So come on girls, how much do you value your hair? If the pictures of hair damaged by heat styling abuse on myhairstylingtools.com are anything to go by, clearly not a lot! But if you do, there are some simple steps you can take to limit this type of damage and prevent you, and your hair, from ending up in a seriously distressed state.
Blonde Curly Hair
Hair Rescue Programme
Your hair isn’t referred to as your crowning glory without good reason and the way it looks and feels can have a profound effect on your sense of well being. Terry Calvert, award-winning hairdresser, President of the Fellowship for British Hair, founder of the Clipso Salon Group, all-round Mr Gorgeous and hair guru says: “Whatever you do to your hair, it’s important that you put back what you take out. Hair is made up of approximately 80% protein (keratin) and 20% moisture. If you have your hair coloured your stylist will prescribe regular doses of a protein treatment like Redken Extreme Deep Fuel or Redken Extreme CAT to keep it strong and healthy.” Terry continues: “If you blow dry, straighten or curl your hair using heat styling appliances you’ll need to replenish the moisture content to restore and maintain elasticity and shine. Kevin Murphy’s Luxury Rinse, Redken’s All Soft Heavy Cream or Neal & Wolf Harmony Intensive Care Treatment are excellent for rehydrating parched locks.” He stresses that if you’re a heat appliance junkie AND you colour your hair, you’ll need to use products that contain a balance of protein and moisture to replenish strength, moisture and elasticity. “It’s not rocket science!” he adds and recommends investing in Alterna’s nourishing Caviar Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner, which have recently come out tops in clinical trials that prove its efficacy and that it’s worth every penny.
Invest In The Best
So how much should you spend on your haircare? As with most things in life, you get what you pay for and although most women don’t think twice about splashing out on skincare, it seems you’re tempted to cut corners with your hair! Terry believes that if you can afford the best you certainly won’t be washing your money down the plughole, because the more expensive brands are concentrated with highly effective conditioning ingredients, which mean you don’t need to use as much product and it lasts longer. He explains: “If your hair is in okay condition and you don’t do very much to it, you can get away with using average products, but if it’s coloured, damaged and becoming increasingly unmanageable, then using cheap, harsh shampoos will only make the problem worse because they tend to strip the hair of its natural oil, leaving it dry and brittle.” Natural oil is there for a reason; years ago Redken was called upon by the Alaskan authorities to provide a cleanser to remove oil from the fur of the seals, affected by a major oil disaster. The authorities realised that conventional detergents were too harsh and they needed something to remove the damaging oil, without stripping the fur of its natural oil, which provided protection from the freezing temperatures. Terry says: “If you use high end brands like Redken, Alterna, Neal & Wolf, Kerastase or Kevin Murphy you’ll notice the instant benefits because quite simply, they perform better.”
Luxe Locks Begin With A Good Shampoo
There are some super-restorative shampoos, conditioners and treatments available that will help keep your hair in tip-top condition but if you can only afford to invest in one product, Terry’s advice is to buy the finest quality shampoo. He explains: “Cleansing is the first step to creating shiny, manageable, healthy hair and if you get this right, you’re half way there! There’s no point applying a good conditioner to hair that hasn’t been thoroughly but gently cleansed - it would be the equivalent of wall papering over the cracks and you’ll just end up with build-up and lifeless, lack-lustre hair.” The other big advantage about a consultation with a professional stylist is that it will ensure you buy the right products for your hair type and condition and you won’t be left to make potentially the wrong choice from an overwhelming supermarket selection. Terry says: “A good shampoo is kind on the scalp and gently cleanses without leaving any unwanted residue, removing dirt, oil and build-up caused by styling products and mineral deposits. It also contains some conditioning ingredients and will go a long way towards improving the look, feel and manageability of your hair.” We recommend Kevin Murphy Angel Wash, Pureology Hydrating Shampoo, Kerastase Resistance Bain de Force and Alterna Caviar Moisture Shampoo. If you’re blow drying your curls, apply Senscience Curl Activate Energising Crème or Bumble and Bumble Curl Conscious Defining Crème to damp hair before putting in your Curlformers. The Candy Addicted online store stocks many of these and more and is a great place to shop for some of the best haircare products around.
Ditch The Styling Irons
So what to do if constant heat styling abuse is taking its toll on your hair? First up, stop using the offending weapon - especially if it’s a pair of straightening, curling or flat irons - and preferably ditch it altogether! Then make an appointment at a professional salon for a damage assessment and hair rescue programme. It won’t necessarily mean maxing out your credit card and it WILL be worth it. Invest in the best quality shampoo, conditioner and treatment you can afford to help restore your hair to its former glory, and of course if you want to create soft bouncy curls along the way, that’s easy to achieve thanks to Curlformers, which are creating ripples around the world as women and professional stylists are discovering the variety of sexy spirals, glossy curls and tousled waves they can achieve - without a damaging heat styling iron in sight! As we’re in the grip of the wedding and prom season – not to mention a Sex and the City 2 and World Cup WAG-fest, Curlformers are the ideal way to recreate celebrity curls. If you insist on using straightening irons to curl or smooth your hair, always apply them to hair that has been freshly washed with moisture-rich products and apply the best thermal protector you can afford.
Curly Hair Wedding
Blow Dry Boot Camp - The Alternative To ‘Frazzled’ Straight
If you value your hair but you’re addicted to ‘straight’, there are a number of salons now offering a ‘blow dry boot camp’ and the chance to learn how to create your own super-sleek locks without reaching for the straightening irons. To aid the process, apply a good quality styling product to lock in moisture and banish frizz - Alterna’s Hemp with Organics Straightening Balm (insert jpeg image – being sent under separate cover here) has to be one of the best around and the beauty editors love it. A good quality barrel brush and a powerful hairdryer are also essential pieces of kit. Collexia is a powerful new hairdryer available online from www.lookfantastic.com that has a double motor to cut drying time in half, but best of all it gives you the option of putting a treatment ‘pod’ in the nozzle, allowing you to repair your hair as you blow dry. For the finishing touches, smooth hair down by wearing a hat for as long as possible - you’ll be amazed at the difference this simple tip will make - and you’ll end up with the best hair ever, thanks to a little investment and some TLC.
Alterna Straightening Balm
