How to fix unhealthy hair

Worried about your hair health? We reveal some of the most common signs your hair needs some TLC, and what to do about it…

Excessive hair shedding

It’s normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day but excessive hair shedding could be a sign of a deeper issue. Losing hair can be a temporary thing, affected by stress, weight loss or pregnancy. If your hair is shedding a lot however it’s best to talk to your doctor to see if there is an underlying health issue.

Lots of split ends

If you notice more split ends than normal, it’s time to take a look at what’s happening with your hair health. While a trim is the best way to get rid of split ends, deep conditioning can also help restore your hair and reduce breakage.

Overly tangly hair

When hair is damaged or weak, it’s more likely to get tangled. But if you’re constantly trying to detangle hair you could be causing even more damage, especially when it’s wet and at its most vulnerable. Using a leave-in conditioner before you set about detangling can help.

Hair snapping

Hair snapping easily is another sign it’s unhealthy and this means it’s probably time to look at the styling appliances you’re using, as hot tools like hairdryers, straighteners and curlers are harsh on hair. Invest in a heat protectant spray, lower the heat level on styling tools and use a boar bristle brush for minimal damage.

Healthy hair care secrets for dyed hair you need to know now

1. Wash your hair less

The more you wash, the quicker your colour will fade – it really is as simple as that. So buy back some time in your every day routine and skip the frequent washing. The best way to care for your colour is to wash only twice or three times a week – then soak up oil from those roots with dry shampoo when needed.

2. Skip straight to conditioner

So, you’re having trouble weaning yourself off daily washing – you’ve been doing it for years. At the very least, try skipping shampoo and jumping straight to conditioner. You’ll add softness, shine and caring nourishment – all without washing that crazy colour away.

3. Pick the right shampoo

There’s a reason why colour protective shampoo was invented. While some regular shampoos can wash away your colour and accelerate colour fade, formulas like L’Oréal Paris Elvive Colour Protect Shampoo actually work to protect your colour, helping to keep your pastel, vivid or metallic shade looking beautiful and vibrant. Whatever you do, choose a “low sulphate” shampoo as it will help to wash out less colour from your hair.

4. Condition

When we colour our hair, it becomes more fragile – this helps the colour make an exit and therefore, that’s when fading occurs. So allow the oils, butters, conditioning polymers and other hydrating elements that often go into a great conditioner to help form a protective barrier and help prevent your colour making a bid for freedom.

5. Heat protection

They work - In particular, the ingredients in heat protection sprays reduce heat damage, most likely by evening out how the hair heats up. However, they can’t insulate your hair from most of the damage, so you still need to minimise your hair’s exposure to heat styling!

6. Make time for masks

Did we mention condition? Just for good measure, it’s back in at number six. If you’ve been on a colour break and become slack about masking, now’s the time to get back on the wagon. Just 5-10 minutes of masking twice a week can add a super dose of healing nourishment that helps to repair damage, increase shine – and naturally, keep that colour going stronger for longer.

7. Air dry 

There’s a blow-dry backlash brewing amongst the style set – and we think we know why. Addicted to colour – that’s crazier by the second – they know that all that heat from blow-dryers, straightening irons and curling tongs may not only be damaging to the hair, but also be pressing play on yet more moisture loss and compromising that radiant colour. So do as they do and simply apply L’Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Hair Oil to damp hair to nourish and add shine – all whilst helping to save your colour from the perils of the hairdryer.

8. Use filters

One of the number one enemies to long-lasting, super bold colour is UV light from the sun. Even in winter when the days seem dark, light loves to play havoc with your hair. So add a UV filter finishing spray to your morning routine and show the sun who’s boss.

9. Swim smart

Remember the stories about chlorine turning coloured hair a slimy shade of green? Chlorine can not only change your colour (obviously not colouring it green), but it can also fast forward fading. So if you’re heading to the pool, prep your hair and pre-condition. Apply a layer of conditioner to your hair and spin it up into a bun to form a protective barrier against chemical damage. After all, if you’d wanted to go green, you’d have picked Colorista Spray in Mint.

