Susan Says: Hair Advice from the Experts

I am always looking for the latest and greatest hair-care tips and products. In an effort to gather some great ideas, I went to some of my favorite sources, including my own personal hair stylist and two of my favorite magazines. Here is some of the hair-care wisdom:

 
Brian McClain, Hair Stylist 

Since hair is usually the thing that people notice about us first, the first thing I sought out when I relocated to Florida (yes, even before a finding a physician) was a skilled hair stylist who "gets it." Your hair style is your everyday accessory and your hair color should be updated to complement your skin tone and keep a youthful appearance. 


Our personal hair stylist is Brian McClain.  Before bringing his talents to Naples, FL, Brian was Artistic Director of his own salon in Chicago for over twenty years.  I asked Brian about the latest trends in hair and he replied,  "Full, textured hair is very of the moment and rightfully so after ten years of stick straight hair. ... I personally love lush, textured looks with color that is artistically painted with a variety of gorgeous hues blended with definition.." 

Brian's favorite new hair product? Paul Mitchell Texturizing Sea Spray.  Brian raves, "It is a hair spray that a day at the beach would give you.  I prefer applying it on wet hair and adding a little throughout the day."

You can make an appointment for a consultation with Brian by phoning him at 239-200-9710.  He is offering 15% off your first visit for cut and color services.

Ladies' Home Journal

In October 2011, Ladies' Home Journal had a wonderfully insightful article on communicating what you want and, more importantly, what you want to avoid when communicating with your hair stylist. Here are some pointers that are worth remembering:

1.  If you don't want high maintenance hair, say so.

2.  Note any feature you would like to highlight or downplay.

3.  Take a gradual approach to change.

4.  Ease into bangs; specify length and whether side or straight .

5.  Brings photos to clarify; a picture is worth 1,000 words!

6.  When you ask for a trim, specify exactly; a trim typically is one to one and one half inches.

7.  Never say "whatever you think is best."

LHJ also offered these tips for what not to expect from your hair stylist:

1.  Instant dramatic lightening - When people wish to make a dramatic change in color, from super dark hair to blonde or red, it cannot typically occur in one sitting.  If you do so, it could possibly damage the hair.   For major lightening, allow for a number of appointments.

2.  Exact photo matching - If you have an old photo of yourself and wish to replicate the color, remember that our skin tone changes with age.  Also, a change in style can change the appearance of the color on you now.

5.  Total long lasting coverage - The texture of most grays make them tough to color and tough to keep colored.  To date, nobody has come up with the perfect formula to keep gray away for as long as we would like.

6.  Never simply request a texturizing cut:  What it could amount to is a razor cut which can often be too feathery; when asking for a cut to add volume, specify root volume; otherwise you could end up with a mushroom look!

Prevention Magazine

Finally, Jennifer Goldstein, Beauty Editor of Prevention Magazine stresses the importance of frequent trims, and offers some helpful hints, such as that if you request a "dusting," which is less than 1/4 inch, you may pay less than you would for a regular haircut.  Also, frequent shampooing is very drying to hair.  It is wise to wash hair less frequently and instead massage a dry shampoo into sectioned hair, which also provides volume.  

I personally love Alterna products; in fact, they make a dry anti-aging shampoo.  Another award-winning product for your consideration for restructuring hair is Redken Time Reset Corrective Defense. I just received a sample of Alterna Ten Shampoo, which is sulfate-free and rebalances all hair types; I found it to be moisturizing and volumizing.  Appropriately, I will give it a perfect 10!