Help! How do I grow out a short bob?

When you're growing out your hair it can feel painstakingly slow, and there's nothing worse than that in between stage when you feel like you're neither one style nor another.

The thing is, there is no single product that will make your hair grow quicker (sorry, we wish there was!). But there are certain things you can do which will get your hair in great condition to help it grow:

Treat your hair with some TLC

Try and exfoliating shampoo to properly cleanse your hair and strengthen it against breakage. We like this one from L'Oreal Paris. A rich argan-oil based conditioner like this will also keep your locks in good condition.

Cut your hair every six - eight weeks

We know this sounds scary and counterproductive to someone growing their hair, but regular trims will give your follicles a boost and help with your game-term plan to have long, luscious locks . Book your next appointment by calling us on 01865 553725 or clicking here.

Stop towel drying your hair

If you wrap your hair into a bath towel turban after washing, stop! This causes hair to break, and towel rubbing it dry causes even more damage. Instead invest in a microfibre hair wrap like this, which is more gentle on the follicles and also helps to de-frizz at the same time.

Three easy spring haircare tips you need to try TODAY

Spring is finally here, which means the weather is (hopefully!) sunnier, the flowers are in full bloom and it's a great time to think about changing your haircare routine.

Here are our top three tips for looking after your hair this season:

1. Have a trim

Winter really takes its toll on your hair, with the cold air and indoor heating playing havoc with your locks by drying it out. A quick trim is all you need to get rid of dry and damaged ends and help your hair regain its shine and health. Book your next appointment by calling us today on 01865 553725 or fill in our booking form here.

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2. Lighten your hair

In spring, not only the days should be lighter, but it's nice to give your hair a lift, too. If you're not ready to completely overhaul your look with a brand new colour, then we recommend trying our new L'oreal Instant Highlights to change your hairstyle without doing anything too drastic. Not only do they take half the time of normal highlights, they have a really natural finish for that all-important sun kissed look.

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3. Let your hair dry naturally

It's madness to go out with wet hair in winter, but now the weather is warming up you can let your hair air dry a bit more. Taking a hairdryer break will also give your hair a chance to grow stronger and it avoids further damaging the strands. Remember to gently towel dry rather than rub your hair as the follicles are at their weakest when wet.

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The secret to thicker hair

Want to know how to thicken hair? It’s one of the most common questions we get asked at the salon, and the answer to how to thicken hair is a complex one, but it can be done!

First it’s useful to understand a bit about why your hair loses thickness in the first place, and then read on to find out our top tips for how to get thicker hair…

What causes hair to lose thickness?

The most common reason for a gradual loss of hair in volume and thickness is getting older. This is because, as we age, the new hair emerging from the follicle is thinner, and eventually the same stem cells stop producing melanin (the colour pigment), so these wispy thin hairs turn grey or white.

Medical conditions like eczema can also make hair thinner, as it causes follicles to become blocked and prevent new hair growth.

Autoimmune and/or genetic disorders can also mean that hair gets thinner or even falls out altogether, while some meds can have an adverse effect on hair thickness.

Temporary hair loss or thinning hair can also happen after the body experiences a major shock that disrupts the hair's normal growth pattern.

What bad habits can cause thinning hair?

Before you can thicken hair, it's useful to know about any habits that might be causing it to thin. As we’ve heard, while genetics and medical conditions are sometimes responsible, they're not the only culprits!

Pulling at hair and keeping it in very tight hairstyles will, not surprisingly, gradually weaken the hair strand and the follicle it comes from.

Your lifestyle plays a major role in the quality of your hair. Stress and nutrition (vitamin deficiency) have been directly linked to poor hair quality, as well as unhealthy habits such as smoking and yo-yo dieting.

How to thicken your hair's appearance

Try a spalp massage

When washing the hair, use your fingertips to massage the scalp in gentle circular motions to stimulate blood flow and promote the healthy growth of new hair.

Use hair thickening products

For thinning hair, we love L’Oreal’s Serioxyl Denser Hair Serum, a daily treatment to improve hair density. For fine hair needing a little volume boost, we recommend L’Oreal Serie Expert Volumetry volumising root spray, as well as Volumetry Shampoo and Conditioner. For long hair, suffering from thin ends, L’Oreal Serie Expert Pro Longer uses patented, filling technology to renew lengths and fills-in-ends. The Pro Longer Ends Filler Concentrate, is a weekly hair treatment that provides strength and durable thickness to ends.

Have regular trims

Have your hair trimmed regularly to prevent the development of split and uneven tips, which will cause the hair to look thin and straggly. Even, well-cut hair automatically looks fuller and healthier. Ask your stylist at Pankhurst and Deane about a micro-trim hair cut, or an 'invisible cut'. You get to keep the length but the split ends are dusted off.

Our favourite hair products that really work

Fed up with hair products that over-promise and under-deliver? We’ve tracked down the ones that we think REALLY work, from frizz busters and heat protectors to hydration boosters and thickening lotions.

The Gentleman's Kaya Scodelario reveals her secret to winged eyeliner

What are the best shampoos for hair growth?

