Hair Thursday Secrets REVEALED!

Your intrepid advice columnist has up and had herself a baby, and will be taking a couple weeks off from her bossing-around duties. In the meantime, she’s arranged a cavalcade of her favorite writers from around the Web to come and take a crack at some of your questions, share their personal style secrets and wisdom, and hopefully keep you entertained while Amy attempts to make that Medela breast pump her bitch.

Today’s guest author is the gorgeous Sarah of Whoorl and Hair Thursday, who actually wrote her own introduction, including why she’s stunningly qualified to talk to you today about hair. And I’m not going to argue with the chance to type fewer sentences! Onward!

(I don’t know what the title of this post means. I was trying to suck you into my exciting vortex of hair. I apologize.)

Hello, I’m Sarah. I have a website named Hair Thursday where I tell people what to do with their hair. (Some might say I pressure my hair-related opinions onto innocent participants with the great force of a ruthless dictator. Potato, potahto.)

Since most of my time is spent researching and writing individual consultation-type posts, I very rarely have the chance to answer the slew of emails I receive involving more generalized hair questions. Until NOW, folks! In the spirit of Amy’s fantastic Advice Smackdown, I give you the Four Most Commonly-Asked Hair Thursday Questions.

1. How can I extend my hair an extra day without washing? (aka – My bangs look oily after 5 hours, my roots need a pick-me-up, I frequently oversleep and have 3 minutes to make my hair look presentable, my scalp is an oil slick, etc.)

This is a great question. First off, did you know that overzealous washing of oily hair can actually exacerbate the problem? By continually stripping your hair of essential oils, the scalp can switch into Oil Production Overdrive (very technical term, I know) and cause quite a mess. However, that’s neither here nor there in regards to this specific question…I mean, the oil is already there, right? What to do?

Friends, I can not recommend dry shampoos enough. And these aren’t the weird, powdery dry shampoos of 5 (hell, even 2) years ago. There are some fantastic options on the market that work by quickly absorbing oil, erasing product buildup and leaving your hair looking (and smelling) fresh.

Some of my favorites are:

Ojon Rub Out Dry Cleanser – This works very well, but heads up, the aerosol nozzle can become clogged. (Comes in a less expensive travel size for leery, first-time buyers.)

Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo – A non-aerosol pump, this hypo-allergenic dry shampoo is quick and practical. It has a light, non-overpowering scent.

Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo – This one smells like lemon verbena, and includes tea tree oil, which helps to reduce dandruff.

(EDIT FROM AMY: OMG, I just got totally scooped by a guest author! I’ve been playing with the higher-end dry shampoos as well and they indeed are awesome and NOTHING like the icky itchy Psssssst stuff you can still find haunting the bottom shelf at the drugstore. For the first time in my life I DON’T have to shampoo every day and yet no longer sport oil slicks around my temples and bangs. My only complaint has been how quickly the aerosol cans run out — I only get a couple weeks to a month of regular use out of them. The Ojon is by far my favorite — it has a slight tint to keep your hair from looking white and ashy and powdery, but the Oscar Blandi version gets high marks for offering a non-spray version that lasts much longer.)

2. I’m getting married and am looking for the Perfect Wedding Day Hair. Can you help me?

Why, yes! I can! Have you seen the Brides.com Hairstyles Gallery? Now, this isn’t just some lame gallery of editorial photos- you can refine your search by your hair’s length, type and style. Plus, besides the editorial photos of models in wedding dresses, this gallery includes real bridal hair from recent weddings.

(How pretty is this? Seriously, people. It’s a REAL NON-MODELISH PERSON.)

Also, if you are interested in some quick and easy updos for day-to-day, might I recommend these updos on Hair Thursday? (Watch my stylist in action!)

3. How much should I tip my stylist?

In an informal poll by Aveda, the lowest tip given to a stylist was 10 percent and the highest was 25 percent, but most women said they stick to 20 percent. (Personally, I tip 20%.) In and around big cities, the percentage was more generous, even though the services cost more.

What about the person who shampoos your hair? Yes, you should tip your shampoo-er (usually between 1 and 5 dollars). What if an assistant blow dries your hair? This can get EXPENSIVE, right?

That’s when I suggest asking the salon receptionist about tipping policies at your particular salon. Don’t be embarrassed, as it is a completely valid question! Some salons share your tip with all of the people who assisted with your services, most do not. When in doubt, tip separately and/or ask.

4. What product can you NOT live without?

Hoo BOY, do I get this question a lot, and really, it makes me wonder. Have I not made my love for Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream apparent enough? BECAUSE I LOVE IT. I love it like Edward loves Bella, people.

Still don’t grasp my obsession? Go to my website, enter “Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream” in the Search box, and grab a snack. You’ll be there for awhile. (Remember, a little dab will do ya!)

Thanks to the lovely and radiant Amalah for letting me take over the Smackdown for the day. Peaceful hair be with you.