Caring for Your Hair Between Salon Visits

Nothing beats that fresh-out-of-the-salon feeling. Your hair is soft, perfectly styled, and you feel confident that you look your best throughout the day. We can’t all have our hair professionally cut and styled every day, but there are things we can do to help that fresh salon feeling last between visits. It’s all about haircare, because when your hair is in its best condition, it’s easier to style and maintain.

​Washing. We all use too much shampoo. That lather, rinse, and repeat advice isn’t the best way to keep your hair looking great. That’s because shampooing can strip your hair of the natural oils it distributes that help keep it shiny, soft, and protected. If you have oily hair, you may be tempted to wash often for that reason. But over-stripping can actually make an oily scalp worse, because the glands will work harder to produce more oil. Most professional stylists recommend washing with shampoo only two or three times per week. On off days, rinse and condition or use a dry shampoo.

Brushing. Another way to take advantage of your scalp’s natural oil production is through brushing. Regular brushing with a soft bristle brush (a boar bristle brush is a great choice) distributes natural oils throughout the hair shaft, coating it with softness and shine. Like all things in life, you can get too much of a good thing with brushing, since excessive or rough brushing might damage hair, and you should never brush wet hair – use a wide-tooth comb to detangle after your shower.

Conditioning. Conditioner is a must for everyone. The trick is to find the right product for your hair type. For oily hair, focus on conditioning the ends, and rinse thoroughly. Dry hair needs extra conditioning, like a weekly deep conditioning treatment and a good hydrating conditioner daily. Conditioner does more than make hair soft. It creates a barrier that protects the hair shaft from damage. Damaged hair means frizzy, out-of-control hair, so keeping that salon-fresh look means keeping your hair in great condition. 

​Avoiding heat. Heat causes damage, so protecting hair from heat is important for creating that salon-fresh style at home. This means avoiding heated styling tools as much as possible. If you spend a lot of time with the flat iron, consider getting a keratin treatment so it’s easier to create that straight style. If you always blow dry your hair, look into air-dry styles to find one that suits you. If you must use heated styling tools, apply a heat protectant first. The heat in the shower can also be damaging, so be sure you’re rinsing in warm, not hot, water to keep hair looking great.

Before you leave the salon, ask your stylist to recommend products formulated for your hair that will help your style last. Due for a new style? Make an appointment today at Tanya’s Image and Wellness Salon. Our professional stylists will help create the perfect look for you! Call us at either of our two locations, Crestview Hills, KY (859) 578-9400 or Cincinnati, OH (513) 533-9400, book your styling appointment online, or try our free mobile app to manage your appointments right from your mobile device. It’s available on Google Play or Amazon.