Styling Rules That Will Change The Way You Do Your Hair

Embarking on a journey to transform your hair game? We've got you covered with simple yet effective styling rules that will change the way you do your hair — and once you try them out, you probably won't be able to go back.

Hairstyling is an art form, and like any art, it thrives on creativity, innovation, and breaking free of conventional norms. Some of the tricks we've curated blew up on social media platforms — hi, TikTok — while others are secrets that celebrity hairstylists, such as Jen Atkin, have shared. Moreover, these tips range from ingenious methods for finding the perfect ponytail placement to easy everyday habits that can help you maintain your hair health. Of course, nobody expects you to follow every hairstyling tip, trick, or secret, but a few of the ones on this list may just tickle your fancy — and you may thank yourself for giving them a shot.

There are quite a few beauty mistakes that can happen while you sleep, and perhaps the most damaging one for your hair is sleeping with it still wet. "Simply put, hair is at its most vulnerable when wet. Sleeping with wet hair can lead to a host of problems for the scalp: unwanted bacteria, fungal infections, skin irritation, itchiness, dryness, redness, and dandruff," hairstylist Miko Branch told MindBodyGreen. "Also, it can damage the hair cuticle, flatten strands, create an unpleasant hair odor (dampness mixed with natural sweat), and leave you with a matted mess of hair."

To mitigate these potential problems, allow your hair to fully dry before snuggling into bed. Of course, this means you'll have to do some planning ahead in the evening, as hopping into the shower right before bed is a no-go. Instead, kick off your nighttime routine with a shower, and then allow yourself to have a couple of hours before bedtime, if possible, so that your hair can air-dry. Otherwise, we advise using a blow-dryer on its lowest setting and quickly drying your hair before hitting the sheets.

In essence, avoiding the habit of sleeping with wet hair is a small but crucial step in maintaining your hair in its healthiest state. By allowing your hair to dry fully before hitting the pillow, you contribute to its strength, shine, and longevity, ensuring that you wake up with your hair looking its best.

Sleeping on silk sheets is known to have quite a beauty benefit apart from the fact that silk is hypoallergenic. So, if you're already not sleeping on a silk or satin pillowcase, it's time to make the switch. However, if you want to protect your hair and hairstyle even more, sleeping with a silk bonnet is the best thing you can do for your locks. "Similar to a silk scarf or wrap, bonnets help your hair retain moisture, prevent frizz, and extend the life of your style as you sleep since these textures glide over it seamlessly," celebrity hairstylist Annagjid "Kee" Taylor revealed to Harper's Bazaar. "They also allow hair to have enough space for your curls to hold shape and maintain your overall look a little bit longer."

After switching to a silk bonnet, you'll notice that you'll barely have to do any touchups to your hairstyle in the morning, which means that in the long run, you will save time and protect your hair from unnecessary heat exposure. And if you're worried about a silk bonnet being uncomfortable, trust us — that couldn't be further from the truth. All you need to make sure is that the band around your head isn't too tight, and then you're ready to relax while your hair keeps its health and style intact.

We've all been there: You're trying to braid your hair (or your friend's), but with every new strand you take, an old one seems to slip out of your hand. The end result is a very loose, messy-looking braid, which is totally cool if that's the style you're going for. But if you want to create a tight and sleek braid, there's a simple trick that will allow you to braid much easier.

"Braid hair when it's wet or damp so you can catch all the loose ends inside the braid and form a really clean, sleek style. Also, rubbing a lightweight texturizing wax or cream on each section before braiding helps hold little layers in place," celebrity hairstylist Patrick Melville told StyleCaster. Now, if you weren't planning on washing your hair just to braid it, don't worry — simply dampening it a bit with some water will do the trick. The best part about this hack is that once you decide to take your hair out of the braid, you'll be left with tight, beautiful waves since your hair ends up drying in a braided pattern. How's that for an easy one with great results?

There's absolutely no shame in using makeup to get the best out of your hair, and the pros agree. In fact, using eyeshadow in a color that matches your hair is a well-known trick in the industry to fill in any gaps that might naturally occur. "The key is to really mimic your own natural hairline pattern and color," hairstylist Karmela Lozina told Byrdie. "The slower you go filling in your areas of concern, the more it will look like you're not wearing anything."

If you're filling in around your hairline, make sure you use a very light touch, as you can always add more. This trick is particularly useful for anyone with thinner hair, as well as in instances when you've created the perfect hairstyle but one spot on your hair is separating — and you really don't want to start from the beginning. While this trick is barely noticeable, especially if you match the hair color perfectly, if you're going to an event with flash photography, check beforehand just what your filled-in spots look like in photos — you don't want any surprises.

Now, we know we've said not to make any drastic hair changes on a whim, but that definitely doesn't mean you can't switch things up from time to time. In fact, experts agree that changing your hair regularly — no matter how big or small the change is — is a great way to live. "Every woman should change their hair two times a year. The color, the cut, the layers, the length," hairstylist Ted Gibson told Glamour. "It doesn't have to be a major change, just something that gives you a fresh approach to life."

Of course, while some might interpret this as advice to go bold, others might only be ready to go an inch shorter or add a couple of subtle highlights during summer. Regardless of which one you are, there's no doubt that switching it up will help you feel fresh and ready for a new chapter.

One weapon you might be surprised to hear should be in your hair arsenal is dryer sheets. You read that right — the heroes of the laundry room are actually quite versatile, and they can help you get rid of frizz. As The Guardian points out, dryer sheets are "positively charged," while hair is "negatively charged," meaning that they're very effective at reducing static in our tresses.

While dryer sheets are by no means a long-term solution, they can help combat frizz quickly and are especially good to have on the go. "It's easy to keep one in your purse, so you'll always have that secret weapon," celebrity hairstylist Johnny Lavoy told Byrdie. While they're great for taming flyaways, dryer sheets often come with a subtle scent that can transfer to your hair, so just be mindful of this when buying them for your hair.