We all love that ‘just out of the salon’ styled look. You know the look that says polished, glamourous, that million dollar shine – the look of our style as we step out of the salon.

So why can’t I duplicate this myself? Often its is the technique used when heat styling your hair so here are a few simple rules that will help you achieve the movie star finish to any hair style.

Prepping your hair

Once you have shampooed and conditioned your hair with the appropriate products, we usually wrap our hair and leave it in a towel as we continuing prepping for our day.

While this helps keep it out of the way and stop it dripping, it actually hinders styling as it has had time to dry before being placed in its finished position causing irregular hairline movement.

So as soon as you have left the shower – squeeze (not rub) excess water from your hair.  Comb into place of desired finished style before layering your styling products.

Styling your hair

Stylists also use styling products and these are layered into your hair depending on your desired finished result and fall into three categories.

Preparation: Heat protectors/crème, mousse or sprays.  Primer- lotion/crème

Working: Smoothing-crème/serum. Volumizing-mouse/lotion. Texturizers- gels/paste

Finishing: Hold and Shine-serums/sprays

Ask your stylist how to distribute these products into your hair as this will determine both the look and the feel depending on where these are placed ie roots only/ends only/along entire hair shaft.

Applying products

The mistake often made is using too much product or applying it flat handed into your style. The best way to avoid this is to use only one pump of product a time into the palm of the hand.

Rub hands together so that it covers the entire hand from fingertips to base of wrist.

Then starting from the ends of hair using ONLY pads of fingertips work from ends up to mid lengths. Once product has gone from fingertips, rub hands together distributing product back on to tips.

This gives you control of where and how much product you are using ensuring minimum product (no wastage) for maximum result.

Work around the hair section by section. Wash hands to remove residual product and remember at this stage of the styling less is more!

Drying  your hair

Shake excess moisture out of the hair with your hairdryer – make sure the nozzle is attached as this creates smoothness and direction.

Section hair into place so that only the hair you are immediately drying is left down.

SLOW DOWN – working slower and more exaggerated will be more effective than faster and repetitive as doing so will result in fluff/frizz and less volume.

Work in sections drying the hair from the bottom up to the crown, from the back moving forward.

Styling with difficult hairlines

If you have a strong hairline around the front with hair that ‘jumps’ you may need to dry this first as leaving til last will only create more frustration as it has started drying without control.

Cowlicks & uneven hairlines can be softened and controlled by drying the hair in opposite directions ie- if hair naturally sticks up then direct dryer from above pushing hair flat. If hairline grows to the left – push flat to the right to soften.Blow dry your hair on low blow with med/high heat. Work section by section starting at the nape/back and work forward or towards the front.

Styling with heated styling tools

If you want curl or that ironed smooth look you will need to use a heat appliance. It is strongly recommended to use heat protection as these can vary in heat from 170 to 230 degrees depending on the manufacturer. Using too high temp will burn your hair causing frizz/fluff/static or breakage and split ends.

We recommend and use GHD tools that are at optimal temperature of 185 degrees. Heat protection will also help guard against humidity holding the result for much longer.

Again, SLOW DOWN, and work section to section applying heat protection before sectioning. Some heat products are applied wet and protect your hair from the hairdryer as well as any other heat tool and no other heat product is needed.

When ‘dressing hair’ you may need either a finishing product to separate curl or a serum to smooth your hairs cuticle.

Spray hair for hold and shine, you are ready to WOW with glamorous million dollar style!

Our stylists are happy to share their tips and techniques with you so don’t hesitate to book in for a workshop session to ensure you leave home and shine.