Josephine DeLeon's tips for managing impossible hair

Josephine DeLeon, owner of Elia Salon in NYC was most generous and sent over her proven tips for managing impossible hair. My hair doesn't do much, but I tend to have a hard time with my daughters. She has this beautiful thick curly hair, the kind I've craved since junior high school. However beautiful is can be there are times where I just look at that head of frizzed curls and wonder what can I do with that nest. Josephine is a master artist at her salon so I appreciate any advice she's willing to share. Read on for her tips:

Consider These Five Tips from Elia Salon 

to Manage Impossible Hair

Give Hair an Oil Bath.

Oil Baths are great for ALL hair types-- especially in the cold weather. Most people don’t pay too much attention to their scalp, or are not able to assess its condition—and the success of most healthy hair is dependent on a healthy, hydrated scalp.  By creating a custom blend of organic oils, Elia Salon caters to the specific needs of each guest.  Oils like Rosemary, Coconut and Tea tree are gathered from all over the world to create the best Oil Bath for the condition of hair.  Once the oil blend is gently distributed to the scalp and hair, guests relax in the aromatherapeutic blend for up to 30 minutes, allowing the skin to hydrate and soften.  To finish, shampoo is applied without water, and left to absorb the oil for about five minutes.  The treatment ends with a cool water rinse.  

Shampoo is not just shampoo.

The first step of most cleansing routines, shampoo sets the stage for optimal hair health.  Without the correct shampoo, the rest can go wrong at any time.  The solution?  Have a correct assessment of your hair type, and then address the issue with the appropriate shampoo.  It’s possible that you may need three different shampoos for just one rinse! If you aren’t certain what type of hair you have, have a consultation with your stylist. 

Think temperature.  

After cleansing and conditioning hair with the appropriate products, rinse with cold water.  Don’t just stop there.  Blow dyers work to style hair by using heat to open up hair cuticles to make hair easier to style.  When you’ve finished styling, turn your blow dryer to the “cool” setting for a quick blast to seal off cuticles and maintain moisture.  A cold finish adds shine and eliminates frizz.

Add a new element to your cleansing routine—Vinegar!

Mix one part vinegar and three parts water to maximize the benefits of your cool water rinse post shampoo and conditioner.  Try cider vinegar for best results. The vinegar works to seal cuticles faster, eliminating build up caused by your styling products for increased shine and optimal hair health. 

Don’t be afraid of anti-frizz products.

Choose a product that is correct for your hair type.  Oil-based products work well to coat hair and smooth our split ends, as well as add shine.  Be aware of application technique—which depends on hair type (i.e. less product on finer hair). Apply by massaging product onto the ends of hair strands.  If the scalp is oily, be sure to keep product a few inches from the scalp.  In order to distribute product, brush hair after application to coat hair strands evenly.