Can’t make your hair look anything like what your stylist does? There are two prerequisites to re-creating the style yourself and having beautiful hair all day long.

1. Get a terrific haircut. Seems obvious, but here’s where many women go wrong. If your hairstylist gives you a good but not great haircut, try discussing specifically what you’re really looking for, and bring pictures.
   
   
2. Keep your hair healthy. Two factors play an important role here: the amount of chemical services you put it through (such as hair color, relaxing, etc) and the frequency with which you blow-dry or use irons of any kind to straighten or curl your hair. To keep your hair healthy, choose a stylist who uses and recommends quality hair care products that will promote healthy hair.

You will need:

• Good shampoo, conditioner, and pre- and post-styling products;
• A large tooth comb or paddle/massage brush;
• Three to four large clips;
• A round brush or diffuser; and
• A good blow-dryer (Ionic, Thermal and/or Ceramic (best if you can find all three). I use the FHI, which I love!

Tip #1:
Begin with shampooed and well-conditioned hair. (Yes, a conditioner! If you’re using the right products, conditioner will not make your hair limp, but instead make your blow-dry go much faster.) After shampooing, squeeze out as much water from your hair with your hands as possible, then apply your conditioner – and comb it through. This evenly distributes the serum throughout all your hair, reducing tangles and giving it more shine.

Tip #2:
Wrap your hair in a towel for a few minutes to remove excess moisture. (This is a great time to apply facial and body moisturizer.) Remove the towel and apply a smoothing fluid on the ends and a volumizer/holding product on the root area. Comb through evenly, and now you’re ready to blow-dry. I do hair before makeup because you’ll apply much less makeup once your hair has been styled..

Tip #3:
Comb hair, section Part hair on the usual side, comb hair into place as close to your desired style as possible, then blow-dry hair all around or upside down for a bit, removing about 25% of the moisture.
Next, disconnect the side hair from the back by separate and clipping. (this means section off from the top at crown, down to the top of the ear on each side, then keep separate using clips.
Now blow-dry the bang (or fringe) area in front first. (Note: Once hair has dried on its own, it will have a mind of its own.)
Then go to the back of the head and blow-dry from the bottom up, using clips to pin up all but the nape area. Dry this first, then the middle back of the head section, then the top back section. Go to sides now, one side at a time, and dry these areas from the bottom up as well, using clips to help keep damp hair out of your way. Last , dry the top of the head and blend into the bang.

If you wear your hair curly, follow tips #1 and #2 and use a diffuser on your blower. Scrunch hair to help form curls with your head upright, then flip your head over and scrunch a little more. Use a light holding spray and let it be. Just before you leave for the office, turn your head over and shake lightly with your hands.

Tip #4:
When finished blowing or diffusing, use finishing hair spray, it will keep your style in place so you will look terrific all day long.

Tip #5:
Carry a travel size finishing spray in your purse! If you need to go from the office to a business dinner, or a private engagement, just fluff, spray lightly and go. If you’ve done your work in the morning, you’ll have nothing left to do but powder, add lip color, fluff your hair and spray lightly. You’re ready to go!