This article was written by Aviva Patz and provided by our partners at Prevention.
Even professional hair stylists have bad hair days. But instead of throwing on a hat and blaming the weather, they use their training and knowledge to set things straight (or wavy, or curly) again. "Hair changes often throughout our lives because of the seasons, hormones, medication, and even changes in water," says Lorean Cairns, co-founder and creative director of Fox & Jane Salons in New York City. "Hair does evolve, so it's important to evolve with it." If your hair is misbehaving, she says, it may be time to switch up your routine. Here's how the pros do it. (Looking for anti-aging advice that works? Prevention has smart answers—get 2 FREE gifts when you subscribe today.)
1. They do hair detoxes.
"I like to wash my hair daily, so if it starts to feel dry, I'll switch out my regular shampoo for dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse. It gently removes product build-up without stripping away the natural oils that give my hair shine." —Justin Anderson, celebrity hair colorist for dpHUE
2. They adapt to different climates.
"Just recently, I traveled to Hawaii, where I knew that my heavily highlighted hair would get much frizzier from the humidity and drier from the combination of sun and salt. While there, I used a shampoo, conditioner, and treatment for sun and colored hair from the Strivectin HAIR Color Care line, which helped keep my color rich and bright while also keeping the texture smooth." —Ashley Streicher, advisory hair stylist for StriVectin HAIR
3. They shampoo twice.
"If I've gone a few days without washing my hair and my scalp is oily, I'll use a clarifying shampoo or shampoo my hair twice—once to help dissolve the oil buildup and then again to wash the oils away. If you're not getting a nice lather in the hair from your shampoo, it's because there's a lot of product or oil buildup, so you need to shampoo twice." —Lauren Thompson of Nunzio Saviano Salon in New York City
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4. Or they'll skip shampoo entirely.
"If you've got dry hair, washing every day will strip it of its natural oils and only make it drier. I alternate shampoo washes with washes only using conditioner. I like Kiehl's Amino Acid conditioner because it's gentle and doesn't weigh hair down; I apply it exactly like shampoo and scrub away." —Ashley Ferrett, colorist at the Serge Normant Salon at John Frieda
5. They know how to fight frizz.
"If my hair is frizzy, I avoid foams and mousses because they tend to have a greater alcohol content, which is dehydrating. And dehydrated hair equals frizzy hair. I also swear by a new blow-dry product called Deflect by AG HAIR. I spray it onto damp hair and it helps smooth it out, and makes the blowouts last days longer. For dramatic defrizzing, one Keratin treatment at the beginning of summer can get me through the humid season." —Lorean Cairns
6. They get to the root of the problem.
"When I get an itchy scalp, which is typically caused by dry skin or product buildup, I'll use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. My favorite is Unite's 7Seconds line, or I'll infuse my normal shampoo and conditioner with tea tree oil, which is a natural disinfectant that fights bacteria—and dandruff is a form of bacteria. I let the conditioner sit on my scalp for 15 to 20 minutes and give myself a scalp massage to stimulate blood flow. If I think the itchy scalp is caused by product buildup, I'll first use a clarifying shampoo such as Unite's Weekender." —Savannah Fincher, corporate style director for Blo Blow Dry Bar
7. They switch up the sequence of events.
"If my hair starts looking dry and over-processed, I like to condition before I shampoo. Conditioner seals the cuticle and protects fine or damaged strands from the cleansing agents in shampoo, which can be drying. So hair still gets clean, just not stripped. This trick is amazing because it doesn't take any extra time, and it makes damaged hair so much healthier. I'll use the Kerastase Bain Therapiste shampoo, which is really creamy and balm-like, so it's hydrating as well. Once my hair is healthier, I'll 'graduate' to Résistance Force Architecte, which is for only slight damage." —Matt Fugate, Kérastase Paris consulting hairstylist
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8. They rehab their highlights.
"If my highlights start looking dull or brassy, I use dpHUE Cool Blonde Shampoo once a week. The deep violet pigmented shampoo immediately cuts any brass in my color and helps the brighter pieces stay bright without drying out my hair." —Justin Anderson
9. They troubleshoot split ends.
"Usually when I start seeing split ends, it's time for a haircut. In the meantime, I'll use a product line like Kerastase Therapiste, which is meant to mend split ends. It's especially good for when I'm doing a lot of heat styling." —Lauren Thompson
10. They cheat on their regular shampoo and conditioner.
"When my hair is going through an oily phase, I will switch up my shampoo and conditioner to something lighter, like a volume shampoo and conditioner; I like the StriVectin HAIR Max Volume series. It still keeps my hair healthy and shiny, but is light enough to not weigh it down." —Ashley Streicher
11. They go days between washings.
"On my second and third day without shampoo, I'll add curls and dry shampoo; I like Drybar Detox. This helps my look stay fresh and keeps me from shampooing when I really don't need to." —Lorean Cairns
12. They avoid color strippers.
"To make my color last longer and avoid frequent touch-ups, I rinse with cool water in the shower and skip heat styling tools. Also, the hot summer sun tends to dry out my hair and fade the color, so I try to avoid direct sun, or I wear a hat." —Sunnie Brook Jones, Head & Shoulders celebrity stylist
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13. They camouflage dark roots.
"Being an overly highlighted blonde, trying to grow out my hair is pretty much the worst thing ever. To cope, I spray Batiste Light & Blonde Dry Shampoo on my roots and brush it through. This soaks up any sweat and oil that causes greasy hair, and the colored powder blends my roots and highlights." —Ashley Ferrett
14. They use household products.
"In dry, snowy climates, my hair can become staticky. A little trick I use is to keep a dryer sheet (Bounce works) on-hand and lightly graze it against the staticky hairs to keep them at bay." —Ashley Streicher
15. They mix things up just to mix things up.
"I've found that the scalp and hair can become resistant to products that are used over and over. What's more, if you use only one type of product, it may address a specific issue but actually cause another one. That's why one of the best things we can do is vary products. So, if I'm using a dry scalp shampoo, I'll alternate with a moisturizing shampoo. My general rule: Stick with a brand that works best for your hair and vary their products. Creating a cocktail of products can also get you out of a style rut." —Savannah Fincher
