17 Hair Hacks Every Woman Should Know

If you’re like most women, then chances are you take great pride in your hair—and that means you probably try to do everything in your power to keep your mane looking its most beautiful.

But once in a blue moon, you may have a bad hair day that makes you want to run for the hills—or hide under a hat 24/7. Not feeling that? We get it. The good news is that there are quite a few hair hacks—17, to be more exact—you can add to your beauty routine to help keep your hair looking its prettiest. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to brush up on your beauty hacks!

Hair Hack #1: If You Have Fine, Oily Hair, Try Dry Shampoo

Does your fine hair tend to get greasy by midday? Try the L’Oréal Paris Hair Expert Extraordinary Clay Dry Shampoo, which is formulated with three refined clays to help refresh strands between shampoos. The formula helps to absorb excess oil at the roots for fresh, lightweight hair—without residue. To use, hold the bottle of dry shampoo six to eight inches away from your hair. Spray it directly on oily roots and lightly throughout the rest of your hair. Brush the dry shampoo through the lengths of your hair to spread it evenly. Of course, it’s important to note that you don’t want to use dry shampoo in place of actually shampooing your hair. You should put a regular hair washing routine in place to help get rid of any oil, dirt, and product buildup that may have accumulated.

Hair Hack #2: Only Condition Your Ends

Yes, it turns out there is actually a right way to use conditioner! When conditioning, focus mainly on your lengths and ends. Avoid your scalp area when applying conditioner, because this can cause your hair to look greasy—and that’s probably not what you’re going for, right?

Hair Hack #3: Brush Your Hair the Right Way

It’s time to invest in the right brush! One good option: the boar bristle brush. This type of brush can help to evenly distribute your hair’s natural oils through the lengths of your strands gently. And, when using a brush—regardless of the kind—being gentle is key. That means you should start from the bottom of your hair and work your way up to gently detangle any knots. You should avoid brushing your hair while it’s wet because that’s when it’s most fragile—and you don’t want to cause any unnecessary damage. When your hair is wet, think about spritzing on a detangler and combing (not brushing!) through instead.

Hair Hack #4: Create a Fuller-Looking Ponytail

Looking for an easy way to get a fuller-looking ponytail? Then give this easy style a try! The trick behind creating a fuller-looking ponytail is actually creating two ponytails! Yep, you heard us right. This hairstyle can also create the illusion of more length. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Gather the hair above your ears to create a half ponytail and secure it with a hair elastic.

Step 2: Take the first ponytail you just created and flip it forward to the top of your head to move it out of the way.

Step 3: Create a second ponytail using the remaining bottom section of hair. Make sure to secure the second ponytail directly below the base of the first ponytail so that it’s hidden from plain sight.

Hair Hack #5: Stock Up on Bobby Pins

It’s never a bad idea to have a few bobby pins on you at all times. That’s because using bobby pins is one way you can help to keep your ponytail from falling flat during the day. After you’ve tied up your ponytail, prop it up with two or three bobby pins. Slide the bobby pins over the hair tie on the bottom part of the ponytail placing them at a steep, diagonal angle. Doing this can also help make your ponytail look higher.

Hair Hack #6: Tease Your Locks in Sections

Want to add more volume to your hair? Listen up: Instead of backcombing your entire ponytail in one section using a fine-toothed comb, split your ponytail into three sections. Then, tease each section to pump up the volume. It’s as easy as that!

Hair Hack #7: Use Eye Shadow to Help Make Your Hair Look Fuller

Another way you can help to make your hair look fuller is by dusting an eye shadow on your part. Look through your eye shadow collection to find a shade that best matches your hair color. Then, using a small blending brush, apply the eye shadow to fill in your hair part to help you get the illusion of fuller hair. Consider reaching for the L'Oréal Paris Colour Riche La Palette Nude, which contains a variety of natural-looking taupe and brown tones.

Hair Hack #8: Add Mini Clips to Your Beauty Product Arsenal

Faking volume has never been simpler, thanks to the use of this tiny hair accessory. Start by tying your hair into a sleek ponytail, then, split your pony in half to place the small claw clip. Hide it with the top section of your hair and you’re good to go.

Hair Hack #9: Start by Blow-Drying Your Hair at Your Roots

Your blow-drying technique could use an upgrade. Contrary to popular belief, wrapping your hair around a brush and blow-drying it is actually not the best way to get professional-looking blowout. What should you do instead? Place a round brush at your roots and blow-dry this area first before making it down to your ends. Voila!

Hair Hack #10: Cover Up Your Gray Roots

No time to book an appointment with your colorist at the salon? No problem! Try the L'Oréal Paris Root Cover Up Spray. This lightweight, quick-dry spray will help conceal gray roots without leaving behind any sticky residue. Available in multiple shades of blonde, brown, red, and black, this root cover up spray lasts one shampoo. To use, first shake the can well. Then, holding it four to six inches away from your hair, spray the color onto new growth and partly through the length of the hair to blend in the color.

Hair Hack #11: Wash Your Hair in Lukewarm Temps

Steamy showers might feel oh-so-good—especially on a cold day—but they’re really not that great for your hair. Super-hot water can strip your hair of essential oils, making it feel dry. Yikes. Lower the dial and opt for bathing in lukewarm temps instead. Your hair will thank you!

Hair Hack #12:Create Beachy Waves Sans Heat Tools

Who says you need a curling iron to create gorgeous, effortless-looking waves? It’s time to stash your heat tools away—remember, frequent use of heat tools can sometimes lead to damage—and air dry your hair instead. Spritz the L'Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle AIR DRY IT Wave Swept Spray onto wet hair and braid it until your hair is dry to create waves. Do one braid for looser waves or multiple braids for tighter waves. Unravel the waves once your hair has dried and rock this beachy style year-round—it’s not just for summer!

Hair Hack #13: Use a Toothbrush to Help Tame Flyaways

This next hack may sound strange, but it can actually work to help tame flyaways! Take an unused toothbrush and spray it with a little bit of hairspray, like the L'Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray Strong Hold. Then, use the toothbrush to gently comb back any flyaways.

Hair Hack #14: Comb Your Hair Before Shampooing

Like we told you earlier, it’s not the best idea to brush your hair when it’s wet, since that’s when it’s the most fragile. But what can you do if your hair tends to get knotty? Help get rid of tangles by combing (gently, of course!) dry hair before you shampoo.

Hair Hack #15: Blot Your Hair Dry with a T-Shirt After Showering

While it’s definitely tempting to rough-dry your hair with your towel after shampooing and conditioning, you may want to rethink this. As we’ve said before, you want to be gentle when taking care of wet hair. So, instead of reaching for your towel, grab an old cotton T-shirt instead, since cotton T-shirts are gentle. Then, pat—don’t aggressively rub—your hair to wring out any excess water. 

Hair Hack #16: Invest in a Satin Pillowcase

It’s time to get fancy—and save your blowout in the process! A satin pillowcase can help to keep your hairstyle from getting messed up while you sleep, since it’s smoother than other fabrics. Take note, those of you who toss and turn.

Hair Hack #17: Sleep on a Bun

You can create waves while you sleep by twisting your hair up into a bun before bed. Plus, the higher the bun, the more lift you can help to create at your roots. Release the bun in the A.M. and watch those loose waves roll down your back!