Our hair sure does take a beating with all that we do to it. Most of you wash it every day (you need to stop doing that), blow-dry, curl, flat-iron and spray hairspray on it. How many of you really give it a day of rest? Let’s start this Sunday - every Sunday from now on, try giving your hair a break from all of that.

Hair products, minerals in the water and toxins in our environment build up on our hair. Even though I don’t want you to wash your hair every day, I do want you to use a clarifying treatment once a week to cleanse your hair of all the buildup. This buildup will cause you to have bad hair days and will also leave your color looking dull and even brassy. With summer coming, this is definitely something you want to include in your hair care regime right along with your kiddos who swim in the pool. Using a clarifying shampoo will gently cleanse your hair from the inside out. I do warn you to either ask your hairdresser what they recommend or simply use a baking soda rinse at home (baking soda paste mixed with water or your daily shampoo). Don’t just get any old clarifying shampoo from the store down the street. Many of those are way too harsh on your hair. The point of clarifying your hair is to properly cleanse it, not “strip” it and make it dry and brittle. Always ask a professional.

The recent warm weather has me thinking about my favorite time of year – wedding season. I am one of those rare hair stylists who actually loves weddings and updos. It really is one of my favorite things to do. Most often I get to travel to the bride’s wedding location to do her and her bridal party’s hair, and in Maine that usually means visiting the coast. I have been privileged to be a part of some truly gorgeous weddings. 

Spring is the best time of year for hairdressers in the Northeast. The sun shows its face, the temperatures warm up, and my phone starts ringing. Many clients want a change with their look and they want it now - and it’s usually a big one. I fall into this category myself: if I am going to change my hair drastically, it will happen in the spring. 

This column is for those of you who haven’t dared to try something new yet. Why not? I am here to tell you, it’s time. Look at pictures of yourself in the last few years and even beyond. If you see the same old hairstyle, run to the phone and call your hair stylist. 

Many new clients tell me that they are looking for a haircut that works with their face shape. I get it, you want a new style that flatters your face and makes you look your best. Here’s what I want you to really consider and it means more than what face shape you have. What type of hair do you have? What is your lifestyle? How often can you maintain your look? If you don’t know the answers to these questions, then it won’t matter at all if your haircut flatters your face. 

We made it through another long, cold Maine winter, and now we have that dreaded date of April 15 looming ahead. When money is already super tight, many of us will have to dig and scrape to send even more in to Uncle Sam. The past few years have been an eye opening struggle for all of us. So, now what happens to the budget? Usually the seemingly frivolous things are the first to go. A lot of you will cut your hair out of your budget and even cancel your appointment. You know what it costs the last time you got your hair cut and colored, and you know you can't afford that right now. 

Spring is here! I can’t wait for green grass, sunshine and leaves on the trees. This time of year does seem to drag on, but warmer weather is approaching, I promise. 

Winter really does a number on hair and skin. I urge you to see your stylist for a spring pick-me-up. Go for an instant face lift by getting a new look, taking off some length, adding layers and highlights. Trust me, this can take 10 years off and is way cheaper than seeing the plastic surgeon.

Raise your hand if you are ready for Spring! I am actually looking forward to losing an hour of sleep just to gain more daylight. Winter always drags along and with it comes dry air, dry skin, dry hair and worse, static cling. There’s nothing worse than getting a shock just trying to give someone a hug. It has been so cold that we all really need our hats on to keep warm and toasty, but hair sticking up everywhere isn’t a good look for Mama, even if it works on the kiddos. 

Are you like me and trying to grow your hair out? It can be a long and tedious process that requires patience. If you are like me and most women out there, then you know that being patient while we wait for hair to grow is not an easy task. On average, our hair grows 1/4” to  1/2” every month. Many factors play into that, and I thought I would share some tips on how you can speed up the process.

The holidays are here, and that means parties, parties, parties. Clients ask me for suggestions all the time on ways to style hair for that upcoming party. I say it may be a nice treat for yourself to make an appointment and let your stylist do it for you. I know that may not be in the budget for all of you, so here are a few tricks that you can do at home to give yourself some party hair. The key to success is to keep it simple. Don't try to make it perfect, and don't try to fight what it is your hair really wants to do. How I style my clients’ hair in the salon and how I can actually style my own hair at home is completely different. Don’t put pressure on yourself to be able to duplicate what your stylist can do to your hair in the salon. Remember this is what we do and we have the advantage of being at a completely different angle. I can’t even style my hair the way I can on other people. Supplies to have on hand to create your do-it-yourself-party hair are bobby pins, hair tie, styling product (gel, mouse, etc.), hairspray and accessories (i.e. pretty clips or a head band).

I can’t help but notice all of the shiny, sparkly things all around this time of year. If you need to stock up on sequins, now is the time. All of the shiny pretty things grab my attention, and I also think it is the time to make sure that your hair is one of those things that sparkle and shine through the holiday season.

This time of year also gets colder and drier, which takes its toll on us. Our mood, health, hair and skin are all affected. There is a lot you can do to hydrate your hair and keep it that way throughout the winter. Hydrated hair equals shiny hair, and who doesn’t want that? Salons always offer great deep conditioning treatments, which also usually include some scalp massage and relaxation time - my top recommendation. If that is not an option for you right now, go grab some olive oil or coconut oil. Heat up a small amount in the microwave and apply to dry hair. Wrap your hair in plastic wrap and/or a warmed up towel. Leave this in for at least 30 minutes (the longer the better). Shampoo and style as usual. This treatment does wonders, and this time a year once a week or once every two weeks is ideal.