Rock what your mama gave you is the order of the day, especially when it comes to hair. Hair of all types and textures is being celebrated every day. But even so, women still often have a love-hate relationship with their tresses. When it looks less than stellar and constantly misbehaves, it is definitely a major confidence killer. Yes, we should all accept ourselves as is — flaws and all — but that doesn’t mean we have to accept certain hair woes when, with the right product and the right techniques, we can help it reach its ultimate crowning glory. So no matter if you have super-fine hair or a cowlick that won’t behave, here are the life-saving tips from several celebrity coiffure masters to help you get to the root of your hair problems and help your locks slay every which way.
10 Solutions To Your Most Annoying Hair Problems
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10 Solutions To Your Most Annoying Hair Problems #1
Whether it's super-fine hair or a stubborn cowlick, we turn to the pros for help with your most annoying hair problems.
Image: Imaxtree
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Cowlicks
Warren-Tricomi Style Mousse, $26 at Warren-Tricomi
“When you have a cowlick, you can choose to fight it or enjoy it and work with it. I always suggest the latter and think it’s best to embrace your cowlick as best you can. To do this, you should get a haircut that complements the shape of the cowlick, this way it will become part of your overall style. Also, having longer hair is better for a cowlick because it helps weigh it down, making it less apparent on the face.” –Edward Tricomi, master stylist and co-founder of Warren-Tricomi Salons
“Another way to hide a cowlick is to backcomb your hair. Establish a foundation and then smooth hair over the backcombed root to camouflage it.” –Larry Sims, celebrity hairstylist and Smooth 'N Shine brand ambassador
Another way to manage cowlicks “is to style them from wet to dry because then they are much easier to tame. Run a mousse through damp hair to help calm the cowlick and then blowdry in the direction you want to redirect it. If your cowlick is still unmanageable, work with it and try adding volume to that area of your hair.” –Sarah Potempa, celebrity hairstylist and inventor of the Beachwaver
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Baby Fine Hair
Pillow Proof Blow Dry Two Day Extender, $16.78 at Amazon
Baby fine and fragile hair can sometimes be difficult to style. “Add dry shampoo to the roots and dry texturizing spray from mid length to ends. The dry shampoo will boost thickness at the roots and the texture spray will add grip to the soft hair to ensure hold.” –Jenny Balding, Cutler stylist
“To make baby fine hair thicker, opt for a super textured look. Applying tight texture and curls with a curling iron will help make fine hair look fuller.” –Larry Sims
“For fuller-looking hair, try a blunt-shaped cut, low-tension blowouts or volume from Velcro or hot rollers. Dark hair color and products from the Kérastase Densifique Collection can also give hair an extra boost.” –Matt Fugate, Kérastase Paris consulting hairstylist Redken
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Wispy Hairs
Phyto Professional Shine Defining Wax, $20 at Walmart
“It’s easier to tame wispy hairs while they are wet. If you don't want to get your entire head wet, spritz the wisps with water from a spray bottle and then blowdry them in the direction of your hair, so they work with your style. Once they are dry, put a dab of styling cream on your fingertips and run it over the hairs to smooth them down.” –Sarah Potempa
“On dry hair, using a pomade with a bit of beeswax is always good to control those little wisps along the hair; just run your fingertips across the pomade and carefully place the little hairs exactly where you want them.” –Christyn Nawrot, Phyto national educator
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Multiple Textures
Beachwaver S1, $129 at Target
“The best thing to do with multiple textures is to try to get them to look as close to the same as possible. Begin by spraying an allover product to prime and even porosity. Éprouvage Replenishing Leave-In Conditioner is perfect for that. Then address each texture individually. A smoothing crème or oil where it’s frizzy or dry, a volumizer, such as éprouvage Thickening & Plumping Spray where it is straighter or flat and needs volume, usually in the crown and top area of your head.” –Karrie Fonte, éprouvage AVP of global education
