Six Smart Styling Tips to Bring Out the Best in Your Hair

Those who want to catch the eye of a certain someone would be wise to start pampering their mane the way it should be pampered if they are counting on using shiny hair as the boy-bait.  (Man bait or guy bait works too.) Sure you may have read that too much styling can damage your locks.  Which is true.  That can happen.  But damage is not foreordained if you style your hair the right way. 

Besides there are plenty of other things that can produce damaged, lifeless if not downright ugly hair too.

The Many Causes of Damaged Ugly Hair
Damaged hair could be due to certain illnesses like say you're suffering from diabetes, lupus, or thyroid disease.  Yeast and fungal infections may also contribute to follicle failure.  While lice infestation could badly impact the health of your scalp. Not to mention how gross those creepy crawlies are. 

Another factor that could bring about damaged hair are certain medications.  The list of possible culprits found in your medicine cabinet would include birth control pills, antidepressants, blood thinners, chemo drugs, as well as cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Even worse supposedly good for you things like vitamins can do more harm than good.  For example did you know too much Vitamin A could  lead to serious hair loss? 

And let's get real.  Those fast food meals grabbed on the run may catch up to your tresses eventually too.  Not to mention what a crash diet can do to your locks. Or what you could say are another reason why denying your body nutrients like that isn't such a good idea.  In essence if you don't take care diet wise, you'll likely end up facing an endless string of bad hair days - for the rest of your life.

What else?  What about stress?  That's another easily overlooked cause that can lead you down the path to damaged hair.  Not to mention the havoc genetics and hormonal changes can wreck.  Which could also explain why your hair could be thinning out.

External factors can also cause problems such as too much sun exposure. Chemicals like sufates and the like in some shampoos could also leave your tresses strickened.

Other poor hair care practices to avoid include constantly wearing tight braids and excessive brushing. So much for that 100 strokes stuff.

Okay, but the title there promised six styling tips.  So after taking a quick look at things that can damage your hair aside from what happens when styling let's look at what can go wrong when you do.  Plus some other reminders thrown in for good measure. 

Six Styling Tips for Awesome Hair

Below are six hair care and styling tips that you'll want to keep handy.

Tip#1: Always, always, always apply heat protection spray or serum to your hair before you even think of picking up that curling or flat iron.  And you're right.  This may not guarantee your hair will never get damaged. But at the least it could reduce the potential for damage.  Especially for heavy users of hot styling tools.

Tip#2: Avoid blow drying.  Yeah, if you can possibly avoid using the blow dryer, please do. If you can't go cold turkey be sure that you at least position the dryer 6-12 inches away from your scalp.  Also be sure to try to direct the air down the hair shaft to smooth out the hair cuticles.  So they are flat to best reflect the light.

And one last thing about your blow drying - never direct the dryer on a certain section of hair for too long.  The idea is to constantly move the dryer from part of your head to another. Once you're done, give your hair a good once over using the coldest setting to seal the hair cuticle.  This will result in shinier locks.

Tip#3: Get frequent trims.  This is a good way to stay on top of those annoying splits and breaks at the hair tips.  Oh, yeah, and don't forget to apply leave-in conditioner on the ends too.

Tip#4: Brush your hair only when it's dry.  If it's is anywhere near wet you need to use a wide-toothed comb to keep the strands from pulling and snapping.

Tip#5:  Go for layers to flatter your face.  Don't do it yourself though.  A visit at the salon would not hurt at all.  Bangs could give oomph to your look as well.

Tip#6:  Prevent hair frizz by running an antifrizz serum or spritz through your hair.  And every time you're done styling, keep your hands off your hair to avoid frizzes too.

Your hair is what most people would likely notice first.  You want them to notice it because it's shiny, healthy and stylish.  Accomplishing that should be easier for you now that you've read these tips.  And perhaps better understand all the things that can affect your look.