Wavy Hairstyles – Tips on How to Look Good in Waves

If you plan on changing hairstyles, wavy hairstyles are worth checking out. Even if you plan to stick to your current hair style, having a few wave hairstyling tricks and tips up your sleeve is a great plus. People are born with curly, straight or wavy hair. You can change your hair along the line of fashion. A wave haircut could look fantastic on you. So take time, grab all the tips you can about having healthy wavy tresses.

To look like Zoe Kravitz, you could steal any of her wavy hairstyles. Her tousled waves always look good especially when coupled with a slouched hat. She knows her styling really well and this is what she does. She starts by working a texturizer through unwashed hair and allowing it time to set. She then wraps sections around a 2 inchcurling iron to get natural waves. She then spritz the waves using a hairspray. Allow the hair to flow over both shoulders and wear abeanie or slouchy hat on top of it all.

What if you don’t sport long tresses like our celebrity Zoe? Even if you have short hair, you can still rock wave hairstyles as they are independent of hair length. Short waves will look great on day-old hair. Apply and work through a texturizer on dry hair. Using a 1-inch barrel curling iron, curl sections of hair to create relaxed waves. Use bobby pins to pin up the hair at the back. This will give you an angled look that is elegant and beautiful. For more movement, apply styling wax to the front layers.

For ladies with medium length hair, you can still sport a wave hairstyle. Amber Valetta is known for her simple but stylish medium wave hairstyles. You can copy her style to get the shoulder length sexy look. As soon as you step out of the shower, divide your hair through the centre. Have some wave enhancer nearby. Apply the enhancer on the damp hair and let it dry to achieve a natural texture. When dry, curl sections of your hair using a one and half inch curling iron to amp your waves. Take the side sections and pin up them at the back of the head using bobby pins.

Wave hairstyles will look great when paired up with hair accessories such as headbands and hats. Don’t miss out on beautiful styles by leaving your hat behind. Throw on a beanie if you don’t own a hat. Use hairspray to keep your tresses shining and healthy.

Choosing Short HairSporting Short Hair with Style

Short hairstyles are perhaps the most mismanaged hairstyles worn by women. Far too often, the decision to go short is made based on utility and ease of care. As a result, the short style ends up being unflattering to the individual. The thing many women forget is that just because every woman CAN have short hair, not every woman should. All of the standard rules apply when it comes to choosing short hair.

Luckily, “short” is a relative term and can mean a fairly wide range of lengths. In addition, short haircuts can incorporate a wide range of wave patterns, too, which further assists in helping those who want short hair to look good wearing it. The style has to flatter the face and needs to represent some measure of balance.

So let’s take a look at some of the basics of short haircuts, as well as the variations that can make a major difference in how the style ultimately looks.

Anatomy of a Short Hair Style

Length

Since the term “short” refers to the length of something, it is obvious that the key element of a short hairstyle is the length chosen. While the length can vary, it is generally considered that a short haircut is seldom longer than the mid-point of the neck. Of course, most short styles are shorter than this, and you can see virtually every increment possible in the short styles available.

While there really is no “rule” against anyone wearing super-short styles, it should be noted that these shorter looks are often best-suited to those with fine-boned and delicate features. Those who have weight issues or simply round faces will often think that a super-short style is good for them, and end up enhancing the troublesome features rather than minimizing them.

Layers

A short hairstyle can feature a variety of layering techniques. The hair can be blunt cut to a clean edge on the bottom line of the style, could have even long layers, or combine the two with a blunt edge and interior layering.

Colors

Colors aren’t specifically restricted by the inclusion in a short hairstyle. Rather we mention color here because color can often be used in a short haircut to add drama and excitement and take an otherwise “normal” look and give it an edge.

Texture and Texturing

In this case, we’ll discuss both the thickness of the hair and the finishing techniques used in a short hairstyle. The two are somewhat connected since the diameter of the hair and it’s “feel” indicate the need for certain finishing techniques to make the hair look the way you want. Finishing hair cutting techniques can also take a bland looking hairstyle and make it exciting and increasingly flattering to an individual

Avoiding the Boring Short Hair Pitfall

Often, a woman chooses a short hairstyle solely for the convenience and increased ease of care it offers. In cases like this, when simplicity is the motivating factor, short hairstyles can become boring. Perhaps the individual doesn’t think of the possible ways to adapt the look, or has had the short hair for so long that wearing it is habit and the look suffers from neglect.

