5 Hair Styling Tips You Can Use at Home

Whether you’re a hair stylist yourself or simply love getting all dolled up for important events, knowing how to use the right tools and tricks is key to pulling off your ideal style. The good news is, the best styling tips come from experts who work in salons all day (and night) and know how to make every strand of hair look perfect. They’ve shared some of their top hacks for achieving a polished look from the comfort of your own home.

1. Understand your hair type.

The first step to creating your dream hairstyle is determining the type of hair you have, notes hairstylist Sam Chapman. “There are three main types: fine, medium and thick, as well as wavy, curly or kinky,” she says. Once you know your hair type, you can determine which products and styles will work best for you.

2. Start with a great haircut.

A quality haircut will lay the foundation for all of your other styling efforts, and it’s especially crucial to consider your face shape when picking a cut. A cropped hairstyle, for example, will provide a low-maintenance base for your looks that doesn’t require any additional products or styling tools. On the other hand, layers will add body and volume that can help disguise a receding hairline or make your locks look fuller, notes Tresemme celebrity stylist John D. A quality haircut also requires less maintenance than a longer length, as it will grow out naturally without the need for frequent trims.

3. Pat your strands dry instead of rubbing them with a towel.

Rubbing your wet hair with a towel can cause breakage, which in turn makes it harder to manage. A gentler approach—patting your strands dry with an old T-shirt or a microfiber cloth instead of tossing them in a towel and combing them out—is better for preventing frizz, tangling, and stretching out curls.

4. Always use a heat protectant before you use a blow dryer or flat iron.

Heat-protection products aren’t just for protecting your strands from damage caused by high-temperature styling tools, but they’re an essential tool for maintaining the health of your tresses and helping them last as long as possible. If you’re using a blow-dryer or straightening iron often, opt for a thermal protectant that works to create an invisible barrier between your strands and the hot metals.

5. Don’t overdo it on the volumizing sprays.

Using too much hair product can weigh your strands down and make them appear limp or lifeless. “With fine hair, you really want to apply a volumizing spray or mousse to the roots of your hair and not so much on the ends, as they absorb more,” says Roszak. “Also, you should only use a light volumizing spray and not a heavy gel or wax,” she adds.

If you’re going to use a volumizing product, try applying it at the roots of your hair and twirling strands around your fingers for more definition. Another simple trick is to apply a salt spray or make your own by mixing water and sea salt in a spray bottle, then spritzing your hair and scrunching strands to create beachy texture.