“I had great hair as a kid. My mom actually said you’re not allowed to touch your hair until you’re thirteen and she was right, I should not have,” Aniston says. “The first thing I did was cut it all off…I actually learned what my hair really was (which was not long and sort of cute) it was wide and unmanageable and a pain in the butt. I learned all my lessons in my younger years about what not to do.”

Aniston understands the desire for the latest gorgeous hairstyle but you won’t find her making any drastic cuts these days. “I usually just get a trim. I’ve always thought of going back to brunette but I think it’s more fun to play with it in movies.” (She admits her favorite movie look was the beachy, natural, long blonde look from Along Came Polly). “I think because of all the disasters I had as a kid. I don’t go to the ‘let’s cut it off or color it or shag it’ place. I’ve learned those lessons,” she says.

Now that she and McMillan have cracked the secret to those perfect, smooth locks we love so much on the red carpet, they’re sharing it with the rest of us (yes!). Aniston says Living Proof’s Nourishing Style Cream and Restore Mask have totally turned her hair around. She also says drinking water, getting enough sleep, and getting omega fatty acids in her diet help her iconic locks stay healthy from the inside out.

We also love that Aniston used the Living Proof products for several months before signing on to be a part of the company. She wanted see if the promised results would come through. “I gave it to my girlfriends, they love it. I gave it to Chris and he used it on his salon clients and they love it. So that was like, OK I will stand behind [this],” she says.

Next on Aniston’s beauty agenda is working with the company’s scientists to produce her fantasy products. “I can’t talk about it just yet!” she says. “It’s so exciting, being able to get in there and solve all the problems that girls have with their hair.”

To get a little of Aniston’s hair magic for yourself, enter by May 24^th to win the chance to have your hair cut by her stylist, Chris McMillan. You’ll even get to meet Aniston herself! You can check out the first video in Aniston and McMillian’s Good Hair Day series today—and check back May 13^th and 15^th for more of the documentary.

No two curls are the same. And nobody knows this better than Shelley Davis, founder of all natural curly haircare company Kinky-Curly. Read on for her Fall styling/product tips broken down by twirl pattern.

If your hair is Wavy & Thick…

Combat frizz with a serum or oil that coats the hair and blocks humidity. Rub a little into palms and then distribute through soaking wet strands, suggests Davis.

If your hair is Curly & Thick…

Rake a bit of deep conditioner through wet or dry strands before bedtime. In the morning massage a few drops of warm water into your hair, working it into a gentle lather. Rinse and style as usual. Your curls will be beautifully defined!

If your hair is Wavy & Fine…

“Spritz a lightweight curl spray on slightly damp hair, then lightly scrunch or twist it,” says Davis. Pat down flyaways with a touch more of the curl spray. Try not to overdo it though, as it will weigh down the hair.

If your hair is Curly & Fine…

Embrace moisture! Hydrate your strands with a light leave-in conditioner. You can use  the leave-in on wet hair or to reactivate dry curls on day two, notes Davis.

If your hair is Tight…

Remember this: M.W.C.; moisture, weight and control. To achieve M.W.C., first apply a generous amount of leave-in conditioner to wet hair. Then top it off with a hydrating gel.

Do you have curly locks? What’s your styling secret?

Whoever said that Mother Nature isn’t a powerful force was just crazy. Summer rain leads to major humidity…which leads to seriously sweaty roots…which leads to frequent shampoo sessions…which leads to dry, frizzy ends. It’s a vicious, never-ending cycle. Enter dry shampoo. The hair washing stand-in has the power to lift oil from the scalp, absorb dirt and product build-up, and leave hair looking and feeling fresh. Take that, Mother Nature.

Here’s the best way to dry-shampoo, courtesy of Ammon Carver, Artistic Director for Matrix:

1.  Comb or brush through your hair to distribute oils evenly.

2.  Start at the top of your head, create a center part and spray lightly along the part, holding the dry shampoo an inch or two from your head.

