It's 911 time for summer hair tips.
I'm not sure about you, but my hair has a mind of its own during the hot weather months.
Or at least it did - until I found that midlifer hair care until the first frost of fall requires a bit of mind over follicle matter.
For Summer Hair 101, I went to Melissa Meyers, founder of PageDaily.com and lifestyle editor for Nexxus Endless Style Magazine for specific hair care tips for midlifers.
"Dryness and thinning are two of the biggest complaints for this age group," says Myers, "And there is the debate over cutting your hair. Just because you're over 50, I don't think you hair has to be chin length."
Summer Hair 101 for Midlifers:
*Stop Washing Your Hair.
The Problem: Your hair looks like straw, but it's hot outside and you workout. It seems a little bit icky to think about not washing your hair when you step in the shower.
The Fix: "A lot of people wash their hair every single day, which is a big mistake," Meyers says. "I wash only twice a week." By the way, she has very long hair. "You need those natural oils as you get older. You have to keeping washing to a minimum of a few times a week." She adds, "It's more of a habit or routine to wash every single day. If I wash more than twice a week, my hair would look like straw."
*Try a Dry Shampoo Between Wash Days
The Problem: You really can't live with not doing something to create clean hair between your wash days.
The Fix: Meyers says to invest in a dry shampoo. "Shake a little in or spray it into your hair," she says. "It really works wonders. It lifts your roots up again." She adds, "Let's say you go to a spin class. You feel very sweaty. I still just spray in the dry shampoo and then blow dry it out."
*Over 40. Conditioner is Your Best Friend.
The Problem: You mean to condition your hair, but sometimes you're in a rush and skip it.
The Fix: Meyers says that you can't do this to your hair. "Condition every timeyou wash," she says. "And then use a deep conditioner and leave it in for 20 minutes at least once a week."
*Your hair has lost its youthful shine.
The Problem: You miss the days when your hair that that healthy glow.
The Fix: "There are tons of finishing products to help with the look of dry hair," says Meyers. "I love Nexxus' finishing Pro-Mend for split ends. The product actually binds your split ends, so your hair looks shiny and healthy."
*Yes, you can use hair spray in the summer.
The Problem: You'd like to use hair spray, but don't want to weight down your hair in summer.
The Fix: "Use a light weight hair spray," says Meyers. "It won't look or feel like it has been sprayed. You want your hair to be touchable," she says, cautioning. "Women over 40 don't want to have that sprayed look because it's aging. You don't want it to look set. You want to keep the flow. But you might need a light mist of spray to keep it in place. You do want your style to stay."
*Help, my hair is thinning!
The Problem: With age there can be thin spots - small or large. How can you style your hair while working with thinning issues?
The Fix: "Use a great texturizing product," Meyers says. "And blow dry with a round brush for volume. Blow dry from the roots, which will give you more volume and not make it look so thin." She says the right cut is key. "If you're thinning don't wear it at one length. Cut some layers, but not too much. You want to add fake depth, which makes it look thicker."
*I don't want to get too many touch-ups, but I hate my grays.
The Problem: We know too many touch-ups and overuse of highlights is drying and can cause hair to break at a certain age. But the grays don't sit well with us either.
The Fix: Meyers says to buy a touchup stick. "If you only have a few grays or a small patch then use a touchup stick at home between salon color," she says. "It will extend the life of your color."
*De-age your face fast.
The Problem: You do want a few tricks to look younger. How can your hair help?
The Fix: "Highlight your hair around your face," she says. "That mimics the look of being 16 when you had sun-drenched looking hair, plus it's so pretty."
*It's summer and the frizzing is easy. What can you do to fight it?
The Problem: Your hair looks great in the house, but then you go outside and it's like you stuck your finger in an electric socket. Hello, hair frizz.
The Fix: Meyers says, "I love argan oil. It protects your hair and makes it not frizzy. It's also a great leave in protection. Plus, it makes your hair straighter without using a flat iron. Remember that most times products is easier on your hair than heat."
*Can you have long hair over 50?
The Problem: Some people say you should chop it off at a certain age, but you love your long hair.
The Fix: Meyers says to wear your hair as long as you want. "Experiment with new styles," she says. "Age doesn't matter. Try loose, sexy waves or a fish tail braid or side pony. These styles might not be for everyone but try. You don't want to do the same thing day after day."
She adds, "You can have long hair at any age. My hair is halfway down my back. I just look bad in short hair," she says. "My hair is a part of my body and it has always been a part of me. I'm not cutting it."
"As long as your hair looks healthy and the style looks good on you then it can be long at any age," she insists.
