Sometimes, it seems as though practically everyone in Rhode Island either knows or is related to someone who's a hair stylist...

That being said, I bet there are still way too many mornings you probably wake up to a crummy hair day. Am I right? Or am I right? Well, here are four things the hair stylist in your life might NOT be telling you, things that could be the root cause of all those days you have to pull your hair up into a messy ponytail or bun because it looks flat, lifeless and damaged or out of control, frizzy and wild:

1. Your Water Is Funky.

Recently I was in Florida and I swear the water did a number on my hair. My sister, who's been a hair dresser for 'like' ever, swears it's because the water there has a lot of chlorine. (She's right btw.) Now, forget FLA for a sec because the local Rhody water (hard water, brown water, bad tasting water, etc.) may be wreaking havoc on your hair. Right now. If that's the case, it might be time for you to invest in a filter for your shower. People I know who've complained about their water and who then went and added filters say it improved their hair and skin dramatically. In a week or less in many cases.

Click here to see my filter of choice.

2. Your Suds Are Duds.

Maybe you're hooked on sudsing up your hair? (I was.) Maybe you're obsessed with buying up all kinds of repairing and deep conditioning masks and treatments. (I was.) If that's the case, then, according to Michael Gordon, the former Bumble & Bumble big shot who recently launched his own haircare line called Purely Perfect, you need to stop it. Pronto. He says that using anything other than his Purely Perfect Cleansing Creme (meant to replace both your shampoo and conditioner) is damaging your hair and fading out your color. His Cleansing Creme is made with aloe and other essential oils, instead of sulphates, detergents or parabens, and is super gentle to hair and scalp. And won't cause the dreaded fade out. 

To see the whole line, click here.

*If you refuse to give up your regular shampoo and conditioner routine, use this for a week or two to give your hair a summer vaca. (My theory - Your hair builds up a tolerance to products and they stop being as effective after a while. Hence, the break.)

3. 50 Shades Of Ughhh

If (like me) you're going prematurely grey, your hair is now more coarse, more than it's ever been in fact. **Sigh** Of course, you can go and use all the serums and anti-frizz oils you want, but in my experience, nothing works as well as a Keratin Express (or full Keratin) treatment - a way of chemically smoothing out your hair for an extended period (anywhere from 3-6 months, depending on whether you get the Express or the full Keratin treatment). So, If you want to be able to wash and air dry your hair on the most humid days of the year with zero frizz (and, sleep in for that extra 1/2 hour instead of having to spend that time drying and flat ironing your hair), this treatment is for you. 

To find out more about the Keratin Complex Express, click here. 

Ciao for Now,

PattyJ

Photo Credits: T3 image courtesy of Sephora; Purely Perfect Cleansing Creme courtesy of hairstory.com