With the holiday season upon us, we’re all scrambling to make sure we look our best, usually after spending a day in the office. Kevin Moser and Abbie Addotta of Element Salon in Green Hills, names you may know since they’re the magic behind some of our photo shoots, took the time to share with readers their tips for keeping your hair looking its best during the most stressful time of year.
Okay guys, what are the basics of what to do with your hair as you’re running around between now and New Year’s?
Kevin: Well, come see us ... we can help you.
Abbie: I really think the blowout is the way to go. I’m one of those people who plans my hair out ahead of time, and if, like me, you’ve got longer hair, you can possibly make it work for two days. Get your blowout, and maybe curl your hair, and it looks great for night one. The next day, for the next party, you can put it up, add a hair ornament or something pretty, and make it work a second time. This really works if you’ve got a lot of hair.
Kevin: If you don’t have the time to wash your hair in the morning, you might also consider a dry shampoo or spray powder to keep it looking good.
Abbie: I love adding in accessories too—a cute headband ...
Kevin: Great combs ...
Abbie: Sparkly barrettes.
What are we looking at in terms of color and shape this season, especially if someone hasn’t had it done or made a change in awhile?
Kevin: If you’re talking about someone who’s really low maintenance, I think you have to go more natural, so it’s going to be easier to keep up, when you’re not doing it all that often. Don’t do something that requires upkeep, then not do the upkeep.
Abbie: With longer hair, I think layers are always a good choice, too.
Kevin: Shoulder length, at least, is going to work.
Are there really set rules for length and color right now? What’s “in”?
Kevin: There really aren’t rules anymore, aside from what looks good on you and is appropriate to your age and your position.
Abbie: Straight is a little more “in” than it has been recently, but I think the big thing is kind of full and flowy, but natural.
Kevin: It’s less “fixed.”
Abbie: Fuller, bouncy, tousled.
Is short hair really a consideration currently? I feel like I’m seeing it less.
Kevin: A good bob never goes out of style; again, it depends on the shape of your face and what suits you.
How do you analyze what’s going to look good on someone?
Kevin: You have to look at a lot of factors—the face shape, skin tone, coloring, eye color, their daily regimen— and you’ve got to ask how much time they spend on their hair.
What’s a normal amount of time to devote to your hair in the morning, really?
Kevin: That really depends on the hair. Long hair is going to take 20 minutes at least to blow dry, then there’s product and styling.
Abbie: You know, I’m kind of amazed by the number of people who don’t use a product in their hair ...
Kevin: Which is ridiculous. Look, it’s a multi-billion dollar industry for a reason, it wouldn’t exist if these things didn’t work.
Any big don’ts in hair care?
Kevin: Not using product. What I just said. Hair fights the elements—heat, the blow dryer, the weather, sun. Products protect it. We’re big fans of Kérastase products, I really think they’re the best thing out there. Hey, it’s what the stars use. But also, in terms of “don’ts”—don’t overdo, don’t go too far with everything.
Abbie: People do that even with shampoo, they don’t know how, they spend all this time lathering extra stuff down at the ends, when really all they need to focus on is up at the roots. The ends don’t need a lot of shampoo, just the scalp.
Really? What else are we doing wrong, or not doing?
Kevin: Well, you need to clarify.
Abbie: It’s like a peel for your skin, only for your hair.
Kevin: What you’re doing is getting the buildup from products, shampoos and all that, out. It’s great for your hair. You can find clarifying shampoos easily—it should say so on the label, and you can substitute that for your regular shampoo about once a week if you have dry hair, once every two weeks if you have normal hair.
Abbie: It lets you start fresh.
Kevin: You can also use about half a teaspoon of baking soda.
Abbie: Mix it with your regular shampoo in your hand, emulsify it, and then work it into your hair.
Kevin: It’s great to pair this with deep conditioning. During the holidays when your hair is taking a beating, do this about once a week anyway.
Abbie: If you go into the salon frequently, have an in-salon hair treatment—especially if you don’t do stuff often, come in and get a treatment and a good cut.
So, for those holiday events—hair up or hair down?
Both: Up!
Abbie: I just think up is a little more in.
Kevin: I definitely like it up.
What about for women, say, over 50, is that still the rule?
Kevin: Honestly, up can age you. I don’t think women of a certain age ought to cut their hair short either—I think it dates you, makes you look older. I think shoulder length hair, with layers around the face, maybe bangs or side bangs to hide any issues you might have, looks great. And always highlights, never too dark.
And girls who are really young?
Kevin: When you’re under 20, you can wear anything. I like long hair, if it’s pretty.
Abbie: I see a lot of teens with long hair, and it tends to be pretty straight, they don’t seem to be in to a lot of layers, it’s very basic.
What do women with thin hair do? That seems to be an issue sometimes.
Kevin: Thin hair needs to be shorter, but not necessarily short. That just makes it look like you have more hair.
Abbie: A chin-length bob is great for really fine hair.
And if you’re ethnic? What should African American women do to treat their hair during this season?
Kevin: Keratin treatments. They relax the frizz, and soften the hair (it’s really not something limited to African American women—it’s anyone with lots of somewhat frizzy hair).
Abbie: Hair is keratin itself, so it reinforces the hair, it doesn’t damage. This isn’t Japanese or Brazilian straightening, there’s no formaldehyde. It lasts about six months, and the effect is great. Hair doesn’t frizz in the rain.
Kevin: True, it’s really magic for the hair.—and it’s great on post-menopausal women, it takes years off, it’s really amazing. It takes about three hours.
Abbie: But it’s only about twice a year, so it’s worth the time.
Let’s go back to color for a moment, what’s big?
Kevin: Sort of blond-brown, that natural from the sun look. I mean, everything is kind of in if you want it, but looking natural is big.
Abbie: The fakey platinum blonde, you’re just not seeing it as much.
Kevin: People want a natural look.
Can we take just a moment to talk about men? What are they doing right now?
Kevin: Short, but still a little shaggy. And thank heaven not so many guys are going for highlights. I can’t stand to see highlights that look like NSync on a guy, it’s completely out, even if a few people in the music industry are hanging on.
Abbie: Seriously. It’s about blending gray only if you’re doing color on a man.
If a guy has thinning hair?
Kevin: There are plenty of products on the market, shampoos that thicken what hair you have, prescription medications, but really, just cut it short.
Abbie: There’s still nothing worse than a comb-over, whatever form it takes.
Kevin: And bald never goes out of style.
Abbie: Seriously. When Andre Agassi finally cut off all his hair, he looked so much better.
So what do men need?
Abbie: Good shampoo—
Kevin: ... and conditioner. A grooming cream or pomade or wax ...
Abbie: ... so they look put together, not like they just rolled out of bed. And they really need to regularly get sideburns, eyebrows and the rest taken care of, so they don’t end up looking like a wooly mammoth.
Want to give us some final rules for hair care for everyone?
Kevin: Easy. Regular maintenance, trims, a good shampoo and conditioner. If you color your hair, keep it up.
Abbie: If you let it go, there’s just more to do when you finally go back in.
What do you just never do?
Kevin: Never put your hair up wet, and don’t brush it wet, use a wide-toothed comb if you need to de-tangle.
Abbie: I use my fingers.
Kevin: Once and awhile, when you don’t have to be anywhere, let it dry naturally, air drying can be good.
Kevin Moser and Abbie Addotta can be found at Element Salon, 2218 Bandywood Dr., (615) 727-8484.