To avoid this, it’s important to ask for a fresh look at your hairstyle periodically. Perhaps having the hair textured with a razor and then a quick blow-out as a part of the styling process will give you a new twist on your look. Or maybe you should let the hair grow out a little and use the length to create additional volume in areas that better flatter your face. Perhaps your look could benefit from a splash of color. Or frankly, the answer could be a simple matter of adding a new styling product to take advantage of the traits your hairstyle already has.

Examples:

It’s always easier to explain what is meant in a given situation when you have a visual representation that illustrates a specific point. And since everyone likes celebrities, let’s look at a collection of celebrities who sport short hairstyles and discuss what makes these styles work, and for whom.

Anna Faris and Amy Madigan

 

 Seen in these photos, Anna Faris and Amy Madigan are wearing short hairstyles that fall at the longer range of “short”. Yet the two looks are remarkably different. Note how Anna’s fine, pale blonde locks are gently tapered at the ends to create soft edges. These soft, clean lines are terrific in that they flatter and frame her face and provide a clean, professional look that is also chic and stylish.

Amy Madigan’s hairstyle is of a comparable length but features a layered cut with a lot of deep texturing, creating deep points in the layers which enhance the color variations in her hair and allow for a flipped out styling in targeted areas where a little volume is wanted. The variations in the strands and the movement created by the twists and turns in the hair make a great frame for the face and help to draw focus to the silhouette as a whole, minimizing the signs of aging.

Milla Jovovich and Angela Bassett

 

 The two hairstyles shown here, sported by Milla Jovovich and Angela Bassett, are shorter and both feature different degrees of wave in the hair. For Ms. Jovovich, the curl is softened into a wave to soften her sharper features, while the volume of the hair gives a horizontal focus to her slim face. The sweeping line of the fringe perfectly frames the eyes and draws the viewer in to her piercing gaze.

Angela Bassett’s hairstyle is actually very similar, but her coarser hair texture dictates a variation in the way her curl is handled to create the softness desired. The layers in the hair are tapered into long locks which become shiny, soft tendrils framing her beautiful face. The soft sweeping lines and the shimmer and definition in the finish help to keep the eye drawn to the hair and minimize the look of the fine lines that belie her age.

Annette Benning, Morena Baccarin, and Amber Rose

 

 Our last trio here features progressively shorter hairstyles that all have “more extreme” elements designed to enhance the appearance of the style.

Starting with Annette Benning we see a short layered look that has razor-cut texture to create needle-point ends in the finished look. Combined with a blow-out styling technique and texturing paste, the style is given lots of visual interest and the power to draw the attention away from signs of age, while matching the personality of an actress who is known for playing a range of characters and with a tremendous sense of self.

Next, we find the lovely Morena Baccarin, whose gamine-short haircut was a dramatic shift from her previous styles that celebrated her long raven-hued hair. This super-short cut has been point-cut to create extra texture in the finish and the definition created by the styling displays the shine and shimmer of her hair beautifully. As with many shorter styles, this gamine (which means “boyish”) cut draws attention to the eyes, making them the central and primary focus of the look. Since her eyes are one of Morena Baccarin’s best features, the effect is dramatic.

Finally, we find a look that has only been sported as a regular statement by a handful of women. Amber Rose, an American Model, has claimed for herself a very dramatic look, by opting for an induction-cut hairstyle which she has dyed blonde. The effect creates an intense focus on the face and allows her beauty to be uninhibited. As a model, the hairstyle also makes her sought-after, since her look is so dramatic that items she wears are usually well-remembered, which appeals to designers who want their names and their clothes remembered by as many as possible.

Of course, these looks are not for everyone, but hopefully they will offer you some inspiration for enhancing your own sense of style.

How to Get Thick Hair

Some people are blessed with thick hair, while others have thin hair by nature. Additionally, around the age of 40, the fibers of your hair start to get thinner, which increases shedding. Although thinning hair is not entirely avoidable, there are some things you can do to make your hair thicker and appear fuller.

Steps
1 /Eat a well-balanced, healthy diet with plenty of vitamin B and iron.

Vitamin B plays a large role in the health of your hair, and getting enough of it is essential to keeping thick hair and reducing how much you shed. Good sources of vitamin B include fruits, vegetables, nuts and brown rice, among others.

Diets deficient in iron lead to poor hair growth. Good sources of iron include beef, pork, lamb, poultry, fish, green leafy vegetables and iron-enriched grain products.

