Liz's Guide to Perfect Special Occasion Hair

My day job: Hair Stylist.  And guess what... It's Prom season!  Is your hair in the right condition for your special occasion?  Whether you are getting ready for your next performance, or just getting ready for your wedding or prom, preparation is key for a perfect 'do.   Year after year, I meet young women whose up-do's would be so much better if they took some time to care properly for their hair.  Here are some tips that will help you for prom OR dance:

Leading up to your special event consider the following:

1.  Do you color your hair?  Or did you color your hair in the last six months and now you have what we in the industry call a "Line of demarcation"?  This is when your hair has grown out and you now can see your original hair color, as well as your old color at the ends.  Your up do will look much better if you freshen up your color:  this goes for hi-lites too!  Plan to do this at least a week before.

Oh NO!  My line of demarcation is out of control!

2.  If you DON'T color your hair, don't start right before your event unless you are ABSOLUTELY sure you will like the outcome.  This isn't the time to experiment with that box of color you got on sale from the drugstore.  I would say that 97% of the hair colors that I correct are from home experiments.  A color correction can be a long process that can damage your hair.  It's best to leave the experiments A) to the professionals, and B)till after your event. 

3.  Conditioning Treatments are a great way to give your hair a quick repair and some added shine and softness.  If you are someone who heat styles daily by using the flat iron, hair dryer, curling iron, hot rollers, etc. then this would be beneficial.  If you color, schedule it afterwards--it will also help your color last longer.  This process usually isn't very expensive ($15-$25 at my salon) but if you are on a super tight budget, make an appointment with a local beauty school!  They usually are cheaper and it's a very low-risk process.  Schedule this 1-3 days before your event to maximize it's effectiveness.

4.  GET A TRIM!!!  I put this in bold capital letters because it is a common misconception that one must have the longest hair possible to have a beautiful up-do.  NOT TRUE!  I believe this is the most important step.  When you heat style, color or have not gotten a trim in several months (or even years!), the ends of your hair get damaged.  It's just the way it is.  Your hair is an organic element that can wear out.  Look at the ends of you hair right now....  Are there split ends (does each hair fork at the end)?  Does it look Frazzled (my terminology for "fried hair" that is so damaged it is kinky and doesn't smooth no matter what you do to it)?  Are the ends scraggly (Uneven around the perimeter of your hair because hair has broken off)?  Any one of these things means you need a hair cut, especially if the ends are going to be exposed in your up-do.

Ends are showing like this

or this

or even this!

 Find a stylist you trust to give you an appropriate trim: make sure they only cut off the damaged parts if you want to keep it long.  I know... You want that long hair.  But your hair may end up looking even longer if you have a healthy trim that gets rid of all the broken and sad ends.  Plus, I'll be really honest: smooth ends are easier for your stylist to work with!  The outcome of your updo, even if your ends are not exposed, may be better because your stylist is working with healthier hair!

Doing any or all of these things will benefit you in the quest for the perfect hairstyle.  Just think, in 20 years when you are looking at all those pictures you took of your special night, thinking fondly of your wonder years, you can say "my hair looks amazing"! I'd say it's worth it!  Start thinking of your hair care as an investment: whether you are performing or getting ready to walk the red carpet, investing in your hair will only benefit you in the long run. 

Better make your appointment now!  And remember:  Support your locally owned salon (and your local belly dancer;))!