Hello all and welcome back to the second edition of Liam’s Looks. This is a segment where I share style tips, fashion guides, and beauty advice for the average Brandesian to look, feel, and present their best to the world. One key way of looking your best is through your hair. I have often found that people look best with some highlights and by maintaining the natural texture of their hair. As someone with wavy hair that is often a mess, I have learned many strategies for hair maintenance and making sure it looks presentable.
If you are someone with straight hair, don’t try to curl it. Style your hair with bright hair clips or barrettes and remember that it can be super easy to maintain straight hair. Typically, you can brush it and walk out the door with straight hair and look fine because it doesn’t tend to look messy.
For people with wavy or curly hair, this is where it can be a bit tricky. You might have the urge to straighten it, but you should resist. When properly styled, it can look really well put together. If you have wavy hair and want it to be straighter, make sure you brush it out regularly to get rid of any curl pattern. When brushing, make sure to gently pull the hair along the brush so you don’t hurt your scalp while creating less curl.
Now, as someone with wavy hair, this is not what I typically do. I opt to enhance my curls, and I do so without using any heat at all. Using a leave-in conditioner after you wash your hair and scrunching it in as you apply will create a very defined look. You might be tempted to brush your hair, but don’t. As I said above, that will only straighten it. You will want a styling product—I use Not Your Mothers styling foam—that can tame any excess frizz, enhance the curl pattern, and avoid adding too much build up and grease.
If you have curly hair, embrace it. As one of the more time-intensive styles to maintain, you might want to straighten it. As long as you know the right products for you, however, leaving it natural will end up saving you time in the long run. Too much heat is very bad for your hair, so you shouldn’t be straightening or curling every day. Most of the time, the right product can be really all you need.
For those with kinky hair, I have limited experience and knowledge, and do not want to give anyone bad advice. I know that bonnets are incredibly helpful, even if you do not have kinky hair, and highly recommend using one. Make sure you stay on top of your hair moisture, as kinky hair can get very dry very fast, and make sure to keep it brushed, as knots can form quickly. Learning how often to wash your hair is a key step in hair maintenance, and kinky hair can last a whole week—sometimes even two—between washes. I, for instance, used to wash it once a week, but have found twice a week makes it much softer and healthier. Kinky hair also requires greater protection during sleep. As I said, a bonnet can be very helpful, as well as putting hair into twists before bed to reduce friction.
Now that we’ve discussed maintenance, let’s look at color. The last issue went over color seasons and the importance of knowing yours. This knowledge applies well to hair, too. I am a soft summer color palette, meaning I thrive in low contrast, cool colors. My hair is naturally brunette, but I wanted to add highlights, as they tend to look amazing on almost everyone. After much consultation with my color season, I went with strawberry beige highlights, a derivative of strawberry blonde. If you decide to add a pop of color, go about a shade or two lighter than your natural color. Balayages also tend to look great for brightening your face. If you want something lower maintenance, get a shadow root and if you ever go ginger, be careful—it’s a very easy color to look fake.
Lastly, to top off your perfectly styled hair, it’s hard to go wrong with a good hat—and no, I do not just mean baseball caps. Get a bucket hat or a beret. A bright hat can make your outfit go from regular to put together without a lot of effort.
