Fed up with expensive 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.
These are our favourite hair products that really work
Ultimate shiny hair tips - by the experts
One of the most common questions we get asked is how to get shiny hair. If you’re after the ultimate gloss, we’ve got your covered….
What’s one thing I can do for healthy hair?
We all have different needs so the best thing to do is talk to your stylist about the correct product for your hair. This will save you money on products that aren’t right for your hair.
Is hair shinier when you rinse it in cold water?
Hydrating products like hair masks and deep conditioners are best for shiny hair, but there’s no harm in a lukewarm rinse. This closes down the cuticles, the outer protection of the hair, making hair appear smoother and look shinier.
Which is better for hair - oil or serum?
Depending on what your hair needs, oils penetrate your hair, giving it nourishment while serums are more cosmetic and are for taming and smoothing your hair. This can get confusing as some brands call them serums ‘oil’, like like Olaplex No7. These are dry oils and for soothing your hair.
Help! How do I get 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.
Four ways 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.
Use a comb
When styling, use a comb to lightly tease the hair at the roots for instant natural-looking volume. Be careful not to damage the hair, so comb gently.
Why getting a haircut is the best thing you could do for healthy hair
Been putting off getting a haircut? Here why you should give us a call today…
Getting a fresh haircut feels great, doesn’t it. And while you may think it is just about aesthetics, there are many benefits of getting a regular haircut - and it could boost your mental, physical, and even financial health….
Getting a haircut boosts your mood
Maintaining good grooming is essential for our mental wellbeing. And when you get a haircut it boosts your mood and confidence. Taking care of yourself can also reduce stress and anxiety levels. When we look good, we feel good.
Healthy hair = healthy head
A regular trim can help reduce scalp itchiness and irritation, as hair hygiene helps keep the scalp clean and healthy. Plus, a regular haircut promotes better scalp circulation, helping to stimulate healthier hair growth and shinier locks.
Regular haircuts could save you money
Getting regular haircuts not only keeps hair looking healthy, it could even save you money as you don’t need to keep spending on products to counteract damage or dryness.
Spring hair SOS: How to look after your hair
Now the weather is warming up our hair is more prone to damage from sun and humidity. If you want to promote healthy hair growth, there are a few things you can do to protect your hair:
Wear a hat or scarf to shield your hair from the sun
Use a leave-in conditioner or hair oil with SPF
Avoid too much chlorine and salt water
Massage your scalp to stimulate blood flow and oxygen to hair follicles
Use detoxifying treatments to remove buildup and rejuvenate your scalp
Wash your scalp weekly to prevent dandruff and itching
Choose a lightweight, pH-balanced shampoo to calm frizz
Avoid shampooing every day, which can dry out your hair
How to protect your hair from sun damage
Sunshine we love you!
Here's our top four tips to protect your hair from sun damage.
INVEST IN SOME LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER
Comb a restorative leave-in conditioner L'Oréal Paris Ever Strong Break Proof lotion in wet hair, then throw it up into a bun to create a barrier from UV rays and keep hair hydrated. Buy it here.
PROTECT WITH A HYDRATING HAIR MASK
The sun’s rays are harsher in the summer, so even if you aren’t outside every day, your hair can still get damaged when you are. Use a hair mask like Lóreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil Very Dry Hair Masque once a week to maintain moisture. Buy it here.
CUT BACK ON WASHING YOUR HAIR
The oil your hair naturally produces protects it from the sun, so you don’t want to over-wash during the warmer months. Instead of lathering up daily, use a dry shampoo like Batiste a couple times a week to give your hair a break. Buy it here.
SPRAY ON THE MOISTURE
Some styling products can give you those effortless beach hair waves. L'Oréal Paris Stylista The Beach Wave Mist Salt Spray creates texture while adding moisture back into the cuticle so your hair is less susceptible to the sun’s heat damage. Buy it here.
How do I protect my hair while I sleep?
As much as we love sleeping is, it can play havoc with your hair.
But there are a few things you can do to protect it. Here are our top tips and tricks for protecting your hair while you sleep…
Seven ways to protect your hair while sleeping:
Dry your hair before bed: wet hair is fragile so if it’s dry when you go to sleep it will be less likely to get damaged when you move around.
Avoid sleeping with your hair tied up: wearing your hair up puts it under pressure so keep it loose and carefree for perfect ‘just got out of bed’ hair in the morning.
Use scrunchies over hair bobbles: hair bobbles are more abrasive than scrunchies.
Apply some dry shampoo: this adds an extra layer of protectin when you’re moving around in your sleep.
Use a silk scarf: another level of protection from friction when you move positions in your sleep.
Apply an overnight conditioning treatment: hair needs hydration and when you sleep in a deep conditioner you not only add moisture but you also protect it from movement-related friction.
Splurge on a silk pillowcase: in the same way as a silk scarf, this type of pillowcase keeps hair soft and protected.
Why you need purple shampoo to make your colour last
If you’ve got dyed hair then preserving your colour at home has never been easier — especially for bottle blondes.
This is where you need some purple shampoo in your life. Delicate, clean blonde hair colour in particular can tend to fade faster, lose shine, and can look brassy or yellow very fast.
So what is a purple shampoo?
It contains purple pigment to neutralise brassy and yellow tones on lighter hair. It’s purple because on the colour wheel it’s the direct opposite colour of yellow, so essentially they cancel each other out. So purple shampoo on dyed hair with yellow tones can “colour correct” your hair’s hue, restoring it to a more natural tone.
Are purple shampoos just for blondes?
No - they can also be used to boost grey or brunette hair with golden highlights.
How and when should you use purple shampoo?
To use a purple shampoo, wet the hair and lather on the formula. Once applied evenly, leave it on for two to four minutes depending on the amount of brassiness or yellow in the hair. When rinsing the shampoo out of your hair, use cool water, which will help close the cuticle and seal the colour.
Start by using purple shampoo once a week and build up if needed. Purple shampoo helps keep colour fresh, but it’s important not to over-use it. If you start to notice too much purple tone in your hair, it’s time for a break!
Here’s our pick of some of the best purple shampoos out there.
Click on the images to BUY NOW and you can pick up the L’Oreal Serie Expert Blondifier shampoo at Pankhurst & Deane.
