The do's and don'ts of heat styling

Heat styling can help you get a polished look, but it can also cause damage to your hair, Here are our top do’s and don’ts for protecting your hair when using hot tools.

Do always apply a heat protectant before using any heated styling tools. This creates a barrier between your hair and the heat, reducing moisture loss and damage.

Do invest in high-quality styling tools with adjustable temperature settings. Fine hair requires less heat, while thicker hair may need slightly higher temperatures.

Do give your hair regular breaks from heat styling. Embrace your natural style or try heat-free methods like braiding damp hair or doing sock curls.

Don’t use heat tools on soaking wet hair unless they’re specifically designed for it. This can cause severe damage and weaken the hair structure.

Don’t go over the same section repeatedly. Try to style each section in one smooth pass to minimise exposure to heat.

Why your hair turns oily - and what to do it about it now

Here’s the thing: a certain degree of oiliness is not only normal, but necessary. The scalp produces sebum as a protective mechanism, keeping both skin and hair adequately hydrated. The trouble starts when this process tips out of balance, leaving hair looking limp and greasy rather than healthy.

1. Over-washing can backfire
It may seem counterintuitive, but washing your hair too frequently can make oiliness worse. Regular stripping of natural oils prompts the scalp to compensate by producing more sebum, often resulting in the very greasiness one is attempting to avoid.

2. Hair type plays a role
Straighter hair types tend to appear oilier more quickly. Without curls or texture to slow its progress, sebum travels easily down the hair shaft, making it more visible from root to tip.

3. Product choice matters
Not all cleansing routines are created equal. Water alone will not dissolve oil effectively, and relying just on conditioner can allow residue to build. A well-formulated shampoo is essential for properly removing excess sebum and maintaining balance.

4. Lifestyle factors contribute
Heat, humidity, exercise and heavy styling products all encourage oil accumulation. These external influences can turn an otherwise manageable scalp into a persistently greasy one.

The practical approach
Wash regularly—but not excessively—with a suitable shampoo, avoid overloading the hair with product, and tailor your routine to your hair type. In most cases, restraint rather than excess is the key to restoring equilibrium.

The secret to faster hair growth: simple habits for stronger, healthier hair

Healthy, beautiful hair doesn’t happen overnight—but with the right care and consistency, you can absolutely support faster, stronger growth.

At Pankhurst & Deane, we always remind our clients that hair growth starts at the scalp and it’s also influenced by your daily habits as well as the products you use. Here are our secret tricks for hair growth.

Look after your scalp

Maintaining a clean and well-nourished scalp is essential. Product build-up, excess oil and environmental pollutants can block hair follicles and slow down growth. Using a gentle, high-quality shampoo and conditioner suited to your hair type helps keep your scalp balanced and healthy—creating the ideal environment for hair to thrive.

Give yourself a head massage

Scalp massage is another simple but powerful habit to introduce into your routine. Taking a few minutes each day to gently massage your scalp can help stimulate blood flow to the hair follicles, encouraging healthier growth over time. It’s a small step that can make a noticeable difference when done consistently.

Get a trim

Regular trims are often misunderstood when it comes to growing your hair. While trimming doesn’t directly speed up growth from the root, it does prevent split ends from travelling up the hair shaft and causing breakage. Keeping your ends healthy means your hair can retain its length more effectively.

Cut back on heat styling

It’s also important to minimise damage. Frequent heat styling, tight hairstyles, and harsh chemical treatments can weaken the hair, leading to breakage and slower progress. Whenever possible, use heat protection, opt for looser styles, and give your hair regular breaks from intensive styling.

Eat well

Finally, don’t forget that healthy hair starts from within. A balanced diet, proper hydration, and key nutrients all play a role in supporting strong, resilient hair.

Hair growth is a journey, and patience is key—but by focusing on overall hair health, you’ll see stronger, longer results over time.

Yes, you can get rid of split ends - here's how

Getting rid of split ends isn’t as hard as you think. This is our expert advice for what to do now.

But firstly, what are split ends and what causes them? Split ends are basically when the ends of your hair are brittle and dry, and they look like they are splitting.

What causes split ends? The most common causes are chemical treatments and styling including blow drying, heat styling, perming, bleaching and all types of hair colouring as well as infrequent hair trims. Environmental elements such as the weather can and often do result in split ends, too. But don’t worry as split ends are normal and it doesn’t mean they are your fault.

