How to look after long hair

Trying to grow your hair or simply maintain your already long locks? Read on... 

Maintain a regular haircare routine

The longer your hair, the more it gets damaged by the heat, styling and sun damage. Invest in a weekly hair mask. Treat yourself out to get a hair spa treatment with us once a month, too. 

Don’t blowdry wet hair

Towel dry hair thoroughly and let it semi air dry before you apply heat. Also, invest in a microfibre towel, which is gentler on the hair. Then add moisture with hair serum and heat protectant. 

Buy paraben-free products

Alcohol-laden hair sprays and products with parabens damage the hair. Remember, the longer your hair the more nourishment your ends need!

Have regular trims

Regular trims are vital when you have long hair to keep it healthy and strong.

Avoid plastic hair brushes

Instead opt for a ceramic or wooden bristle brush. It’s less harsh on your scalp and also makes sure the natural oils get evenly distributed through the hair. 

Your hair questions answered - by the experts

Always wanted to know what happens if you pluck a grey hair out? What about if washing hair in beer is a good idea? We answer some of the most common hair care questions….

Q: Can apple cider vinegar make hair shinier?

In a word, yes! Try working about 5ml of apple cider vinegar into your hair and leave for roughly five minutes before rinsing with cold water. This leaves your hair shiny and less frizzy because the apple vinegar lowers the PH scale on your scalp, redressing the balance. It also closes and smoothes the hair cuticles to retain nutrients and moisture. Note: if you have dry hair, don’t do this too often, but if you have oily hair, do it frequently to help with build up.

Q: If you pluck a grey hair, will 10 grow back in its place?

You’ll be pleased to know that this is a complete myth and your grey hair will not grow back. If a single strand annoys you, just cut it as near to the root as possible as plucking it will only cause stress to the follicle, and if it gets infected you could cause hair loss in that area which is the last thing you want!

Q: Does washing your hair in beer help make it healthy?

There is no clinical evidence that this is true, but some say that Guinness, because of all the B vitamins and antioxidants it contains, can add shine to hair.

Q: Will brushing 100 times a day keep hair healthy?

No, brushing your hair that many times a day will actually do some damage through all the friction, especially if you have fine, brittle hair or if you do it when it’s wet. However, a few gentle brush strokes daily with a natural bristle brush on dry hair can stimulate scalp circulation, and help to distribute natural oils from roots to tips.

How to get shiny hair - three natural hair masks you can make at home with these everyday foods

Do you want to know how to get glossy hair?

A shine-enhancing hair mask, either in our salon before a cut (ask your stylist about treatments), or a DIY one at home is a great haircare habit to get into for that ultimate shine.

Read on to find out about three hair masks you can make with everyday fridge ingredients.

Avocado hair mask

Avocados contain natural oils that are hydrating for dry hair, so using the fruit in a mask is a great way to add shine. It’s also full of vitamins that are nourishing to the scalp and can help hair look healthier.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Mash an avocado until smooth. You can also use a blender to process it.

2. Wet your hair then spread the avocado from your roots to your tips.

3. Leave it in your hair for at least 15 minutes.

4. Shampoo your hair as normal then rinse with cold water.

Egg mask

It may sound strange, but an egg can do wonders for your hair. This is because the yolk nourishes your hair by adding moisture. The white part of the egg also helps remove any build-up, and because eggs are full of protein, they are really strengthening - resulting in lovely, shiny hair.

Here's how to do it:

1. Beat one egg in a small bowl.

2. Wet your hair.

3. Pour the egg over your head. Use a wide-tooth comb to comb it to the tips of your hair.

4. Leave it in the hair for at least 15 minutes.

5. Shampoo as normal, then rinse with cold water for maximum shine.

Apple cider vinegar mask

Apple cider vinegar is an amazing natural conditioner and gloss booster, which works by balancing the hair’s pH level, removing product build-up and leaving hair super soft.

And don’t worry because once your hair dries, it won’t smell like vinegar.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Shampoo your hair as usual, but don’t use any conditioner.

2. Pour a mixture of 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) apple cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon water over your head. Comb it through to your tips. Very long hair may require two to three tablespoons.

3. Leave it in for five minutes, then rinse your hair with cold water.

How to get shiny hair in five easy steps

Hands up if you want to learn how to get shiny hair. Everyday exposure to hair styling products, especially heat tools like hairdryers, curlers and straighteners, can really play havoc with our hair.

Throw in pollution, heating and sun damage and it’s no wonder it can be hard to keep hair healthy and shiny.

But don’t worry as there are plenty of ways to get shiny hair and we’re hear to tell you all about five of them.

Avoid sulfates

Hair can easily get bogged down with styling products that can make it less shiny than normal. Sulfates in shampoos and conditioners can strip your hair of its natural oils, leaving it looking dull, especially if you have dyed or chemically treated hair so opt for products without these.

Try an apple cider vinegar rinse

Steer clear of clarifying shampoos that can strip hair of everything, both the bad and the good, and instead try an apple cider vinegar rinse. We like Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, which can help balance the scalp's natural pH level, and leave hair looking shinier and healthier over time.

Massage your scalp with vitamin E

We all know how good vitamins are for us, but applying them topically to hair can also help make it stronger, healthier and shinier. Here’s a great trick: buy a bottle of vitamin E capsules, snip off the ends of about six capsules and squeeze the oil into a bowl. Next give yourself a pre-shampoo massage with the oil, which will nourish and hydrate hair strands. Then use your regular shampoo to wash it out.

Use a bristle brush

Bristle brushes seal the cuticle, making sure you lock in maximum shine by creating a completely two-dimensional surface for the light to reflect off. These stiff brushes will also draw natural oils from your roots to the ends of your hair, giving you a natural gloss and shine.

Have regular trims

Regular haircuts are a great way to keep hair looking healthy and shiny. You can book an appointment online or give us a call on 01865 553725.