Q by Ashley: You mentioned that perms are most always a no-no.  What about body waves?  I have small hair and something that will make it look bigger (I totes want GINORMOUS hair) is really tempting to do.  So I guess my question is do body waves even look good?  Will not doing as much heat styling kind of cancel out the damage from a body wave?

A by Reagan: Ashley, I know you want to look like the picture above, so march right on over to your local beauty parlor this very second! Hehehe. (When someone calls it a beauty parlor, the only thing that I can picture is a bunch of women with tight roller sets and perms. And FUMES from perms!)

In all seriousness, a lot of people have asked this question. Ashley asked it most recently, so I just copy/pasted her Q for the post. I’m afraid to say ladies, loose, wavy perms do not really exist. They don’t. If you insist on getting a perm (don’ say I didn’t warn you), the closest thing you could get to wave, is bigger rods with very small sections, or small rods with bigger sections of hair. The chances of it coming out the way you want it are very slim, and the chances of it coming out damaged are very high. Especially if you have color treated, or long hair.

Honestly, I rarely do perms. But the fundamental rules for perms haven’t really changed….the bigger the rod, the less likely the curl will take. But you are still putting a very powerful chemical on your hair, so whether or not the curl takes, that damage will be there. Another honest opinion, I like perms. I like perm-perms. Perms that look like this…

I can tell Halle’s style is done with a curling iron, but it is similar to how a normal perm with normal white or purple rods would look like. And I like it. I almost did it with my own hair, but seeing as how my hair is brittle, and I knew I’d grow it out again, I opted to keep my natural instead.

Back to your Q…a body wave will give you some damage (that you might actually need), and make your hair a little bigger. But it wont make it ginormous, and it wont make it wavy. I think you should get a small curling iron, wrap big sections around it, and shake it out furiously. That will give you ginormous hair.

Ashley (and others), I think you shouldn’t do it. But if your heart is saying perm it, follow your heart. (don’t come chase me down when you look like the first picture!)

Zac Efron has great hair. Mostly. Sometimes I used to be like, ok ok ok, your hair is sweepy, we get it. But most of the time, I think he has just the right amount of thickness, curl, flip, separation and suaveness.

It’s kind of funny, because usually when a guy is sitting in my chair, trying so hard to explain the hair cut he wants, I am thinking “he wants a Zac Efron”, but when I say that out loud, the guy gets embarrassed and says “no way, I want the opposite”. But he has just spent the last ten minutes explaining Zac Efron’s hair to a T, so then I say sure and give him the Zac Efron anyway. He loves it and leaves my salon zippity doo-dah-ing down Broadway. And I knew all along what was in his hair’s best interest. Is it because Zac Efron is a teen hear throb that guys are scared off? I think he is the next Leonardo DiCaprio and that’s in a good way. Who wouldn’t want this guy’s hair?

plus, look at all the strange places he finds himself wearing a suit? Ooops, I’m laying on the beach in a skinny suit and pea coat! How did this ever happen?

Q by Auro: I got (ummm … had) mid back wavy dark hair. Love it but mostly tie it in a bun on a daily basis. On special occasions I open it out, run a curling iron through it and feel fabulous
So I have been toying with the idea of chopping of my hair.  Have done so two times in the last 10 years. Love it for a month or two and then can’t wait for it to grow back.
Anyway – fast forward to yesterday. I went in for a hair cut armed with pictures of long, medium, short styles and one that I did not quite like. Discussed it with my hairdresser and we decided to keep it long but shape it up so that it looked changed.
By the time she was done it was by my neck. She styled it and it flipped and looked exactly like a photo I told her I did not like Anyway – in the heat of the moment I decided what the hell, just chop the back so it does not look flippy like that !!
Now I have short hair And I sit her shocked and stunned 24 hours later. My husband is quite amused by my reaction and tells me its just hair ! I know there is no magic pill and I know it will eventually grow.
But is there any advice you have in the meantime. What would you tell a client ?
I know I am being super vague here – but as you see I am emotionally scared
Much love,
Auro

A by Reagan: I bet a hundred people will read your question and cry and nod their heads because they are or have been there with you Auro. I am still in the honey moon phase of short hair, I am LOVING it, but let’s be honest, it wont be for long. Soon I’ll be pulling on my hair and brushing it 100x on each side in attmepts to stimulate my hair follacles so they’ll grow faster.

Here is a short list of ways to get your hair back.

~Keep it healthy. As healthy as possible. Dry, damaged ends will break off, making your hair shorter! K?
~Get regular trims. I like to yell at my clients *I don’t really yell at them ever* when they refuse to cut their hair because they are growing it out. If you keep, nice, healthy, moist, blunt, lush ends, they will continue to grow DOWN instead of damage and dry-ness growing UP your hair shaft, breaking off inches of your hair. That is where the confusion of “cutting you hair makes it grow faster” comes from. It doesn’t actually make it grow faster, it just ensures it will continue to grow in the right direction. Your hair will end up the length you want to achieve more quickly if it is (say it with me) kept healthy! Woohoo! Team Healthy Hair!
~Deep Condition. Buy a good deep conditioner at a salon or beauty supply and use once a week or every other week. Leave on for 15-30 minutes before rinsing.  Again, keeping hair healthy and preventing damage.
~Find a stylist you trust. There aren’t many things more frustrating (when it comes to hair) than having several months of growth cut off because the stylist doesn’t understand the difference between a 1/2 inch and 5 inches. It has happened to me. It has probably happened to you. PS I dont do that to people. It is my goal in life to be a trustworthy stylist.
~Comb, Massage and Brush hair. You thought I was kidding about stimulating your hair follacles. It’s a real thing! If you stimulate them, they produce more quickly. Before showering, brush your scalp medium to hard with a bristle brush to loosen up any buildup on the scalp and to stimulate those little guys. Top it off with a clarifying shampoo every few weeks. (never over do the clarifying shampoo!!)
~Finally, talk to your hair, tell it that it’s doing a good job. Tell it you’re proud of it. Caress it. I don’t know if that helps. But it’s just one of those things that is like a “why not?” sort of situation.