3.   Make another part about a few inches away and repeat.

4.  Continue creating parts and spraying on each side of the original part until you reach your ears on each side.

5.  In the back, start at the crown of your head, create a horizontal part and spray.  Continue parting and spraying to the bottom of your head.

6.  Gently massage the powder into your scalp, as if you were lathering up your shampoo.

7. Wait a few minutes to allow the powder to absorb the excess oil and dirt.

8. Brush through to remove all of the powder.  Flip your hair upside down and brush through once more.

The unofficial start of summer was Memorial Day (yay!), and with that comes a season full of ponytails and plaits–anything to keep cool. But if you’re like us, the basic pony and regular braid can get boring after, ohhhhhhh, the 27th straight day of wearing them. Enter this fancy fishtail number. It’s cute, right? We thought that since we have two left uncoordinated thumbs that we’d never-in-this-lifetime be able to pull this style off. As it turns out it isn’t a REAL fishtail braid. In fact, it isn’t a braid at all.

According to Nick Penna Jr., owner and stylist at SalonCapri in Boston, the natural, carefree, and minimalist ‘do looks WAY more difficult than it actually is. Here’s how to fake a fishtail…

STEP 1: Begin with unwashed, un-brushed hair, and use the end of a rattail comb to create a part down the middle of your head.

STEP 2: Separate hair into two sections and begin twisting the ends toward the center of your head.

STEP 3: Secure the end of the twists together with a clear elastic.

STEP 4: Use a few bobby pins to “seal” the twists together. Insert one vertically at the top of the twists and one in the middle.

When Nicholas Penna Jr., owner of SalonCapri in the Boston-area, sent us the photo of this fancy-schmancy updo we flipped over his handy work, and then preceded to find out when he would be in our neck of the woods next so that he could give us the ‘do. Turns out, according to Penna, the style (he calls it “The Crown”) is simple enough for  any updo novice (US!) to do on themselves. Here’s how he told us to get the look…

STEP 1 If your hair is naturally straight, follow STEP 2 and STEP 3 below to curl the hair. If your hair already has a curl to it, skip to STEP 4.

STEP 2 Separate hair into top and bottom sections. Clip the top section up, leaving the bottom section to hang.

STEP 3 Using a 1 1/2 inch curling iron, curl all of the hair that is down. Alternate the curling direction between counterclockwise and clockwise. Repeat this step with the top section of hair.  Separate curls with your fingers to achieve a piece-y look.

STEP 4 Take a 1/2 inch to 2 inch piece of hair slightly above one ear and pull it across the head to the other side and let the section drape slightly so there will be enough room to pull hair pieces around it. Combine the draped section with a small piece of hair right behind the other ear and pin the joined hair pieces with a bobby pin.

STEP 5 Starting at the side of the head where the first hair section was taken from, select another piece of your hair from under the draped section. Lift it upwards, over, and then under the draped section, leaving it to fall underneath.

STEP 6 Next, grab another piece of hair from under the draped section a 1/2 inch to an inch over and follow the same step. Continue across the head by choosing random pieces and pulling them over and under the draped section until you reach the other side of the head.

STEP 7 For the last pinned piece, lift it over and under but let it wrap over the first bobby pin used to secure the draped hair section (to make the bobby pin less visible). Take a second bobby pin and secure the final wrapped piece where the draped section was first secured above one ear.

STEP 8  Finish with a light spray of medium hold hairspray, like Shu Uemura Sheer Lacquer.

We’ve all been there: You can’t get your curls right, you hair is super dry, or you unconsciously OD on product and are left with a slicked mess. We asked KMS California Artistic Lead, Simon Miller to share 5 of the biggest hair faux pas he’s encountered, and how to fix them.

1.      Not shaking out curls- After you use a curling iron on your hair, don’t be afraid to run your fingers through the curls and shake them out a bit. It will make them look way more natural and effortless.

2.       Towel Turban- Instead of tying your hair up in a towel when you get out of the shower, spray in some leave in conditioner and use a big clip to keep your hair up. This will make your color’s vibrancy last a lot longer!

