(Long Island, N.Y.) A long time ago– before kids, a mortgage, and a joint bank account, I spent 175 dollars on a hair cut at a prestigious, celebrity-filled salon in NYC. Dumb move, considering it was just a trim, and I refused to let the stylist cut more than a half inch.. But I was young and carefree, and not only did I spy a few celebs without make-up on, I also sipped a Mimosa and learned a very valuable lesson: When it came time to blow out my long hair, the stylist, Ricky, asked me how he should do it.
“Huh?” I asked “Your’re the expert!”
“No darling,” he replied, “you are.”
Ricky had a point. I slave with the blow dryer everyday. Yes, I am the expert. I have long hair, naturally yuckie, so I am the blowout queen. I have developed a lightning-fast way to go from soaking wet to slick and shiny. Hair-straightening tips from celebrity hairstylist are good, but some real tips from a busy mom who can get the job done in ten minutes, while something’s biting her legs…is GREAT. No, I don’t have a dog, just two crazy kids with tons of energy and new teeth. The mother of invention is necessity. If I don’t blow out my hair, I look, well, like something the cat dragged in. So I HAD to come up with a way to get the job done fast. And I did!
One of the first things people would ask me when I was pregnant was: When are you going to cut your hair? For some reason, everyone thinks that moms can’t have long hair, and chopping off your locks is like some right of passage into mommy-hood.
It isn’t. My long hair is one of the last things I’m clinging onto, to remind me of my old self. Yet my “old self” had plenty of time on her hands. “New self” is a mom with little time on her hands and had figured out a way to make it look like I’ve spent hours.I have a secret tool, a pricey product, and a time-shaving technique
The Secret Tool. Actually, it’s not so secret. It can be found in practically every beauty supply store, pharmacy—even some grocery stores. Who has time to blow dry… and then use a curling iron? Well, have you ever seen that gadget that serves as both. A curling iron brush that blow out hot air? Well, it will set you back about $24.00, but believe me, it’s worth every penny.
It’s the only thing I use. No blow dryer—haven’t owned one in a long time. I usually wait until my hair is slightly air dried, and then I go to work with this cool tool. Sometimes I go for a straight look, taking chunks of hair and blowing it until it’s smooth. Other times I make large waves by curling my hair up in the wand and leaving it to get hot for a couple of seconds.
The Pricey Product. I’m definitely not one of those who believe that the more expensive a product is, the better. I’ll put my six dollar conditioner up against any salon name brand any day. But when it comes to what kind of product you use in your hair, only Kiehls will do. The product is actually called “Kiehls Silk Groom”. Kiehls products rock, all of them, but the best is their Silk Groom. I apply it when my hair is damp. (Just a little, because if you go overboard, it can be a bit greasy). It really does make the straightening process go smooth. I even add a little extra after the job is done to give my hair an extra dose of shine. I’ve tried every product available in the free world, and I refuse to use anything else.
The Time Saving Technique. If you are really pressed for time, but don’t want to show up to a PTA meeting with a frizz — try this: While your hair is air-drying get dressed, do your make-up. Take your blowdryer/curling iron and just run it through your ends and the top layers of your hair. No real time to section it off and smooth out piece by piece, so take large chunks and focus on the ends of your hair and curl then under to hide the frizz. Also if your hair has flattened out in between blowouts, put your hair up in a loose,high pony tail for as long as possible. When you take your hair down, you’ll be amazed at the volume. I walk down the stairs with my silky hair saying: “Is it frazzled mommy, or the next Victoria Secret model? You decide.” My husband just rolls his eyes. Most important tip to remember when you’re a parent: NEVER lose your sense of humor!
