One of the top questions my families have prior to their photo sessions in the Pacific Northwest is what would they need to do to get ready. In this "Getting Ready" series, I will focus on hair, makeup and clothing choices to help you prepare for your family photo sessions in Everett WA and beyond.
Let's face it, we have rain and pretty moisture-laden air for a lot of the year. For even the best manes, this can cause frizz or flat hair when you least expect it. My personal hairstylist and colorist extraordinaire Riley Kvarda of Riley Nicole Design in Bothell WA put together these 5 amazing hair tips along with products on just for you.
PS: If you use any of these genius styling tips the day before your photoshoot, make sure you wrap your hair either in a silk bonnet or use a silk pillowcase to minimize frizz the next day.
1) Start your haircare in the shower
Apply a deep conditioner the night before to help hydrate and smooth hair, hydrating shampoo and conditioner. One of my favorites is the Color Wow Money Masque
Use an anti-frizz product on damp hair to lock in moisture and smooth the strands. My favorite is Olaplex 6 smoothing balm
After shower use microfiber towel to blot hair and avoid roughing up the cuticle of your hair. Your hair is most fragile when wet and when you are too rough with it you can cause more frizz and damage. The more you touch or brush hair during the day, the more likely it is to frizz so try to style, set and leave it alone!


2) use a heat-protectant while styling
Always use heat protectant when blow drying and styling. Some of my favorites: Kenra blow dry spray, Amika heat serum, Chi heat protectant. My absolute favorite product for smooth blowouts is the Color Wow dream coat spray (this one keeps the frizz to a minimum). If you are heat styling be sure to brush any tangles out first and work in small sections


3) hold it all in place
Finish with a light-hold hairspray and/or anti humidity spray to help keep everything in place. A super quick on-the-go hack is to get a “slick back stick” to help with flyaways/ frizz during photoshoot without making your hair look greasy. If you get one thing for this specific purpose of photo shoots I would get this. Consider a silk pillowcase or silk head wrap the night before, sleeping on silk helps reduce friction, which can minimize frizz the next day.


4) blow dry to add volume
Apply a colonizing mousse and heat protectant before the blowdry. Roughly blowdry the hair upside down. Blowdry with a round brush and over direct hair away from where you want your hair part to be to create the most volume on top of your head. Take a small tooth comb and back comb/tease your roots (do it far down enough where you won’t get frizz on your top layer of hair that shows on your part). Mist with a texturizing or sea salt spray for grip and volume. My favorite texture sprays are Kenra dry texture spray and Amika undone texture spray


5) velcro rollers to the rescue
Velcro rollers while you are getting ready or even on the way to your photoshoot help so much! Place large velcro rollers at the crown of your head/bangs to create tons of volume. I would recommend practicing this before the actual day because sometimes you can even get too much volume! Everyone’s hair is different depending on bang/front lengths and texture.


Bonus tip: Avoid overstyling
Keep the style natural and avoid heavy products like oils or too many different products that can flatten hair and weigh it down
If you'd like to book Riley to do your hair for your next family photos, wedding, headshots or senior session, here is her booking page. You can also follow her here on Instagram. I had her blow dry and color my hair for my birthday a few years ago and I felt and looked so amazing! She's generous with her time and makes every client feel so welcome in her chair at Sola Salons in Bothell WA.
ABOUT YOUR everett wa family PHOTOGRAPHER
EGD Photography is located outside Seattle, WA in Everett, WA. Edlyn G D'Souza is the friendly face behind Everett-based lifestyle family, maternity, newborn, senior photography business. Edlyn works with families in Seattle, Everett, Bothell, Mukilteo, Lynnwood and most surrounding areas in Western Washington. She brings a calm and curious nature to every photo session.