Home » Beauty » Hair care » Power Styling These tricks will turn your hairstyling products into the miracle goods you thought you were buying.

Does your gel leave your curls feeling crunchy?

Add a dab of conditioner to each dollop of gel in your hands. Scrunch comb it throughout damp hair.

Is your gel too liquidy?

Add a tad of conditioner and a couple of spritzes of hairspray to a tiny drop of gel. Rub the concoction between your palms; apply to dry hair.

Is your serum giving great gloss but not smoothing hair enough?

Spray two spritzes of hairspray into your hand on the serum. Mix and run through hair.

Hair Tips

1. If your tresses are stressed from heat styling, try this unplugged spiral stunt: Before you hit the sheets, braid your damp hair into tiny, pencil-wide plaits, sleep in them and unravel in the morning. Voila, instant crimps!
   
2. Just because your hair is short doesn't mean you can skimp on conditioner (it's crucial for strong stands). For insta-tousle, wash your hair at night and work in a leave-in conditioner before bed, then finger-style it in the morning.
   
3. Short hair may be quicker and easier to style, but that doesn't mean it's totally low-maintenance. Cropped coifs need cutting every four to six weeks to maintain their shape. Ask your stylist about reduced-price trims.

Red hot hair

3 steps to better body

Pump up your hair with this plan ...

1. Cleanse carefully. Use daily shampoos; they're light and won't weigh down hair. If you have oily hair, skip conditioner altogether or use it every other day on ends only.
2. Boost your roots. Spritz volumiser onto your roots while hair is wet; the water will dilute the spray and keep it from weighing hair down.
3. Dry downward. Start blow-drying at the crown of your head using a medium-barrelled round brush. Wrap two-inch sections of hair around the brush and direct hot air from roots to ends. Continue working in this manner until hair is completely dry.