Leading colourist and founder of The Hair Boss, Lisa Shepherd is here to bust the myths and rectify the natural hair mistakes we’re all making with our haircare.
Will a hair product with alcohol make your hair thinner?
“Limp hair, fine hair and/or thin hair (most European hair types) are some of the biggest concerns we tend to see. The consultation is crucial for these hair concern. The stylist needs to first ascertain why it’s limp and fine. Is it fine because it needs building up by a collagist? Because that is very different to a hairdresser. The majority of people in this country have just got fine, flat hair that needs volume products!
“The first port of call is going to be a really decent volume shampoo – anything that gives volume has got alcohol in it. Not alcohol as we know it, but alcohol in hair styling products swells hair and makes it appear thicker. This is not to be afraid of, it is one of the only things that actually helps create that amazing volume! The only problem with alcohol in any hair product is that it can cause dry hair and a dry scalp. Hence why the biggest hair product to give volume is mousse, but this can make the hair dry, too.
“I think the best solution is to use a good volume shampoo, such as The Hair Boss The Virgin Hair Shampoo (£7.99 for 300ml, Superdrug), a lightweight cleansing gel that purifies the hair without adding weight or residue. Want some extra volume? I recommend following with The Hair Boss The Body Building Foam Conditioner (£8.99 for 180ml, Superdrug), a rinse-out foam conditioner that nourishes and hydrates the hair without weighing it down.”
Is it a good idea to colour your roots?
“A really reliable way to thicken up hair is by looking at the colour. Adding colour to the root gives it immediate texture and volume. Alternatively, a good old-fashioned root perm with root gels can create the appearance of thicker hair.”
Can you colour your hair darker or lighter at home?
“Glosses, root tints, taking your shade a couple of shades different is absolutely fine. However, the moment that you start to think about going from dark to light, or even light to dark, you need to go to a professional colourist only.”
Should you hide your hair from the sun?
“Summer hair is one of my favourites. Everyone always says that you need to cover it up, but I personally like the sun doing its thing.
“Take treatments with you before you go away and make sure that you use a hair mask. The Hair Boss The Double Hair Mask (£19.99 for two 150ml, Superdrug) is the ultimate SOS hero product to achieve strong, healthy and moisturised hair on the go.
“The whole point that I am trying to make is don’t let your hair dry out. It is all about moisturisation, just like with skin.”
Do shine sprays make your hair look greasy?
“It is important to use a good hair spray with blondes as maintaining a good condition is hard because the colour absorbs the light whereas with any other colours, it bounces off of it. This means that even if you have a great condition of blonde it can look flat, so you need to aesthetically add shine to it. The Hair Boss The Semi-Permanent Shine Spray (£12.99 for 150ml, Superdrug) is a great option – the special bio-polymer in this styling product smoothens the cuticle which gives hair an intense shine with a glossy look and feel. Additionally, this shine spray offers protection against pollutants leaving hair fresh and healthy.”
Should you cover your grey, natural hair with highlights?
“Although I am a colourist, I celebrate grey hair! I love it on women. Some of my clients come to a stage in their life where I encourage them to stop colouring or certainly change their colour methods.
“Sometimes there is nothing more confident on a woman with grey hair than it looking its best and strongest grey and white, but it does need to shine and sparkle. Due to the fact that it changes its hair texture, you have to give it a helping hand. A fabulous regular or dry shampoo is a good option, one that is going to give you the shine that you need, making the hair appear more youthful. Nourish and heal hair damage, hair breakage and thinning hair with The Hair Boss The Overworked Hair Shampoo (£7.99 for 300ml, Superdrug) – it’s specifically designed for overly processed, bleached, coloured and heat-damaged hair types, which is great for those who have abused their flat iron, curling wand/curling iron or blow dryer without any hair protectant to achieve temporary straight hair or curly hair, or tame the frizz.”
Did you find Lisa’s advice helpful? If you’re ready to update your hair care routine, read our ultimate guide to shiny, healthy hair here, or check out our top hair care products.
