Hair Care Questions Answered

Do volumizing shampoos work?

NO. Volumizing shampoos are lighter, which can provide a good start to your style. But "95% of volume is achieved from a product and blowout," says Lyle. A hair dryer, big round brush and root lifter spray are a must for high-volume styles; no cutting corners on this one.

Biasion Studio, WireImage.com

Do you really need to trim hair every 6-8 weeks to keep it healthy?

NO. NYC salon owner John Barrett says, "If you take good care of your hair, you can go three months (12 weeks) between cuts. If you're growing your hair out, avoid the salon even longer. You'll never grow it out if you're in the stylist's chair that often!" Exception: if you have a short cut, you may need frequent trims to keep the shape.

Should I use a dry shampoo?

YES. While dry shampoos don't give you a complete cleansing, the powders absorb excess oil on your scalp for a quick refresher between washes, saving you time and damage by eliminating washing. Barrett adds, "It's is a fantastic styling aid to add body, texture and volume to clean wispy hair.

One of the new incarnations of dry shampoo from Bumble and Bumble is so popular, it's often sold out for months. Grab it, if you find it!

Do vitamin supplements have any effect on hair?

YES. Chiccine recommends Biotin, which is a vitamin that encourages cell growth in both your hair and nails. "Biotin can be found at the vitamin store, and you can look for shampoos with it if hair thinning or slow growth is a concern of yours," says Chiccine.

Is $25 shampoo really worth it?

YES. "Expensive shampoos contain fewer sulfates, the detergents that strip the hair of its natural oils and color," says expert Jennifer J. "Also, high-end shampoos use finer ingredients at higher concentrations, so a little goes a long way," adds Jeffrey Lyle, Senior Stylist at Boston's Emerge Spa & Salon.

I've heard that rinsing hair before swimming reduces chlorine damage. True?

YES. "You don't want chlorinated water to be the first thing that your hair soaks up," says Jennifer J., Owner of Beverly Hills' Juan Juan Salons. Rinsing your hair with water first prevents chlorine absorption. The ultimate protection is combing conditioner through your hair and topping with a swim cap, advises J.

Is oil the best treatment for damaged hair?

NO. In fact, you may be doing big damage if your hair is colored. Rona O'Connor, Colorist at LuKaRo Salon of Beverly Hills warns, "Never put oil on your hair -- it will strip your color! When we fade colors in the salon purposely, we use hot oil." Oil mixtures can contain acidic ingredients, which strip color. Protein treatments are the most effective for damaged tresses.

Do I need a full 15 minutes for a deep conditioner to work?

NO. "Any amount of time you can dedicate to deep conditioning is good. It's better than nothing -- just like exercise," says Amy Abramite, Creative Director of Chicago's Maxine Salon. Wrapping hair in a warm damp towel "will open the cuticle so your hair accepts the conditioner quicker," says Abramite.

My stylist says to wash my hair only once a week. Is this a good idea?

YES. The natural oils in your scalp provide the best conditioning treatment for your hair. But is this practical? Only for those with very dry hair, says celeb stylist Lea Journo. Journo advises clients to go four days max without washing in order to naturally condition their hair without over-doing it.

Do sunscreen sprays for hair work?

NO. Sunscreen sprays can't hurt, but aren't proven to help. Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is measurable on skin, not hair. NYC salon owner Lisa Chiccine says it's more important to coat hair with a spray-on or leave-in conditioner so there's a physical barrier between the sun rays and your strands.