What you eat, your genetics, how stressed you are and your age can all contribute to thinning and breakage. You may not know this, but hair growth is a cycle and there are lots of things that can disrupt this, from hormonal shifts, medicine, illnesses and disease. Anything big going on - like pregnancy, menopause and even losing weight - can also interfere with hair growth. And constant chemical treatments, hot styling tools and even harsh brushing can reduce or damage the hair.

So what’s the answer? Shampoos that nourish the scalp and strengthen the hair of course! They not only make it less brittle and healthier, they can reduce oil build-up, which in turn encourages hair growth (by reducing breakage).

To really speed up your hair growth, supplement your shampoo with a diet rich in protein (found in lean meats, leafy greens, nuts, beans, and fish), fats (fish, nuts, flaxseeds and avocado can really help keep hair soft and silky), vitamin A (milk, eggs, and yoghurt to improve scalp health), and iron (try a supplement or eat more lentils, eggs, and spinach).

Here are some of our favourite shampoos that will give your locks a new lease of life…

Elvive Extraordinary Clay Rebalancing Shampoo

£2.99, Boots

BUY IT NOW

This wonder shampoo is a steal and even gives you change from a fiver! The clay-infused formula rids the scalp of excess build-up, which can slow down growth. The shampoo also purifies and rehydrates the hair.

OGX Thick & Full Biotin & Collagen Shampoo

£6.99, Boots

BUY IT NOW

Like the Elvive shampoo, this OGX product does a lot for such a bargain price. Its blend of powerful ProVitamin B7 Biotin infuses nutrients into every strand and the hydrolyzed wheat proteins help to strengthen making thicker, fuller, healthier looking hair. The biotin and collagen boost volume on fine hair and leaves hair shiny and glossy. Best of all, its ingredients brings brittle hair back to life with new growth. We also really love this shampoo because it is sulfate-free and less drying than many similar products. The keratin proteins and argan oil also strengthen the cuticle for stronger hair.

Nioxin Cleanser, System 1 Shampoo

£21.99, Amazon

BUY IT NOW

This is a winner for fine, thin hair. When you use it, it’ll make the scalp tingle a little, so you’ll know it’s working. It’s packed with vitamins, botanicals, SPF, and amino acids to help protect hair and promote healthy new growth.

Kérastase Discipline Bain Fluidealiste (250ml) and Fondant Fluidealiste (200ml)

£28.14, Lookfantastic.com

BUY IT NOW

This product duo leaves hair strong and full of vitality and shine. After you use it, your hair will be less frizzy for days. Full of amino acids and wheat protein derivatives, it makes hair stronger and smoother.

ArtNaturals Argan Oil Shampoo for Hair-Regrowth

£40.99, Amazon

BUY IT NOW

This all-natural option is a great pick for anyone who wants to reduce the impact of thinning hair and encourage new hair growth. This argan oil shampoo contains DHT blockers (DHT prevents nutrients from being absorbed by hair follicles, which causes them to shrink and eventually fall out. This special ingredient works to prevent damage of the hair and further hair loss.

Shiny hair secrets, from the experts

Everyday exposure to things like showers, pollution, and hair styling products can decrease your hair's health and make it look less shiny than you'd like.

The most important thing for shiny hair is that the hair cuticle is closed and smooth so it can reflect the light. Well-moisturised, healthy hair is naturally shinier—and applying hot hair oils is the fastest way to boost hydration levels and improve existing damage.

Here are three more ways to boost shine:

1. Blast your hair with cold water after washing: an icy cold rinse in the shower shuts all the cuticles down, making them lay flat so your strands will shine.

2. Try a leave in conditioner: a lightweight leave-in conditioner can help moisturise and smooth the hair cuticles.

3. Avoid harmful ingredients: check labels on shampoo, conditioner and styling products and avoid anything with paragons, which can strip the hair of moisture.

Try this £7.59 deep conditioning trick to add moisture to hair

Is your hair heat damaged and flyaway? Exposure to sun, excessive blowdrying, curling and straightening, can leave hair dry and frazzled, stripping it of its natural oils.

It's unrealistic for most of us to completely abandon our favourite heat styling tools, but you can bring your hair back to life with Argan oil (just £7.59 from Amazon).

Argan oil from Amazon

Add moisture to hair

Step one: Apply a generous amount of oil to your hair.

Step two: Comb the oil through to the ends.

Step three: Leave it on for 30-60 minutes (longer if you have time) before shampooing it out. Remember that a little goes a long way with argan oil, so start with a small amount and adjust as needed.

Three common hair problems and how to fix them

Want to know how to fix some of the most common hair problems? We’re here for you. Read on for our expert advice…

Problem: Oily Scalp

Solution: The best way to get rid of oily scalp and greasy hair is to improve your hair care regime. That means washing your hair with a paraben-free shampoo to clear your clogged pores and scalp. You could also try using a clarifying shampoo every so often, which can help reset the health of your hair. Diluted apple cider vinegar or tea tree oil also helps.

Problem: Dry scalp

Solution: Argan oil brings back moisture to your scalp and forms a protective layer against extreme heat. You also need to avoid using any heat-based hair styling products while suffering from a dry scalp.

Problem: Frizzy hair

Solution: Washing your hair less often and avoiding hot water can help with the frizz. Applying Argan oil can also add moisture to hair and protect it from excess heat.