Hairstylist Cleve McMillan weighs in on your burning questions about the mysterious adventure that is getting a haircut.
I usually wear a beanie to fight off the cold, but it always flattens out my hair for the rest of the day. What’s the best way to fix hat hair in a pinch?
The simple fix here is to wet your hands in the sink, then use them to work your hair back into shape — just be careful not to use so much water that you end up spending the whole day with wet hair. If that doesn’t do the trick, apply (or reapply) a little product atop your now slightly damp hair, then style as desired.
If you’re finding that your hat hair is especially persistent, I recommend making a DIY water spray. Simply get yourself a spray bottle, fill it with water and add a tiny bit of conditioner to give it some slip when you’re working your hands through your hair. Then, when you take off your beanie, spray the bottle into the air a few times, walk underneath the mist and use your hands to restyle your hair.
I constantly show up to work with wet hair because I shower in the morning. How can I dry my hair quickly without using a blow dryer?
You have two options here. If you want to go the money-saver route, you can simply designate a dry hand towel to use on your hair after you’ve already given it a scrub with your full-body towel. All you’re really doing is giving your hair two towel dries back to back, but it works like a charm.
If you’re willing to splurge a bit, I recommend investing in an absorbent microfiber towel specifically for your hair. They literally suck the moisture right off your head. Just make sure to toss them in the wash like you would a normal towel — I’ve seen them get pretty mucky when they aren’t washed often.
My friends are all smokers, so my hair constantly reeks of cigarettes. How can I cover up the scent? Help!
The first thing you need to do is ask yourself where you’re off to. If you’re going to a job interview or a first date, you really have no other option than jumping in the shower for a heavy shampooing. That’s the only tried-and-true method for curing smoke-scented hair.
If you don’t have that kind of time (or you’re feeling a little risky) airing out your hair might just do the trick. Try running the blow dryer over your head for a couple minutes, or stick your head out the window while you’re driving — just be careful not to get into an accident.