Making the Most of Time
Snip Snip
Since all women's face shapes and hair types are different, it's impossible to say that one particular haircut is both universally flattering and easy to maintain. That said, Fiore says that no matter your natural state—well-balanced hair is essential. "Whatever haircut you have, the layers must be proportionate with your length," she says. "Maintenance comes when your haircut isn't right and doesn't look balanced." Trends like bangs can be tempting, but it's best to try them during your least busy time of year. That way, you'll have time to style your hair correctly.
Color With Caution
Fiore says she sees most of her clients every six weeks, but moms—especially those who work—come more like every three months. Carving out several hours for a cut, color, rinse and blow-dry can be nearly impossible—which is probably why some women decided to color their own hair. Fiore's advice? "Get a mom friend—who does the same thing—involved. You put her color on, she puts yours on and then you have a glass of wine and sit and talk while it sets." When you go at it alone, the results can be disastrous.
Rinse and Repeat
As if on autopilot, most women shampoo and condition every time they shower without even thinking. Thus, "women over-shampoo their hair and dry it out," says Fiore. "The damage can't necessarily be fixed. To save time and protect your hair, skip the shampoo on occasion, but still condition it." If you have dry hair, Fiore recommends rinsing with warm water and then conditioning. "If you have oily hair and have to shampoo it every day, focus on your scalp and not your ends. That will really preserve your hair."
Powder Power
"I have a 4-year-old daughter," says Fiore, "so I understand time constraints. If you blew your hair dry yesterday and it still looks good today, leave it alone. Why add something to your to-do list?" If on the second day you wake up and your hair looks presentable but starts to look oily by the afternoon, grab some powder. "There are both professional and drugstore brands of powders designed to match your hair color," says Fiore. (Using regular baby powder can make your roots look gray.) "Go right at the crown. Put it underneath, in moderation, and then flip your hair back over. Don't overdo it."
Getting Steamy
"It's really important for women to wear both a shower cap and a terrycloth headband if they're planning not to wash their hair," says Fiore. "The headband is especially great for when you're washing your face because it keeps your headline protected." You might think standing a certain way to keep your hair dry will do the trick, but the steam is just as much an issue as the water. "Put the headband on first to seal the hairline, and then the shower cap. You'll be so much more comfortable and won't need to worry," says Fiore.
Dirty Looks
Some mornings, washing your hair just isn't an option—even if you really need to. On those occasions, you'll have to find a way to disguise your oily hair. "Those days are designed for hats or ponytails or even those cute buns everybody is doing now on top of their head," says Fiore. Baseball caps, wide-brimmed straw hats and fedoras are all acceptable accessories in the summer when you're out and about. If you're heading into the office, make the oils work for you by creating a sleek ballerina look that will distract from your hair's unclean state.
