tact and a lot of honesty and courage, saying "It's over" to your stylist shouldn't be tearful.

DON'T LIE...

The old "I'm moving away" excuse is the absolute worst. It's guaranteed that you will wind up standing in line behind him at the grocery store.

...BUT YOU CAN TAKE A BREAK.

Trying out another stylist lets you see how someone else would cut your hair. But hairdressers can easily spot other stylists' handiwork, so tell your usual cutter that you strayed. You could use this as an opportunity to point out a problem, like his three-week wait list. He should appreciate it—and the fact that you've returned.

ADMIT YOU MIGHT BE AT FAULT.

Saying "It's not you, it's me" is a breakup cliché, but it may well be true. If you've been telling your stylist to "do only a little trim," you may be stifling his creativity.

OFFER ONE LAST CHANCE.

Simply say flat out that you would like to change your look. If the reason you want someone new is more a personality conflict—incessant talking or habitual lateness—tell him directly, "I'm frustrated by [the offending behavior]." See how it goes. If you're not pleased, then make the break.

LAY IT ON THE LINE.

Once you've decided to leave, explain your reasons calmly, in person or in a note. Don't agonize too much about hurting his feelings; losing clients comes with the job. I have clients I've done for years, and to be honest, I feel stagnant with some of them. Like my mom: I've been doing her hair for so long, I don't know what the hell to do anymore. I often pretend she's someone else to keep things fresh.



SOURCE: Allure.com
(http://www.allure.com/magazine/2008/12/chris_mcmillan_hairstylist_breakup)
AUTHOR: Chris Mcmillan

Four Celebrity Hair Tricks

Celebrities are always under the scrutinizing lens of the paparazzi—even when they're on a boat off the coast of Sardinia. Some of my best tricks come from giving my clients advice on what to do when they're far from the salon. A few of these may sound insane (and will feel even more so when you're standing in front of the mirror), but I swear they work. You'll probably find out—as many of my clients have—that when you use the right tools and techniques, you are a pretty decent stylist.


DO THE WAVE

Rumpled, tousled waves are incredibly sexy, easy, and appropriate for a formal or casual event. Think of Gisele hair, but messier. I've been doing it a lot on Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, and Sarah Jessica Parker, so I know that it works on just about any hair texture. If your hair is wavy or curly, scrunch in two handfuls of Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Sculpting Foam while it's still damp and let it air-dry. Then coat your palms with Bumble and Bumble Styling Wax and run your hands through your hair. If your hair is straight, you can blow it dry with a large paddle brush and wrap random one-inch sections around a large-barrel curling iron. Once all the hair is curled, mist it with a light finishing spray and scrunch with your hands to loosen the curls.

CUT THE SLACK

This is a trick for trimming shaggy, face-framing bangs, which is what most of my clients have. Instead of scissors, which can slip and cut hair unevenly, use a new, disposable single-blade razor (double and triple blades can split the hair). When hair is completely dry, brush bangs forward, and gather them in the middle of your face (between your eyes). Hold the hair on one side of the part straight down, and pull it taut with your index and middle fingers. Slide your fingers all the way to the ends of the hair, then gently run the razor just above your fingers. When you're finished, make sure the length is even by pulling a piece of hair from either side toward the center of the face; they should be equidistant from the bridge of the nose.

SOFTEN UP

Every time I see a head of fried hay-hair walk into the salon, I have the same recipe: Mix two tablespoons each of a rinse-out conditioner, a leave-in conditioner, a deep conditioner, and a hair mask in a bowl. Wet two large towels, wring them out, and put one in the microwave for a minute. Comb the mixture through clean, damp hair, and wrap it all up in the hot towel. Heat the second towel and alternate, repeating two or three more times. Do this once a week—it makes hair much softer.

COVER UP

You really can cover up roots—whether they're brown, blonde, or gray—with a home hair-color kit. (Clairol has a great root touch-up kit, but regular dye is fine, too.) Even if the color doesn't match perfectly (and it probably won't), no one will be able to tell the difference. Just make sure to swap the clunky brush that comes in the regular kits for a really bushy, clean mascara wand. Part your hair as you normally wear it, and then brush the dye on both sides of the part and at your hairline. Don't try this if your roots are more than an inch long, though. Instead, cover them with a scarf or thick headband until you can get to a professional colorist.


