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Having long or full hair can be such a joy. It’s fun, flirtatious, and the style possibilities are practically endless. However, long hair can be quite a pain when you need to keep it out of your face.
Whether you’re aiming for a particular style or you just need it out of your eyes for a bit, it’s important to find an effective way to keep it in place.
Keeping Hair in Place: A Quick Summary
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We’re here to show you how to make hair stay in place. With several different methods to choose from, we’re confident you’ll find one that works for you.
Life is busy; we get it. That’s why keeping your hair tidy saves you tons of everyday issues. Take a second to view these brief tips on how to make hair stay in place:
- Secure with scrunchies
- Hold pieces with bobby pins
- Use hairspray
- Tease the Roots
- Implement hair gel
- Don’t touch it
How to Make Hair Stay in Place 6 Ways
Unless you’re a trained expert who owns a salon and knows every hair trick in the book, there’s a good chance you’ve struggled to maintain your signature look at some point or another.
And whether you’re planning for a special day or just need an easier way to hit the gym without your hair flying about, it’s a good idea to learn a few of these tricks. Below are five easy things to try to make your hair stay in place.
1. Secure Your Hair With Scrunchies
When it comes time to pull our hair out of our faces, most of us will habitually reach for a hair elastic and throw our hair up in a quick messy bun or a pony. Hair ties are definitely one of the most common ways to make your hair stay in a particular place.
However, we recommend reaching for a scrunchie next time instead of a generic hair elastic. Hair elastics work well, so you can use them if you have to, but they’re much harsher on your hair than scrunchies.
Scrunchies help you achieve the same goal with less damage. You can brush your hair smooth for a proper pony or simply toss it in a low, temporary bun. Use this versatile accessory however you need to achieve your desired look.
2. Hold Loose Pieces With Accessories
Thick hair, silky hair, and layered hair can all give you a super hard time when it comes to keeping it all neatly in place. Loose flyaways can ruin a look, and smooth hair can slip right out of the best scrunchie.
Thankfully, we have an army of hair accessories at our disposal. The first and perhaps most popular accessory you should reach for is a bobby pin.
Bobby pins come in several shapes and sizes. They are either plastic or metal, though most are metal with a small, plastic-covered tip. The best way to use a bobby pin is with the wavy side facing toward your scalp.
Tuck up loose pieces of hair and slide a bobby pin over it to pin it to the rest of your hair. Since bobby pins are so thin and can match your hair color, you can generally use as many as you need and no one will notice.
In addition to bobby pins, you can also try some of these other fastening accessories:
- Barrettes
- Clips
- Headbands
- Combs
All of these accessories can secure your hair in place, but you might prefer one or two over the others. Give each one a try and see what works best for your hair.
3. Tease Your Hair at the Roots
It’s much easier to keep hair in place when it has volume and texture than when it’s silky smooth, soft, and slippery. So, the next time you need to keep a hairstyle in place, try teasing it.
Teasing your hair can feel a bit intimidating if you’ve never done it before, but it’s really quite easy to do. Teasing is nothing more than combing your hair backward, so all you need is a fine-tooth comb.
Start by sectioning your hair into one-inch pieces. Take one section and hold it straight up. Using your comb, gently brush your hair at the roots in an up and down motion until you have a section of teased and clustered hair.
We’ll talk about hairspray a little more in our next section, but it’s also helpful to use hairspray to tease your hair. Spray a little bit of light-hold hairspray on your root just before teasing to keep everything in place.
Once you’ve teased your hair, style it how you like. You’ll find that your hair will secure with bobby pins, hair ties, and barrettes much easier now, and your volume will be fantastic.
Read Next: How to Get Thicker Hair
4. Use Hairspray to Lock in Style
Speaking of hairspray – it is one of the best and most common ways to keep your hair in place. Some people avoid hairspray because it makes their locks feel all hard and crunchy. But it doesn’t have to be this way!
There are several ways you can apply hairspray without making your head feel like a Ken doll. Anytime you want to keep your hairstyle in place but don’t want it to feel rock-hard, reach for a light or flexible hold hairspray.
These sprays do a great job of keeping your hair in place while maintaining its flexibility and softness. Hairspray can also be fabulous for taming baby hairs and flyaways, and we’ll teach you a fun little trick that works wonders.
