Elixir

All hair will experience normal wear and tear, but there are definitely ways you can be smarter about your hair behaviors and protect your coif from the elements. “It really just comes down to the knowledge of styling your hair,” Patrick Lewis says, director of stylist development at the Art + Science Salon in Lincoln Park, Chicago.

Your hair is no longer alive as it grows away from your scalp, so once the hair is damaged, it has no way of repairing itself. Dull, damaged hair is dry, porous, weak and hard to manage. Here are five common hair behaviors and how to make them safer for the long-term health of your hair, from Lewis and Keith Ayotte, regional creative director for Sassoon Salon USA, Minneapolis:

Hair behavior: Too much sun
What the experts say: Just like skin, the hair is very sensitive to sun exposure and long-term problems can result by not taking the necessary precautions. When going out in the sun, be sure to apply a hair product with UV protection (and re-apply throughout the day), and then deep condition hair post-exposure since the sun will dry hair out, causing breakage and discoloration.

Hair behavior: Too much washing
What the experts say: Washing your hair too much can dry out your scalp, cause flakes and strip the natural oils on your head that protect your hair’s roots - instead, shampoo and condition about twice a week. In addition, 30-minute conditioning treatments are terrific for rejuvenating the hair. There are fantastic, no-heat-required treatments available (sometimes called treatment cuts) that are sprayed onto the hair before the cut and penetrate/condition during the cut - two services in the amount of time it takes for one.

Hair behavior: Too much blow-drying
What the experts say: To achieve a beautiful blow out and maintain hair’s integrity, apply a heat resistant product and use a paddle brush to get a smooth, natural finish. A paddle brush works with the hairs’ texture and natural bend, to give your mane a healthy, shiny look. Lewis advises not to brush against the hair cuticle, or brushing up, since the cuticle can be ripped or damaged when brushed against the grain.

Hair behavior: Too much flat-ironing
What the experts say: When using a flat iron properly, you can achieve great results and maintain healthy hair by making sure hair is thoroughly dry before ironing, applying a product that will protect hair from the heat and using a ceramic flat iron. Then, glide the flat iron through the hair in fluid movements to prevent one spot from getting too much heat exposure. Lewis advises to treat hair with a protein spray once or twice a week to provide a buffer to absorb the environment and take the stress out of the hair. “It also puts moisture back into the hair,” Lewis says.

Hair behavior: Too-tight ponytail
What the experts say: When wearing a ponytail, use fabric hair ties not rubber bands to pull back hair - rubber bands, especially on wet hair, will stick to the hair and cause tearing. You also want to avoid ties that have metal on them or wearing the ponytail too tight, as these habits can weaken the hair and cause breakage.

If acupuncture could get rid of wrinkles, would you stick needles in your face? Bet you would. Women are flocking to Cinnabar Spa and Clinic in San Diego to do just that by indulging in facial rejuvenation, or cosmetic acupuncture.

Acupuncture for facial rejuvenation is still based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine and addressing the root cause, such as hormonal imbalance or stress, but it also adds points to stimulate the flow of chi in the face and superficially to the skin

“The style of needling is different,” says Lia Andrews, licensed acupuncturist and co-owner of Cinnabar. “You really want to create more circulation in a local area, where wrinkles are located and where the muscles are.”

She reiterates, however, that there’s still an underlying cause. “Whatever shows on your face indicates different conditions in your body,” she says. Treating the body and face, however, has an advantage over other cosmetic treatments as underlying problems are addressed along with improvements in the skin, leading to long-lasting results and a more natural path to vitality.

Along with the acupuncture points, Andrews may also incorporate microdermabrasion or other topical treatment. It’s all individualized to the person’s particular skin condition. Regardless of how intense your treatment is, “you’ll see huge results in one session,” Andrews says and notes that she has clients who come in just before a big event or vacation just to get that quick fix.

For best results, she recommends a regimen of two weekly sessions for five weeks followed by monthly maintenance. “You’ll notice right away that wrinkles seemless,” Andrews says. “That’s what really sells people.” –Dana Carmen