Fashions change with every season and so do trend's in makeup. Your hair should too. If you find your stylist has become so familiar with your hair that s/he starts each cut with little or no instruction, it might be a sign that you're in need of an update. A few volume-enhancing layers, a new shade of highlights, or a simple swap of styling products tot create a different effect can be enough to give your look new life. To keep track of your style, try snapping a picture of yourself before and after every cut to create a visual history of your hairstyles. Use the photos to help define what you like about your current cut, and then plot with your stylist to come up with a new 'do.


If you scrub your hair like you're rubbing a spot out of a carpet, you may be doing more ha-fm than good, because hair is more elastic and prone to breaking when it's wet. On the other hand, if you just pour shampoo on your crown and quickly rinse, you may not be washing away the built-up styling products and natural oils that weigh hair down and leave it-flat and lifeless.

Instead, try this trichologist (hair and scalp expert) recommended technique: Brush your hair before you get into the shower to de-tangle knots and loosen any debris that may be trapped in the strands. Wet hair thoroughly with luke warm water (if the water is too hot, the cuticle will open, making your locks more likely to frizz and your highlights more prone to fading). Then massage the shampoo into your scalp with your fingertips in circular motions for 2 to 3 minutes. Don’t forget the nape of your neck and sides of your head, two easy-to-miss spots. When the lather builds up, gently smooth it down the hair shaft. Rinse well, but don't repeat. Unless your scalp is really oily or you only shampoo once a week, a single wash is plenty.


If hair came with a label like your favorite sweater, it would read: "Delicate cycle, wash in cool water, dry naturally." This isn't always possible especially when you've got a mere 5 minutes of morning primp time. But keeping damage to a minimum is important if you want your mane to look healthy. Blow-drying can actually cause water in the hair shaft to boil, weakening it to such a degree it snaps.

Your best defense is a good offense: Detangle wet locks with a wide-toothed plastic or wooden comb, and let your hair air-dry as much as possible before blow-drying. If you must use heat, prep your tresses first with a thermal protector, which can safeguard strands in temperatures up to 230°C. And if you can, hold your blow-dryer at least 12 inches away from your head. A nozzle or diffuser attachment also helps: The few extra inches of space between the blow-dryer's burning grate and your hair will create a heat buffer.


Hair is like leather. Leave it alone, and it will dry out and look dull. Polish it with oils, and it gets silky and supple. For the record, everyone can benefit from a conditioner. The key is choosing the right one and applying it properly. The best formula for your hair is one that suits its current shape: normal, dry, damaged, etc.

You can maximize your conditioner's effectiveness by blotting hair with a towel or gently squeezing out excess water before applying it; concentrate on the mid-length and ends, where hair is usually driest or try running your fingers through to feel for areas that lack softness. The rougher the hair, the more damaged the cuticle. That's where you should target your conditioner. Leave it on a couple of minutes, and then rinse with warm water. A treatment mask or oil can add moisture and increase elasticity and shine. Also, check wit your stylist. Depending on the condition of your hair, you may want to apply one anywhere from once a month to twice a week.


If you color often and perm or permanently straighten you hair, it may be suffering from an acute case of chemical overload. Powerful formulations combined with the heal lamps, blow-dryers, and irons that stylists use to speed up processing can wreak havoc on your hair. Too many harsh chemicals can turn hair dry and flat. The color loses richness and shine, and the mane looks old.

Before experimenting with any more chemicals, evaluate the current health of your hair. If it's weak and frazzled, take a few weeks to improve its state with weekly or twice-weekly deep-conditioning treatments. Or an in-salon program of professional conditioning treatments until your hair gets its bounce back. Next, revaluate your chemical dependency. Can you live without the thermal straightening? How about the double-process color? Discuss your options with an expert to create a look that satisfies your style goals without sacrificing hair health.


Hair color should enhance skin tone, not compete with it. If the shade is too dark or too light, it can wash you out. The color that will best complement your complexion is no more than two shades lighter or darker than your hair's natural hue. Add extra depth and dimension with highlights and lowlights in golden tones such as honey, caramel, and toffee. Unlike cool, ashy shades that leave most complexions looking wan and pale, golden hues warm up your skin - and they work equally well on fair, medium, and dark complexions. Whatever you do, beware of over highlighting. Keep it simple with a few streaks on the crown and around the face.


If your hair is dry and unmanageable despite your best efforts, or if your color fades after a couple of weeks, hard water may be the culprit. In some areas, water naturally has more minerals; in others, they may be added to the water as part of the purification process. Water with large quantities of calcium and magnesium and chlorine is especially rough on hair. The minerals attach themselves to the hair, making it feel drier and frizzier. Perms and strengtheners don't 'take', and color doesn't last as long and loses vibrancy faster." You can find out if your water is hard or soft by requesting the information from your municipality.

If your tap water is hard, ask your cosmetics store or medical shop for a de-mineralizing shampoo and conditioner. Those that stock foreign brands will have them. To help you deal with hard water, try installing a water softener to filter out the excess minerals.


Men start seeing hair loss as early as their 20s, but by 40, women too catch up: Tresses start looking finer all over, the "part" gets wider, that elastic band keeps slipping off increasingly wispy ponytails, or there appears to be more than the usual amount of hair in the drain after you showers. What should you do? If the hair loss has reached worrying levels a doctor can help determine if those extra strands on your brush are due to illness, hormones, medications, stress, diet, or a vitamin deficiency. She'll first examine your hair and scalp for patterns that might indicate hereditary hair loss, then, if necessary, do tests to look for vitamin/iron deficiencies, thyroid problems, or scalp disease.

In most of these cases, your hair will grow back once your body returns to normal.

If your hair loss is caused by androgenetic alopecia, it's a different story. This is a hereditary condition in which follicles become progressively smaller until they stop producing hair altogether. It can start as early as the 20s, and by age 40, forty per cent of affected women experience some hair loss. Make the most of the hair you have with a shorter, layered cut that increases volume. Also, try a thickening shampoo and conditioner. You may want to consider a perm to boost the fullness of your hair, or try a few highlights to help camouflage your scalp while adding texture and volume.

And visit your dermatologist, who may recommend Minoxidil, a topical solution that stimulates hair growth; this is the only approved treatment for hereditary hair loss.

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