Surefire Tips to Getting Perfect Straight Hair
Say so long to that tangle of wavy locks. Silky straight hair is the cutting edge of fashion. Photographs by Victor Demarchelier. Fashion Editor: Joanna Hillman.
By Bee-Shyuan Chang
Head In The Clouds
The new trend in hair is a long, pin-straight mane. Fall's runways teemed with armies of models parading waist-skimming, perfectly pressed locks. The minimalism that has dominated fashion for the past few years has finally made its way to hair, and now is the time to restore some polish to your look, starting from the top down.
"Sleek, long hair is making a comeback because women are not feeling romantic at the moment," says hairstylist Ted Gibson, whose clients include Angelina Jolie. "Designers aren't making frilly clothes, and the hair follows the fashion. There's something about long, straight hair that feels very modern and present."
There's a discipline to glossy, straight hair, a sense of order, but even if your locks refuse to be tamed, beauty experts these days are armed with a litany of products to achieve Rapunzel-like results. Unlike in fairy tales, such transformations do not occur overnight, but you can start with an assortment of high-end ingestibles to speed things along. For those who need to jump-start slow-growing hair,Sprayology's potent Hair + Nail Tonic ($26) is a good choice. It's infused with homeopathic ingredients, including the human growth hormone 30C; you simply squirt the vitamin-packed formula under your tongue for faster assimilation. Michael Van Clarke, a celebrated hairstylist to royalty and owner of one of London's most prestigious salons, has developed a hair-care line cleverly called 3 More Inches. It uses natural cashmere proteins and amino acids to inhibit the hair's aging process, keeping it as healthy and hydrated at the ends as it is at the roots. Another accelerator gaining popularity is Fembody's Hair, Nails & Skin Beauty Activator ($24.99), a supplement that contains bamboo extract, silica, and a healthy dose of biotin (the magic ingredient for boosting hair growth).
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If you're looking for something more immediate, hair extensions-albeit significantly more costly-are the next best thing. Great Lengths is the brand du jour; made with 100 percent human hair, the extensions usually last for four months. Depending on your needs, there are also clip-ins, which can be custom-made (prices start at $125). Or if you're angling to add punky streaks of color to all that straightness, à la Prada's fall show, you may want to try Sultra Hair Palette Color Clip-In extensions ($18 each). They come in a full spectrum of rainbow shades and are an inexpensive and low-commitment option.
For a more hands-on approach, Philip Kingsley's clinics in London and New York offer special scalp masks. The naturally stimulating treatments are massaged into the roots and scalp to encourage blood circulation while helping to improve hair texture. There's a case to be made for intense and regular scalp massages. Designer Rachel Roy admits to splurging on the weekly hot-oil variety. "It helps with stress, and my hair is healthier," she says. "Women will go get a mani once a week and it's not a big deal. So why not your head and hair?"
Celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin, who counts Sofia Vergara and Jessica Alba among her clients, affirms the use of hydrating products, along with biotin supplements, for lustrous hair. "Sofia is really good about using moisturizing masks, and she takes a biotin capsule every day," Atkin says. In addition, she recommends slathering your hair with coconut and macadamia oils, taking a daily prenatal vitamin, and, if you're over 30, a fish oil tablet. "It takes three to four weeks for results to show, but usually by then everything is growing faster." Francesca Fusco, a Manhattan dermatologist, adds, "Patients are often concerned, even obsessed, with growth." Some of Fusco's clients consider extreme measures, such as asking her to treat their scalp with Latisse, the eyelash-growing solution. She maintains that some have seen results with the HairMax LaserComb, an electric comb ($495 at Neiman Marcus) that shoots red laser light at follicles to thicken hair and stimulate growth by an average of 20 percent. It's also the only at-home laser device to grow hair that has been cleared by the FDA.
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Potions and processes aside, when it comes to styling the shiny, straight look at home, Gibson says that your work starts in the shower. He recommends using his Daily Cleanse shampoo ($20) and a lightweight conditioner from the L'Oréal Professionnel Série Expert line. "You don't want too much volume at the roots," he says. "I use a flat brush, such as Mason Pearson's Popular brush [$175], for the blowout," and finish with a flat iron. Remington's new Keratin Therapy Flat Iron ($50) has ceramic plates infused with a keratin-conditioner blend to prevent further damage. "It's all about shine with this look," adds Gibson, so use hair oil, either before ironing (to keep from frying your ends) or after (to banish frizz and flyaways). Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil ($38), a nongreasy formula with super-softening argan oil, can be found in every top stylist's kit.
There is no sharper beauty statement than shiny, dead-straight locks. As with well-made clothes, when the look is clean and uncluttered, you can appreciate the art of the cut.
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