10. Eat right

Condition – like beauty – starts from within, so feed your hair from the inside out. A diet rich in oily fish such as salmon and mackerel will nourish your hair with omega-3 fatty acids, making it shiny and strong. Add some walnuts in and get a hit of vitamin E to help combat dry, brittle hair post-colour.

Pankhurst and Deane uses L’Oreal products in the salon.

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Three home hair styling hacks from our hairstylists

Want some quick ideas for how to style your hair from home? Here are three easy tricks our hair stylists recommend…

Level up your ponytail

This ponytail trick is the fastest way to make your updo look professional. After you’ve secured your ponytail, grab a small bit of hair from the pony and wrap it around the base of your ponytail to cover the hairband.

Coat the very end of the section with hairspray, and smooth it against the base to seamlessly secure it.

Make your own sea salt spray

If you love the tousled beach look, and are already a fan of sea salt spray, did you know you can make it at home?

Simply mix together 500ml of sparkling water and a teaspoon of sea salt in a spray bottle. While your hair is damp, spritz the mixture onto the ends of your hair, and use your fingers to scrunch them up.

Use your straighteners as a curler

Learning how to curl your hair with your straighteners is great especially when you’re going away and don’t want to take loads of different styling tools with you.

First, grab a small section of hair. Then, hold your straighteners vertically with the open end pointed upward. As you clamp the hair, begin rotating it away from your face. Don’t slow down or stop - the key to getting consistent curls is to keep the movement fluid.

As you keep rotating the straighteners away from your face, allow your hair to slowly slide through the clamp until you reach the end. For looser waves, lower the heat on your straighteners and brush them out after you’ve finished curling.

How to grow hair faster

Want to know how to grow hair faster? We reveal the top super foods to eat today for healthy hair growth…

How quickly your hair grows is dependent on a lot of things, and keeping it hydrated with good quality products can certainly help.

Similar to your skin, hair requires a lot of love to promote growth and shine - and your diet can actually have some serious impact. While genetics plays a big role in hair loss, a poor diet can also contribute.

Here are three super foods you can eat today to help your hair grow faster:

Eggs

As hair is made of protein, it only makes sense that upping your intake of this essential macronutrient can improve its health. Start with eggs, which are filled with B vitamins, encouraging hair growth and reducing hair fall and damage.

Berries

Fun of vitamin C, berries are packed with antioxidants that protect the hair follicle against damage. Vitamin-rich berries also boost hair growth.

Avocado

Studies have shown that the minerals contained in avocados help seal the hair cuticle cells. The combined potassium and magnesium present in this tasty fruit also helps to give a smooth and shiny appearance to hair.

How to have a good hair day - every day

We all know the feeling… our hair won’t behave and, silly as it seems, we can’t help feeling that it’s ruined the rest of the day.

But help is at hand. Just follow our four tips and you’ll never have another bad hair day again. We promise!

Use protection

The easiest way to ensure that you have a good hair day is to use a heat protectant spray after you wash your hair, and before you use any styling tools like straighteners, curlers or hairdryers. Not only will this protect your hair from any heat damage, but it will also create the perfect base for you to create the perfect look.

Shiny happy hair

We all know that shiny hair equals healthy hair - just look at Meghan Markle! So if you want to make every day a Good Hair Day, simply invest in a good hair mask and make it a regular ritual to deeply condition your locks.

Add volume

Gentle backcombing (think a little tussle rather than full on 80s style) can help your hair look full of life. To do this, start at the roots and tease the hair over your brush and then give it a blast with your favourite hairspray.

Fake it

Even when you’re having an off day you can still bring it back with some handy handbag essentials like dry shampoo and hair serum.

How to have a good hair day - every day

How you wash your hair and the kind of products you use and styling you do plays a big part in how healthy it is.

If you want to know the secret of always having a good hair day, read on.

Wash oily hair more frequently

How often you wash your hair should be based on how much oil your scalp produces. So if your scalp is oily, you may need to wash it every day. If you have dyed hair, it may be drier, so you may want to wash it less frequently. As you get older, your scalp makes less oil, so you may not need to shampoo as often. But if you see flakes in your hair, this is a sign that you may not be shampooing enough - and it can lead to dandruff.