2 /Massage your scalp regularly using your fingertips. Massage increases circulation to your scalp, helping it grow healthy hair.

3 /Use essential oils to thicken your hair. Chamomile, lavender, rosemary, thyme, geranium and cedarwood, among others, help thicken hair follicles.
Apply 10 to 20 drops of your chosen oil to your scalp when doing your massage. Use you fingers to rub the oil down strands of hair.

Mix 3 to 5 drops of essential oil into your shampoo or conditioner when washing your hair.

Deep condition your hair by adding five to 10 drops of essential oil to 3 to 4 ounces of castor oil, olive oil, jojoba oil or sunflower oil. Apply the oil to your hair, taking care to cover each strand. Wrap your hair in towel and let the oil sit for 30 minutes, then shampoo and condition as normal.

4 Treat your hair gently to decrease hair loss.

Avoid ponytails and other hair styles that pull and stretch the strands of your hair.

Use blow dryers and heated styling tools sparingly. Overusing heated hair appliances causes dry, brittle hair that breaks and falls out easily.

5 Wash your hair with a high-quality volumizing shampoo to deep clean your follicles and add volume to the crown of your head, making your hair appear fuller.

6 Apply a volumizing conditioner to the strands and roots of your hair every time you shampoo. Avoid putting the conditioner on the top of your head near the roots of the hair, which can make hair appear thinner by weighing it down.

7 Towel dry your hair gently by blotting the water out. Avoid squeezing, wringing and twisting your hair.

8 Try using root lifters and volumizing sprays when styling your hair to get the fullness you are looking for.

9 Chemically treat your hair with permanent waves and permanent hair color. Although chemical processes can be dry and damaging to your hair, they also make the hair strands thicker by expanding the outer layer of the hair to allow the chemical to permeate the shaft.

10 Get your hair cut. Cutting off dry, dead ends adds new life to hair, making it appear thicker. Short blunt cuts, such as bobs, make hair look fuller.

13 SECRETS TO LONG, THICK, SHINY HAIR

We all want a mane of soft, silky, touchable locks. But the reality is that hair grows only about a half inch per month. Want to jump-start the process? Read on for insider tips to stop hair's biggest enemy — breakage — and keep strands strong.

START IN THE SHOWER
Go sulfate free. Overwashing can dry out your hair, so the less you shampoo, the more hydrated it will be and the longer it will grow without breaking. When you do shampoo, consider a sulfate-free formula; they often contain less harsh detergents, or none at all, and therefore help preserve your hair's natural oils. We like L'Oréal Paris EverPure Moisture Shampoo ($6.99). While lathering, remember that "shampoo is meant to remove product buildup and oil from the scalp, not the hair fiber," says Paradi Mirmirani, faculty member of the American Academy of Dermatology. Between washes, try Oribe Hair Care Dry Texturizing Spray ($39) to absorb oil at your roots and keep locks looking clean.

Stimulate your scalp. When you massage your scalp with shampoos containing peppermint or eucalyptus oil, you'll feel a tingling sensation. This helps increase circulation and blood flow to your follicles, boosting growth. Try John Frieda Root Awakening Strength Restoring Shampoo ($6.49) and Malin + Goetz Peppermint Hair Shampoo ($20). "Prior to washing, massage your scalp for 30 seconds," says New York and London trichologist Philip Kingsley. In one year, your hair can grow an extra inch, he says. Another option is a botanical leave-in treatment like Leonor Greyl Complexe Energisant ($54), which claims to stimulate hair growth when applied to clean roots two to three times per week.

Condition, condition, condition. When your hair is well hydrated, it is less likely to dry out and split, so use a conditioner even on the days when you skip shampoo. Your hair should be treated gently, like a delicate fabric, but it also needs to be regularly nourished, says hairstylist Oribe of the Oribe Salon in Miami Beach. Boston dermatologist Ranella Hirsch recommends applying a deep-conditioning product at least once a week. We suggest Kérastase Nutritive Masque Nutri-Thermique ($60).

STYLE WITH TLC
Brushers beware. If you're not careful, your hairbrush can actually do more harm than good. Ripping through wet tangles creates split ends, so try gently running a wide-tooth plastic comb like the version from Sephora ($4) from roots to ends. "When blow-drying with a round brush," says Kingsley, "don't pull too hard or you can break and pull out your hair." When you're not styling, avoid a brush altogether. "Brushing 100 strokes a day is completely old-fashioned and not a good idea," he adds.

