The Perfect Cut: Rules of Hair to Live By

When it comes to style, there are no hard and fast rules. The same holds true for your hair. While there are specific haircuts that complement particular face shapes, sometimes taking risks and trying something new pay off!

Gad Cohen, who has styled for fashion magazines like Vogue, Marie Claire and Elle, shared a few "Rules of Hair" to live by in an interview at Parents Connect.

* Have a great cut four times a year.

* Curly, wavy, or coarse hair needs more conditioning than other types.

* For curly hair, shampoo less frequently but wet hair daily to rinse and add a leave-on conditioner to maintain control.

* For fine hair, only condition the ends.

* For flat hair, you should use a product that pumps up your hair. I like Prograine (from the makers of Rogaine).

* Let your color enhance, not detract from, your face.

* Color coordinate. When dyeing your hair, don't go too far out of range from your natural hue.

* Always get highlights done at a salon if you can (a professional single process will look better than anything out of a box.)

Model is wearing No Slippy Hair Clippy's Ramie Clip. Photographed by Amanda Elkins.

Questions Before the Cut

We have all been through it before: we step into a salon, get a shiny new hair style, and then we go home. And the next morning, no matter how we style our hair, we can't seem to replicate that fresh-from-the-salon-look. Or worse, we realize that the cut doesn't complement our face shapes or is too high-maintenance that it doesn't fit our lifestyles.

According to Harry Josh, International Creative Consultant for John Frieda, your hairdresser is a goldmine of hair info and you're cheating yourself if you don't grill him/her for styling tips!

So what exactly should you be asking? Here are a few suggestions from Yahoo's Shine! network.

Before the cut:
1. Will this work with my hair type?
2. Will this flatter my face shape?
3. (If you're coloring your hair) Will this work with my skin tone?

During the cut:
4. What shampoo and conditioner do you recommend?
5. How often should I wash my hair?
6. Should I use conditioner at all? Just on my ends?

After the cut:
7. What styling products should I use?
8. How much of them should I use?
9. Where should I apply them (roots, ends, all over)?
10. When should I apply them (right after I shower, once hair is somewhat dry)?
11. What styling tools should I use?
12. How should I use them? (Ask her to walk you through the styling processes step-by-step.)
13. What are some other ways I can style this cut? Any tricks for days I'm feeling lazy?

Now that's a more productive way of spending time while in the salon! Then maybe you can continue with the celebrity gossip afterwards :)

Model is wearing No Slippy Hair Clippy's Wendy Clip. Photographed by Amanda Elkins.