Today, we are talking all about how you can have healthy hair and style it for the Holiday season.

I am going to start by answering some of the questions that I typically hear a lot from clients in the Salon. I think this will be the best way to help you understand how to really care for your hair, especially in the colder winter months. Then, we can move on to some gorgeous holiday hairstyles that you can rock this Christmas!

Here is what I am going to cover in this article:

• Am I using the right shampoo for my hair type?
• Do I really need to wash my hair twice?
• How often should I use conditioner?
• Do I need to wash my hair every day?
• How can I help my hair to grow?

Am I using the right shampoo for my hair type?

First, you have to know what type of hair you have. Is it oily or dry? Is it both? If you have oily or greasy hair, try to avoid products promoted as being hydrating, moisturising or are good for curly hair as they tend to add extra moisture to your scalp and hair. Instead, look for shampoo that says it volumises, strengthens or fortifies your hair. If you have hair that is very dry or flaky, however, then the latter is the best option for you. If you are like the majority of people and have an oily scalp and dry ends, then choose a shampoo for oily hair and use a moisturising conditioner on the ends.

Do I really need to wash my hair twice?

It can be confusing because sometimes in the salon, we need to wash a client’s hair twice in order to get rid of absolutely all residue, build-up before a cut or colour. You don’t necessarily need to wash your hair twice at home though. It all depends on how often you typically wash your hair. As a general rule, the more time between washes, for example, 3-5 days, the more benefit you would get out of a deeper cleanse by washing twice. If your hair is really fine however and you wash it every 1-3 days, then you would be doing more harm than good by washing twice.

How often should I use conditioner?

To answer this, it is important to understand what conditioner does for you. While shampoo-ing cleanses and strips your hair of any dirt or dead skin cells, the conditioner is there to rebalance and hydrate your hair. If you have very oily or greasy hair, you won’t need to condition as much as someone with very dry hair. 

Do I need to wash my hair every day?

I do not recommend that you wash your hair every day, even if you have very fine hair. Every time you wash your hair, you also wash away the natural oils that your scalp produces. If your hair has a colour in it, washing it less will mean that your colour will last longer as well. If you have been washing your hair every day for a long time, try to adjust by washing it every two days and on the second day, use dry shampoo to get you through the day. Dry shampoo is also a great trick for when your fringe (bangs) gets greasier before the rest of your hair!

How can I help my hair to grow?

It is a myth that you should get your hair cut every 6 weeks if you want it to grow. That is great for maintaining your length but if you want to increase the length, you need to leave it a few weeks longer between cuts. Additionally, hair that is healthy grows better and faster. Make sure that you are using good quality products on your hair and treating it to a conditioning mask or treatment every couple of months to keep it hydrated and shiny.

Now that you know how to care for your hair, I am going to show you some of my favourite ways to style it during the holidays.

My recommendations below are for styles that you can do by yourself using your own products and tools at home. You can of course always come into the salon if you would like a more intricate style for a special party or event, just send me a message to the email at the bottom of the page and I can send you more information of my availability and where I am located.

1 | A Stunning Hair Clip

Hair clips used to be simple and only available in boring brown or black colours. This year, they have been given a revamp and you can find a hair clip for absolutely any outfit. They are fantastic additions to festive party outfits because you can keep simply your hair straight or wavy, and just add a shimmering or glittery hair clip on one side to add a touch of dazzle!

2 | Rock a Hairband

Remember the hairbands you used to wear when you were a kid? Yeah, well they’re back and they’re even better than before! They have been glammed up with bright colours, shiny jewels and will make a stunning, eye-catching addition to your festive look this year, day or night!

3 | Loose Bun

For this one, think Kate Hudson at the end of How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days. If your outfit already grabs a lot of attention, then balance it out with a simple, yet sophisticated loose bun. This one may take a few tries and a couple of hair slides but it will be worth it. This video will  show you the simple techniques of how to make 3 easy bun hairstyles.

4 | Party Pony 

You cannot go wrong with a ponytail for any occasion so here are some tips to make it a party-ready ponytail. Firstly, you’ll want to make it high – you can get away with lots of volume here so tease it a little with the brush before putting the bobble on. These Invisibobbles are great for avoiding ponytail pain. Once you have your bobble on, take a small section of hair and wrap it around where the bobble is. Use a hair slide to keep it in piece. This makes it look neater. Finally, decide if you want to rock a super sleek style or if you want to make waves. Either way, make sure you add some hairspray on top so your look lasts! Rachel Vitullo has created a fantastic tutorial on this that you should check out.

When you’re styling your hair, it is best, and easier to style, with day two hair. So, wash and prep your hair the day before you go out so that it is easier to manage on day two.

If you’re feeling extra festive, feel free to play around and add some hair glitter, colour or Christmas accessories to your look!

I hope you find these tips on how to create healthy hair and style it helpful. As always, let me know if you have any questions and I’ll try my best to answer them for you.

If you’d like my support with your overall image or hair and make-up, contact me here or reach me on +34 654 189 358 to schedule a complimentary 20 minutes call. I also team up with the professional photographers at Madas Commercial Photography & Aaron Jean photography to provide Linkedin headshot and business styling services.