SOURCE: Allure.com
(http://www.allure.com/magazine/2008/12/chris_mcmillan_hair_tips)
AUTHOR: Chris Mcmillan

How to Create an Easy Updo

I'm not one for fancy, hoity-toity hair accessories. An updo with elaborate crystal and beaded headbands and clips always looks as if the woman is walking around with a centerpiece on her head. Even when I'm styling an actress's hair for the Oscars, I use simple, unadorned elastics, headbands, and pins from the drugstore. They're easier to handle and put the emphasis on the hair, not the ornament.

HAIR ELASTICS

You can do virtually anything with a ponytail holder. My favorite kind is Blax Snag-Free Hair Elastics. Don't ever use a regular newspaper rubber band, even in an emergency—it's guaranteed to break your hair.
Pull your hair straight back into a high ponytail. Once it's secure, yank it evenly at the crown, just above the elastic, to create ridges and height, which makes the look more interesting and chic than a plain, sporty ponytail.
On long, layered hair, I like a good, falling-apart side ponytail. Leave out any layers around the face and place the elastic on the hair at shoulder level so it looks like it's just holding the hair in place, not tugging it. If you have bangs, sweep them to the same side as the ponytail.

BOBBY PINS

Bobby pins are younger-looking and more discreet than barrettes. Since no one can really see them, you can't mess them up. They can also be seductive, in a naughty-schoolgirl way.
If you're growing out your bangs, pull them to the side and slide two or three flat bobby pins (the same color as your hair) over your bangs at eyebrow level. If you don't have bangs, make a messy part off to the side and pin your hair back.
For another look, gather the section of hair between your temples and pull it straight back. Anchor it just in front of the crown with two crisscrossed bobby pins and let the side sections of hair fall straight down over your ears. It's very sexy, '70s babysitter hair.

THIN HEADBANDS

Nothing beats thin, plastic Goody headbands. My favorite color is black (or white in black hair), which can look very mod. Beware of the colored ones—they tend to be a little cheesy.
Tease hair at the crown and push one or two thin headbands straight back about one and a half inches from the hairline. But please don't push it in and then pull it forward so you get that pouf thing around the hairline. You'll end up looking too preppy.

LOOSE RIBBONS

My favorite ribbons are thin, black silk grosgrain because they go with everything. If you have black hair, try an oatmeal-colored one for contrast. The risk of wearing a ribbon in your hair is that it can look a little Jane Austen, a little precious. To make sure it doesn't, I scrunch it up and press it in a flatiron to wrinkle it—I've used this on Nicole Kidman a few times, and it looks great. Just don't get lazy and use the frayed ribbon from a present.
Once a ribbon is good and messed up, I tie it in a knot (a bow can look too cute) around an elastic at the base of a ponytail, leaving the ends flopping around unevenly.
Try a ribbon as a headband: Wrap it from underneath your hair to the top of your head, tie it in a knot, and pull the knot all the way to one side until it's just under your ear and the ends—no more than two or three inches long—are poking out.



SOURCE: Allure.com
(http://www.allure.com/magazine/2008/12/chris_mcmillan_updo_accessories)
AUTHOR: Chris Mcmillan

Get Shiny, Healthy Hair

Regardless of how long, thick, or curly it is, every celebrity I work on wants one thing for her hair: the look of health. It almost sounds absurd to call this a trend, but that's the one common denominator to every style I'm doing right now. When hair looks shiny and strong, it makes you look younger—a lush head of hair is so luxurious and sensual. The problem is that everything you can do to your hair—color it, iron it, blow it dry—harms it. Here's how to bring yours back to life (or at least fake it).

HOW TO FIX IT

Identify the damage. When your hair is clean and dry, pull it in front of your shoulders and look in the mirror from a few feet away. Check for the line of demarcation: There is usually a ring that runs around your head, a few inches up from the ends. If you can't find a line, look for the white dots that are the mark of split ends. The more damaged your hair is, the higher the line or white dots will be.

Get a cut. It's the only thing you can do to get rid of damage. Ask your stylist to cut up to the line of damage or as high up as you're willing to go. Six to eight weeks later, get another trim to dust off the split ends that the first pass missed. The second cut is also a good idea if you were too freaked out to take a lot off the first time.

Take it easy. Don't wash your hair every day, because that can dry it out. If you shampoo your hair a few times a week, try a gentle one like Kérastase Nutritive Bain Satin 2. It's a good idea to condition the hair every day with a moisturizing conditioner like Davines MoMo and use a hair mask or treatment, such as René Furterer Carthame Gentle Hydro-Nutritive Mask, once a week.

