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The Violet Files / Lessons / day two hair help

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Editorial and red-carpet hairstylists are known for using common products in nontraditional ways on set. A toothbrush misted with hairspray calms flyaways, mineral-powder eye shadow hides roots and K-Y Jelly creates a wet look. But dry shampoo tops every artist's list of favorite pinch hitters. While it was developed to absorb unwanted oil from the scalp between shampoos, professionals use the simple powder to make freshly washed hair feel full and thick, to revive bedhead or even to diminish day-old product residue. Translation: An expert lesson in dry shampoo can prevent many mornings of hair agony and pre-party anxiety.

“I use dry shampoo to create more volume and texture, but also to make hair look less ‘done,'” says hairstylist Peter Butler of the magic effects of dry shampoo. “Your style is still there, but it's softer.” It's this ability to craft full, lightly textured, universally sexy hair that has put Butler's work on magazine covers ranging from Vogue to Rolling Stone to Sports Illustrated (he's done 11 S.I. covers, to be exact) and garnered clients like Claire Danes, Natalie Portman, Kate Upton and Heidi Klum. His expert strategy (outlined below) includes massaging his favorite non-aerosol formula (he prefers powder over spray) into roots, blow-drying away excess (especially helpful for brunettes), then adding luster back into hair with his go-to serum.

1

To begin, give yourself a mohawk: Gather a two-inch-wide section of hair, from the hairline to the crown, and pin it out of the way. Sprinkle Crown Affair's Dry Shampoo onto the roots of the parting, avoiding the hairline, and lightly massage into hair with your fingers. Go section by section, repeating on a new parting every inch or so, until you reach the nape of the neck.

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The Dry Shampoo

Crown Affair

The Dry Shampoo

$42.00
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2

Release the top section, and flip your head forward. Gently finger-comb all of your hair forward, over your face, and lightly blow-dry roots [edit note: any dryer will do, but Butler-approves the T3], directing airflow forward and down. This removes any excess powder and allows the product to settle into hair. Finger-comb hair back into place after a minute or so. (From here, you can add curls or further style hair as desired.)

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Featherweight StyleMax

T3

Featherweight StyleMax

$199.99
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3

Dry shampoo can make hair look matte, so add lightweight luster to locks using Leonor Greyl Serum de Soie Sublimateur, but not until the very last step. Start with a single pump, warm it in your hands, and rake through the bottom half of the hair. Finish by smoothing just the residue left on your hands over the top half of hair to tame flyaways. Add more to the bottom half of hair if desired.

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Serum de Soie Sublimateur Nourishing Protective Serum - Size: 2.5 oz

Leonor Greyl

Serum de Soie Sublimateur Nourishing Protective Serum - Size: 2.5 oz

$47.00
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