Can’t get to a salon? We put all your top hair questions to the experts – here’s what they said…
My hair gets greasy really quickly, is there anything I can do to stop this?
“Firstly, which shampoo are you using?” asks Jessica Neil, creative director at KH Hair West Bridgford (khhair-nottingham.co.uk). “If your products are too heavy for your hair, they will make your hair greasy. If you have fine, limp hair with slightly dry ends, you should use a volumising shampoo which is specifically formulated for limp hair. Then, use a hydrating conditioner on the ends only, if they are dry. Avoid repair ranges, as these are packed with ingredients that will only weigh your hair down and, if you don’t have damaged hair, there isn’t any need. Washing your hair twice, like we do in the salon, helps get rid of any excess grease and dirt within the hair that the first shampoo didn’t get rid of. Finally, touching your hair a lot can make it become greasy quite quickly.”
Is there any way to hide or avoid split ends?
“The best way to avoid split ends is to be gentle to your hair,” says Hari’s creative director Craig Tailor (harissalon.com). “Blot your hair dry with a towel – try not to vigorously rub your hair. Use natural bristle brushes, and always brush from the ends, working your way up the hair to the root, as this avoids ripping through tangles. You can’t repair split ends (they can only be removed by cutting), so it’s best to hide them by using a hair crème or a hair serum, depending on your hair type.”
How can I disguise my roots if I can’t get to a salon?
“Root cover up sprays are amazing,” says Jessica. “These will not affect your hair at all when you return to the salon for your usual colour. If you can’t get hold of any root spray, you could use eye shadow for an emergency touch up – just choose the tone closest to your hair colour. Changing your parting can also disguise your roots – try switching to a zig-zag.”
I always get flyaways when I wear my hair up, what are the best ways to avoid this?
“This is really common, and it’s often actually new hairs that are growing, so don’t despair – try to embrace them,” says Kieran Tudor, CENTRED creative director and principal stylist at Josh Wood. “A good trick for when you have your hair in a ponytail is to spray hairspray from a distance and use an old toothbrush to gently smooth down the flyaways with the flow of the hair.”
My hair snaps really easily, what can I do to strengthen it?
“This depends on what’s causing the breakage,” says Robert Eaton, from Russell Eaton Salons. “If your hair is over-sensitised, focus on the causative factor; is it over bleached? Are you causing damage when using heat? When you have identified this and changed it, try using protein-based and strengthening products. Remember that your hair grows on average around 1-1.5 cm per month, so damage can take a long time to grow out.”
How can I return to my natural hair colour with the least hassle?
“The most natural way is to just let the colour grow out, but this depends on your hair colour and the treatment,” explains Francesca Dixon, Hari’s creative colourist (harissalon.com). “Don’t use a clarifying shampoo, because that will wash your tone out quicker and can make it fade. Using a colour care shampoo or a sulphate-free shampoo will help the longevity. If you are blonde or prone to going brassy, use a silver shampoo once every 10-14 days, depending on how often you wash your hair, to brighten up your blonde locks.”
My hair is thinning – is there a way to make it look fuller?
“Using hair products, such as mousse or styling sprays, will help provide body, volume and hold,” says Craig. “Dry shampoo applied after blow drying can help the hair feel of a thicker nature and make a more fibrous, malleable texture to work into a desired style. Try not to use wet or heavy creams, as they often provide very little hold, weigh the hair down and can make the hair clump together, making the hair look more sparse in between.”
Is it better to let hair air dry or use a hair dryer?
“Less heat is always better – if you can give it a break, that’s great,” says ‘The Color Authority’, Rita Hazan, colourist to the likes of Beyonce and J.Lo (ritahazan.com). “If you are using a hair dryer, use a low heat setting and make sure to use a product that has heat protection.”
How can I manage my hair without using heat?
“Use a heatless styling technique like heatless curls,” advises celebrity stylist Phil Smith (philsmithhair.com). “When your hair is 80-90 percent dry, twist it from the top root, taking larger sections as you go behind your ear and ending at the nape of your neck. Fix with a kirby grip, twist the remaining length of hair, curl into a bun and secure with a scrunchie. Repeat on the opposite side and leave to dry. Gently remove the accessories, keeping everything in place, and run your fingers through the curls to create a lived-in look.”
I wash my hair at night but it’s always limp in the morning, what can I do?
“If your hair is limp or lacks volume, try going to bed with freshly washed, almost dry hair, twisted up with a soft scrunchie,” suggests Simone Thomas, qualified trichologist and founder of Simone Thomas Wellness (simonethomaswellness.com). “When you unravel it the following morning, you’ll be left with instant volume and soft waves.”
At-home hairdresser helpers
Keep your locks looking healthy even when you can’t see your stylist with these top tips
1. “If you can, use a treatment on your hair once a week,” says Francesca. “Keeping your hair moisturised and hydrated is very important for its health.”
2. “I would strongly advise against using box dyes where possible, as they will cause long-term damage to the hair,” says Mary Geoghegan, style director at KH Hair Castle Gate. “Restoring it back to the colour afterwards will be hugely challenging, too.”
3. “At this unprecedented time, our scalps will be dry due to stress,” says Francesca. “If you have a hair oil, massage it onto your scalp an hour before shampooing – if you don’t have any, try coconut, almond or olive oil.”
4. “Try not to cut your hair where possible,” says Mary. “If you’re attempting a fringe trim, use hairdressing scissors and take off small amounts at a time. Split it into 0.5cm sections and point-cut into the hair so it leaves a softer edge line.”
5. “For those staying inside, wash your hair and leave a deep conditioning mask on it all day,” says Ricky Walters, founder of SALON64 (salon64.co.uk). “You may look a little slick, but who cares if you’re working from home? Rinse out in the evening and you will be left with silky locks.”
6. “If you do desperately want to do something to your hair, try contacting your hairdresser or hair colourist via social media for advice,” advises Declan Haworth, colour director at Blue Tit London (bluetitlondon.com). “They know your hair and will have the best tips for you.”