Grab yourself a lightweight hairspray and a clean spoolie brush. Spoolie brushes are ideal for eyebrows and eyelashes, but they have a bit of hidden power when it comes to hair. After styling your hair, spray the spoolie brush with hairspray.
Use the spoolie to brush flyaways into place. This method works especially well if you’re brushing flyaways back into a ponytail. The hairspray will hold the hairs in place, and you won’t have to cover your whole head in spray.
Read Next: Sleek Ponytail Ideas
5. Add Hair Gel for a Polished Look
Sometimes hairspray isn’t enough to tame the wildest of hair. And, if you rock a short cut, it may not even be an option. Enter hair gel. Hair gel works best when you’re dealing with damp hair.
Try applying it after you’ve showered, or simply run a wet comb through your hair. Squeeze the gel you need into your hand and rub your hands together – you’ll want to use both for this process. Apply the gel evenly to your hair and shape it how you want it to look.
Hair gel certainly isn’t for everyone, but it can work wonders for men and women with short hairstyles.
You can even blow dry your hair after you’re finished to solidify the gel and keep your hair in place. Be mindful that excessive use of gel can damage your hair, so try to find a nourishing cream or balm to use instead.
Read Next: How to Plop Hair
6. Don’t Mess With It!
If you feel the need to constantly touch your hair and mess with it, don’t feel bad – we all do it. But one of the best ways to keep your hair in place and your style intact is to just leave it alone.
In some cases, your hair may be so precariously styled that one slip of the finger could pull out a strand or loosen a bobby pin. In other situations, touching your hair can transfer dirt, grime, and excess oil – especially if you haven’t washed your hands properly.
Touching your hair can make it greasier, which will weigh it down, destroy your volume, and make it look flat and lifeless. So, your rule of thumb here will be: once you’ve gotten your hair perfectly in place, don’t touch it!
Frequently Asked Questions
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Hair is a popular topic because we all have it! For that reason, many of us often have similar questions about styling hair and keeping it in place. Check out our FAQ section, which highlights a few commonly asked questions about hair.
Is hairspray bad for your hair?
Because many common hair sprays contain alcohol and polymers, frequent use of them can be damaging to your hair. Certain kinds of alcohols and polymers can make your hair dry and dull.
However, many modern hairspray brands use a lot of nourishing and conditioning ingredients that are beneficial for your hair.
Is gel bad for your hair?
Like some hairsprays, many hair gels also contain alcohol along with a few other chemicals that can strip moisture from your hair and scalp. The result of consistent use can be severe dehydration, which makes your hair dry, brittle, and frizzy.
Frequent use of hair gel may also cause hair loss, dandruff, and discoloration. It’s better to use a nourishing hair balm with natural ingredients.
Which is better: hair ties or scrunchies?
Generally, scrunchies tend to be better for your hair than the average hair tie. Hair ties and elastic bands grip down hard on your hair, which causes a lot of pulling and tugging. Your hair is also more likely to wrap and knot around a hair tie, which can lead to breakage and damage.
Scrunches cover the elastic part of a hair tie with soft fabric. The fabric creates a barrier between your hair and the elastic, ensuring there’s less pulling and tugger. Silk scrunchies are especially good for your hair, as they reduce friction and frizz.
Is it okay to wear your hair in a ponytail often?
According to dermatologists, wearing your hair in a tight ponytail frequently can damage its overall structure. If you do this often, you could start to see breakage, shedding, and thinning.
It isn’t necessary to give up ponytails forever, but you should limit the amount of time you do so and always use non-abrasive fasteners like scrunchies or hair clips.
Can a serum help control hair?
Serums can help control frizz for a smoother appearance. They can also protect your hair from outside factors, which can help it keep its style. At the same time, serums work to nourish and condition the hair and scalp to improve overall health.
So, How Do You Make Hair Stay in Place?
If you aren’t a professional hairdresser, dealing with hair issues can be incredibly frustrating. But something as simple as keeping your hair in place doesn’t have to be a headache. Try using scrunchies, bobby pins, and other accessories to secure your hair down without the use of a product.
If you need to, add in some hairspray and create a little bit of extra volume to achieve a better hold. Test out a combination of these tips and see if you can tame the mane for a fabulous look.