Thinking of growing out your hair? Or maybe you want to try bangs or hair extensions? We spoke with NoVA stylists to find out the hottest trends in tresses — and how you can keep your locks looking both healthy and stylish.
Long Hair and Extensions
I love that people are feeling more comfortable being themselves and living their truth as it pertains to their hair,” says Remy Awan, co-founder and stylist at Red Feather Salon in Tysons.
“Long, healthy hair is glorious, regardless of age,” Awan adds. He recommends those with long hair get regular trims to avoid split ends.
“I believe celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Angelina Jolie are great examples of women who can absolutely pull off longer styles,” says Yana Newman, owner of Indigo Hair Studio in Herndon. “Adding layers and shape to accentuate different parts of the face and adding movement is key.”
Aside from natural growth, hair extensions are a great way to add length and density. Awan recommends microlink or microbead extensions, saying they are easy to install and are less damaging than keratin bond extensions.
“Hair extensions are an incredible way to transform your look — not just by adding length, but by creating beautiful density and fullness,” says Melanie St. Clair, owner and founder of The Smitten Salon in Arlington. “Since both thinness and lack of volume are common hair concerns, extensions can be a game changer.”
St. Clair says stylists can recommend hairstyles and colors to complement your features and lifestyle, as well as offer advice for styling techniques and appropriate products.
Cutting Bangs
Should you take the plunge and cut bangs? The experts say it’s always best to consult with your hairstylist first.
“Together, you can discuss the maintenance, styling requirements, and overall upkeep to make sure [bangs] suit not only your hair type, but also your daily routine and how much effort you’re willing to put into styling,” says St. Clair.
“Though there are a lot of AI apps now that will let you try out different bangs, the best way to know whether bangs are right for you is to consult with a good hairdresser,” says Awan.
Newman says it’s best to make sure you’re not going through any major life transitions before making the cut: “If guests are still interested in making that change after thoroughly thinking about [bangs], then we will make sure they know everything they need to know to maintain them at home — how to style and how often to come in for a bang trim.”
David Bakir, creative director of Jon David Salon, says not all bangs are created equally — and a professional can help shape them to work best for you.
“All different types of bangs have to do with people’s face structure — such as how wide the face and the forehead are — so a typical ‘fringe’ bang won’t work for everyone,” says Bakir. “Depending on how your hair flows, that impacts how you design the fringe bangs.”
Help with Damaged Hair
If you have damaged hair, stylists can recommend specific products and routines to get it back on track.
“To mend the ends of hair from heat damage, it’s best to use [products from brands] like Olaplex for about a month. That actually helps repair the hair from the inside,” says Bakir. “You can use a heat protectant, such as from Redken. Once a week, you should do some sort of clarifying to remove build-up of products in your hair.”
Awan recommends R+Co’s Bond Building Intense Repair Pro Treatment to repair damaged hair: “[This product] can target bond building, hydration, and even adding volume.”
St. Clair says stylists can help identify the type of damage you have — from color, heat, or other factors — and assess your hair type and condition. “Many stylists also have access to professional-grade treatments that aren’t available for at-home use,” she says.
St. Clair suggests you speak with your stylist about a detailed hair-care regimen to determine how much product to use and how often to apply it. For example, she says that, “At Smitten, you can experience a Kérastase Fusio-Dose treatment in the salon, paired with a blowout, and then continue your repair routine at home with Kérastase [Nutritive] Magic 8 Hair Serum and Masquintense [hair mask] for long-lasting results.”
Feature image courtesy Red Feather Hair Salon (left); @hair_by_gabi.lokke and @bigcookiebrookie for The Smitten Salon (right)
This story originally ran in our January issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