Stop sizzling. Applying hot tools directly to your hair can fry the cuticle, so coat wet locks with a creamy moisturizing product for protection. We like Tresemmé Anti-Frizz Secret Smoothing Crème ($4.49). The best tools to prevent heat damage are ionic dryers and ceramic irons with uniformly heated plates (so you don't have to go over the same section more than once). Try the Sultra Laser Straight & Smooth one-inch iron ($145). For waves, hot rollers can be gentler than curling irons.

FAKE IT
Flatten out. To maximize your length quickly, eliminate volume at the roots, advises hairstylist Harry Josh. You want your hair to be as straight and flat as possible, "with a sleek Gwyneth Paltrow-type blow-dry." Use Blow Ready, Set, Blow Express Blow Dry Lotion ($21) before drying.

Choose products wisely. Smoothing out your frizz makes your hair look longer. Try Living Proof Straight Making No Frizz Styling Cream ($24) on wet hair. And, for a glossy effect, apply Avon Daily Shine Smooth & Shine Capsules ($8). The night before shampooing, try Michael Van Clarke 3 More Inches Pre-wash Treatment ($38) to help your hair retain moisture during and after your shower.

Clip it in. If you're into extensions, both Josh and Oribe recommend the clip-in kind. "Ken Paves's are the best. They're affordable and available across the country," says Josh. To keep them looking natural, "choose ones that really match your hair texture," suggests Oribe, and don't add more than three to four inches.

INSIDE THE SALON
Steer clear of scissors. Contrary to what some stylists say, haircuts don't stimulate growth. "If you're trying to grow your hair, do not cut the length, no matter how fried it is," says Josh. Instead, ask for your ends to be trimmed. For a style change, "short, blunt bangs will make your hair look longer, because the jump is so dramatic."

Restore with keratin. Go for a keratin treatment every eight weeks while growing out your hair, says Oribe. It smooths out the texture so there's less need for hot tools or dryers. Also, by coating hair with a protective layer, the treatments help protect colored or chemically straightened hair from further damage. For at-home keratin products, try Paul Mitchell's Awapuhi Wild Ginger line (from $16.95).

MONITOR YOUR HEALTH
Consider a supplement. For a boost, supplements like Viviscal ($49.99) "help reduce breakage and increase hydration, which is crucial to the growing process," says James Murphy, CEO of Lifes2good, which distributes Viviscal. The main ingredients are a blend of marine proteins derived from four types of fish rich in protein and amino acids. Josh has encouraged clients including celebs like Demi Moore, Cameron Diaz, and Hilary Swank to try these supplements for years. "You take one in the morning and evening, and in two months your hair growth will kick in at an accelerated rate," he claims. Some derms also suggest taking a multivitamin with biotin and a fish-oil pill to make your hair stronger. We like Functionalab 08 Hair, Skin & Nails

Check your meds. Did you know that some birth-control pills can cause hair thinning? Although it's typically not a direct cause and effect, "any changes in a woman's hormonal situation can yield hair loss," says Hirsch. Check with your doctor if you're concerned.

Manage your stress. "Stress causes the release of cortisol and other hormones that contribute to hair thinning," says Hirsch. The good news is you can reverse the problem by getting your stress under control. Scalp massage, anyone?

How to Choosing the Right Hair Care Products?

For many of us, choosing the right professional hair care products can be a tough job. However, it wouldn’t be so difficult if we considered a number of things. Before you can choose which hair products will give the most benefits to your hair you need to determine your hair type.

For dry hair, look for products that have the words hydrating, moisturising, conditioning, or humectants in the description. Also look for active ingredients such as vitamin E, jojoba oil, or avocado oil, which will provide extra moisture and a thin layer of protection to the hair shaft.

Oily hair can be difficult to take care of and many individuals mistakenly believe that if they wash their hair repeatedly it will eliminate the excess oil. However, the opposite is true.

The best way to wash and condition oily hair is to start with a dry scalp shampoo, a mild shampoo, or a shampoo made for children. These products will be less likely to strip your hair of all its protective oil and will help reduce the amount of oil your scalp is forced to make.

If you are a fashion addict, you must already know everything about the latest beauty products and you have probably tested many of them. Fashion magazines can give you a lot of helpful hair care advice and styling tips.

