Raquel Zimmermann at Chloe Spring 2009. Photo: Style.com

I recently got a great tip from Antonio Prieto (who owns a very chic and cozy salon in NYC). Here, his take on how to figure out your hair type:

"From dry to oily, thick to fine.. Being able to determine your hair type (dry, normal, or oily) and density (how much hair covers the head) can be a little complicated. With an easy 'ponytail test', you can find out density with just one easy twist of the hair! With an average hair elastic, put your hair in a ponytail and count how many times it wraps around your hair:
 
1 time is thick
2-3 times is medium
3 or more times is fine

After determining your hair type, it's time to take care of it! A dirty scalp and hair shaft is not conducive to supporting hair health, therefore shampooing is important. However, it's equally important not to overuse shampoo due to the ingredient Sodium Lauryl Sulfate; it tends to be strong, causing the hair to be stripped, dried out, and damaged. If your hair is:
 
*Dry: Dry hair should be shampooed every other day. Using a lighter conditioner will allow you to keep your hair from getting oily, letting that shampoo bottle take a bit of a rest. This goes for chemically altered or color treated hair as well.
 
*Normal: Normal hair can be shampooed every day, or every two days depending on the circumstances surrounding the hair.

*Oily: Oily hair should be shampooed according to how oily the hair is, however every day is usually necessary. If you notice your hair is oily even when it is washed every day, it might be necessary to contact a dermatologist since oily hair comes from a scalp function."

bright__eyes, you asked about how to manage your "thick, wavy, and frizzy hair." I asked Paul Cucinello, Creative Director of the Chris Chase Salon NYC, for some answers for you!

"The products you're using to control your frizz are actually making it worse. When you use products that have a glue-like effect on your hair (like hard holding mousse, gel or hairspray), the hair is temporarily bonded together. This might give you the instant gratification of taming frizz temporarily, but when you try to rinse the product out or detangle your hair in the shower, you're actually damaging your hair and encouraging breakage and split ends. The fix is a two part answer:

1) Since most shampoos are detergent-based, they won't make combing through
the product that's in your hair any easier. Try rinsing and conditioning instead of shampooing sometimes to break down your styling product. You really shouldn't be washing your hair more than 3 times a week...

2) For styling you should switch to an anti-frizz product that has a little hold without stiffness. (I like Oleo Relax and Oleo Curl from Kerastase). These products are designed to keep your hair smooth and repel external moisture that can make hair frizzy."

Friday afternoon I headed up to 79th and Madison feeling as though I'd stumbled onto the set of Gossip Girl. I was scheduled at Valery Joseph Salon for a deep conditioning treatment--just what my frazzled hair needed! First, Zack (one...

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