Save for the lucky few, most of us don’t have the time—or cash—required for daily blow-outs, weekly trims, or even monthly root touch-ups. Too bad keeping your hair “naturally” blond, frizz-free, and blindingly shiny (with just the right amount of volume) is practically a full-time job. Fortunately, a few simple shortcuts can help you fake the real thing. Read on.
Stop your split ends. In an instant, split ends can transform even the trendiest haircut into an unmanageable, dry, and unhealthy-looking mess. Ultimately the only cure for split ends is to cut them off, but a nourishing conditioning spray like CHI Shine Infusion Thermal Polishing Spray ($10.99, sleekhair.com), which smoothes the cuticle and makes ends appear less ragged, goes a long way to disguise them. The best defense is once-weekly use of a protein-enhanced conditioning treatment—we like Frédéric Fekkai Protein Rx Reparative Treatment Mask ($29, sephora.com)—that leaves hair silkier and stronger in about 15 minutes flat.
Rein in your roots. Coloring your hair is somewhat of a vicious cycle: If you do it too often, you risk major dryness, dullness, and breakage; not enough, you sacrifice the dimension and richness you were after in the first place—and you have unsightly roots. To strike the right balance, prep your hair with a pre-color deep conditioning treatment (conditioned hair absorbs color more readily, which means the color will fade less quickly). Post-color, hide any unwanted color shifts with a color-enhancing shampoo or conditioner every third or fourth time you wash. The plant-based dyes in these products, such as Aveda Madder Root Shampoo ($26.50, aveda.com), tint the hair’s outermost layers for less brassiness and more warmth and vibrance. Zigzagging your part is another way to make roots less noticeable.
Pump it up. For flat, do-nothing hair, volumizing shampoos like Jonathan Serious Volume Volumizing Shampoo ($20, ulta.com) and conditioners such as Charles Worthington London Big Hair Full Volume Conditioner ($1.74, drugstore.com) are an absolute must. The limpest locks may also require body-building stylers like Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray ($22.95, folica.com). No matter what, always blow-dry hair upside down to create maximum lift at the roots (a shot of hairspray near the roots while upside down will give the fullness staying power).
Forget frizz. Frizz is caused by one of two things—air that is too dry or too humid. And the cause directly dictates the treatment. In a more arid environment (business travelers, beware: Recycled air on a plane is as dry as it gets), heavy-duty conditioning is in order (try Fresh Pomegranate Conditioning Hair Rinse ; $26, sephora.com). But in a more humid climate, extra conditioning will actually add too much additional moisture to the hair and make frizz worse. Instead, reach for a smoothing serum like Pantene Pro-V Anti-Frizz Serum ($6.49, drugstore.com), which seals the cuticle and prevents any unwanted moisture from getting in.
Degrease your do. So maybe you splurged on a salon blow-out and you want to get every last penny’s worth or you simply had no time to shampoo. Luckily, a powdered shampoo like Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo Spray ($21, ulta.com) can make dirty hair clean again without a drop of water. Start by spraying the product on your part, and then re-part your hair every few inches and spray again. Massage the shampoo all over your scalp, style as usual, and walk out the door. Pure genius.
Shine on. Healthy hair is naturally drop-dead gorgeous and shiny. If yours doesn’t quite fit the bill, a shine spray like Neutrogena Triple Moisture Healing Shine Serum ($6.99, drugstore.com) can work wonders to instantly add natural-looking luster. Better yet, try one with a thermal protectant, such as John Frieda Frizz Ease Hair Serum Thermal Protection Formula ($8.18, drugstore.com), for hair that is not only ultra-smooth and glossy but safe from the damaging heat of styling tools.
