We all know one of the most important steps in a hair-care routine is to work with an expert hair stylist. Whether you’ve just had your first appointment at an amazing new salon in Lawton or you’ve established a decades-long relationship with a stylist who knows your hair almost as well as you know it yourself, your stylist plays a vital role in keeping your hair looking its best. On the other hand, you can’t be at the salon every single day. As soon as you leave that chair, you’re on your own in caring for your hair until your next appointment.
What should you do to your hair until you’re scheduled to see your stylist again? We actually don’t have a to-do list for you. In fact, we’re here to tell you the top six things you should not do once you’re out of the salon.
Don’t use at-home hair-coloring kits. Hair coloring is surprisingly complicated. When you have your hair colored at a salon, the stylist needs to take a long list of factors into account to determine the best approach to take. These can include your hair’s current color, the color that’s going to look the best with your skin tone, and even your hair’s condition. Your stylist will use a high-quality product, while most at-home dyes are rough on your hair and can damage it and even potentially cause skin reactions. If you do severely damage your hair or dye it the wrong color, having your stylist fix it is going to cost you more time and money than if you’d just gone to the salon in the first place. Bottom line: stylists are the experts and have extensive training in how to do this. Do you really want to risk your hair accidentally turning a bizarre color or falling out in chunks? If you want to change the color of your hair, put that box down and make a call to your stylist!
Don’t shampoo too often. It might seem counterintuitive, but you actually want some natural oils to remain in your hair. These oils actually protect your hair and keep it healthy. Shampoo strips these oils away, so if you shampoo too often, your hair could become dry and brittle. Most people can go two or three days without shampooing. On the other hand, if your hair is fine in texture or if you exercise and sweat a lot, you might need to shampoo a little more often. If you’re unsure, check with your stylist about a shampooing schedule that would be best for your hair.
Don’t over condition. Sure, using conditioner is a great way to moisturize and protect your hair, but it’s possible to have too much of a good thing. Over-conditioned hair is weighed down, and it looks and feels limp and flat. Once you’ve started up your not-every-day shampoo schedule, go ahead and condition each time you shampoo your hair, but use only a small amount, apply it mostly to the ends of your hair, and rinse it out thoroughly with water that’s on the cool side, as steaming hot water can damage your hair. Here’s another tip: after shampooing and conditioning, dry your hair with a cotton T-shirt or microfiber hair wrap. Either of these will be gentler on your hair than a bath towel.
Don’t cut your own bangs. It’s so incredibly tempting, we know! Bangs seemed like such a great style a few weeks ago, but you didn’t realize how fast they’d grow. Now you’re either unable to see or you’re constantly clipping those untamed bangs back with a bobby pin. No matter how much those bangs are bothering you, trimming them yourself is an absolute no-no. Remember when you were six years old, found your mom’s scissors, and gave yourself a creative haircut? Okay, maybe the results won’t be quite that bad, but you do run the risk of making a big mistake here. Put the scissors down, admit to yourself that you don’t know what you’re doing, and give your stylist a call.
Don’t trim the ends of your own hair, either. It’s true that regular trims are important to the overall health of your hair (more on that next), but like your bangs, the ends of your hair should be trimmed by a professional. Don’t do it!
Don’t skip your appointments. Of course, it’s always fun to see your stylist and get caught up, but regular trips to the salon are great for your hair, too. Even if you’re trying to grow your hair out, you’re still going to want to get your hair trimmed about every three months. Regular trims prevent split ends and breakage, so your hair will actually grow out faster. If you’re looking to maintain your current length, you’re going to want to come in for a cut more regularly, anywhere from every four to every eight weeks, depending on your hair’s length and style. Talk to your stylist about a schedule that would work for your hair and stick with it!
It doesn’t take a lot of effort to keep your hair healthy and beautiful, especially if you leave all of the hard work to the expert: your stylist. Doing too much yourself is never a good idea. If you have questions about how you should be caring for your hair, consult with your stylist. Stylists truly want to hear about what you’re trying to achieve and advise you on a haircare routine that’s perfect for you. Bring all of your questions to your regular appointments at your favorite hair salon in Lawton.
Salons de Beauté is a salon-suites community for health and beauty professionals in Lawton, OK. Our Salon Directory lists contact information for each of the service providers, so follow the link to make an appointment with one of them today. Come see some of the best salon professionals in Lawton, Oklahoma!