After I shared my weekly hair care routine, I received a lot of follow-up asking for shampoo/conditioner recommendations.  The truth is I'm slightly shampoo/conditioner ADD; I don't have a tried and true brand that I swear by or I stick to.  Like mascara, I'm constantly searching for the holy grail of hair care.  I have come into brands which I do truly like so I thought that I'd share what I've tried and stay in my rotation:

I'll read you in on a little secret, more often than not these days more and more women aren't washing their hair everyday.  Depending on your hair type, there's a lot of literature out there that says washing your hair everyday strips it of healthy oils and actually dries your hair out more over time making it less healthy (And yes, there is actually literature on hair care).  Or maybe that's just my excuse for not washing and drying my hair everyday.  I had started this washing my hair two times a week thing while I was out on maternity leave - it was easier to get away with greasier hair when you had the valid excuse of an infant, but hadn't found my holy grail of dry shampoo until a little over a year ago.  Here's the trick with not washing your hair, dry shampoo.  Live it. Love it. Own it.  As proof that this not washing your hair everyday thing actually works, I thought I'd offer up some photographic proof, as well as my hair care regime.

Sunday Night - Wash my hair, put in 'It's a 10' Leave-in Conditioner, and let air dry overnight

Monday Morning - Hot style hair with either curling iron or straight iron

Tuesday Morning - Spritz Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray in hair and curl

Wednesday Morning - Spray DryBar Dry Shampoo (for Brunettes here) at hairline, and at several points underneath hair around crown of head.  Let sit for a few minutes and comb through.

Wednesday Night - Lather, rinse, repeat.


So basically, under the best circumstances, I wash my hair on Sunday and Wednesday nights.  Depending upon my level of activity and what else we are up to, I might alter the schedule a little (e.g., using dry shampoo earlier in the process), but generally speaking the schedule works for me.

A few other tips for keeping you hair as healthy as possible:
- I use a wide tooth comb to brush my hair at all times. It tends to pull out the tangles a little more gentler and I have found less breakage
- Use a good shampoo/conditioner; I haven't found a favorite yet, but I bounce around between several options
- Limit heat to your hair as much as possible.
- Vitamins; at least a multi-vitamin, if not a biotin supplement

So let me know, is this something you'd want to give a go? Do you wash your hair everyday? What are your favorite products?

This happens to me every couple of years: the desire to switch up my hair and try something different.  Sometimes it manifests itself as a drastic color change, other times is a significant cut or style switch.  And with a hair appointment looming on Friday, I'm seriously considering a shorter, more defined cut like the above picture. And though my hair dresser will tell it like it is, I'd like to get your opinions.  Should I make the cut? It is just hair afterall, right?!

Dear Mayer,

Finding a hair stylist is serious business, at least for me.  Next to Hubs, my relationship with my hair stylist is the next important relationship in my life.  Perhaps it's because I've been burned in the past, or maybe it is just that I am very particular about my hair, but whatever the reason, I have always walked away from a hair appointment happy and with a refreshed hair style.  It's all too often that I hear from other women, "I'm just not happy with my hair. I wish that I hadn't done..." For that reason, I have come up with some sure-fire ways to ensure a great experience next time you are sitting in your hair stylist's chair.

1) Select the right stylist for you: Once I identified a salon that I wanted to try, I called to make an appointment and told the receptionist what my hair type and color was, as well as what services I wanted to have done.  By disclosing exactly what I wanted up front, the salon was able to pair me with someone who specialized in what my needs were.

2) Arrive at your appointment prepared: Look through magazines and bring lots of pictures from different views of the same hair style or color that you are interested in.



3) Have an honest conversation with your hair stylist: Try as I might, I know that my hair has serious limitations and some hair styles, no matter how much I love them, will simply not work with my hair or face type.  And additionally, find a hair stylist who is not afraid to tell you no.  Sometimes we are our own worst enemies when it comes to hair styles or colors and having someone to tell you no is always helpful.

5) Know your own limitations: While going extreme and dying or cutting hair in a completely different way than what you are used to may sound fun, if you don't like change or handle change well, ease into what you want to do.  By going in phases, you may be more apt to enjoy your hair style. (It also won't be as much of a shock to those around you).


              

4) Be your own advocate: During the hair cut and style, don't be afraid to ask questions and tell them if there is something happening that you don't like or is not what you wanted.

5) Pay attention to how your hair stylist styles your hair:  Especially if you hair style is more involved, making sure that you know how to re-create the style is part of the key to being happy with your hair. And PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE.  For me, it's not the first time that I get my hair right, but it takes a few tries to perfect it.

And if you are local and looking for a fantastic salon, check out Salon Blu.  All of their locations are fantastic!

The humidity does a number to my generally unruly hair.  Therefore, over the summer months, I look to find easy hairstyles that are still stylish that I can wear over the summer months until October when my hair goes back to being better behaved.