Best Hair Secrets from America's Top Salons

Get Salon Know-How

No more bad hair days! Get the know-how to do your hair like a pro. Here, our nationwide guide to the best hair-care advice from America's most savvy salons.

Get even. Maintaining perfect posture while you're getting your hair cut will allow your stylist to give you more even results. Believe it or not, if you cross your legs, you throw off your alignment, which can result in a lopsided cut. Says who: Spa Roma, Morgantown, WV

Perfect chemistry. Before you have your hair colored, permed, or straightened, tell your technician what chemical hair treatments you've had in the past. The technician has to determine how the chemicals that are already in your hair will interact with any new chemicals. Says who: Salon Red, Atlanta

Fresh start. Before coloring your hair, remove all traces of styling products. Any residue prevents color from going on smoothly. Before washing your hair, work in a little Apotheca Resurfacing Balm ($14.95; 800-888-2875), which will loosen product buildup. Says who: Jon English Salon, Minneapolis

Color refresher. To keep haircolor looking fresh between touch-ups, twice a week rub a small amount of color-enhancing shampoo into roots at bedtime. (Blow-dry roots to keep pigment from rubbing off on your pillow.) Shampoo it out the next morning. Says who: Gary Manuel Salon, Seattle