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Hair | Tips | pomade

How to know if your hairstyle is work appropriate

Although many work environments encourage creative and fashion forward hairstyles, some jobs still require a conservative appearance.  Regardless if you wear your hair straight, curly, natural, braided, or in an afro, you can be sure that your hairstyle is work appropriate if you can answer yes to the following questions:

1. Does your hair look clean with no visible dandruff?

2. Other than subtle highlights, is your hair basically one color?

3. Does your hair color look natural for someone with your skin tone?

4. No matter if your hair is straight or curly, is your hair texture the same from roots to ends?

...and no to the following questions:

1. Do you have any visible white flakiness, stickiness, or unsightly buildup from styling products such as gels, pomades, or hairsprays?

2. Do you constantly have to touch your hair or move it out of your face?

3. Does your hair look as though it could easily get caught in a door or office/work equipment due to its extreme length or volume?

4. Does your hair give off an obtrusive odor?

5. Do your styling products drip or smudge onto your clothes, cubicle walls, or office/work equipment?

Be honest with yourself and tress for success.

Keep your scalp pores clear from buildup

If you regularly use a lot of styling products such as gel, hairspray, cream, and pomade, remember to rinse your scalp everyday to avoid buildup and clogged pores.  Slicking the hair down with heavy gels or applying too much pomade or grease to the scalp are just a couple of examples of how blockage at the mouth of the hair follicle can occur.  Blockage can lead to scalp infection, damage and reduced hair growth, so it is important to wash your hair and scalp regularly.  Keep your scalp pores clear, and try to use water-soluble styling products whenever possible.

Less is more when it comes to styling products

Unfortunately, the perfect amount of styling product that works best in your hair can only be determined through trial and error.  When trying a new product, first apply a dime-sized amount to a section of hair and then observe.  If it looks good, then continue applying the same amount to each section of your hair until complete.  If you haven't achieved the desired effect, try increasing to a nickel-sized amount and apply to another section of hair.  Compare results.  If you still aren't satisfied, try increasing to a quarter-sized amount and then compare results.  At this point, if it still isn't working, then maybe it isn't the right product for you.  Sometimes, in cases of frizz or lack of shine, the problem is best corrected with proper cleansing and conditioning, not by over-applying a styling gel, pomade, serum, oil, or etc.  Remember to always keep your expectations realistic when it comes to styling products and know that less is more.

Only oil or grease your scalp as needed

A healthy and clean scalp naturally secretes oils for lubrication, so there is no need to grease or apply oil every day.  Sometimes different factors, such as extreme weather conditions, can cause the scalp to feel dry, so you may need to use a product.  Oil is great for relieving dry and itchy scalp--just apply a few drops to your fingertips and gently massage onto the affected area.  The days of applying pomade directly to your freshly washed scalp as a routine are long and gone--only oil or grease your scalp as needed.