How to Achieve Salon-Quality Hair at Home
Ever wished that you could replicate the professional finish that your hairstylist always seems to accomplish with your locks?
With the right tools and knowledge, this is definitely possible. Read on as HerStyler talks you through how to achieve salon hair at home.
Use the Right Shampoo
Gorgeous salon hair always starts with a clean mane, so this needs to be your very first step. However, the shampoo that you use for this will make a big difference. Often, stylists shampoo their clients’ hair twice; first with a clarifying shampoo and then with a hydrating shampoo. The clarifying shampoo removes product build-up while the hydrating shampoo is a gentler formula that finishes the job.
This process can be replicated at home, but don’t do it too often. Clarifying shampoos can be useful but they can also be quite harsh on the hair. Use them too much and they’ll strip away the natural coating that keeps each strand moisturized and protected. However, once in a while, they’re ideal for achieving a salon-worthy feel!
Indulge in a Scalp Massage
For many people, the best part of a salon visit is the scalp massage that they’re given when their hair is being shampooed. Not only does this feel ultra-relaxing, but it offers up some very real benefits too.
When your scalp is massaged, it stimulates circulation. This means that your hair follicles will be receiving more oxygen and nutrients, allowing them to function more efficiently. Over time, it will leave your roots and strands feeling stronger and more resilient, while helping your hair to look thicker and fuller.
With that said, while you want to apply firm and even pressure, don’t be too vigorous when massaging your scalp. This will only cause your strands to break. Instead, use the pads of your fingers (rather than your nails) to gently rub and knead your scalp while you’re shampooing your hair. This will also help you to better work the shampoo into your hair, resulting in a more thorough cleanse.
Follow Up With a Conditioner Suited For Your Hair Type
As you’ll know from your visits to the hair salon, once you’re done shampooing your hair, it’s time to condition it. At a hair salon, your stylist will have several different conditioners to choose from. They’ll pick the one that’s best suited to your locks as this is what will give you that soft and shiny salon hair.
So, when replicating the process at home, using the right conditioner is vital. If your hair is dry or damaged, it will be desperate for the moisture provided by a conditioner. You’ll need a rich formula to cater to this, just like the HerStyler Argan Oil & Biotin Conditioner.
Meanwhile, if your hair is fine or oily, you’d benefit from a lighter formula that doesn’t contain heavy oils, such as the Rosehip & Sage Conditioner from HerStyler. Not only will this product condition your hair but the ingredients within it will also help your hair to feel less greasy over time.
Trim Those Ends
One key aspect of salon hair is that the ends of the hair look even and healthy. There aren’t any split ends or fraying strands – all of that damage is trimmed away.
If you feel confident in your hair-trimming skills, this is something that you can attempt at home too. The best time to do this is when your hair is wet as you’ll be able to see those clean lines much more easily.
To make sure that your trim is even, create a center parting and bring each half of your hair over your shoulders. Keep your shoulders and chin level and use some hairdressing scissors to snip off any strands that are poking out from the bottom of your lengths. Don’t be tempted to alter the actual length of your hair yourself – this is a job best saved for your hairstylist. However, trimming off a few split ends is simple enough and will help to give you the salon hair you’re seeking.
Be Gentle When Towel Drying
We’ve already told you how important it is to be gentle with your hair when massaging your scalp. After all, wet hair is at its most vulnerable state, making it highly prone to snapping.
So, the same advice applies when you’re towel drying your hair too. Rather than roughly scrubbing at your strands with a towel, use your towel to gently squeeze out excess moisture instead. If you use a microfiber towel for this, that would be even better thanks to how highly absorbent microfiber is.
Apply a Heat Protectant to Damp Hair
Salon hair usually involves heat, from both a blow dryer as well as other styling tools. This makes a heat protectant absolutely essential. It’s a step that hairstylists never skip as they’re all too familiar with the damage that heat can cause when used on unprotected hair. Buffering the brunt of that heat with a heat protectant saves your strands from the appearance of damage while still allowing you to style your locks to perfection.
