advice

Moroccanoil®, the originator and category leader of luxury, professional argan oil-infused products for hair, has once again won the coveted Stylist Choice Awards in two leading categories: 'Favourite Prestige Styling Product' and 'Favourite Product You Can't Live Without'.

Antonio Calero, Moroccanoil®'s Artistic Director, accepted the awards at a gala event hosted by behindthechair.com and sponsored by the professional hair industry's leading manufacturers. Over 2000 heads of companies, executives, VIP guests, artistic directors, and stylists from around the nation attended the event.

"We are thrilled to receive these awards, especially since they reflect the direct voice and experience of professional stylists", said Calero. "As an independent company, our mission is to pioneer truly original products of exceptional quality, made exclusively for salons and their clients. It's gratifying to receive this strong vote of approval". According to Mary Rector Gable, President, behindthechair.com, "We've been watching Moroccanoil® since its debut, and it remains one of the hottest lines ever launched in our industry".

Behindthechair.com is the world's largest and most influential online community serving the salon industry with nearly a million visitors every month. The annual Stylist Choice Awards have become the most important in the industry.

By Anna Lynn C. Sibal

Should the hair be blow dried or air dried?
It is a matter of preference, actually. Some people do not have much time to devote to styling their hair, or want to achieve the maximum styling they can get for their hair, so they opt for blow-drying it. On the other hand, there are some people who think that blow-drying is a waste of electricity and is the quickest way of damaging the hair, so they opt to have it air dried.

Which is better, you may ask?
Both ways of drying the hair have their advantages and disadvantages, and there are proper and improper ways of doing both. Read on and find out what these are.

Air drying. Air drying is usually done by people who have short and low-maintenance hairstyles, or by people with curly hair. There are also people who have long hair yet have their hair air dry, as air drying does not subject the hair to excessive heat. Therefore, the hair is not as susceptible to damage as hair that is blow dried.

If you are going to have your hair air dried, it is very important to remember that the hair is at its weakest when it is wet. So, take care not to rub your hair dry with the use of a towel. The friction caused by rubbing the hair with a towel will make the hair brittle and eventually break. Rather than rubbing it, you should instead blot the moisture out of your hair with the towel. Also, be careful not to tug or pull at your hair that much when it is still wet. Once the water is blotted out of the hair, fluff it out with your fingers.

Blow Drying. Blow drying the hair is the most convenient way of doing it, and because most people live fast-paced lives, blow drying the hair is the way most people want to do it. Moreover, drying the hair using a blower adds volume to the hair. But inasmuch that blow drying is very convenient, it is also dangerous to the hair, especially if overdone. It can make the hair very brittle.

If you blow dry your hair, make sure that it is not soaking. Blot the water out with a towel first. Do not hold the dryer too close to your head; keep it at least six inches away from your hair and move the dryer constantly around your head. Protect the outer strands of your hair from being over-dried by bending over and blow drying your hair with your hair hanging upside down. Also, try not to dry your hair completely with the blow dryer. Stop while the hair is still slightly damp.

Whether you air dry your hair or you blow dry it is completely your own choice based on your own lifestyle and preferences. But whatever you do, always remember that the hair is fragile. Be careful while handling it.

* To minimize breakage, make sure that your hair is thoroughly wet before applying shampoo. Use no more than a small dollop, and rub the shampoo between your palms first. Lather for no more than 30 seconds.

* After shampooing, rinse your hair with cool water to seal moisture in the hair shafts.

* To distribute the natural oils in your hair, bend over and brush your scalp and hair from back to front until the scalp tingles; then massage the scalp with your fingertips.

Brushing your hair backwards helps distribute natural oils, for shine

* Towel-dry your hair thoroughly before using a blow dryer. You'll save time and avoid damaging your hair with too much heat.

* To cut down on static electricity, dampen your hairbrush before brushing.

* Avoid using a brush on wet hair because it is subject to breakage. Comb out snarls.

* If you suffer from a flaky scalp, try the following treatment every 2 weeks: Section your hair and rub the scalp with a cotton pad saturated with plain rubbing alcohol. Let the alcohol dry, then brush your hair and rinse thoroughly with warm water but don't shampoo.

* To perk up permed hair between shampoos, lightly mist your hair with fresh water and push the curls into place with your fingers.

* Dull, lifeless hair can be a sign of a poor diet. Try cutting down on cholesterol and fats.

* Wait at least 48 hours after colouring hair to shampoo it. Every time you wet hair you open the cuticle -- so give hair time to seal in the colour.

* Beer can remove residue from your hair. Add 6 tablespoons beer to 1 cup warm water and pour it over your hair as a final rinse.

* If your hair is prone to buildup from conditioners, styling gel, or hair spray, mix 1 tablespoon baking soda with your regular shampoo once a week. Rinse and dry as usual.

* Use pomade sparingly to remove static, control flyaway ends, and add a glossy sheen to either straight or curly hair. Apply a very small amount to one hand, and liquify it between your palms. Then run your hands through the hair. If braiding, apply before braiding and use it for small touch-ups.

* Use gel after a braid is finished to smooth down loose or uncontrolled hairs. Apply it to your fingertip or to the end of a hairpin, directing it on top of the stray hairs to encourage them back into the braided pattern.

* Use hair spray to hold the finished design in place. If you want a soft finish but need to control the hair, spray into the palm of your hand and then smooth over the surface of the hair to control flyaway strands.

* Use a coated rubber band or a soft hair tie to secure ponytails and the ends of a braid to reduce the stress on the hair.

* Use gel to control hair when you want a "wet" affect. Apply gel sparingly to your hair once styled. To use for braiding, apply it to all of the hair before you braid, or when you want a clean, off-the-face effect, you can apply it to the perimeter hairline where lengths tend to be shorter.