Hair brushing tricks to keep your tresses looking purdy.

You might think you’ve got the whole hair brushing thing mastered, but you’d be surprised at the (many) ways you might be damaging your locks—and not even know it. Let’s take a hair brushing refresher course, shall we?

Here are 6 hair brushing rules you should never break:

1. Use the right brush

“You should really do your research and find the right brush for your hair type,” says Susonnah Barklow, editor of NaturallyCurly.com. “You might even find that no brush is best for your hair! Several ladies use their fingers in the shower to detangle and nothing else.” And when you do brush, focus on quality over quantity: Just massage your scalp, carefully get rid of tangles, and mosey on with your day.

2. Brush from tip to root

Brushing your strands from top to bottom can cause snags and breakage. “Instead, you should brush your hair in sections, starting from the ends and slowly working your way up the hair,” says Barklow. “If there’s a really nasty knot, it’s best to use your fingers to get rid of it.”

3. Brush before washing

Because your strands are weakened when wet, they’re more prone to tangle. To prevent mats and snarls, start a pre-shower hair brushing ritual before hopping in.

3. Dry your hair before brushing

“Hair is at its most vulnerable when it’s wet and breaks easily,” says beauty expert Julie Allseybrook. “Brushes are harsh on hair at the best of times, and brushing when wet can lead to split ends, permanent damage and breakage.” If you just can’t resist, use a wide tooth comb to detangle wet hair—and when blow drying, use a vented brush, which has fewer teeth.

The exception to this rule is if you’ve got curly locks, in which case you should do the opposite: Comb when wet, not dry.

4. Take your time with tangles

We’re all famous for ripping out tangles as aggressively as if it were an Olympic event. The time has come for us to put on our big girl pants and treat our hair with respect. First, ditch the paddle brush and detangle using a wide tooth comb and detangling product. If you’re detangling wet or damp hair, apply a conditioner with plenty of slip, and if dry make sure to apply a detangling cream.

5. Clean your brushes on the regs

“Just like you wash your makeup brushes, you should wash your hair brush once a week,” says Allseybrook. “The bristles get clogged up with hair and product buildup, and you’re brushing this back into your hair.” Ick. Allseybrook recommends removing any hair caught in the bristles, then running the brush under warm water. Work shampoo into the bristles, creating a foam, then rinse it off completely and towel dry. Voila!

6. Avoid static

Going overboard with hair brushing can lead to static. To avoid the frizz factor, spritz hairspray on your brush to keep flyaways on lockdown.

What are your go-to hair brushing moves?

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Hair brushing image via Shutterstock

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Hair rules to follow that will leave you looking all fine and stuff. (Promise!)

That perfect haircut of yours won’t last very long unless you take care of your tresses—but don’t worry, a little TLC goes a long way in keeping your hair (and scalp!) happy and healthy. Best of all, these hair rules won’t take up a ton of time; you’ll be able to seamlessly add them to your current morning routine.

Below, 7 hair rules that will keep your strands so fresh and so clean, clean:

1. Pat your hair dry
Not going to lie: That whole aggressive towel-dry move guys do? Hot. However, hair is weaker when wet, so going overboard with your technique will inevitably cause breakage. To avoid damage, pat dry instead.

2. Nix over-washing
If you’re only going to follow one of these hair rules, make it this one: Figure out what your ideal shampooing frequency is and stick to it. For example, if your hair tends to be dry or coarse, washing it on the regular will make it even drier, so you’ll want to limit washing your hair to once or twice a week.

3. Let it dry naturally
Let your hair dry naturally or use the cool setting on your blow dryer. Using the hottest setting may blast your hair into submission, but it will also leave it frizzy and damaged.

4. Be picky about your products
Use the best products for your hair type, not just whatever’s lying around the bathroom. After all, a healthy scalp equals healthy hair. Being picky doesn’t mean you’ll end up using as many products as we do (pffft!)—there are plenty of brands that offer hybrid products for guys who like to keep it simple (such as Joe Grooming).

5. Invest in a good brush
If you want styling versatility, make sure you’ve got a good quality brush on hand. Invest in a brush that has natural, rubber or wood bristles for added oomph.

6. Master your stylist appointments
Nobody likes crowded salons where your stylist is clearly distracted. To make sure you score the exact cut you’re looking for, ask for an appointment during a time when salons tend to be less busy, such as early morning or just before closing.

7. Keep it simple
You don’t need a bajillion products to keep your hair looking studly: Just invest in a solid shampoo, conditioner, and a water-based pomade for styling. It will help keep your hair moisturized and controlled without looking too “Mad Men.” (You know, unless you’re into that sort of thing.)

What hair rules do you follow?

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We know the whole hair washing thing is important to do on the regular… but how regular is still up for debate.

Much like washing your face or brushing your teeth, washing your hair is something you just do. You don’t think about it or talk about it, it’s just part of your everyday beauty routine—but that doesn’t make the process of figuring out how often you “should” wash it any less confusing. Are you washing it too much, too little, or just right? How does your BFF successfully make her blowout last over a week, while your sister swears by a daily hair washing routine?

Here’s how to figure out the best hair washing strategy for your tresses:

1. Train your hair

Because of your excessive hair washing over the years, you have to train your scalp to produce less oil. Over-shampooing makes your glands work overtime to replace the oils you’ve stripped from your scalp. The only way your scalp will be able to produce oil at a normal rate again is by temporarily spreading out how often you shampoo for as long as you can stand it. In other words, get ready to feel like a greaseball for a while—but trust me, the process is totally worth it. Even with fine hair, I’m now able to wash my hair every few days without it getting all gross.