Colored hair needs to be protected with appropriate professional hair care products. Choose gentle color-protecting products designed for your hair color. If your hair is red, you can also use a color-enhancing product, as this particular color tends to fade more quickly than the others. Make sure though that you choose the right shade, so that you don’t stain your hair.

When you encounter serious hair problems, those bad hair-days can be over if you ask for professional advice. Turn to your hairdresser or to the drugstore for tips regarding the right professional hair care products which best respond to your needs.

Keep Hair From Getting Greasy

If you have oily hair, it can be tough to keep it from getting greasy. Here are easy things you can do to reduce or even resolve oily hair.

Steps
1/ Wash your hair frequently but not every day. 

Daily washing may cause the oils to be stripped too quickly, encouraging them to come back as even oilier to make up for the loss. If you have naturally greasy hair, it's recommended that you only wash it every 2-3 days.

Look for a shampoo guaranteed to work on greasy hair. The best kind of shampoo is one that removes excess oil without drying out your hair. It may take some trial and error to find a good one––ask your hairdresser for advice.

Use a clarifying shampoo once a month. This type of shampoo is designed to remove any build-up of grease and hair product. Do not use a clarifying shampoo every day though, as it can strip your hair of oils, causing your hair to produce more in response. Instead, for daily washing use a mild shampoo that doesn't strip your hair of oils.

2/ Be careful with conditioners. 

Avoid using them at the root as this part of the hair is already moisturised by the natural oils (grease) produced within hours of washing your hair. A conditioner is actually meant to nourish the drier ends anyway, so try to keep its use just for the lower half of your hair.

Some people use no conditioner at all, or use it infrequently, say, once a week, to avoid over-moisturising.

If your hair gets tangled easily, apply something moisturizing and silky; a very smallamount of olive oil works well. Use only enough to make your hands slightly shiny, then apply to hair away from your scalp.

If your hair is very oily, you may not need conditioner. However, it is best to condition the ends of your hair to stop them from drying out.

3/Be choosy about the styling products you use. 

Don't use too much or you'll weigh your hair down and residue could accumulate. Stay away from gloppy gels, because they will make your hair look greasy when it's not!

Be careful when looking for a product that adds extra shine to your hair. This can promote the "oily look" in those who have greasy hair. See "Tips" for some brands suggested by readers.

When in doubt, just leave products out of your hair.

4/Brush only as much as needed to make your hair neat : Do not over-brush your hair as brushing is stimuli to the oil glands and this is likely to increase oil production.

5 /Avoid touching or brushing your hair as much as possible. 

This is important especially after eating or preparing greasy foods, as you might transfer the food oils into your hair. The same with oily makeup––pin your hair back of your face before applying the makeup and don't touch your hair with fingers covered in makeup. Keep your hair neat without touching it too much also––use a comb to remove tangles, not your fingers.

6 / Rinse your hair with warm water and then close the cuticle with cold water to add shine.

Hot water strips your hair of oils and your scalp will replenish them immediately, and will make your hair turn greasy and even hard to comb.

Try a small amount of vinegar as a final rinse. Start with 1 tablespoon per 8 fl oz (236ml) of water and adjust from there. The smell goes away as the hair dries.


7/Cut split ends off your hair regularly.

This will help to keep your hair from becoming more damaged and it will appear thicker and stronger.

If you don't do it sooner, you'll have to cut off more of it later because there is only one guarantee and that is that split ends get worse!


8/Find a quick fix for those moments when you need to go out but your hair looks way too greasy. 

You can use baby powder or dry shampoo to make your hair look less greasy. Simply rub it in to your roots, but be careful not to put too much in so that people can see whiteness on your hair! Try combing it out afterwards.


9/Blow dry your hair off your forehead. 

Your forehead can be an oily skin zone, so keeping hair off your forehead will help to ensure that it doesn't absorb the oils from your skin.

If you don't want to blow dry your hair, instead clip your hair off your face as it dries naturally, so that it will still be off your face when it drys.

Or, wear your hair with the front clipped back in a quiff when it is dry.

10 /Do not straighten your hair regularly. 

Straightening the hair really damages it, both through heat or chemical processes. The heat from the straighteners makes your hair produce grease, and since you'll be touching your hair to straighten it, this risks producing more grease.

11/Embrace your curls! 

Permed or naturally coarse/curly hair shows grease more slowly, since the hair doesn't lie close to the scalp. If you've got natural curls, flaunt them.