Rubi Jones - The Art of Hair: The Ultimate DIY Guide to Braids, Buns, Curls, and More

Rubi Jones

Photos Agnes Thor

Illustrations
Samantha Hahn

MAKEUP KHELA

WARDROBE STYLING KAREN SCHAUPETER

I grew up around strong women who put equal emphasis on working hard and looking good while doing it.

Every time my extended family got together, somebody ended up with a new hairstyle: a perm, new fringe, a little bleach, or a simple braid. Aqua Net hairspray was our best friend, and my parents kitchen was our beauty salon.

Since then, Ive styled hair all over the world on photo shoots, backstage at fashion shows, at salons, and at pop-up workshops. But one of my favorite parts of my career is teaching women how to do their own hair. I feel the same energy, happiness, and confidence teaching a client how to perfect a braid or create glamorous waves as I did when we would gather around and do each others hair in my parents kitchen.

I love the empowerment new hair gives an individualwhether its a bold cut or just switching up your part. The beauty of hair is that it can both transform and be transformed so easily. Curl it, straighten it, gel it, braid it, or pin it upyou can always wash it and change it again.

Included in this book are more than 40 step-by-step tutorials for creating on-trend and timeless hairstyles for everyday and special occasions. The diversity of my clients has taught me to appreciate and embrace each womans unique hair texture, so youll discover styles for a wide range of hair lengths and types. Youll also find all the tools and hair products that I believe every woman should stock in her own vanity, how they work, and how to use them properlytips that are sure to help you become your own favorite stylist.

I hope you will use this book to master the perfect everyday blowout, find the perfect hairstyle for your best friends wedding, style a playful look for a girls night out, and finally replace your go-to messy ponytail for any one of my variations. I also hope that doing your own hair will help you feel more powerful and confident in your daily life. Dont forget to have fun!

Rubi A. Jones

Its just hair. So relax and have fun with it already.

All hair is differentthe grass is always greener on the other side. Find out what works with your texture instead of fighting against it.

Finding a good hairstylist is like datinginvest the time finding the best person for you and your hair.

Get a cut every six to eight weeks; every ten to fourteen weeks if youre growing out your hair.

Invest in quality shampoo and conditioner (that means no drugstore brands!).

Products can be your best friend. Layer them into your hair at every styling step instead of using them to lacquer your hair into place at the end.

Use a tail comb to create clean sections, which will make styling easier.

When blow-drying, slow and steady wins the raceyoull get better results by gliding your brush and dryer through your hair slowly and consciously, focusing on your roots, then midlengths, and finally the ends, rather than a million times over through the entire length of your hair.

Squeaky clean isnt always the way to goI usually recommend perfectly dirty texture for styling. Basically, that means washing every other day and using products to amp up your hairs texture and workability.

Backcombing creates great volumeand the perfect cushion for pins to grip on to. Insert your tail comb near the roots of a small section, then remove the comb and insert it slightly higher into the section. Continue to insert the comb higher and higher until the section is all teased.

Work your hair in the direction of your final style from the minute you start drying it. Go up for volume, back for ponytails or bunsyoull say good-bye to cowlicks and unwanted bumps because all your hair will know where its going from the get-go!

Sometimes less is more. By all means, go for an edgy undercut, a crazy color, or an eye-catching braid. But sometimes just one standout element is enough.

Like anything, the more hair you do, the better youll get at it. Some of the looks in this book are really simple, and then there are some that are more ambitious or time-consuming. Stick with it and youll see results.

Youve seen all those bottles and canisters lined up at the salon. Heres a primer on what they all doplus what you need and how to use it!

Shampoo Buy a salon-brand shampoo formulated for your hair type. Apply shampoo only to the roots and then massage it into your scalpthe shampoo will clean your ends when you rinse.

Conditioner Dont skimp on a salon-brand conditioner, even if you have oily tresses. Apply it only to your endsyour roots dont need it because theyre the healthiest part of your hair. Rinse with cool water to seal in nutrients and shine.

Mask Use a deep conditioner once a month, especially if you have curly, dry, color-treated, or chemically treated hair. In fact, if you fall in one of those categories, you can replace your everyday conditioner with a mask for healthier hair on the daily.

Dry shampoo It comes in two basic formats: powder and aerosol spray. Apply on oily roots to extend your look for another day or throughout to give soft hair a workable texture for easier styling.

Mousse Whether you want volume, curls, or a superstraight look, apply mousse to damp hair and blow-dry it in to create styles with staying power.

Volumizing spray Similar to a mousse (or any product with the word volumizing in its name), this spray helps create longer-lasting looks. Blow-dry it into damp hair, or layer it on with multiple applications between blowdries for extra volume.

Styling cream Used to add moisture and holding power, creams work on all types of tresses. A good rule of thumb: the thicker the cream, the thicker the hair it can go on. To apply, work it evenly into the hair at the back of your head (where your locks are thickest), then work a small amount onto the sides and top of your head.

Gel You can leave gel in for a sleek, wet look; blow-dry it in for extra hold; or diffuse it into your curls for frizz-free ringlets. Look for a non-flaky water-based gel to avoid those telltale white specks.

Saltwater spray Spritz on this lightweight and versatile spray for body before blowing out your hair, or use it to add texture to a finished look. You can also mist limp hair to encourage waves before air-drying or diffusing. I like to blow-dry it in roughly from roots to ends before stylingit creates a naturally dirty texture that makes styles last.

Hairspray My favorite is lightweight and non-flaky. Layer it onone blast before styling, one after your look is builtto avoid a crunchy look. For a high-shine, no-hair-out-of-place look, try an extra-hold spray. Bonus: It protects against heat, so blast your hair with it in sections before curling or ironing.