Want just-stepped-out-of-the salon hair? Here are the tools to get you there
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When you step out of the salon with a fresh new cut and blow dry, you’ve got an extra air of confidence, yes? (Go ahead, girl, check out your reflection in the nearby shop window. P.S., we agree that your hair totally smells amazing because salon shampoo must be made of magic). So, wouldn’t it be awesome if you could leave your house every morning with that same “just came from the salon; love my locks” feeling? Here are some salon-quality beauty wands, brushes and hair products that will instantly up your hair game between salon visits.
Layers
Celeb magazines are giving us major hairspiration this season with the “lob” (think: a longer, layered bob) becoming the go-to haircut for beauty icons including Lauren Conrad, Kim Kardashian and Emma Stone. What do we love about it? The shorter hairstyle is easy to manage. If you’ve got a similar cut (or are about to commit to one), the idea is to keep your tresses slightly tousled. The layers and waves should be soft and bouncy—not misbehaved and frizzy. Carol’s Daughter Marula (curl softening) Hair Mask, $24 at Ulta, will keep your curls in tip-top shape, making them soft, manageable and easy to define. (The product is packed with Marula, an oil harvested for 12,000 years in Madagascar). Style your hair with the John Frieda John Frieda Porcupine round brush, $11.69 at Drugstore.com, to keep your locks soft and frizz-free.
Stick straight
We’ll admit it, when we straighten our hair it always seems to add a little length and gives us a goddess feel. If you don’t have naturally straight hair, start with a good, humidity-defying straightening cream, like Tigi Bed Head Straighten Out straightening cream, $18.99 at Ulta. And our favorite straightener on the market? The Ultra Chi 1-inch ceramic flat iron, on sale for $89.95 at Ulta. With ceramic plates, it eliminates frizz and adds shine. For curly girls, the max temp is 392 degrees Fahrenheit.
Beachy waves
Sure, beach season is over and your neighborhood pool is shut down for the season. But while you might be saying sayonara to your tan, you don’t have to put an end to those easy-to-accomplish, beach waves. Try the Bumble and Bumble Surf set, $28 at Sephora, for year-round, easy breezy waves. The salt water-based Surf Spray lends a surfer girl matte texture, essential for those effortless beach curls. For more structured beach waves, employ a big-barrel curling iron. The Bombshell oval curling iron, $117 at Sephora, will give you big waves and lend a boost to your roots.
Super curly
Channel your inner princess with super-curly ringlet curls. The Conair Infiniti Pro Curl Secret, $99.99 at Target, does all of the curly work for you. Just position your hair in the unit near the curling chamber and work in ½-inch to 1-inch sections. Close the handles and the hair will automatically draw into the curl chamber. A rapid beep will signal when the curl is ready and, in no time, you’ll have a head full of curls. (Bonus: Extend your curls for another day with a dry shampoo. Your second day hair will be looser, full-body curls).
