Take care of that hair!

How many of us have hours to spend getting our hair just right every morning? Yes, even though I do this for a living, I find it very exhausting dealing with my own hair, but there are a few basics—from lifestyle choices to using the right products—that will give your hair the cared-for look it deserves!

• The first golden rule is to eat right. A diet high in saturated fats and processed foods is not doing your hair any favors! Drinking lots of water is also a key factor in silky, shiny hair, and glowing skin as well.

• Visit your salon every 6-8 weeks for a trim. This will not only keep your hair in prime condition, but it will give me a chance to not only have a personal relationship with YOU, but a personal relationship with your hair. Yes, I said it. I have a personal relationship with your hair. The more time I spend with your hair, the more I get used to it and what it needs, what it can do, and most importantly, what it CAN'T do.

• Don’t weigh down your hair with too many products; remember, less is more! If you know me at all, you know I love products that can do multiple things all at the same time. If you have oily locks go ahead and shampoo daily, but for normal or dry hair restrict yourself to every few days at the most. I'm also loving the dry shampoos!

• Brush your hair with a natural-bristle brush every day, and if you can, massage your scalp. This stimulates hair growth. Never pull and tug too hard though! And never, ever EVER rub your hair with your towel! Big time no-no!

• Protect your hair from the sun. This means either a hat or products that shield your locks from UV rays, especially if your hair is color-treated. Also always get your hair wet and apply a leave-in conditioner before getting in a chlorine pool. This will keep your hair from soaking up those harmful minerals that are very bad for your hair.

• Keep blow-drying to a minimum. Let your hair air-dry until it is at least 85-90% dry, and then use the blowdrier, but make sure you're using something to protect your hair from the heat!

• Don’t pull your hair back tightly with elastic bands or clips on a regular basis. This will lead to hair breakage and in some cases to excessive hair loss, especially if your hair is wet. Have you ever noticed that your hair seems longer when it's wet? It is! Your hair is stretched when it's wet, and as it dries (even more so the curlier your hair is) it "shrinks." Well, if you have it tied back wet, and then as it dries... just imagine what you're doing to your hair! It's going to break right off.

Lastly, one of my biggest pet peeves is when someone says, "Oh it's just hair, it'll grow back." Please, be careful with your hair, and your scalp too for that matter. You don't know how good you've got it until it's not there anymore. Plus, it might not always grow back...