LOVE
YOUR HAIR
Tips from the experts for holiday coifs
and winter hair care
Edited by TIFFANY KOHL PANZA
Hair is the one thing we wear
every day, yet our relationships with our hair are
often frustrating and more work than we want them
to be. Fearing change, many of us either slip into
a hair rut (same style since the first Bush administration)
or try to force our hair into colors and styles that
don’t fit our looks or lifestyles.
We asked the experts — Denver’s top hair
stylists and salon owners — what to do right
now, and we love the tips and trends we gleaned from
them. They are in agreement on several key themes:
Less is more, work with your hair, wash your hair
less often, and invest in salon quality styling products,
shampoos and conditioners.
Here, excerpts from our interviews with Denver salon
owners:
DW: I’m doing my own
hair for my office holiday party.
What is a chic,
elegant hairstyle I can pull off at home?
Matthew Morris: A classic,
youthful and sleek ponytail is the look for fall/winter.
Keep the ponytail in the center back of your head.
It can be low, mid or high depending on the dress.
For example, the more going on around your neck,
the higher the ponytail should be. Keep it simple
and keep it tight. There are two variations: first,
a small amount of volume at the crown. Secure a tight
ponytail at the very center back of your head, then
pull out the top a bit and spray it with a medium-strength
spray. The second variation is twisting the remaining
hair around the ponytail into a chic bun and securing
it with long hairpins. This also will look fabulous
when you take it down later. Throw a little more
mascara or eyeliner on, as the focal point will be
the face.
Maree Chavez: Extreme
side parts give a touch of sophistication. Hair pulled
back into a low ponytail or messy bun looks great on
just about anyone. A fun, sparkly hairpin casually
added to your style adds instant holiday glam!
Bonnie Gillette: If you
are doing your own updo, less is more. Messy and loose
updos are a hot wear this season. Curl your hair and
pull it up loosely with a clip or hair band. Pin the
ends close to the band, letting some fun pieces fall
out. Top it off with a pin or barrette. For a sleek
look, part your hair in a low part on either side.
Pull hair into a low ponytail. Use a nice hair band
or wrap around the rubber band. These looks are always
sexy and classy.
Zoe Traphagan: It is
a good idea to get a mirror and look at a profile
silhouette because some people have more bone structure
in their face and others have more in the back of
the head. Looking at a side profile, your ears should
be about halfway between your chin and the height
of your crown. It is all about balance. If hair is
short, you can do small rollers or a small curling
iron for soft curls all over. A nice hair ornament
is good for sparkle, a little bling in your hair.
DW: What hairstyles should I avoid and why?
Preston Sawyers: I always
say never part in the middle because no one’s
face is symmetrical. When a part falls in the middle,
it exaggerates the asymmetry. I like a side part or
a zigzag part. Also, avoid old ‘80s
bangs cut straight across. Today’s bangs are
cut at an angle.
Susan Conway: Consider
four things: the individual’s hair thickness
and texture, face shape, personal style and ability
to style one’s own hair. When choosing
a new hairstyle, you must consider these elements,
and a good hairstylist always considers these elements.
My job is to givethe best advice, make someone happy
with what they have and guide them toward a realistic
outcome.
DW: Do you have any hair care
tips or product suggestions that specifically apply
to winter in Colorado?
Vince Varia: When hair
is wet, add a drop of leave-in conditioner to the ends
of your hair to avoid flyaways and static. If your
hair is feeling really dry and full of static, just
rub hand lotion into your hands and run the ends through
your hair to smooth it out.
Matthew Morris: Aveda
Damage Control is a must for dry Denver weather. It
is a detangler, thermal protectant and sunscreen for
all those blondes out there. In addition, Denverites
should use a deep conditioner like Aveda Damage Remedy
twice as often as the label says.
Zoe
Traphagan: Naturally
coarse hair has more protein in it, and fine hair has
less protein. You want to balance protein and moisture,
so the coarser and curlier your hair, the more moisture
it needs. Talk to your stylist; he or she should be
able to recommend good products for your hair type.
Also, look at the ingredients. I would completely avoid
anything with ammonium lauryl sulfate (a lathering
agent). Vitamin E, panthenol and vegetable protein
are all good ingredients. If you have color-treated
hair and are going skiing or golfing, it’s a
good idea to use a leave-in conditioner with sunscreen
to protect your color.
Preston
Sawyers: I suggest
spending $20 or more on shampoo and conditioner to
get the quality you need. Lower-quality moisturizing
shampoos can make your hair look greasy, oily and
flat. I highly recommend a spray conditioner or
sealing or shine treatment to seal the hair for
better control and less static.
DW: What are your favorite hair
tips?
Maree Chavez: Work with
your hair. Try different products that will give your
natural hair flair it never knew it
had. Curl-enhancing products really add control and
shine. Straightening products are so helpful in taking
out that unmanageable wave and keeping the hair straight.
I also recommend making an appointment with your stylist
to have a styling lesson: how to blow dry, how to diffuse
curl into your hair, how to give yourself a stylish
updo. An official appointment is a nice, relaxing way
to learn.
Bonnie Gillette: If you
find that your hair has more static electricity then
usual during the winter months, spray a little hairspray
on your brush before you brush your hair for a fast
fix. If dry scalp is a problem for you, invest in a
natural bristle brush and brush your scalp before you
shampoo. Do this by sectioning your hair and brushing
where it is parted over and over until your entire
scalp is brushed. Next, massage conditioner generously
on your scalp, then rinse.
Shelly Rewinkle: With
winter here, don’t wash your hair every day.
On the opposite day rinse well and recondition. This
will help if you have dry hair and will give body to
fine hair, and your color will last much longer.
Zoe Traphagan: Shampoo
your scalp and condition your ends. Place a wide-toothed
comb in the shower and when you condition, use half
of what you normally use while combing it through your
hair. This trick will leave your hair better conditioned
while using half as much conditioner, and your hair
won’t be as heavy. When blowdry styling, apply
the gel with your fingertips to the roots and out.
Start drying from the roots first with fingers or paddle
brush. When your hair is 80-percent dry, switch to
a round brush. Finally, switch to cold air on your
blow dryer to set your style and hold the shape for
much longer.
DW: Do you have any lowlight/
highlight/hair color suggestions for this winter?
Susan Conway: Typically,
a great rule of thumb is not to stray past two levels
lighter or darker than your natural color. If you look
at a picture of yourself when you were 4 or 5 years
old, that’s a beautiful, perfect color for you.
Shelly Rewinkle: Jewel
tones, jewel tones! The richer, the better for winter.
Vince Varia: I think people
haven’t been having
this much fun with hair color since the ‘60s.
Particularly, marbling is in, lots of different colors,
lots of highlights, lots of lowlights. There is lots
of dimension, but not the real contrasting kind. For
fall and winter, caramel, toffee and nutmeg and all
those really warm, golden blond colors are great. For
example, if you have medium blond hair, have some caramel
woven through your hair to make it warmer, richer.
For those with very dark brown hair, get some walnut
and mahogany blended through your super dark hair.
Anything darker you can do with semi-permanent color,
so have fun with it for six or eight weeks.
