Five Steps to Flawless Hair

As women, we are always searching for new and interesting products to give us flawlessly, luscious locks. While there are certainly treatments and tools that can aid us in unlocking the secret to perfect hair, it’s important to have the basics down. Here, Gocha Hawkins, celebrity hairstylist, and owner of Gocha Salon, shares her top five tips for getting the look you want, and keeping hair healthy at the same time.

Get a Great Hair Cut

As Gocha puts it, “A good cut means that even when hair dries naturally, and despite all of the environmental factors, your hair will always look presentable. However, a lot of women forget that regular trims are needed to maintain the desired style. Professionals recommend trims every 6-8 weeks for a reason; when ends become split, it hinders hair health and creates frizz.”

Apply Product Prior to Styling

Gocha explains, “Using a humidity blocker like Alterna’s Bamboo Smooth Anti-Humidity Spray ($18) can go a long way to preventing issues due to heat in the warmer months. But it’s also important to use the product every time you style in order to create a buffer zone between hair and the extreme heat of your tool of choice, whether it is a blow drier, straightener or curling iron. Watch which product your hairstylist uses prior to blow-drying, and pick it up from your salon.”

Use the Right Shampoo & Conditioner for You

“It’s important to know your hair’s texture and to consider whether or not you’ve had color treatments or other recent stresses that can damage your ‘do. Talk to your hairstylist about which products he or she would recommend. In addition, using too much shampoo and conditioner can dull hair; use a drop the size of a quarter. Over-doing it on conditioner and shampoo leaves hair greasy and limp,” says Gocha.

Make Time to Pamper Your Hair

As Gocha articulates, “If there is one thing I tell all of my customers, it’s to make time to deep condition hair. Check with your hair professional to see which particular treatment is right for you and apply it at least every two weeks, though once a week is best. This goes a long way to keep hair healthy and shiny, as well as strong, preventing breakage and allowing you to experience the best hair day possible. One of my favorite deep conditioners is Aveda’s Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment ($22.89 at Amazon.com); this is great for women who flat-iron their hair often.”

Be Prepared

“Don’t leave the house without a hair tie or a hair clip if your hair is long. There’s no way to avoid every mishap, and having the option to style differently can be your saving grace on a difficult hair day. The longer your hair, the more likely it is for you to encounter obstacles that damage your look. Another fashion forward option is the headband, which allows you to accessorize in addition to hiding less-than-perfect hair,” explains Gocha.

Gocha says, “Having healthy hair is the key to avoiding a bad hair day. Keep in mind that preventative measures are always preferable over damage control. If you treat your hair well, it will reward you with one great hair day after the next!”