Hey, do you guys want to sit back and covet some pretty hair with me? Nothing like starting out your day in seething jealousy!

Dont cry guys. Your hair will be long soon.

Sorry I never credit my photos. I need to work on a better photo storing system…

Q by Tarryn: I’m wondering what I should be putting on my hair (especially for protection) before I straighten it with a flat iron. What do you recommend? Right now I’m using Argan oil and a leave-in conditioner although I often put the oil in after my hair is straight. Thoughts? Thanks!
PS- I just noticed the super cute shirt you’re wearing in your pic looks exactly like the one I want from Urban Outfitters. Is it the same?
A by Reagan: As far as post-shampoo products, I think you’re doing great Tarryn! Pat yourself on the hiney for me for doing a good job! Or back…

Leave in conditioner and any kind of oil are a great way to add moisture to hair you are doing mechanical damage on. Especially a flat iron. The only other product I would recommend is a deep conditioning treatment once every few weeks or more, depending on the shape your hair is in. You can buy a deep conditioner at any salon, or even just go in early to your next apt for the treatment. They are usually meant to be left on for about 15-20 minutes.

I’m glad you used the word “protect” instead of “repair”, because the only way to repair damage, is to cut it off! It’s a shame, because so many products claim to repair broken or split ends. That is why a good conditioner, leave in, and moisturizing products make such a difference. They often have proteins in them that can strengthen the hair to prevent damage.

Another great question!

Yes, my shirt is from Urban Outfitters

BTW this picture of Giselle doesn’t have much to do with anything, except for that she has amazing hair.

forgive me for the not so nice post I am about to write…

I don’t understand it. The first thing it seems you do to prepare for being the new “bachelorette” is to get some really bad extensions. Now, I don’t watch the Bachelor/ette, but the show is unavoidable with it’s commercials, media coveriage and the fact that my favorite show is “the soup”. It seems like everywhere I turn, Alli’s yellow-y, straw-like extensions are staring me down. In Alli’s defense, it was probably the show’s idea as part of the dolling up phase, and they were probably provided for her. They also probably had all the budget in the world to spend on them, so why so straw-like? Why such poor blending?

And I know this image has nothing to do with the rest of the post. I even think this is when she still had her real hair…I just can’t handle the styling of this picture. Why is she wearing dirty Chuck Taylors? Why is she wearing such an ill-fitting wedding dress? Why is there a velvet-y curtain behind her? I saw this photo in several magazines promoting the show. I don’t get it….

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A few years ago I felt the same way about the Katie Holmes bob. Let it be known that in 2010 I have decided I could happily go the rest of my life NOT doing another “Justin Bieber”. What is with mom’s suddenly bringing their sons in for $45 dollar haircut anyway? I guess he is pretty dreamy with his head gently resting on his palm….laying in that red pleather bean bag all sexily. Eww.

I’ve seen this picture floating around different magazines and websites for about the last week and a half. Michelle Williams has the gift of good hair. And good face. And good body. And good style. And good talent too. I love her. But really, isn’t this image just beautiful? Are they really dating? Should I know that already? Because a few weeks ago I saw Ryan Gosling at starbucks and he totally didn’t tell me they were together. Fine, I didn’t talk to him, but still.

This is my all time favorite red carpet look. The dress, the COLOR of the dress, the makeup the up do, the hair color. But again, that hair! Such a beautiful, romantic, soft, sweet, youthful look.

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Again, rocking every length perfectly.

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When i grow up i want to be michelle williams and alexa chung at the same time.

Ok, let’s talk about frizz in a different way. I have to tell you, every single question I have gotten has been about how to tame frizz. I never knew people hated frizz so much! I am not sure exactly why, but frizz has never really bothered me much. I guess it just comes with me so often wearing my hair naturally, and frizz is natural. I just took this picture with my phone about 9 seconds ago. There are equal parts hugeness, frizz and wave. I’m used to it, and in fact, I like it. This picture doesn’t really even show very well how much frizz is there.

If you are still like “I hate frizz more than ever” and I am not cool enough to change your mind..feast your eyes on these babies.

Betsey Johnson Fall 2010

Bottega Veneta fall 2010

Christian Dior Fall 2010

Frizz is all over the runway these days. Softer, less structured styles are becoming more and more desirable, and I think it’s beautiful.

Image found on Olsens anonymous

Still not convinced? Let an Olsen do the talking. (Do you love them like me?)

Last but not least, a piece of my own work. Photo taken by Jake.

Please keep in mind, a smooth and blown out look is supposed to be smooth and blown out. There is a time and a place for frizz, guys.

Runway photos from Elle.com

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I love that this is called Ombre Hair (first it was called Bayalage). I have been trying to get this look for over a century and I am finally accepting that I really need to have highlights in the very front section so that I don’t look washed out. I keep the ombre in the back though, just to hold tight to my dreams of having hair like these ladies above. I think these are two of my favorite ombre pictures ever. This technique of coloring has to be my favorite of all time. Isn’t it gorgeous? I wish it worked better on lighter blonds like myself!

Celebrities who do this look well: Sarah Jessica Parker, Rachel Bilson, Giselle  and Nicole Richie.