"Movie Star" Mama Hair

Like a lot of the Mamas here have already said, I would suggest seeing a stylist. I used to just get my hair cut at the cheap places and my hair was always hard to manage and they never very helpful when I asked for tips and advice on what products to use. I finally ended up finding a nice salon with a fantastic stylist who is always willing walk me through what she is doing and giving me a cut that works with my face shape as well as my lifestyle. It costs a little more, but I'm happy to pay it because my hair is cute and managable.

One product I really like is Frederic Fekkai's Glossing Cream. But I realize that you might need to try several products to land on one you like. For this reason, I'd hit a place like Sephora and get some samples of the various products. For shampoo, I like Ojon (the smell is pretty strong but I got used to it). Also, using a conditioner and detangling spray can help with tangles. Good luck. I wish we could all wake around looking like movie stars. But if you think about it, when you see those off camera shots paparazzi snap when they are not working on films, they don't look any better than the rest of us.

Ha ha.. The movie stars have hair like that because someone is fixing it every 20 minutes. I personally have to blow-dry and curl or straighten my hair every time I shower. When my hair is long (it's shoulder length now), I have to brush it several times a day and detangle often with my fingers. It's so hard to give this advice because everyone's hair is SO different. Some people just let their hair air-dry and it looks perfect. Other people spend over an hour a day on their hair, use 4 different syling products and tease the roots to add volume.

The best recommendation I can give is to go to a hair dresser and have them style your hair. They will know just what products to use, be able to show you how to blow dry, curl it, etc. Sometimes it just takes the right product. Good luck and have fun with your longer hair! :)

I am related to a couple of stylists by marriage. There are a few tips that right off the bat won't make your hair perfect, but will help considerably. I personally have naturally curly hair that is very curly and very frizzy if I don't treat it right.

First, ditch the brush...at least when your hair is wet. Use a comb only. It will keep your hair from breaking because a brush sort of stretches your hair without you feeling it, allowing it to break.

Second, use a styling product. It doesn't have to have hold, and you can find products that don't even feel like you have them in your hair (i.e. hair is soft smooth and clean feeling, not crunchy or nasty feeling). I tried to get away without them for years (I'm into getting it done quick, no muss no fuss no make up even because it takes time I would rather spend sleeping). What I discovered was that when I use the products daily, my hair tangles less, flies around less, is just in general a lot easier to handle. Talk to a stylist about what you want to be able to do with your hair on a daily basis (or even what would help your current situation without making any major changes) and they can recomend some good stuff. I have also found some personal faves that I would be happy to recommend. I tend to like salon products better than the normal grocery store stuff...they just work better.

This last one, I was a little surprised to hear, but I was told that people should get their hair cut (or trimmed) every 6-8 weeks. I used to get it cut about once/year at best. Now, I don't go quite as often as was recommended to me, but I do go about every 3 months. The last time I went in when it had been over a year, my hair was so frizzy, even product wasn't helping and I didn't know what to do. They cut my hair dry that day, and just by cutting off the split ends, no product or anything, the frizz was totally gone by the end of the cut. I wasn't exactly a believer before I saw that, but since she told me hair grows about an inch/month and the reason it doesn't "grow faster" if you wait longer than about 8 weeks is that it just breaks off.

For what it's worth, I feel like I'm terrible at hair. I can never get my hair to do anything that any stylist ever does to it...related to me or not. I have, however learned that these 3 things make a world of difference. I don't blow dry my hair, but I was told as a teenager tht if you do blowdry your hair, that you should put product in it first so the product burns off with the heat so the heat doesn't ruin your hair. Hope this helps. Good luck.

I find that using a flat iron and a product called aerogel helps my hair to look more put together. The flat iron smooths out the wayward hairs but also adds body and can be used to sweep my hair back off my face. The aerogel is like hairspray but doesn't get stiff or sticky. You can spray it on as you work with your hair and it holds it in place but your hair will still move. Sometimes a little mousse, run through the hair at the roots while wet helps to add body and shape.

Well, first, no one has movie star hair naturally. :-) People spend HOURS on their hair to get the perfect look and they touch it up constantly. They have extensions and weaves, stylists, make-up artists and every product under the sun to their disposal. So, my first advice it to not set yourself up for failure by trying to get your hair to look like someone else's fake and overly styled hair.

The wonderful thing about this decade is that there are so many hair styles out there to work with any hair type. We're not stuck in a time where everyone is trying to achieve the same look and only few can actually easily manage it. Maybe your current cut could be updated to make your hair easier to manage. You don't say what texture your hair is or what style you have, but if it's just all one length, you'll never be able to manage it really easily (well, besides putting it up).

