By:   Jeanette Zinno

One of the first things a person notices when they meet you is your hair, and – let’s face it – it is one of our best accessories! 

I recently spoke with a few of the nation's top stylists to find out their secrets for keeping clients' hair looking fierce around the clock. 

Whether you’re after a stunning color, a mane of curls that keep their shape and stay in place, or you'd just like some lusciously luxurious locks, these pros have the styling tips you need to achieve the look and hair you want.

1. If you’re using hot tools on your hair daily, keep in mind that the temperatures of hair dryers and flat irons can reach up to 400 degrees. You can do a lot of damage at that temperature, which is why it’s so important to protect your hair before applying extreme heat. Eufora International Artistic Director Dee Fortier says, “You can shield your hair from the harsh temperatures of hot tools by using a spritz of shine mist, like Eufora's Illuminate. It contains squalane, which is derived from olive skins. Squalane seals the hair's cuticles and helps prevent you from over-heating and damaging the ends, which can cause breakage and slow hair growth.”
2. A sturdy, round brush is essential when blow-drying your hair – it’s a key part of getting that salon look you love. The brush separates the hair as you dry it, takes the moisture out quickly and completely, and will cut drying time in half. There are plenty of good brushes on the market, but a John Frieda round brush is my weapon of choice.
3. Want healthy looking hair? The key to shiny, healthy hair is nourishment from the inside out. Anything and everything you eat affects your skin, nails and hair. The best fuel for Rapunzel looking locks? Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish like salmon and proteins like nuts and cheese.
4. When dying their hair, many women forget about their eyebrows. Dying your eyebrows can change your look completely, so when changing hair color, consult with your hair stylist and discuss your brows. Savita Lakerman, Co-Owner of DS Studio in Manhattan says, “If you're a high-lift blonde, your eyebrow's should be one to two shades darker than your hair color. If you’re a brunette, your eyebrows should match closely to your hair color. For red heads, your hair color should always match your eyebrows.” As a rule of thumb, keeping your eyebrows a little lighter than your mane is always better than going too dark!
5. Do you have straight hair and want a curl that stays in place without looking like you used a gallon of shellac on it? First off, use a smaller curling iron – it creates a tighter curl that will eventually relax into the curl you want. New York Hair Stylist Liam Carey says, “It’s better to think what you want your hair to look like a little later than right that minute. You might start off looking like Shirley Temple when finished curling, but give it an hour and you’ll end like Kim Kardashian. Use a light hairspray to hold your look. I like L’Oreal’s Elnett Satin Hair Spray. It's not sticky, but it holds and you’ll still be able to run your fingers through your hair.”
6. When changing your hair color, instead of matching the color to your skin tone, match it to your eyes. Skin tone changes constantly with the seasons, but your eye color rarely does.
7. Save some time in the shower by just shampooing your scalp. Apply a dime-size amount of shampoo to your scalp, quickly massage, then rinse. The water will pull the shampoo through the rest of your hair and remove any dirt. Then do the opposite with conditioner – apply it only to the ends of your hair to keep your coif light and flowing.
8. Va-va-va-volume! Everyone wants it, but unfortunately not everyone has it – naturally, that is. But that’s okay, says Hair Stylist Dan Sharp of Danka Panka. “Volume comes from the roots of the hair, near the scalp. To get more volume, start off with simply shaking your hair out near your scalp with your fingers. You can also concentrate the heat of your hair dryer at the roots as you lift the hair, which will create volume.” Use these tips in combination with a root lift, like the Brazilian Blowout Açai Instant Volume Thermal Root Lift for voluminous hair.
9. Have curly hair and want a straight look? When you straighten your curls, take small sections and work the flat iron in a slow movement over the hair. You shouldn't have to go over it more than twice. Use a buffer like a light hairspray or serum to help protect against the high heat. It’s also important to use a great conditioner when you straighten your hair, like the DS Organic Haircare Santorini Rebuilding Conditioner. It’s creamy and leaves hair hydrated and shiny, mainly from ingredients like chamomile, which calm your hair cuticles.
10. To keep your hair young, use chemical as rarely as possible. If you color your hair because it's gray, stylists recommend somewhere between four to six weeks. If you're using chemicals because you prefer your hair a few shades darker or lighter, the recommendation is every ten to twelve weeks. You should also avoid anything that pulls on your hair such as tight rollers, ponytails, weaves, and braids. Not only can they cause breakage, but they can destroy your roots permanently, rendering them unable to produce hair. Try clipping your hair back if you can’t stand it in your face.