Lay off the styling. That's what got you into this mess in the first place. Limit blow-drying and flatironing to once a week, and stretch out the times between styling. Usually hair looks better one or two days after you blow-dry it anyway.

Color carefully. Only color or highlight the hair that hasn't already been colored. Recoloring the hair is very damaging, and the hair looks more natural if the ends are slightly lighter. If you're a brunette or a redhead, use a nonperoxide color (which won't last as long but doesn't weaken the hair as much), and try a glossing treatment to make the color richer without hurting the hair.

HOW TO FAKE IT

If your hair is damaged, and you don't have time to nurse it back to health, there are ways to cheat. I don't recommend this on a regular basis—only when you're in a pinch.

Leave it in. When the hair is damp, comb a leave-in conditioner through the ends of the hair. Then scrunch a palmful of Paul Mitchell Sculpting Foam from roots to tips. It's a conditioning foam so it makes the hair feel soft even if it is brittle.

Blow-dry carefully. Your blow-dryer is part of the reason you have damage, but it can also help hide it. Stand up and look down at your feet. Part your hair in the middle so half of the hair falls over each shoulder. Blow-dry the hair only at the roots until they're dry. Let the ends air-dry.

Avoid frizz. Damaged hair is more prone to frizz, so if your hair is curly, skip the blow-dry and comb a lightweight conditioner like Kérastase Nutri-Sculpt through damp hair. Then scrunch the ends, and let hair air-dry.

Hide the ends. If the damage is really bad, spray the bottom half of the hair with Sebastian Laminates Anti-Frizz Hair Spray to protect it, and wrap the ends, section by section, around a wide-barrel curling iron. As a last resort, you can rub a few drops of John Frieda Frizz-Ease or Oscar Blandi Olio di Jasmine Serum through the ends to smooth them. A dab of pomade works, too.

Stick a pin in it. If the hair is too frayed to wear down, pull it up. When the hair is dry, pull it into a ponytail in the middle of the back of the head and wrap it around itself. Once you have a bun in place, push long, narrow bobby pins in from every direction so it stays put. This look works if the hair is smooth or if it's messy. As long as the ends are hidden, the hair looks healthy. If you have bangs or layers around the face, leave them loose. Bangs never look damaged.


SOURCE: Allure.com
(http://www.allure.com/magazine/2008/12/chris_mcmillan_healthy_hair)
Author: Chris Mcmillan

Four Ways to Avoid Hat Hair

Let me be clear: The ponytail-through-a-baseball-cap look is the worst hairstyle ever invented, but still, some of my favorite looks for the winter involve hats. It can be incredibly sexy when a girl wears a low bun or a relaxed side ponytail with a hat obscuring her eyes. I especially love the look of a floppy hat with jeans, or a fedora with a tailored jacket and wide-leg pants. However, a lot of people stop there and believe they don't have to deal with their hair when they wear a hat. It's the exact opposite: When you're wearing any kind of hat, you should pay extra attention to the hair that falls below it. The right style can look like you're showing off your hat, not hiding your hair.

SIDE PONYTAIL

Side ponytails get cheesy when they're too high, but I love them with hats because they have to sit low. Make a side part and pull all of your hair over your shoulder on the thicker side—so if the part is on the right, pull your hair to the left. Spray a Mason Pearson brush with hair spray, such as Sebastian Laminates, and brush the hair that wraps around the back of the head taut. (If the part is on the right, brush from the right to the left.) Pull all the hair together and secure it with an elastic that blends with your hair color. Don't brush the hair in front below the ear, because that will make the style look too neat. If you're going out at night or you want to dress it up more, wrap a small section of hair around the base of the ponytail, secure it with a hairpin, spray it with hair spray, and shoot it for a few seconds with the blow-dryer—it'll stay for hours.

LOW BUN

Start with a low ponytail at the nape of your neck and secure it with a bungee elastic—the kind that has hooks on the ends—because it is more secure than a regular one. After you put in the elastic, if you have thin or straight hair, divide the ponytail into three sections and wrap each section around a medium-barrel curling iron for ten seconds. This will prevent stick-straight ends from springing out of the bun. Also, a bun will hold its shape better if the hair has some curl to it, but don't worry about being too precise. Run a drop of cream or pomade, such as Shu Uemura Art of Hair Satin Design or Shape Paste, through the ends to smooth them and give them weight. Then twist the ponytail into a bun and push a thick hairpin—I like the big grandma plastic ones—through the top. The bun should rest right at the center of the nape of the neck.