“If your hair is curly underneath and you love that, then beachwave the the other parts that are not as curly to match. The Beachwaver S1 is great to get even curls throughout your hair. If your hair has a straight texture and you prefer that, then smooth your whole head with a flat iron like the Coast Pro Ceramic iron to bring the two textures together!” –Sarah Potempa
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Split Ends
Fusio-Dose In-Salon Treatment, visit Kérastase USA for participating salons
“Outside of dusting your hair or getting it trimmed, put down the blowdryer and heat tools to stave off further damage. Salon treatments like Kérastase Fusio-Dose are saviors that can help temporarily fuse frayed ends. Also, using a little coconut oil can help replenish strands.” –Matt Fugate
"Protein loss is the most significant way to create split ends. Chemical processes, the environment and heat servicing help this along quicker than you think. Using a mending serum daily, like Phytokératine Extrême Exceptional Cream, on both damp and dry hair that gives complete thermal protection and reduces breakage while stabilizing moisture and nourishing the hair daily is an insurance policy for healthy-looking hair from root to tip!” –Christyn Nawrot Kérastase
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Camouflaging Roots
L’Oréal Paris Root Cover Up, $9.99 at Target
“If you have darker hair, you can use a little mascara or eyeshadow to fill the color in while you're waiting. Try changing the direction of your part because sometimes roots show more in certain areas. You can also pull all the hair back into a bun or half-up hairstyle using the Wrap Up, so that the roots are less noticeable.” –Sarah Potempa
“Braids are another go-to as they mix the colors to look intentional.” –Matt Fugate “You can quickly hide your roots by using a touch-up powder or spray. You can also try creating a zigzag part, which helps conceal roots.” –Edward Tricomi
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Unruly Nape Hair
TRESemmé Tres Gel Extra Hold, $3.99 at Target
Unruly nape hair can be a sight for sore eyes when wearing your hair up. To tame those edges, “flip your head over and use a flat brush to blowdry upward to stretch out and smooth the curls. Then, use a smoothing balm to hold and give shine.” –Jenny Balding
“Some red carpet celebrities have been known to clean the hairline with laser treatments to remove unruly hair. A gel works really well if you're going for more of a slick look. Apply gel when the hair is wet and then go over the nape with a blowdryer to lock the hair down. The Mini Touch Up iron is also great to tame the hair around the edges.” –Sarah Potempa
“Also, keratin treatments can help tame those pesky nape hairs for more of a long-term solution.” –Larry Sims
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Frizz
Bumble and bumble Defrizz, $28 at Sephora
If you have curly hair, what you do to your hair while it’s wet goes a long way in helping to eliminate frizz. “While hair is wet, use a cotton T-shirt or microfiber towel to scrunch dry. Do not disturb the curl pattern afterward. Scrunch in Mizani True Textures Curl Enhancing Lotion and use a diffuser or let air-dry.” –César Ramirez, celebrity hairstylist and Mizani global artistic director
“After washing your hair, try and not rinse all the conditioner out to eliminate frizz.” –Christina Giarrizzo, stylist at Marie Robinson Salon
“Finishing creams and leave-in conditioners help seal the hair follicle and are a godsend when combatting frizz.” –Edward Tricomi
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Awkward Bangs
Nina Crystal Embellished Floral Head Wrap, $158 at Nordstrom
Growing out bangs can be a process. It takes a bit of time and they often feel awkward while growing them out, but it doesn’t have to be that way. “Have fun with them!!! They are great at all lengths if you are imaginative. Be Bardot one day with them flat and loose, be Farrah the next with a flip and Gwen Stefani another with a pomp roll — the styling options are endless.” –Matt Fugate
“Play with ways to style your hair — part it to a side or experiment with accessories, like headbands, clips and pins. Once your bangs reach the length between your eye and ear, ask your stylist to point cut the ends of the bangs so that you can blend them in with the rest of your hair. You can also ask your stylist to cut up the length to decrease the space and make them look like they are the same haircut, not bangs growing out. And also, face-framing layers will blend them in as they grow out.” –Karrie Fonte