3.       Too much product in bangs- When you’re putting product in your hair, really rub the product into your hands and apply to the ends and mid shaft of your hair. Your roots and bangs will pick up oil form your scalp and face, so keeping finishing products out of these areas will keep your hair looking cleaner longer.

4.       Know your color maintenance- Make sure to work with your stylist to come up with hair color that works with your schedule. If you don’t have time to be in the salon every 4-6 weeks, get color that grows out well and that looks good as it fades. And take advantage of bang trims! When the front of your hair is on point, if the back is messy, it looks on purpose.

5.       Towel dry techniques- When you’re towel drying your hair, make sure to  blot and squeeze the water out of your hair instead of scrunching and being ruff with the towel. This will keep your hairs cuticle closed which will result in shiny, frizz-free hair.

The easiest/quickest/most affordable way to add oomph to your ‘do without doing anything drastic (i.e. cut and color) is to switch the position of your part—if it’s in the middle, move it to the side; if it’s on the right, move it to the left; etc. “Aside from the inherent chicness that side parts provide—think of a hat placed on your head with a tilt—side parts can actually provide balance to a client’s features,” says Jason Low, senior stylist at Serge Normant at John Frieda Salon in New York City. Side part curious? Here’s how to slice it.

If you have long hair…

A zig-zag part helps separate long hair and prevents it from looking flat, says Gerard Touroul, a stylist at Serge Normant at John Frieda Salon in New York City.

If you have an updo…

For chignons and fancy buns, backcomb the hair around the part and at the crown of your head, says Gerard. “Proportions play a big role with updo styles.”

If you have short hair…

Give your side part texture with a bit of pomade but don’t overdo it or else it will look too greasy, says Gerard.

P.S….

If you’re looking to try out a side part and are finding it a challenge (stupid cowlick!), you might need to train your roots. Here’s how: With damp hair, part your hair exactly where you want it to be. As you blowdry comb each side of the line, drying the roots into their new direction. “Working with hair is very similar to working with wax. You need heat and some manipulation to form a new shape. As it cools, it will adapt to its new form,” says Low. “The dampness in the beginning almost acts as a ‘reset’ button.”

For many of us, bad hair days are far more common than the good ones. Yes, a sad sad truth. In an attempt to make light of the situation and to help with our hair woes, Actress Rashida Jones has teamed up with Dove as a part of their “Make Friends With Your Hair” campaign. If you’re in serious need of a hair transformation log onto DoveHair.com/Friends before October 19th and submit a 90 second video about your unpredictable hair. Three finalists will win a VIP trip to NYC and a hair transformation by celeb stylist Mark Townsend. America will then have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist to star in a Dove Hair TV ad!

If you’re in need of a little inspiration for your video check out Rashida’s hilarious outtakes from her Dove commercial.

Stocking up on new school supplies—from shiny pens and mechanical pencils to completely revamped wardrobes—has become a Fall right of passage for children. But, why should the kiddies have all of the back-to-school fun? While you’re working on overhauling your own autumn wardrobe (FYI: peplum blazers, mustard hues, and polka dots are all the rage), don’t forget about your hair. Here is a grown-up ponytail style from celeb stylist David Lopez (his clients include the Glee cast—Heather Morris, Lea Michelle, and Diana Agron) to add to your autumn repertoire.

STEP 1: Prep your strands beforehand by applying a texture spray or mousse to the hair line and blowdry completely.  ”Don’t forget to blow dry the hair around the nape of your neck upwards towards the base,” says Lopez.

STEP 2: Gather all of your hair into a ponytail with a large paddle brush.  Use the top of your cheekbones as a guide to line the ponytail up and follow diagonally towards the crown.  ”I like to use a ‘wrap’ style ponytail holder but a snag free holder works just as well,” adds Lopez.  After securing your ponytail take a one inch section of hair and firmly wrap it around the base of the ponytail to hide the elastic. This trick makes an otherwise sporty style look a bit more glam.

STEP 3: Use a large barrel curling iron and wrap large one inch sections to give the pony some bounce. A ponytail showcases the ends of your hair so smooth them with a light oil like Amika Obliphica Pure Oil too boost shine and definition.