How do I choose the right hair colour for me?

When it comes to choosing the right hair colour for you, our colourists know the three elements that combined will create your perfect look...

1) Your complexion

The colour of your skin tone is actually one of the most important aspects of choosing the perfect hair colour. The correct colour will compliment your skin and make it appear even more beautiful, while the wrong colour might make your skin look dull and dreary.

2) Your eyes

To really enhance and intensify your eye colour, we might recommend a contrasting colour. For instance - if your eyes are blue, a caramel or golden blonde tone will make them appear even bluer. If they are green, a fiery or soft red tone could be the perfect colour for you.

3) Personal style

Once the hair colour has been narrowed down to suit your complexion and eye colour, your personal style should be considered - and this is where you know best. Do you want to be noticed or blend in? Do you need to be more daring or does your outfit say enough? Make sure the shades you and your hair stylist choose is one that will make you feel confident and yourself.

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.

How to give sun damaged hair some TLC

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.

What is the perfect hair care routine?

Does your hair need some TLC? Try this simple haircare routine for healthy hair…

Step 1: Cleanse

Just like you cleanse your skin, your hair needs the same care. You don’t have to do this daily - how often you wash your hair depends on its dryness and if you have product build up. Washing your hair will leave it and your scalp feeling clean, removing any products, grease, dirt and dead skin cells which might have built up.

Step 2: Condition and nourish

Conditioning your hair helps to detangle, seal the cuticles and provide moisture. It replenishes the moisture that your shampoo may have removed, and it will help remove any knots or tangles that were caused by massaging your shampoo onto your hair and scalp.

Step 3: Protect

Never use heated styling tools like curlers or straightener on wet or damp hair. After applying a heat protectant, let your hair air dry for a couple of minutes before applying heat.

Step 4: Moisturise

After styling your hair or letting it air dry, add back in a little moisture. Also on days where you’re not washing your hair, your hair may benefit from a moisture boost. This is where hair oil comes in, our favorite multitasker! Hair oils are also great for controlling frizz and preventing dryness.

Step 5: Treatment

Try a weekly mask, oil or a scalp treatment. This can help tackle damage, dryness and an oily, flaky or dry scalp, and improve the overall appearance and health of your hair.

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.

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.

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.