Our hair. It’s a love, hate relationship really. One day we love the length, the next day we want to chop it off. One day we love being a brunette, the next day we go blonde. But no matter what the color or length, we always want to make sure it looks and feels its best. Last month, I sat down with my local salon, Salon Surreal, to talk about tips and tricks for healthy skin. This month, we comb through questions about our hair. Read on for the truth about common myths and some easy ways you can make your hair shine bright!
Love Your Hair: Ten tips from the pros at Salon Surreal.
If I pluck a gray hair, will five grow in its place?
This is an old wives tale. Not only will there not be five hairs that grow in its place, but when you pull a hair out you risk permanently damaging the follicle. If this happens then the hair will never grow back, so think twice before plucking.
Is it bad to wear a ponytail or “mom bun” all the time?
Let’s just say it’s not the best thing for your hair. Wearing a bun or pony all the time is putting constant tension on your hair. This is especially not good for your hair around your face, as it tends to be weaker and can break from the constant pulling.
Is there any way to actually get your hair to grow faster?
There is no proven method to having your hair grow faster. The best advice I can give is to be diligent about getting your regular haircuts. Although it may seem counterproductive, cleaning up your split ends is what prevents breakage and will allow you to really see your hair start growing.
What is the best way to protect your hair from ponytails and avoid hair ripping out?
It’s all in the hair tie. You want to use an elastic fabric type, such as “Kitsch” hair ties. Your hair won’t get caught in them and bonus, they don’t crease your hair!
What should you do with your hair while you sleep?
This will depend on your hair type. The one thing I don’t recommend is sleeping with your hair up. Again, the constant tension is not good for your hair.
What’s your favorite product to hide gray hairs in between appointments?
I love the Bumble and Bumble hair powder. It comes in a variety of colors and you spray it where you want to disguise your grey. It will stay in until your next shampoo and looks very natural, no one will even notice it!
What is the benefit of a deep conditioner?
A deep conditioner is going to put back some necessary moisture in your hair. Especially in our climate here in Phoenix, we need to be putting that moisture back into our strands. They are designed to penetrate the hair and leave the lasting effects of the conditioner. I would try to do this once a week if you can.
Is it true that my hair will fall out after pregnancy? What can I do to keep it healthy?
There is a condition called “postpartum alopecia” which causes the hair to shed after giving birth due to hormone changes. Not all women go through this, but can happen 4-6 months after having your baby. Generally it has nothing to do with the health of your hair and is a temporary condition, the hair should grow back.
What are your favorite products to splurge on?
Personally, I am a product junkie! I will splurge on the products that best fix my issue. For instance, my hair is very straight and flat, so a good root lifter is huge for me. I’m obsessed with Bumble and Bumble’s “thickening mousse.” It does exactly what I need so the cost is worth it to me.
Do any drugstore shampoos actually work?
As a hair professional I do not recommend drugstore hair products for a few reasons. Although drugstore shampoos do contain high-grade ingredients found in salon products, they only contain small amounts of them. They typically contain chemicals, which can strip your hair of its natural oils, essentially drying it out. They’re also known for diluting their products with fillers. These tend to make your hair feel super soft, but can also leave behind a waxy build-up. Basically, your hair feels soft but isn’t actually hydrated from within. Think of your hair as an investment of sorts. Why spend a hundred plus at your salon for your color only to use drug store shampoo which is undoing what your hairdresser worked so hard to do?
Salon Surreal is located on 16th Street and Glendale and offers professional hair and skin care services.
A special thanks to professional hair stylist Karli Fautch for answering the questions! For more information about Karli’s amazing work, follow her on Instagram: @knarlikarli