The holidays are here and that means parties, parties, parties! I get questions all the time on ways to style hair at home for that upcoming party. I think that this is a great excuse to make time for you. Give yourself a treat and make an appointment with your stylist to have your hair and makeup done for the party. In some situations this may not be possible, so if you have to do it yourself, here are a few tips.

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. I suggest getting yourself some hot rollers if you don't already have some. I tell clients all the time that hot rollers are my personal secret weapon at home. How I style my client's hair in the salon and how I can actually style my own hair at home is completely different. When I want to style my hair quickly and easily with guaranteed results, I grab the hot rollers. I feel that using hot rollers is fool proof; they do the work for you. Other supplies to have on hand are bobby pins, hair tie, styling product (gel, mousse, etc.), hairspray and accessories (i.e. pretty clips or a headband). Using hot rollers really is easy so go dig your rollers out of the back of the closet or go buy yourself some and start practicing. One tip is to not do too much when you take them out. Just tip your head over and give it a shake. If it seems too big and crazy, don't worry - it will relax before you get to the party into the perfect holiday hairstyle.

BANGOR Sometimes we see something that makes us stop in our tracks and wonder why someone would do what they did. A fashion statement, a clothing choice, a hair color. Well, Kat Walls has made such a statement with her hair.

Each month of 2014, Walls is dying her hair a different color. January was red for Volunteer Blood Donor Awareness month. February is blue for Eating Disorders Awareness Week (the only one that didn't have its own full month). She has picked out one color per month and hopes that the colors will help spark conversations about the causes she's chosen. While waiting in line for a burrito at Verve, she told me some statistics about how many people are affected by eating disorders (20 million women and 10 million men suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some time in their life, according to National Eating Disorders Association).

The lazy days of summer are upon us. We all have felt the humidity in the air lately, haven't we? We have an extended amount of daylight right now, and I believe you should spend it wisely - not in the bathroom trying to fix your hair. Maine summers are just too short to be fussing over your hair, but humidity causes a challenge when it comes to styling hair. You can fight it, or you can stop trying so hard.

Put up the hair dryer for the summer. You're just going to sweat to death while you use it anyways. Hang it up and let it stay there until fall. I suggest turning on the fan in your room while you get ready. Let your hair catch some fresh air for the summer and air dry it. Humidity causes frizz, and adding more heat to it from your hair dryer isn't going to help. I also scrunch my hair while on my way to work with the ac cranked and the windows cracked. You may chuckle at this, but I get the most compliments on my own hair when I have done nothing but let it do its thing that particular day. This will be true for you too, I promise.

The trend this year appears to be a June wedding. In fact, the most popular request that I received was June 15. I'm not sure why, since in past years June is usually a slow wedding month with the unpredictable weather we have here. Regardless, wedding season is in full swing, and this is my favorite time of year as a hair stylist. I enjoy up-styles so much. They allow me to be super creative, and each one is unique. Having been a part of many weddings, I have learned a few things that I can share with all of you brides-to-be in hopes I can help you avoid a few of the common mistakes I see.

Sometimes just one simple new accessory can change the whole look. The same goes with your hair. Here are a few suggestions you can try that apply only to how you style your hair without a new cut or color. If you are not confident executing these ideas, just ask your stylist next time you see them to give you some of their tips.

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.

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.

I only shampoo my hair once or twice a week and actually have gotten to the point where I dread the days I do have to shampoo my hair. On those days I have to start over with my hairstyle and spend the most time on my hair. I have been telling all my clients for years to stop washing their hair every day. I spend upwards of 30-45 minutes sometimes giving my clients the ultimate blow-out style only for them to wash it out in the next 12 hours. If we are going to spend hours on our hairstyle and make it look its best, then let's get the most out of it. How do you make your hairstyle last longer you ask? Enter the world of Dry Shampoo.

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.

Are you 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, you know that being patient while we wait for hair to grow is not an easy task. On average, our hair grows 1/4' - 1/2' every month, but everyone is different. Here are some tips on how you can speed up the process.

The condition of your scalp says everything about the health of your hair. You want your scalp in optimal condition at all times. Make sure you are brushing your scalp and hair daily to exfoliate and stimulate blood flow. You also can use oils such as coconut or olive oil on the scalp to condition the area.