If you are a hairstyle enthusiast then you probably know the importance of keeping your hair healthy.   Healthy hair is essential for looking your very best with any hairstyle.  Whether you have frizzy, dull, cracked, or damaged hair, you can take the necessary steps to get your luscious locks back to their original glory.  Here are some tips to help keep your hair brilliant and looking great.

Get regular trims – You might not realize it but hair grows pretty fast.  It is usually recommended to get a trim every four to eight weeks in order to maintain healthier hair.

Check your diet – This one you might not regularly think about.  Paying attention to what you are eating can play an important role in healthy hair and skin.  You may want to monitor your diet and try eating foods that are high in protein, omega 3, and vitamins.  Green veggies, nuts, grains, and types of fish can help promote healthier hair.

Deep Condition – Deep conditioning can help penetrate the scalp to strengthen and re-invigorate your hair.

Brush your hair before you shampoo – Brushing your hair before you shampoo can help stimulate the scalp, increase blood flow, and remove excess product buildup.

Don’t overdo it – Too much chemical treatment may create hair problems.

Most of us want to have stunning hair so that we can get a fabulous updo hairstyle, simple down hairstyle, or fancy curly “do”.  Whatever hairstyle you want to go with, it starts with having healthy hair.

The Oscars are only a few weeks away!  This is one of our favorite times of the year.  The red carpet is where we usually see some of the most fantastic celebrity updo hairstyles.  It is still a bit early to start speculating about who is going to be attending the Oscars.  We did hear that Jennifer Lopez will be there as a presenter.  J Lo usually stuns whenever she is on the red carpet.  We will no doubt be anticipating her hairstyle and of course, hoping she rocks an updo!

There are two beauties that we know are going to be at the Oscars for sure.  Rooney Mara and Michelle Williams are both nominated for best actress in a leading role.  Rooney has been getting a lot of attention since the nomination and all eyes will be on her dress and hairstyle on the big day.  We think Michelle Williams looks absolutely fabulous with an updo and cannot wait to see what she does at the Academy Awards.

We should be able to get a little better idea of the trends once we see all the celebs out on the red carpet at the Oscars.  We will be keeping a keen eye on all the hairstyles and as always, we plan to be amazed by some elegant updos.  Make sure to wear your favorite updo if you plan to attend an Oscar party of your own!

Here are a few UpdoGuru 2012 Oscar picks

Best Picture:   The Artist

Best Actor:  Brad Pitt

Best Actress:  Michelle Williams

There are certain occasions that call for a professionally crafted updo.  There are those other times that you want a great updo but don’t want to or can’t afford to spend the money.  If you like to get dressed up and regularly have a night out on the town, it can help to be able to do your own hair.  For someone who has never attempted to craft a styled updo on their own, it may seem difficult at first.  Don’t worry; with a little practice you can design an awesome look on your own.

One of the easier ones to try first is the messy updo.  A good place to start would be to apply some of your favorite volumizing mousse through your damp towel dried hair.  You can then brush out certain strands from your roots and curl the ends if desired.  Once you have the correct texture you can play with the top of your head to get the desired messiness.  Next you can pull the desired strands back into a loose bun at the back.  You can choose how high you want the bun to rest.  You may want to secure with some pins to help hold it in place.

Another easy updo to try is the top knot look.  This style seems to be picking up some popularity and steam as we head into 2012.  Getting this look should be fairly easy.  Simply pull your hair into a high ponytail and tighten it with some type of band.  Next you can twist the ponytail into the desired form on the top of your head.  Once you get the look, you may want to secure the top knot to help keep it in place.  You may want to use some hairspray for some added effect.  Feel free to play around with the shape of the top knot and have some fun!

Fast hair growth is definitely something that many people strive for. Women and some men dream of having long, luscious locks that they can color, style, and do with it what they please. Even if some people decide to get a cute short pixie cut, eventually, most times they are ready for the hair to grow long again. Many times women decide they want their hair longer when certain special events are coming up such as graduations, proms, weddings, and more. Many people experience those times when you want to have thick, flowing hair to either create a sexy, wavy look or an exquisite updo, and you wish your hair would grow back instantly!

Although you can be creative and find great hairdos and styles for short hair cuts, most people associate fabulous hairstyles with long hair. With long hair you have limitless fashions to pick from and many cool options. Long hair can be transformed into sleek, unique updos such as loose curly updos, sleek bun updos, half-up dos, braided updos, chignons, and much more. These updo designs are perfect when attending a special formal occasion as a guest or as the center of attention. There is no question that a bride can look cute and sassy with a pixy cut or short hairstyle, yet if you want to appear as the classy and traditional bride, we recommend you grow your hair out so you have more options for hairstyles for your big day.  Updos for long hair and medium hair updos can be a fantastic choice and provide many more options for a stunning look.

In order for your hair to grow faster, it is important that you ensure that your hair is healthy in the first place. Sometimes hair that has been chemically or color treated becomes damaged and unhealthy and broken and makes if difficult for the hair to grow. By eating a healthy diet full of nutrient and vitamin rich foods, you will most likely increase your chance of getting a full, thick, and shiny head of hair. Look for products that aid in preventing damage by sealing the follicles to protect them.

You can locate special vitamins and supplements at health food stores and vitamin shops that claim to assist in faster hair growth. Companies also offer special shampoos, conditioners, and deep conditioning formulas that declare fast hair growth results. Products with amino acids and natural botanicals are available that allegedly help to strengthen and thicken hair.

Often times, people get so caught up in finding the perfect hairstyle that they might not stop to think about the importance of finding a beauty salon or hairstylist that they can trust.  It can sometimes be a daunting task for those women who are very particular about their hair.

There are usually two main reasons (from personal client experience) that you may be looking to change hairstylists.  The first one is that you are unsatisfied with the results of your current stylist.  You may have had a stylist in the past who you really liked but they are not performing like they used to.  Things can happen, just keep in mind that we are all human.  The second is that your favorite stylist, for whatever reason, can no longer do your hair.  This does happen but there is no need to fret when it does.

Two tips that I give for finding a new stylist are word of mouth, and trial and error.  Asking your friends and co-workers is a good place to start.  They can usually be helpful in getting you to a great new salon.  In the end however, you may need to try a few different places before you find the perfect match for you and your hair.

If you are occasionally in the market for elegant updos such as wedding updos, prom updos, or formal updos, be sure to ask how confident your new stylist is in crafting these types of updo hairstyles.  One thing you want to try to avoid is to go to a new stylist last minute when you need a fancy updo.  By doing a “test run” before the big event, you may be able to save yourself some unnecessary headaches in the future.