How do I keep my hair in place without stiffness? - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

By Michiko Boorberg

You don't have to put up with helmet hair to maintain your style. Here's how to avoid it and get the hold you need:

If you use a pump hair spray, trade it for an aerosol. Aerosols contain less water and deliver a drier mist, meaning they are less likely to make hair wet and sometimes create stiffness. The finer mist also spreads hair spray more evenly over strands. Pump sprays sometimes distribute larger droplets which can concentrate in one area and also cause crispiness.

Now keep in mind that some ultra-hold aerosols are made to be stiff. So find one that has terms like "flexible hold" or "workable hold" on the label. These maintain volume or curl while blocking frizz but still allowing hair to move.

Another common mistake that leads to stiffness: Spraying too close to your strands. Hold the nozzle 10-12 inches away and move it around as you spray to avoid applying too much to one area. Also lift up sections of hair so you can spray underneath, reaching all strands, not just the top layers. 

You don't have to put up with helmet hair to maintain your style. Here's how to avoid it and get the hold you need:

If you use a pump hair spray, trade it for an aerosol. Aerosols contain less water and deliver a drier mist, meaning they are less likely to make hair wet and sometimes create stiffness. The finer mist also spreads hair spray more evenly over strands. Pump sprays sometimes distribute larger droplets which can concentrate in one area and also cause crispiness.

Now keep in mind that some ultra-hold aerosols are made to be stiff. So find one that has terms like "flexible hold" or "workable hold" on the label. These maintain volume or curl while blocking frizz but still allowing hair to move.

Another common mistake that leads to stiffness: Spraying too close to your strands. Hold the nozzle 10-12 inches away and move it around as you spray to avoid applying too much to one area. Also lift up sections of hair so you can spray underneath, reaching all strands, not just the top layers.

Michiko Boorberg is a hair stylist based in New York City. Her work can be found in such magazines as O, The Oprah Magazine, Redbook, Lucky, Family Circle, Vanity Fair and Martha Stewart Living. Boorberg also styles hair for fashion shows, including those by Victoria's Secret and Diane von Furstenberg.