I would recommend going to a GOOD hair stylist and talk to them about your hair issues. Let them know what your normal routine is and how much time you're willing to spend on your hair each day. Take in photos of what you do like and be clear about what you don't. If it's getting in your mouth, maybe you need to frame your face with fringe (the new term for "bangs") and layers. Layers also cut down on tangling quite a bit. You can still keep the overall length, but add more style.

A good professional cut will not take much time to style or keep up as long as you get it trimmed/cut on a regular basis. You might need to get some products, however, don't feel you have to get the ones they sell. Ask them what different products do and see if there's something similar at the drugstore. Good luck! :-)

Hi L.,

I am a high end hairstylist in Federal Way. I work at HairLounge off of 310th and Pacific Ave behind Buckys. I know EXACTLY what you are talking about.

First, it is extremely important that you use a professional shampoo and conditioner! The ingredients are top notch and more concentrated therefor worth the price. I retail ALTERNA Hemp, and the Caviar Line as well as the "10" Line which is crazy rediculous luxurious.
Second, the styling products you use are important as not everones hair works well with all products. Maybe you need a volumizing mousse, or a smoothing cream, or a light difining pomade.
I understand that it is a challenge to work with new lengths and you just need to be shown and educated with what to do with your new length!
I always offer complimentary consultations and my philosophy is that my ladies need to look the most beautiful, sexy, sassy they can! I charge $60 for a full service haircut and I will educate you how to do multiple styles for your shoulder length hair.

You can review my ____@____.com
except my hair is brown and caramels with a shorter inverted bob. Forever changing:)

Hope to see you soon!

By the way...Pantene is one of the worst products you could use on your hair. The PH level is very high and the conditioner is too waxy. Hairstylists do not like this product. Sorry!

S. LeBeau at HairLounge

For me the most important thing. I'd go to a hip hair salon with a few pictures of styles you like, and they will help you figure put which style will look best and fit your lifestyle. For shine I like pantene and chi silk infusion. Get a good blow dryer and dry your hair upside down for volume. If you don't have time make sure at least the roots are dry, and put in hot rollers while doing makeup and getting dressed then tousle the curls to loosen them. To freshen up greasy roots try a hair powder, also great for volumizing!

Hi L.,
As someone that had short hair from 7th grade forward, I never learned how to style long hair. In college and throughout my twenties, I'd grow it out only to cut it off again because it always ended up in a ponytail. We'll I've finally got it long again and love it! I have some layers and my sylist also thins it out and I must use my straighter otherwise it is a tangled, frizzy mess! I had tried the straightners before but the new ones that are ceramic work wonders! I definitely recommend getting one, just remember to use a product made to protect your hair from the heat.
If you have a good sylist, explain to her/him what your issue is and they'll be able to give you the right cut.
Good luck!

Most people have hair that misbehaves and I too have long hair and if I want it to look beautiful it takes a while to do. You have to use a good shampoo and conditioner, sebastian laminates is pretty good at making it lie flatter, but my favorite is Enjoy then apply some sort of product usually with dimethicone in it I like bed head Control Freak then you have to blow it out using your fingers until it is mostly dry then a round brush and hair dryer on low setting, then you have to use a BIG barreled curling iron if you want slight waves or gentle curl,(if you really want the curls to set then mist pieces LIGHTLY with a conditioning spray as you are curling them it makes them steam in the curl tousle it out with your fingers or a straight iron if you want totally flat hair. Then with both styles you have to use some sort of glossy serum just a couple of dots in your hand again with silicone/dimethicone in it. Like Pantene smooth and shine anti-frizz serum. This gets rid of flyaways and adds some shine. This will make it look perfect and nearly perfect the next day if you don't wash your hair. Ridiculous process takes a while to do and tough to do with a 2 or 3 year old wanting your attention. So I usually throw my hair up in a pony tail. One way I have found to find the time if I want to do my hair is pour my 2 year old a big bubble bath and then sit on the countertop near her and do the whole process while she plays in the tub. By the way,Movie stars have teams of people that make their hair look like that and Nannies that watch their kids so they can spend hours in hair and makeup.

Hi L.,
I'm a makeup artist not a hairdresser, but I do know alot about hair also. You need to use good hair products first of all. If your hair is thin, thick, dry, oily, stick straight or curly you need to use the right product. If you let me know your hair type, I can recommend some things for you. Also, you need the proper styling tools for your hair. Curling irons, straighteners, hot rollers, roller blow drying brush, mousse, pomade, gel, hairspray just to name a few. Let me know what type of hair you have and I can recommend this also. A good haircut is very important too. Let me know if you would like more help.

