Through the years I have paid close attention to how my hair works, and have adapted my routine to suit it. As a Hair Stylist, I use tips and tricks I have learned along the way. I feel that this routine works best on full bodied hair that can hold curls well. If you have finer hair you can try this with strong hold products, or smaller barrels when styling.
Continue on to learn more about my process, and the products and tools I recommend which I have linked throughout this post.
WASH:
I don't know about you ladies, but doing my hair feels like the biggest task the older I get!
So because of this, my focus when I wash my hair is to have my hair last at least 4 days, 5 if I can stretch it! Not only does it take a load off of your shoulders, it is great for the health of your hair and scalp!
I switch between two different brands of Shampoo and Conditioner every few months. Moroccan Oil and AG . I am currently using the AG Naturals Balance Shampoo & Boost Conditioner. Both lines smell absolutely amazing, and both are sulfate, phosphate, and paraben free.
A tip to get the best results out of your wash is to Shampoo, Rinse, Shampoo a second time, Rinse, Condition (leave in for a few minutes) during this time you can lightly detangle your hair with your fingers or a large wide tooth comb starting from the ends and working your way up, then do your Final Rinse.
Lightly towel dry and continue onto the next step.
PREP:
Starting off, you can add any products to your towel dried hair.
If you like lots of volume you can use a mousse. Start with your roots and then move the excess product throughout the rest of the hair. Moroccan Oil has a great Volumizing Mousse that is light weight. I use the Moroccan Oil Treatment from the mid shaft of my hair to the ends during this stage. You can also use a heat protectant during this time, I love the one from Moroccan Oil as well. ( I am a huge lover of Moroccan Oil products, incase you can't already tell.) Tresemé makes a great heat protectant too that is very affordable.
This tends to be the part for me that usually feels like a chore, but I have a tip that will help! Break up the time between your Wash/Blow Dry, and Styling Your Hair.
You can choose how to organize this so that it works best for you and your hair type.
For Example, if I am getting prepared for a work week ahead, I usually wash/blow dry my hair in the evening and then style it the following morning, before work. Or let's say I have an event to attend on a day off, I will wash/blow dry my hair earlier that day, and then style my hair closer to the time I need to be ready for. I find this tip helps my mind set, and also allows my hair to be fully dried and settled before styling it.
DRY:
Now let's get to drying!
This step is important because fully drying your roots is the key to success here.
This will help your style keep it's volume longer.
First focus on the front and top portions of your hair. You can section your hair with clips to help you out.
Use a Round Brush or Paddle Brush. Work with decent amounts of hair in each section.
Blow dry the hair in different directions ( this creates more volume) and really focus on the roots through to the mid shaft of your hair, ensuring you can get those areas fully dried and smoothed. Your technique does not have to be perfect.
Then rough dry the remaining hair that is damp. You can use the blow dryer and brush if you are comfortable, or you can simply rough dry until your hair is fully dried.
Blow Dryers: My 2 favourite blow dryers are the Dyson and the Babyliss Pro Portofino.
It is well worth your money to invest in a professional hair dryer as it cuts your drying time down massively, and is less damaging to your hair.
There are tons of amazing brands out there, these are the two that I have experienced and love.
Brushes: Any Ceramic Coated round brush will give you the best results.
This one by Moroccan Oil is my favourite and comes in every size.
Wet Brush has amazing paddle brushes and they are super affordable.
STYLE:
My Go-to style is Curls. Mainly because it lasts the longest, and as the days go by it turns into a lose wave. This way I am able to get the most days out of my style.
I section my hair into 3 parts. Top, Middle, and Bottom. I clip up the Top and Middle sections, and start curling from the Bottom section and work my way up.
Using a larger barrel curling iron will help cut your style time down. If you are looking for longevity here, and you have the time, I suggest going in with a tighter barrel. If you aren't a fan of tight curls you can always brush the curls out at the end.
The easiest and quickest way to curl your hair, is by wrapping your hair around the barrel in the direction away from the face. Start a few inches down from the roots, and hold it there for a few seconds until the heat penetrates throughout the hair.
Most women have told me that they are more comfortable using Curling Wands or Flat Irons rather than your traditional Curling Irons. Really choose a tool that you are comfortable using.
Curling Irons: I have the Babyliss Pro Curling irons in many sizes. They have lasted me many years and heat up very fast! I have very long hair, so the barrel size I use more regularly on myself is the 1.25". If I want to go a bit tighter, I use the 1" barrel. If I want a larger curl I use the 1.5".
The Hot Tool Heat Protecting Pouch & Pad in the photo above is amazing. I have one for every hot tool I own. This is especially useful in my stylist kit!
Check out the chart below from totalbeauty.com which gives great examples of the types of curls you can create with different size barrels. This is so helpful if you are in the market for a new curling iron!
SET & FORGET:
I like to finish off with Hair Spray throughout my hair to lock in the style. I go for a medium hold hair spray, and you guessed it! I love the one from Moroccan Oil, Surprise! Surprise!
I also love the L'Oreal Elnette Hairspray. This is labeled as an Extra Strong Hold Hair Spray, but it is brush-able and moveable, so I rate it as a Medium Hold Hair Spray.
As the days go on you can use Dry Shampoo. I am currently using the Batiste Dry Shampoo. On day 3 and onward, you will catch me with half up half down hair styles, pony tails, and low buns until it is time for my next wash.
All of your hard work is finally over! Trust me, it becomes easier the more you do it, and you will thank me! The key tip is splitting up the process, it truly helps my mindset towards doing my hair, and makes me happy to know my hair will look great for days to come.
I hope this was helpful for you! I enjoyed sharing these tips and products with you, and would love to hear any feedback. If you have any questions or if you would like to see more content from me, you can contact me on my instagram: @tiffanydesa_hairstyles.