8 essential styling tips from Hairfolk’s top stylists, including the one product you must have to survive Birmingham’s humidity

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Hairfolk stylists Patty Manes and Jesse Isbell. Photo courtesy of Hairfolk.

You want a fresh and new style for your hair, but you aren’t sure which products or tools to pick from the plethora of options at the store. Top hair stylists, Patty Manes and Jesse Isbell, from Avondale’s hottest new salon Hairfolk, have all the professional tips on how to style your hair like a pro. Check it out!

Quick And Easy

Don’t have a lot of time to spend on your hair? Nothing could be quicker and easier to use than Oribe’s Gold Lust Dry Shampoo.

“What’s good about this specific product is that it is not a powder,” Manes said. “It is much more airy and clear, but still absorbs the oil in your hair without coating it with a spray or powdery substance.”

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Hairfolk stylist Patty Manes. Photo courtesy of Hairfolk.

Hair straighteners can also be used for quick styling.

Manes said to make sure they have a ceramic tourmaline plate on them and to choose the correct width.

“Wide straighteners are for longer hair. They cover more space, which is beneficial for those needing quick styling. Whereas, if you have really short hair, your straightener needs to be smaller in width,” Manes said.

Natural Waves

Want to show off your naturally curly hair? Manes and Isbell suggest using a hair diffuser.

“A diffuser fits on the end of your blow dryer and diffuses the hair to help create a natural curly wave,” Manes said.

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Hairfolk client Meschelle Stringer. Photo courtesy of @meeshamerica.

Speaking of blow dryers, Manes and Isbell both agree that they are one of the most important tools for hair styling.

“Spend as much money as you can on a dryer,” Manes said. “If you spend $150 on a good quality professional dryer, it will cut your drying time in half. The dryer will also last for many years.”

When you’re done drying your hair, apply some of Oribe’s Surfcomber Tousled Texture Mousse to help with curl retention.

“Squeeze it and scrunch it so the product breaks apart,” Manes said. “This will ensure your curls are soft and pretty.”

Straight And Sleek

The Products: For a straight sleek look, Manes and Isbell suggest using a straightening serum, such as Oribe’s Straight Away Smoothing Blowout Cream.

If you have fine hair, they say that using Supershine Light Moisturizing Cream on the ends of your hair will help enhance its overall sleek look.

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Hairfolk client Rachel Stone. Photo courtesy of Hairfolk.

The Tools: A large, round brush is the ultimate tool for creating that straight sleek look.

Manes’s advice is, “The bigger the brush, the smoother your hair. If you have really long hair, you want the biggest brush you can find.”

The Technique: Once you have your tools and products ready, Manes said to work in sections.

“It is also a good idea to start with sections underneath.”

Sexy Beach Waves

Love the super sexy beach waves you see on TV and in magazines? Manes and Isbell have incredible tips on how to achieve the waves you’re lusting after.

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Hairfolk client Sophia Wolfe. Photo courtesy of Hairfolk.

The Product: Oribe’s Curl Control Silkening Creme

The Tools: Curling Iron. (The larger the curling iron, the bigger and looser the curls.)

The Technique: The beach wave look is all about having your hair look modern and natural. When curling, be sure to leave the ends out and curl-free.

Isbell also said to “Roll hair in opposite directions. Roll one section one way, roll another section the other way and so on. This will ensure your waves look really natural.”

Conquering Humidity

Living in a southern city like Birmingham during the summer means enduring high levels of humidity. As you probably know from experience, hair and humidity are not the best of friends.

Luckily, there are ways to keep your hair looking fabulous, even on the most humid of days. How? With anti-humidity sprays. One, in particular, that Manes and Isbell gush over is Oribe’s Impermeable Anti-Humidity Spray.

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Hairfolk client Hannah Benak. Photo courtesy of @looksandmerit.

“I am a huge fan of anti-humidity sprays,” Manes said, “and Oribe’s Impermeable Anti-Humidity Spray is an unbelievable product. I have never used anything like it in my life!”

What makes this product so “unbelievable”?

According to Manes, “It acts as a seal protectant and does exactly what it is supposed to do, which is to keep humidity off of your hair so it won’t frizz.”

Protect Your Locks from Summer’s Damage

From days out in the hot sun to swimming in chlorinated pools, summer can be rough on your hair.

According to Manes, “No matter what hair color you have, it’s important to protect your hair when you’re out in the sun and also in chlorine.”

So what should you do to decrease the risk of summer hair damage?

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Hairfolk client Meredith Tolleson. Photo courtesy of @thesouthernsource.
1. Saturate Hair Before Swimming

Clean water isn’t only important for drinking; it’s also a good way to keep your hair protected from chlorinated pools.

“Chlorine is very drying,” Manes said. “Just as it dries out your skin, it also dries out your hair.”

Manes and Isbell suggest saturating your hair with clean water before going for a swim.

“When your hair is dry, it is like a sponge,” Manes said. “So when you swim with dry hair, it soaks up chlorine and other harmful chemicals that are in pools. By saturating your hair with clean water before going swimming, it will be unable to absorb these damaging chemicals.”

2. Use An All-Over Conditioner

Another great way to protect your hair when swimming is by applying an all-over conditioner.

“Conditioners help protect your hair from becoming dry and brittle,” Isbell said. “So applying them all over the hair is a good way to keep it healthy.”

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Hairfolk stylist Jesse Isbell. Photo courtesy of Hairfolk.
3. Apply Spray Sunscreen

You are well aware of the damaging effects of the sun on your skin. But the sun’s dangerous rays are also harmful to your hair. A good way to protect your hair from sun damage is to spray it with sunscreen.

“There are hair sprays that have sunscreen in them, but you can also use spray on sunscreen,” Isbell said.

To do this, spray it directly on your hair from roots to tips. (And don’t forget to spray your scalp, too!)

Ask The Professionals

Have questions about which products will help achieve the look you want? Just ask the professional stylists at Hairfolk. They have all the inside info and knowledge on the very best products and which ones you need to look your best every single day.

Find them in Avondale at 3705 4th Ave S.

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