| Blast Off Boring Hair Woes |
| Karen Marie Shelton |
| Date: 6/24/2002 |
Introduction
 Like a itch that you can't scratch, boring hair blues start slowly
and accelerate causing daily distress until you have dealt the pesky
problem a major blow. (Photo Toni & Guy - Kim Martin -
All rights reserved)
Hair boredom tends to strike most often during the changing of the
seasons or right before or after major life events. Back to
school hair blues are common along with new job hair jitters.
Prospective brides often work hard to grow out their locks for their
big walk down the aisle only to get the new style itchies shortly
after the honeymoon. Brand new moms often feel a new image will
solidify their new role while newly divorced people often gravitate to
a brand new color or edgy styling technique.
Haste Makes Waste
 If
you are in the white hot throes of a change-your-style-woes, you
probably don't want to hear that it is best to chill way down and
carefully evaluate your new style options. Dig out the reasons
for your current do challenges and determine if you are really primed
for a brand new hair look or just have a mood that will pass.
Remember that if you are getting
married in the near future, altering your look right before your wedding
could be unwise. The same is true to do a presto-chango look to
meet the future in-laws, show up for the first day at school or shoot
a music video. Any major hair changes should be planned as far
in the future as possible with a key life event is on the horizon.
Cooling Off Periods May Save Your
Locks
 Whether you have been loving your sleek shiny bob or
growing your luscious long locks for many years give yourself a
cooling off period of at least two weeks before you take drastic
strand actions ranging from a super chop to a new
purple hue. (Photo - L'Oreal Professional - all rights reserved).
If you absolutely must make a change to ease your
itchiness, consider having a minor hair trim, adding temporary or demi-permanent
colors or investing in a clip-on ponytail, braids or other hair pieces
that will give you an instant new look that is completely
reversible.
Avoid anything that will be irreversible such as
permanent at-home color experiments or other chemicals treatments that
can last a painfully long time.
 If
you have long lovely locks, try new styles to achieve a new look
without reaching for the scissors. Spring for a few bucks to
have your hair braided in a new way or invest in the hot new rope
braiders from Conair.
Play with a few temporary highlights around your face.
Try different chignons or invest in some beautiful new
hair jewelry that will instantly jazz up your style without losing an
inch.
Minor Adjustments Achieve Major
Results
 If you try clipping on a new ponytail or adding a new
style of braids and still feel the need to make a major change,
consider some last hair saving tips.
-
Add new bangs.
-
Modify existing bangs. Make them wispier
or allow them to grow in thicker. Have them razored or spike
them gently. Play with the texture.
-
Create a new zig
zag part or move your existing part to a different location on
your scalp.
-
Add highlights or lowlights to the hair around
your face to achieve an altered look.
-
Alter the texture. Add
2 strand rope accent braids, do some crimping, try a new
braiding tool.
-
Keep your length but add some layers for instant
movement and flow.
-
Play with new products. Nothing blasts
boredom faster than a new shampoo, deep conditioner or hot new
styling wax.
-
Create new strong lines by slicking all or part of
your hair back with serum. Finish with spray.
-
Apply mousse to damp hair and then play with using
large Velcro rollers to achieve new volume.
-
Have some feathered layers added to give your hair
new movement.
-
Maximize texture with paste or wax.
-
Experiment with different types of styling tools
from a small round brush to a paddle brush to get different
movement and hair flow.
Do Some Soul Searching
Before you take the plunge and splurge on a new
hairstyle consider all the ramifications that a new style may incur
including:
1. Does the new style add or detract from
current hair care upkeep costs?
Remember that adding highlights or color to your hair
can bring an entirely new level of care commitment including utilizing
anti-fade product lines and religiously showing up for
touch-ups.
 Would
there be an initial or ongoing investment in a complete new range of
styling products including shampoo, conditioners, styling and hot
tools? While this may be ultimately a good thing, think
about all the ramifications to your time and pocketbook.
2. Would new or more expensive hair care
products (hot tools, color maintenance products, rollers, styling
products, etc.,) be required?
Would there be an initial or ongoing investment in a
complete new range
of styling products including shampoo, conditioners, styling and
hot tools?
3. How often does the new style require trips
back to the salon? If you get a short choppy or razored style
that grows out quickly, you might find yourself back hanging with your
stylist every month rather than every 8-10 weeks with longer
styles. New color or highlights may also
require regular professional upkeep assistance.
If you don't have time to redo your roots every 3-4 weeks, you may want
to select a hair color shade that is only 1-3 shades lighter than your
natural color. The closer you go to your natural hair color, the less
your roots will show as they grow out.
When your roots are less obvious,
your hair color will last longer before you have to touch up your roots.
Always select the type of coloring product that is easiest for you to
maintain.
4. Does the new style offer you a diverse range
of styling options. many people opt for a hot new chop only to
discover that they have limited dress-up options. The same
challenges may apply if perms or relaxers are applied.
New and potentially painful styling curves may result from a new style
selection. If you are used to easily styling your hair into a
long time standby, you may be shocked to find how much work a new
style can bring. This is especially true if you take a major swing
from long to short locks or alter the textures in a dramatic
way. Perms may be just as challenging to style as newly relaxed
locks.
5. How would a new style affect your current
work or personal relationships?
Keep in mind that in some cases professional peers or
loved ones may be traumatized by your new style selections.
Although it is your hair and your right to wear it as you see fit, you
may want to consider how your new look might impact the important
people in your life that you cherish.
Consult Before You Leap
 If you are itching for a big hair change, followed the
suggestions above and still want to take the plunge, then do it
wisely. Pay a stylist for a "consultation only" to
discuss your itch for a new look. Be sure to clarify that you
want to pay to consult on a style and do not want to book a cut or
treatment during the consultation. (Photo
of Curly Girl by Lorraine Massey, Deborah Chiel)
If you have naturally
curly, wavy or hair that requires expert cutting knowledge, make
sure that you seek out a specialist that can help you achieve a new
style wisely.
Visit with the stylist and take a trusted friend to
get a second opinion. Ask the friend to stop you if you decide to
spontaneously go for a new look at the time of the consultation.
This may be an action you live to regret.
 Allow at least 48 hours to lapse from the time you
have your consultation until you go back for the cut or new styling
session. Be sure to take a trusted friend for the big hair
change so that they can keep an eye on the procedure and warn you if
the process is going awry. Although it doesn't happen often,
some stylists may misunderstand your true desires and cut too
much. A friend who is standing by can watch and help mediate the
ultimate look. (Photo above of Curly:
Everything You Need to Know to Love and Care for Your Curly, Kinky,
Wavy, or Frizzy Hair by Ouidad)
Do your research before you go for your new
style. Both before and after the consultation, look through Web
galleries for new style ideas or buy hair magazines. Take photos
of your desired styles to your hair care professional and get their
feedback on how well your dream style can work with your hair texture
and type. Remember that stylists are visual and work best from photos
and examples.
Deal With It
Although there is an exception to every rule, if you
have carefully planned the selection and execution of your new style,
you should have few surprises from your new look.
If for some reason your best laid plans went awry,
take action. A new style that looks great in the salon may not
translate well to your own styling expertise. If you find
that you can't do anything with your new look or your hair doesn't
seem to hang the way you think it should, call your stylist and go
back for an "adjustment". Don't wait. Timing is
everything.
Ask your stylist to teach you how to care for a brand
new look. Solicit product suggestions and styling tips. Watch
closely to see how your stylist achieves the final look. Take
notes if you think you might need to remember certain techniques.
Finally, enjoy your new style and be happy that you
have put an end to your boring hair blahs. |