Which heat protectant do they use at hair salons?
Again, that depends on the needs of your hair. If your hair is extremely fine, a lightweight spray would likely be chosen. On the other hand, if your hair is showing signs of dryness and damage, a hydrating hair serum, like the HerStyler Marula Hair Nourishing Serum, would be a better choice.
Either way, if you want to take a professional approach, apply your heat protectant while your hair is still damp. Damp hair is more permeable than dry hair, which will allow the product to better sink into your strands.
Learn How to Detangle Correctly
It goes without saying that salon hair is always tangle-free. However, if you’re overzealous with your de-tangling efforts, you’ll only end up causing breakages and damage. Detangling is easiest when hair is wet, but this is also when your hair is most fragile. This is why it’s important to learn how to correctly detangle your hair.
Rather than immediately reaching for a detangling tool, you should always start with your fingers. Your fingers will be more sensitive to any small knots. This will allow you to slowly work them out with your fingers rather than yanking a brush through them.
Once you’ve done as much detangling as you can with your fingers, you can then finish things off with a detangling tool. HerStyler’s De-Tangle Brush is great for use in the shower thanks to its palm-friendly design that makes it so easy to grip. Meanwhile, our Pro Detangler Brush works will work beautifully to unknot your locks once you’re out of the shower.
Invest in a Professional Quality Blow Dryer
Usually, a hairstylist will partly towel-dry hair before completing the drying process with a blow dryer. Not only does this allow them to set hair in the perfect way but it has also been proven to be the safest way to dry hair.
With that said, a good blow dryer is key. Your hairstylist will likely one use professional-level blow dryers, meaning models that are equipped with powerful motors that get the job done quickly and efficiently. A concentrator attachment is essential too. This will allow you to direct the flow of air downward, giving you a sleek rather than frizzy finish.
Don’t Skimp on Your Styling Tools
If you’re keeping things simple, your trip to the salon will likely come to an end once your stylist has finished blow-drying your hair. However, if you’re looking for a specific look, there’s a good chance that your hairstylist will then turn to the use of styling tools.
There are plenty out there but there are two must-haves for your home hairstyling arsenal; a flat iron and a curling wand.
If curls are something that you often experiment with, a versatile curling wand, like the Rose Gold Titanium 3P Curler from HerStyler, would be a great choice. This model comes with three interchangeable barrels, enabling you to create curls of varying types and sizes.
If you don’t often curl your hair, then you may not want to invest in a curling wand, especially since many flat irons are just as good at forming waves in the hair. The Colorful Seasons 8 Green, for example, will not only straighten your strands so that they look flawlessly sleek, but it will also give you beachy waves to die for.
Keep Your Tools Clean
One mistake that many make when trying to achieve salon hair at home is not cleaning their styling tools. However, hair salons always make sure that their tools are kept clean, not only for hygienic reasons but also because it’s harder to accomplish a professional finish with dirty tools.
Blow dryers, for instance, can easily overheat when they’re dirty. This extra heat leads to split ends and other forms of damage. A dirty blow dryer will also take longer to dry your hair. To give yours a clean, remove the filter guard and clear away any debris from the filter itself. If yours consists of a soft mesh, you may even be able to remove it and wash it. However, allow it to fully dry before inserting it back into your blow dryer.
When it comes to your flat irons and curling wands, these tools easily pick up product buildup from the hair each time they’re used. It doesn’t take long for those plates and barrels to end up coated in grime. This will damage your hair each time you use that tool, making it important, once again, to keep your styling tools clean.
Achieve Gorgeous Salon Hair at Home With HerStyler
If you don’t usually spend much time on your hair, then you’re unlikely to achieve salon hair overnight. Instead, this process requires the right products, tools, and techniques. However, with some practice, taking a professional approach to caring for and styling your locks will soon become second nature, enabling you to create a salon-worthy look each and every time you work with your locks!
