Hair Care Home

Do you really need to trim hair every  6-8 weeks to keep it healthy?

NO.  NYC salon owner John Barrett says, "If you take good care of your hair, you can go three months (12 weeks) between cuts. If you're growing your hair out, avoid the salon even longer. You'll never grow it out if you're in the stylist's chair that often!" Exception: if you have a short cut, you may need frequent trims to keep the shape.

Is oil the best treatment for damaged hair?

NO. In fact, you may be doing big damage if your hair is colored. Rona O'Connor, Colorist at LuKaRo Salon of Beverly Hills warns, "Never put oil on your hair -- it will strip your color! When we fade colors in the salon purposely, we use hot oil." Oil mixtures can contain acidic ingredients, which strip color. Protein treatments are the most effective for damaged tresses.


Is  a $25 shampoo really worth it?

YES. "Expensive shampoos contain fewer sulfates, the detergents that strip the hair of its natural oils and color," says expert Jennifer J. "Also, high-end shampoos use finer ingredients at higher concentrations, so a little goes a long way," adds Jeffrey Lyle, Senior Stylist at Boston's Emerge Spa & Salon.


Do volumizing shampoos work?

NO. Volumizing shampoos are lighter, which can provide a good start to your style. But "95% of volume is achieved from a product and blowout," says Lyle. A hair dryer, big round brush and root lifter spray are a must for high-volume styles; no cutting corners on this one.


Do I need a full 15 minutes for a deep conditioner to work?

NO. "Any amount of time you can dedicate to deep conditioning is good. It's better than nothing -- just like exercise," says Amy Abramite, Creative Director of Chicago's Maxine Salon. Wrapping hair in a warm damp towel "will open the cuticle so your hair accepts the conditioner quicker," says Abramite.

My stylist says to wash my hair only once a week.

Is this a good idea?

YES. The natural oils in your scalp provide the best conditioning treatment for your hair. But is this practical? Only for those with very dry hair, says celeb stylist Lea Journo. Journo advises clients to go four days max without washing in order to naturally condition their hair without over-doing it.

Do sunscreen sprays for hair work?

NO. Sunscreen sprays can't hurt, but aren't proven to help. Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is measurable on skin, not hair. NYC salon owner Lisa Chiccine says it's more important to coat hair with a spray-on or leave-in conditioner so there's a physical barrier between the sun rays and your strands.


So many hair products claim to repair split ends.

Can they?

NO. No product on the market can actually repair split ends, although some can temporarily fuse ends together for a smoother look. "Harsh reality: the best way to treat split ends is to cut them off," says Abramite.


Do vitamin supplements have any effect on hair?

YES. Chiccine recommends Biotin, which is a vitamin that encourages cell growth in both your hair and nails. "Biotin can be found at the vitamin store, and you can look for shampoos with it if hair thinning or slow growth is a concern of yours," says Chiccine.


Do all-in-one shampoos and conditioners work?

NO. Lyle says, "It's impossible to receive the maximum benefit of cleansing or conditioning when it is combined. One cancels the other out." The only exceptions are super short styles, like a crew cut, that don't require much conditioning.


Are clarifying shampoos too strong for my hair?

MAYBE. "Clarifying shampoos will strip all hair but I warn color-treated hair to stay far away," says Chiccine. "Instead, combine five aspirin with a quart of water. Shampoo with your regular cleanser and rinse, and then apply this mix, and rinse it out. It removes product build-up without stripping hair and even gets the yellow out of silver shades."


I've heard that hair products with silicones to control frizz are bad for your hair. True?

NO. Silicone smoothes the hair surface, making heat-styling results appear both shiny and silky. The new silicones are super light-weight, and can even be used on fine hair without the threat of weigh-down.


Can I wash my hair with conditioner, and skip shampoo?

YES -- BUT ONLY IF YOU HAVE COARSE HAIR. Abramite says, "Just conditioning curly or coarse hair will prevent frizz. An occasional wash will prevent product-build up.