Find a good shampoo that works for you…and stick with it. Your hair doesn’t “get used” to a product, so when you find one you love, keep using it. Sometimes bad hair days are a result of changing your shampoo routine too frequently or switching to a product that doesn’t agree with your hair.
Try using conditioner after you shampoo. By softening the hair and weighing it down a little, it can help tame flyaways. If your hair is very oily, only use it on the ends of your hair as a way to prevent split ends. If your hair is very dry or curly, try a leave-in conditioner that you use after your shower. Watch out: Too much conditioner can make your hair so soft and floppy that you won’t be able to do anything fun with it.
Buy a good hairspray to use when your style needs extra hold. Don’t put on too much, though, or your hair will be stiff and dull. If you wear contacts, close your eyes while you spray.
Give dirty hair a quick cleaning job by putting some baby powder on your brush and running it through your hair to soak up excess oil. When she was a teenager, my mom would get shampoo and wash just her bangs, which start looking greasy before the rest of your hair. If your bangs are clean, the rest of your hair will look a little cleaner, too.
Have a plan B. Whether you’re taking over the world or trying to convince your parents to extend your curfew, you should always have a backup plan if things go wrong. Sometimes you’re just not going to get the big curls you wanted, and you’ll be left with flat, messy hair. A cute hat, a high ponytail, or a chic messy bun are all lifesavers in situations like these.