Hey what kind of product are you using?

A couple of tips I got when I called out for a help a few months ago that really work:

1. Get some layers - this will give a nice sassy look - that gorgeous "frazzled" edges look. If you have thick hair have them talk to you about thinning it. My hair was a pyramid and this totally saved me.

2. A flat iron - this is not just for black hair anymore (I had a black friend who could not tame her hair till she bought one of these back when they were only special order - it turned her hair silky!). Invest in a good one with an ionizer. It tames the frizz. Use a product for thermal use (I use John Frieda Thermal Protection Frizz Ease). I do my hair by pulling 2/3's up and flattening, then letting another 1/3 down and doing that then the top. Less then 10 minutes and I have shiny, silky non-tangle hair.

3. Get a few EASY hair accessories. A colorful headband or scarf will do miracles for keeping your hair out of your mouth (seriously this is coming from a ponytail addict).

4. Discipline - I have found that ponytails are easy - hence why my hair was always up in one. The moment my hair was in my way up it went.

So find yourself a good hairdresser to work with your long tresses to get the most out of them. Layers, thinning, and whatever else they deem is needed. Trust them to do the best - a good dresser can pull your hair up and tell you what sort of cut you had last. A little investment will result in that gorgeous look you are asking for. Best of luck!

Hi L.

When I get my hair done, I tell the stylist NOTHING! I sit and leave it all to the professional - the result is fantastic color and even more fantastic styles! If you pull the trigger and let your hairdresser have her/his way with your hair s/he should spend time teaching you how to style the cut and showing you a few quick alternatives for wearing it. I used to ask the hairdresser for suggestions of products and would wind up with some expensive purchases. I did myself a favor and bought a really good flat iron (I have waivy hair so it MUST be styled every day or I have a huge pile of frizz on my head). I did not just walk in and buy the recommended brand but rather I asked my hairdresser and then asked for a recomendation in three shops! It is hotter than the Conair brand you would buy at a grocery store and the plates are porcelin both result in quicker styling and prettier hair!

Best of luck, I grew up with horrible hair because I did not know what to do with it. It took many trips to the salon to learn that letting the professional do what s/he does best is the most recommended avenue for me!

Good luck!
*K

I really love the responses the ladies have been giving you. Product is a must. I usually use something of a cream to control fizz, blow dry with a round brush and then flat iron if needed. The other thing that you can do is go to Sally's and get some fun hairpieces to help for those days that you just don't have time to ultimately fix your hair. It's easy, quick and lasts all day for that Movie Star pizzaz!!!!

If none of this works, I liked the idea of layers from another mom, but make sure you go to Salon 17 in Tanasbourne shopping center and ask for Jennifer. She does my layers and I love her to death because I came from out of state and have had tons of BAD layers put in my hair. She fixed that and can do it every time. Tell her Kim B. sent you and ask her if she has one of those $50 off coupons for your style.

Best wishes.

Kim B.

you could try.. a leave in detangler product.. like infusam 23 sold at place like target.. also I use a flat Iron amd it makes my hair shiny and looks more put together.. maybe a friend has one that you could try before you purchse one.. The flat Iron makes such a difference it only takes 5 minutes.. my hair dresser told me about this trick.
Lenc

I know exactly what you mean! I too have finally grown my hair out, well, I'm a year into having long hair and have figured out some things that seem to help... along with advice from a few different stylists... Some things that have helped me is a good smoothing conditioner and product, blowdrying and a good flat iron (not the $200 kind, but a decent one) and depending on work and my what my day has in store I either put it half back or in a full pony tail... which I've also found that experimenting with different head bands has helped inspire me. I also carry a brush now... I also agree with the hair cut every few months. I also just tried garnier products because they were on sale and I love them! Have fun!

I would say that you need to get a hairstyle that will be easier to maintain and get less tangled. Often cutting in some layers helps with this. Also, that sleek "movie star" look is usually that they either straightened or curled their hair. Using a hair straightener, tames hair and helps it not get all tangly and frizzy. I would probably try that if you haven't already. You could always put in a headband if you don't like it falling in your face, and then when husband comes home, take it out! I know that sounds old fashioned, but it's all I got! Oh, and also, I use the Sunsilk hair products, and I love them, they have been great for giving my hair shine and smoothness.