2. Know your type

How often you wash your hair depends on your hair texture. For example, fine hair should typically be washed either daily or every other day, while thicker or coarser hair can get away with being washed every few days or even once a week. You also have to take into account scalp oiliness, lifestyle and your personal preference (some people can handle the ick factor of an oily scalp better than others).

3. Simmer down on the hot water

Trust me, I know how hard it is to not wash your hair in hot water (it’s so relaxing!). Unfortunately, it’s terrible for your strands. When the water’s too hot, it opens the follicle and makes it prone to dryness and breakage. Your best bet is to shampoo and condition under lukewarm water, then finish off with a little bit of cold to amp up the shine factor.

4. Wash your scalp, not your hair

Many of us lather up our tresses from root to tip, when we should really only be washing our scalp. According to beauty expert Alexis Wolfer, doing so strips your hair of the natural oils that protect it from damage and breakage. Simply take a nickle-size amount of shampoo and gently massage it into your scalp, then rinse. Letting the shampoo trickle down the rest of your hair will give it a refresh without damaging it.

And when you condition, do the opposite: don’t condition your scalp, just your strands. Your scalp already creates enough oil to keep your roots conditioned.

5. Find products that are the cheese to your macaroni

Lastly, you need to find shampoo, conditioner and styling products that truly suit your hair type and lifestyle. It’s not as hard as it sounds, since shampoo lines already have their products organized based on hair type—the rest of the decision is left up to your personal preference. I’ve tried oodles of volumizing shampoos, and each one left my fine hair more hopeless than the last (and some of them just smelled awful). I finally found my soulmate, Juice Organics Volumizing Shampoo, and the rest is history. Take your time, experiment, and let your hair washing products find you.

Have you found the hair washing routine that works for you?

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The post 5 Hair Washing Rules You Should Always Follow appeared first on EcoSalon.

Beauty means many different things to many different people – it is truly in the eye of the beholder. However, it seems we all listen a bit more closely to what celebrities have to say about the matter, down to the most detailed of makeup, skincare and hair tips.

And, there’s no denying, it’s all for good reason. Celebrities depend on their looks for fame, money and notoriety, and with that comes a huge knowledge base concerning the best hair, makeup and skin tips, products and therapies. Here are 15 quotes, suggestions and other heresay from our most beloved celebrities about their prized skincare, makeup and hair tips.

Skincare tips:

1. Crème de la Mer has long been touted by celebrities as the crème de la crème of, well, la mer of beauty products. It has a cult following, including Christina Applegate, Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez and Marcia Cross. Two ounces will cost you a whopping $295, but it may just be worth the investment.

2. Tata Harper’s Hydrating Floral Essence will cost you $65 for 4.1 fluid ounces, and an aroma reminiscent of a bouquet of the freshest, purest flowers will follow you all day long. Jessica Alba labels this

3. Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o told Glamour, “I use avocado oil and Hawaiian kukui oil on my face. I like to keep things natural, simple, and straightforward.”

4. “If my skin is dull or I have red spots before a big event, I sweep raw lemon over it, to make it brighter. It stings a bit, but it’s not at all harming. It’s my favorite thing.” – Scarlet Johansson, Marie Claire.

5. “I just use natural grape seed oil from the grocery store on my face as a moisturizer. After the shower, I pat it on, and then I’ll use it throughout the day and at night. I pretty much smell like grape all the time.” – Emma Stone, Style.com

Makeup tips:

1. “The only brand of makeup I use these days is 100% Pure. It’s been around for years. The brand makes every single product you can imagine, and they are all legitimately 100 percent pure. But if we’re doing a photo shoot and we need something colorful, I’ll use Tarte. It’s the most mainstream brand I’ve found that still takes that extra step in the right direction.” – Shailene Woodley, Natural Health

2. Kate Hudson revealed to Daily Makeover that she takes the painful route, dunking her face in an ice bath to give a boost to her glow.

3. “I apply two to three coats of mascara. To finish off my look I apply lip balm if I want a more natural look, or a tint or lipstick in a shade of red if I want to make more of a statement – the red also brightens my complexion instantly. If I need a little more coverage I sparingly use RMS concealer where required.” – Miranda Kerr, Kora Organics

4. “I wear a lot more glitter around the holidays so I’m always wearing different glitter nail polish or fun metallic eye shadow. It’s the holidays—everything is more twinkly and celebratory.” – Blake Lively, Harper’s Bazaar

5. “I use the ColorScience Primer, which is mineral-based, so I don’t get zits anymore.” – Maria Menounos, Allure

Hair tips:

1. “Hair-wise, I love using coconut oil as a treatment and apple cider vinegar for shininess—you put on a little bit in the shower as a rinse, and then wash it out. It stinks a little, but then you use conditioner and the smell goes away.” – Miranda Kerr, Into the Gloss

2. “Once a year, we all still get together and put mayonnaise in our hair for old times’ sake.” – Zoe Saldana, Refinery 29

3. “I use shampoo and conditioner from Living Libations. It’s an amazing company based out of Canada. I also use their Seabuckthorn Best Skin Ever to wash my face, and I like the Lavender Poetic Pits underarm essential oil blend.” – Shailene Woodley, Natural Health

4. “At the moment I prefer a low braid or a high topknot, as they both require little time and effort but still look feminine and polished.” – Miranda Kerr, Kora Organics

5. “My hair is always better in California than it is in New York, so I got a big water jug and I filled it with ocean, which is probably a really bad idea, but I would put it on my hair, and, actually, it worked. It’s salt and it’s water and it makes your hair a little crunchier and holds it a little better.” – Blake Lively, Style.com

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Photo Credit: Shavar Ross.com

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