Lucy Adams finds that the right cut
and color, plus a little styling know-how, are all you need to transform fine
or unruly lengths into shiny, sexy strands…
Model:
Akira Schϋttler
You have: curly hair
Define your kinks with careful cut and
color techniques
Model:
Jennifer Lopez
Cut
The trick to mastering curls is to
banish bulk with the right cutting techniques. To prevent your strands from
looking dense, “ask your hairdresser to take weight out of lengths while
keeping movement at the ends”, suggests John Frieda Australian consultant Rober
Maiolo. This will help to encourage definition and boost your natural bounce.
It’s also best to avoid styles that require too much blow-drying, which will
dehydrate your hair. Instead, select a style that will complement your curls.
While this may mean avoiding angular cuts or short styles, it will result in
more controllable waves.
Color
“Color can be used to define your
curls – the more tones you use, the more defined the curl will be,” explains Belinda
Jeffrey, Nice ‘n Easy color ambassador. Rather than opting for dark shades,
which can make your kinks appear heavy, consider lightening your lengths a
little. Try a lighter color near your roots only, or experiment with a few
face-framing foils to give your strands a sun-kissed look. Avoid all-over bleaching
at all costs, warns Jeffrey – as your hair type is already naturally dry, it
will increase dehydration, making it prone to breakage and frizz.
Style
Using a wide-toothed comb, distribute
a curl-enhancing product through damp hair and then twist to add shape. Invest
in a diffuser for your hairdryer – an essential tool for creating perfect curls
– and gently place small sections of your hair inside the diffuser while you
blast, leaving them to dry. Repeat the process all over your head until your curls
are dry. Finish by smoothing a few drops of serum through your strands to keep
them frizz-free and shiny.
Your toolkit
Wash: Dove Damage Therapy Intensive Repair
Conditioner, $6.50; John Frieda Frizz-Ease Dream Curls Shampoo, $16.
Hydrate: RPR My Vitaliser Leave-in Moisturizer,
$19.95; Gernier Fructics Sleek Shine Smoothing Fortifying Mask, $7.95.
Calm: QV Hair Control Serum, $12.95; Herbal
Essences Tousle Me Softly Mousse, $6.99.
You have: wavy hair
Transform
your unruly lengths into a lustrous, frizz-free style
Model:
Adriana Lima
Cut
“Texture is the secret to managing
wavy hair,” explains Maiolo. He recommends choosing shoulder-length to long
styles and subtle layering to increase manageability and movement. It’s also a
good idea to avoid short, blunt cuts to prevent the “pyramid” effect – where
your hair is flat on top and bulky at the ends. If your strands are thick,
consider removing weight from your mid lengths to ends. “The aim is to break up
wavy tresses, and to work with the natural texture and encourage movement,”
says Maiolo. And unless you’re prepared to blow-dry your hair daily, stay away
from fringes and sharp layers.
Color
Exaggerate your movement with subtle
shade shifts. Avoid significant color changes, which can make your strands more
prone to frizz and fly-aways. To define your waves and boost shine, Jeffrey
advises staying as close as possible to your natural hue and experimenting with
three to four different tones of the same color. Or consider balayage – a
technique focusing on lightening the mid lengths and ends to help enhance your
natural movement.
Style
To master that “I’ m not trying” look,
begin by adding a styling mousse or spray to damp hair before roughly
blow-drying. If your lengths are quite wavy, simply apply a sea salt spray,
scrunch and go. Or if you’d prefer a more defined look, wind small sections
around a curling tong at random before raking your fingers through your hair to
break up the style. To prevent frizz, rub a few drops of serum or smoothing
cream between your palms and apply sparingly from roots to ends.
Your toolkit
Cleanse: L’Oréal Paris hair Expertise EverPure
Sulfate-Free Color Care System Moisture Shampoo, $12.95; Palmolive Naturals
Sleek & Smooth Frizzy Hair Conditioner, $5.
Style: Salon Only Sea Salt Spray, $22.
Smooth: TRESemmé Smooth & Soft Soothing
Crème, $7.95.
You
have: straight hair
Show off your smooth style with these
insider tips
Model:
Coco Rocha
Cut
“If you have straight, thick hair, you
can experiment with a number of styles,” points out Maiolo. However, if you
have fine hair, “the right cut is key to making it appear fuller”. He suggests
a blunt finish that skims your collar-bone, such as a bob or shoulder-length
crop. Care needs to be taken with layering, though. When cut correctly, layers
give your style movement and versatility, but “if you start to chop into fine
hair too much, it starts to look wispy”, warns Maiolo. If you’re after volume,
keep your layers long to enhance movement and texture. And don’t be afraid to
try a fringe – it will draw attention to your eyes and add fullness to your
roots.
Color
“It’s always better to go for an
overall color when it comes to straight hair,” explains Jeffrey. Solid blondes,
rich reds and glossy browns are a simple way to show off smooth, shiny strands.
However, if your hair is very fine, she recommends asking for a subtle mix of
highlights or lowlights to help create the illusion of depth by building texture.
But be sure to ask for a fine weave, and avoid going more than two shades
lighter or darker than your natural hue for the most authentic and even result.
Style
After a straight ’do with movement?
The trick: ditch your flat irons – they can make your hair look lifeless and
limp. Begin by applying a volumising cream or mousse to damp strands, then
divide your lengths down the center. Starting at the crown of your head, take
small sections of hair and wrap them around a round brush while your blow-dry,
pulling down firmly from the roots to the ends and directing the nozzle of your
dryer down the hair shaft to help boost shine. Continue until all your strands
are smoothed, then finish with a mist of hairspray to set your style.
Your toolkit
Clean: Sunsilk Co-Creations by Yuko
Yamashita Straight Perfection Conditioner, $4.95; Pantene Pro-V Aqua Light
Shampoo, $8.
Care: Indola Innova Hydrate Bi-Phase
Conditoner, $17.95.
Boost: VO5 Styling Lacquer Hairspray, $4.50;
Cedel Dry Shampoo for Dark Hair, $8, Schwarzkopf Extra Care Push-Up Volume
Lotion, $8.