STRAIGHT

A smooth, sleek bob worn with a hat, like Faye Dunaway's beret in Bonnie and Clyde, looks so glamorous. But whatever your hair's length, if it is naturally straight, you might want to run a flatiron over it to make it glossy. If you have any curl, blow it dry first with a round brush, focusing on the bottom of the hair to hide and polish split ends.

PLUMP CURLS

I also love the look of full, billowy waves bouncing out under a hat. To do this, plug in a set of hot rollers, and divide the hair in sections about two to three inches wide. Then wrap each section up in a roller to the earlobe. You don't need to go the whole way to the roots since the hat will cover the top of your head. I'm a big advocate of hot rollers here because they give more defined curls than a curling iron. When you take the rollers out, part your hair on the side, and push the thinner side behind your shoulder.


Source: Allure.com
(http://www.allure.com/magazine/2008/12/chris_mcmillan_hat_hair)
Author: Chris McMillan

How to Fix Fried Hair

So you've fried your hair. We know. We know. You got a little crazy with the curling iron, you stayed out in the sun for days on end or your colorist went overboard dying your black hair white-blonde. Maybe you put a perm atop a coloring job and fried your hair that way. In any case, if your hair feels like straw, it's fried. And believe it or not, there's relief.

We've read a lot of fried hair fixes and here we feature our favorites:

Option #1: The simple fix

You need a deep conditioner, stat. Look for a product that contains keratin and is labeled for dry, damaged hair. Run product throughout hair and leave on for several minutes. The product will absorb into your hair shaft and soften your hay-like strands. Time it takes: About 10 minutes, not including the shower. We suggest deep conditioning twice a week the first couple weeks, then continue once a week.

Try not to wash your hair every day, water is very drying to hair (not the shampoo). If you take a shower but opt not to wash your hair, protect your hair with a shower cap.

Suggested deep conditioners by price:
Cheap
ALBA BOTANICAL CONDITIONERS
Average
Joico Joico K PAK DEEP PENETRATING RECONSTRUCTOR FOR DAMAGED HAIR
Steep
BUMBLE AND BUMBLE DEEP TREATMENT 5 OZ

Option #2: Bring in the blowdryer

For this fix, you need a conditioner with cetyl alcohol, according to colorist Robert Ramos in the August 2006 issue of InStyle Magazine. "It's an ultrarich fatty acid that helps hair retain moisture," says Ramos. A great conditioner is Kerastase Masquintense (I use this and it's great). Comb conditioner through hair then blast is with a hair dryer for 15 minutes. Rinse.

Option #3: The complicated (but sure) fix

We love this recipe shared by celebrity stylist Chris McMillan in the April, 2006, issue of Allure magazine. (You may know McMillan as Jennifer Aniston's hairstylist/best friend).

Step 1: Mix in a bowl 2 tablespoons each of rinse-out conditioner, a leave-in conditioner, a deep conditioner and a hair mask.
Step 2: Comb the mixture through clean, damp hair making sure to focus most of the product on mid-shaft down to the ends.
Step 3: Wet 2 large towels, wring them out and heat one in a microwave for 1-2 minutes (depending on how hot your microwave gets the towel, you want it tolerable to touch, but steamy warm).
Step 4: Wrap hair up in the hot towel while you heat second towel in microwave.
Step 5: Alternate wrapping hair in towels about 2-3 times.

This ultra-deep conditioner should be repeated once a week.

Best hair masks by price:
Cheap
Johnson & Johnson Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask
Average
Phyto Hair Masks
Steep
Kerastase Nutritive Hair Mask

Option #4: Cut it off

It may sound crazy, but cutting off damaged hair is the only way to truly repair it. To keep hair in great shape, get a trim every six to eight weeks and swear off razor cuts, according to stylist Garren in the August 2006 issue of Allure magazine.

Also stay away from any processing, which will only weaken hair further. According to Allure, relaxers are the harshest on hair, followed by bleach, permanent color, demi-permanent dye and then rinses or glazes. If you have damaged hair, opt for highlights instead of all-over color and ask your stylist to use a glaze instead of dye if you are going darker. For camouflaging gray hair, stil with demi-permanent formulas.



SOURCE: About.com (http://beauty.about.com/od/hairbasics/qt/friedhairfix.htm)
AUTHOR: Julyne Derrick