Unless you have a live-in stylist at your disposal, you've probably experienced a bad hair day or five in your life. With longer hair, you at least have the luxury of pinning it into an updo or employing the go-to ponytail. Those with hair far above shoulder-length don't have those options, so here are a few quick-fix solutions to get you out the door with your sanity intact.
Solutions for Frizzy Hair
Your hair has poofed out to Jupiter and even the SWAT team can't keep it down. Solution one is to run a flat iron over it and smooth the strays with an anti-frizz serum.
If you want to preserve your natural texture, or find flat ironing too time consuming, spray your hair so that it's slightly damp, run a smoothing cream through it (gel will make it too crunchy) and scrunch waves or curls into place. Let it air dry and don't touch it!
Solutions for Flat Hair
Maybe you used too heavy a conditioner the night before and now your hair prefers to stick to your head instead of swaying and bouncing like a shampoo spokesmodel's locks. The quickest solution is to part your hair opposite of what you normally do and spray lightly into place; that should shake it up a bit and give you a bit of volume.
If that doesn't work, or if you have a very strong side part, wrap Velcro rollers through the top, mist lightly with hairspray and go about the rest of your morning routine. If you don't have rollers, bump a few curls through the top with a large-barrel curling iron (1-1/4 or 1-1/2 depending on your length) and touch up your ends to bring it all together. Spray. Don't comb it out until the curls have cooled down.
The next solution is to tease your hair a bit in the crown area (some find back-brushing easier than back-combing) and smooth into place. Big hair is in right now, but don't get carried away.
Degreasing Your Oily Hair
If the tips for flat hair don't work, then spray in a dry shampoo or sprinkle cornstarch on your scalp to absorb the oil. If working with cornstarch, brush it out afterward to avoid the build-up look.
If your hair is dark enough for the powder to show, run some mousse through your scalp. Then bend your head upside-down and hit it with a blow-dryer to distribute the oil and add a little volume.
Fixing Your Crazy Bangs
Sometimes your bangs simply won't lay in place. Mist lightly with water and add product, putting a little extra on cowlicks or wherever your bang like to split). Then aim your blow-dryer downward and blast them, using your fingers to scrub out any trouble spots. Smooth with a flat iron if needed.
Conversely, if you want the side-swept look, aim the blow-dryer where you want your bangs to go and smooth with a brush as you do so.
If they're too long, pin them back in a pouf (tease for a little extra volume), or sweep them to the side and secure them with a cute barrette.
Hiding Split Ends
Straightening your hair will put your split ends on display, so bump those ends under with a curling iron instead. That will conceal them until your next hair appointment; a trim is the only to get rid of split ends altogether.
Next time a bad hair day makes its appearance, you'll be armed with a few more tips instead of reaching for the nearest hat or scarf. Hair faux pas won't have a chance, even if you don't have a stylist at your beck and call.