How to prevent split ends First up, regular trims removes the damaged ends and prevents them from traveling up the hair shaft. Aim for a haircut every 6-8 weeks to prevent split ends. Other things that can help is showering with cooler water than usual, and finishing your shower with a cold blast to seal your cuticle at the end.

When your hair is wet, it’s also at its most vulnerable - it can stretch up to 50% when it’s wet. So put any leave-in conditioners before combing your hair, and try to avoid sleeping with wet hair.

Using a microfibre towel, as opposed to a standard cotton one, straight out of the shower can also help protect hair. This is because microfibre causes less friction on hair especially when it’s fragile. Cutting back on heated styling can also reduce damage.

How to fix split ends When it comes to repairing split ends, treat your hair like you would your skin. So that means use products that add moisture and that are deeply hydrating like a leave-in conditioner or serum.

Three steps to grow out a bob according to the experts

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.

Step one: 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.

Step two: 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.

Step three: Cut your hair every six to 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.

Salon-approved favourites for hydrated hair

Dry and damaged hair? These are our favourite products for hydrating hair, below.

Want healthier hair? Avoid doing these five things

We all love a good hair day, but you could be sabotaging how many you have by doing certain normal everyday habits. Here are five common mistakes we see in the salon (and how to fix them).

1. Using the ‘wrong’ brush
Not all brushes are created equal and it’s important to choose one that suits your hair type. Fine, thick, curly or textured hair each need something different. The ‘wrong’ brush can weaken the hair and cause breakage, while the right one helps detangle gently while stimulating the scalp. If brushing feels like a battle, it’s probably time to switch tools.

2. Washing too often… or not often enough
Overwashing can leave your hair and scalp dry, while underwashing can cause product buildup and irritation. For most people, washing around two or three times a week is the best way to keep hair healthy, and fresh.

3. Forgetting about your scalp
Healthy hair starts at the top - your scalp. If your scalp is dry, oily or full of product buildup, it can affect how your hair grows and behaves. Giving your scalp some attention can make a big difference to shine, strength, and overall hair health.

4. Heat styling without protection
We get it — heat tools are part of everyday life. But using them without a heat protectant can seriously damage your hair over time. A good heat protector acts like a barrier, helping prevent dryness, breakage and dullness.

5. Avoiding products altogether
Hair products aren’t the enemy. When used correctly, they protect your hair, add shine and can help maintain your style. The key is using the right products for your hair type — not skipping them entirely.

The good news?
Most hair damage can be improved with a few small changes. Gentler brushing, better washing habits, scalp care and proper heat protection can transform your hair faster than you think.

Not sure what your hair needs? Whether you’re a regular client or visiting us for the first time, we’re always happy to recommend the right tools, products, and routine for your hair.

Bottle blonde? Here's how to keep your hair healthy

Bleached blonde hair needs some special care and attention to prevent it from getting dry and damaged. With our expert backed styling tips, below, you can keep your colour and your hair healthy.

Sleep on a silk pillowcase

If you’re not familiar with silk pillowcases, they are a great way to maintain hair’s integrity and prevent breakage. They also help to prevent split ends.

Invest in purple shampoo

Purple shampoo can help take the brassiness out of bleached blonde hair, just don’t use it too much - every few washes is enough.

Use weekly hair masks

Alternate between a protein and moistures place of your normal conditioner. We recommend L’Oreal’s Professionnel Absolut Repair Mask (£36, 500ml), which boasts a nourishing and reparative formula that leaves hair feeling soft and looking shiny.

Prioritise regular haircuts

Ideally have a haircut or trim immediately—or at least within a week—after getting your hair coloured to seal the ends. Then if you can, every eight weeks.

Repair coloured hair with this quick four-step guide

Over-styling, colouring your hair and professional straightening or perms can leave your hair crying out for some TLC.

And while it might be tempting to chop it all off and start again, there’s no need for a new look (unless you really want one - in which case give us a call!).

Instead try our four-step plan to repair damaged hair:

Have a weekly hair mask: You can even sleep in it overnight (with hair wrapped in a microfibre towel) for maximum hydration.

Comb conditioner through before rinsing: This helps to improve the appearance of frazzled hair and has the effect of smoothing the hair cuticles down.

Use hair serum: This nourishes the scalp and hair follicles. We like L'Oreal's Absolute Repair Serum, which you can buy here.

Regular haircuts: A great haircut will revitalise hair and make you look - and feel - better about your damaged hair. You don’t have to go for a dramatic new style, just talk to us about your needs and we will deliver!