Concentrate shampoo on the scalp

When you wash your hair, concentrate on the scalp, rather than washing the whole head, as this can create flyaway hair that is dull and coarse.

Use conditioner after every shampoo

Using conditioner can improve the look of damaged or weathered hair by increasing shine, decreasing static electricity, improving strength and offering some protection from harmful UV rays. Put the conditioner on the tips of the hair. Because conditioners can make fine hair look limp, they only should be used on the ends of the hair - not on the scalp.

Choose a shampoo and conditioner formulated specifically for your hair type

For example, if you color your hair, use a shampoo for color-treated hair. If your hair is damaged or chemically treated, consider a “2-in-1” shampoo. Regardless of cost, many shampoo and conditioner brands provide the same benefits.

If you want to guarantee a good hair day every day make your next appointment with us! Just call 01865 553725 and we’ll book you in.

Four signs your hair is unhealthy - and what to do about it

Worried about your hair health?

We reveal some of the most common signs your hair needs some TLC, and what to do about it…

Excessive hair shedding

It’s normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day but excessive hair shedding could be a sign of a deeper issue. Losing hair can be a temporary thing, affected by stress, weight loss or pregnancy. If your hair is shedding a lot however it’s best to talk to your doctor to see if there is an underlying health issue.

Lots of split ends

If you notice more split ends than normal, it’s time to take a look at what’s happening with your hair health. While a trim is the best way to get rid of split ends, deep conditioning can also help restore your hair and reduce breakage.

Overly tangly hair

When hair is damaged or weak, it’s more likely to get tangled. But if you’re constantly trying to detangle hair you could be causing even more damage, especially when it’s wet and at its most vulnerable. Using a leave-in conditioner before you set about detangling can help.

Hair snapping

Hair snapping easily is another sign it’s unhealthy and this means it’s probably time to look at the styling appliances you’re using, as hot tools like hairdryers, straighteners and curlers are harsh on hair. Invest in a heat protectant spray, lower the heat level on styling tools and use a boar bristle brush for minimal damage.

Five reasons to cut your hair

We get it, you’ve had the same style forever and it feels like “you” but that could also mean you are stuck in a hair rut.

If you’re thinking about a change but too scared to cut your hair, here are five reasons why you should go for it.

It grows back

Yes, it’s obvious, but it’s also true. You may have been growing your hair for years, but if you hate your new look, you can just grow it back. That’s the beauty of hair.

It makes you feel good

There’s something really empowering and energising about having a dramatic new look. Not only will you feel good, you’ll probably inspire loads of your friends to go for the chop.

It’s exciting

Let’s face it, a global pandemic and multiple lockdowns have meant that life has been pretty boring of late. Spice up your life with a new haircut to feel like a new you.

Magic happens when you get out of your comfort zone

Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is really good for your mental health. It makes you feel proud, empowered and more willing to try new things. Try it and see what else you want to do next!

Your hair will look healthier

A fresh haircut means you’ve lost any split ends and damaged hair meaning you look as good as you feel.

Four easy tips for healthy, gorgeous hair

Summer hair tip 1: Start with a trim

Not only will it get rid of split ends and instantly make hair look healthier, it’ll make you feel - and look - great. Call us on 01865 553725 or email Emma at Emma.pankhurst7@icloud.com to make an appointment.

Tip 2: Shield your hair from the sun with a hat

Yes, it sounds simple, but protecting your strands with a hat is an easy way to keep hair healthy.

Tip 3: Invest in a moisturising shampoo and conditioner

We love L’Oreal Paris Power Moisture Hydrating Shampoo and L'Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Color Care System Moisture Conditioner. Talk to us in the salon about our L’Oreal range of moisturising shampoos and conditioners.

Tip 4: Ditch the hot tools

Hair styling tools can be damaging at the best of times, but when the heat is on, give your hair a break by letting hair dry naturally.