The crowning glory of hair products and tools for salon-worthy looks.
Work it
Like most worthy things in life, having just-walked-out-of-a-salon hair is about the prep work. Start with washing your hair with a hydrating shampoo and conditioner. Before blowdrying, apply a leave-in treatment to add moisture to your hair. Always apply a heat protectant before letting your precious strands get near a heat styler and finish off your look with a shine spray for that added glam factor. And if you don’t already sleep on a silk pillowcase, here’s another reason to make the switch: in addition to helping prevent skin creases, a silk pillowcase can help hair retain moisture and reduce the frizzies.
Brush up on your basics
A good-quality brush is as essential as shampoo and conditioner. Brushing your hair helps activate healthy blood circulation and stimulate hair growth. It also redistributes oil from the scalp to help keep the outer layer of the hair smooth and shiny.
Selecting the right hair brush depends on the style you’re going for and your hair type. If you’re after sleek and smooth locks with a boost of shine, opt for a paddle brush. These smoothing brushes often have boar or nylon bristles which reduce static so the cuticles of the hair lie flat, making it the perfect choice for achieving the professional salon look at home.
For a bombshell blowout, a round brush is the grand dame. Vent holes in the brush allow the heat from the hairdryer to circulate at the roots and add more volume. Take it one step further with a ceramic round brush – this heats up when you use it with a hair dryer, styling your locks into bouncy soft curls or waves (depending on the size of the brush).
Tools of the trade
As the saying goes, behind every good hair day is a good hairdryer. Okay, we totally made that up, but a dependable hairdryer is up there with a good hairdresser. Today’s versions are feats of engineering that can make your blowout experience quick and easy with impressive results.
A high-powered flat iron is also a hair staple. They can create sleek styles on just about every hair type and texture. They help to tame the frizzies and achieve the look of silky, glossy hair. A ceramic flat iron is typically best for finer hair, while titanium straighteners are recommended for taming thick, course or curly hair.
A curling iron is my personal OG of hair stylers. Curling irons or tongs make waves, crimps and curls a breeze. Choosing the right one for you will depend on your hair type and the curl you want to achieve – in general, the smaller the barrel, the tighter the curl. CBM
