The 14 Most Genius Hair Tips You’ll Want to Steal From Instagram

The 14 Most Genius Hair Tips You’ll Want to Steal From Instagram

By Julie Ricevuto. Photos: Courtesy of Instagram.

At this point, we all know Instagram has changed the proverbial game in more ways than one—it made global supermodels out of pretty girls by the names of Kendall, Gigi, and Bella; it gives us an all-access pass into the lives of pretty much anyone we choose; and it continually offers up some pretty incredible fashion, makeup, and hair tips we wouldn't have ever thought of.

Granted, there also happens to be an excess of some insane-sounding beauty hacks kicking around the 'gram, so it can be hard to figure out which are actually safe and effective.

To do just that (and to celebrate holiday party season—hair you love is absolutely necessary), we tracked down 14 genius Instagram hair tips and tricks that were major gamechangers this year. Then, we vetted them by experts. Read on!

Hair Trick #1: Deep Condition With a Shower Cap

While slathering a deep conditioning treatment through your hair before showering will give good results, it doesn't always fully repair super-dry texture. An easy fix: Your shower cap! "A shower cap helps trap the heat generated from your scalp, and this heat opens the cuticle, allowing the conditioner to penetrate more deeply," says Matrix SoColor celebrity stylist George Papanikolas. A few cute caps we love, here.

Hair Trick #2: Use Carrot Juice to Stop Breakage

According to Papanikolas, carrot juice is key when it comes to preventing breakage. "It's packed with Vitamin A and Beta Carotene, which are good for your skin and hair," he explains. "Plus Vitamin C and E can boost circulation to your scalp, so take it both internally and externally to double the benefits."

Either apply the raw juice to your whole head on its own, or combine it with a deep conditioner to really kick it into high gear. Either way, your hair will be stronger and healthier after just a few applications. Pro tip: Do a patch test on your hair before applying the carrot juice to ensure it won't stain overly porous strands orange.

Hair Trick #3: Remove Build Up From Hot Tools With Nail Polish Remover:

You know that crusty build up that appears on your curling wand after a couple of uses? Turns out, it can actually suck moisture out of your hair. Instead of breaking out the cleaning supplies, though, an easy fix is already sitting in your medicine cabinet. "Make sure the iron is off and cooled before applying nail polish remover," advises Papanikolas, who said it acts as a solvent and will remove product residue like stiff hairspray from your tools.

Hair Trick #4: Use a Powder Brush to Smooth Flyaways

Powder brushes are genius for dealing with annoying flyaways because they won’t disrupt the style or shape of your hair once it's been locked into position, says celebrity hairstylist Juan Carlos Maciques. "Simply spray a powder brush with hairspray and glide it over your hair in the direction that smooths the flyaways down." Smart!

Hair Trick #5: Use Foil to Prevent Heat Damage

Professionals swear by this handy trick that prevents heat damage from styling tools. "The foil works as a barrier between the tool and your hair, ideally acting as an insulator," says Maciques. However, keep in mind that if used incorrectly, the foil can actually do the opposite, so be sure to keep the tool moving. Also, always use a high-quality heat protectant spray before attempting this.

Hair Trick #6: Easily Braid Hair By Starting It In Front of Your Face

Sheenon Olson, celebrity hairstylist and creative director of Miami's ATMA Beauty, says this technique works if you have long hair that's one length. This is because the braid won't stay together when flipped over the head if you've got layers. Also, your hair should have enough grip to stay together, so second (or third) day texture comes in handy here. Otherwise, there's always this cult-favorite texturizer.

Hair Trick #7: Use Your Hands to Distribute Hair Color for Brighter Results

Since colorists typically apply hair dye in smaller sections with a precise brush, this technique might seem reckless. But it turns out that dying larger pieces of your hair by hand will leave you with a more distinct color outcome—especially when using multiple or non-traditional shades. "Try to take chunky pieces when doing this for each color," says Papanikolas. "If you take baby fine sections, the hues will either disappear into the hair or blend into one ball of muck."

If you attempt this at home, be sure to use gloves and be careful when rinsing your hair out as it can stain your grout or stone surfaces. Another tip? Use cool water when rinsing for a brighter color and extra shine

Hair Trick #8: Paint on Brow Product to Create an Even Hairline

Cowlicks and odd growth patterns can leave people with a naturally uneven hair line, so celebrity stylists like to use brow products to make the hairline appear even and straight. According to Papanikolas, "This is great for making a thin hairline look thicker, but be sure to keep the color the same as your roots or one shade lighter." One last thing: Be sure to blend meticulously.

Hair Trick #9: Get Rid of Dandruff Using Lemon and Salt

"The anti-fungal properties in lemon make it a good resource for those fighting dandruff," explains Maciques. "It's natural acidic properties aid in clarifying and ridding your scalp of buildup or dead skin cells, and the salt acts as an excellent exfoliator." Not only does the salt loosen and remove flakes, it also stimulates circulation to your scalp so your hair grows faster. This hack is great for absorbing excess oil in your roots, however, be sure to only use the solution on your scalp because it can dehydrate the ends of your hair if used too often.

Hair Trick #10: Create Tight Ringlets With a Pencil

No curling iron? No problem. According to Olson, a pencil and a flatiron are great for creating ringlets in a bind. "I've used this technique on a photoshoot, and it works quite well," he says. "Just keep in mind that more heat and a longer time on the pencil will result in tighter curls." For variety in the size of the curls, Olson recommends using a knitting needle, too, since they're longer than a standard pencil.

Hair Trick #11: Use Bobby Pins at the Base of Your Ponytail to Avoid Sagging

"After securing your ponytail with an elastic band in the desired position, place two bobby pins horizontally in opposite direction to one another and about 1/2 inch below the base underneath of the ponytail," says Maciques. "Now take two hair pins and place them at the top portion of the ponytail base, just wide enough from each other, and insert them vertically, underneath the ponytail base and into the horizontal bobby pins." This trick will lift your ponytail and create a cascading effect for a fuller, overall look.

Hair Trick #12: Double Up on Hair Ties to Give Your Pony a Lifted Look

"Stacking the hair ties will give your ponytail that extra projection," explains Maciques. "It elongates the base by forcing your hair to protrude out further, giving it an entirely different look than when using just one hair tie."

Hair Trick #13: Fake Thicker Hair With Eyeshadow

Similar to using eyebrow product to even out your hairline, eyeshadow is a good option for filling in sparse sections of hair when you pull yours it up into a ponytail. "This is a great technique for both filling in sparse hair lines and also for covering greys as well," explains Olson. "Make sure the shade matches your hair color and your brush doesn't load too much shadow into your hair, otherwise it'll come across unnatural."

Hair Trick #14: Nix Oily Roots Without Having to Wash Your Whole Head

Sure, dry shampoo is our holy grail for fending off greasy roots, but sometimes even hourly spitzes of Psssst! can't hide oil. Luckily, this genius invention makes it easy to scrub a greasy scalp while avoiding washing the rest of your hair. "This is a good idea if your scalp tends to get oilier than the rest of your hair," says Olson. "Although, you'll need to blow dry your roots once you're done."

This story originally appeared on Glamour.

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