Newsflash 2

Wednesday, 10 September 2008 08:38

Tips from the Top Head and Shoulders stylist Ben Skervin reveals his professional secrets on how to have strong, healthy hair and scalp. 1. Give your hair the best start in life “Hair roots are much like the roots of a flower - they need optimum growing conditions in order to be strong and healthy. If you have a great condition scalp, then your hair will have the best possible start as it leaves your head. Head and Shoulders’ Hairfall Defense Shampoo contains a scalp barrier formula packed with ingredients, including Vitamin E and minerals,  to ensure your roots absorb the optimum nutrition making the hair follicle more resilient to external factors.” 2. Think of hair care as skincare “If you have spots or dry skin on your face then you would change your skincare routine, so it’s important that you think of your scalp in the same way  - it is skin after all. Washing your hair daily with Hairfall Defense shampoo will not only protect against dandruff, but also repair damage done by daily wear and tear whilst balancing your scalp, which in turn produces stronger, healthier hair.” 3. Confidence boosting hair care “It cannot be underestimated how much dandruff free, healthy looking hair contributes to a good day, which in turn can often result in more positive feedback from others. However, if you’re conscious of flakes or your hair feels dirty, lank and greasy you will be much less inclined to want to be physically close to friends or family – protecting the scalp and hair from damage with Head & Shoulders Hairfall Defense Shampoo will help to give you more good hair days than bad.   4. Treat your hair like your best accessory “Having badly damaged hair is much like wearing a pair of badly scuffed shoes,” says Ben, “It gives off the vibe that you don’t look after yourself. It’s easy to make it one of your best features by being kind to your hair to keep it in good condition.  If you use elastic bands, make sure they are the snag-free sort so that they don’t pull or break the hair or damage the follicle at the scalp. NEVER use rubber bands as they will tear the hair. If your hair is prone to knots use a wide tooth comb when hair is wet to minimise the damage – start at the ends and work upwards gently to avoid tearing hair at the roots”. Also use your hair as an accessory”, advises Ben “try out different styles that suit your face shape – a deep side parting gives a retro feel and suits square faces or an on-trend eye skimming fringe suits those with a high hairline”. 5. Take the heat off “For women, the pressures of modern day life means they are increasingly turning to quick hair fixes such as heated rollers and super hot hairdryers on a daily basis, and as a result they are doing more and more damage to their hair” says Ben. It’s worth spending a bit extra on a pair of good quality ceramic irons. More efficient than cheaper options, they cut down the amount of time you have to run them over the hair, causing less damage. Remember only ever use on dry hair lightly sprayed with a heat protector to minimise heat damage, and try not to use heated tools every day, instead let hair dry naturally as often as possible, limiting use to just once or twice a week.” 6. Boost your volume: Sexy hair is often all about volume”, says Ben. “Va-va-voom styles can difficult to recreate if you suffer from thinning hair or weak hair as pumped up hair can fall flat and be left feeling lank and greasy from volume boosting products. The simplest way is to look after your scalp, to really give your hair the best start it needs to grow strong and healthy. 7. Buy a good quality hairbrush “Good quality hairbrushes might be expensive but are worth every penny,” says Ben. “Natural bristle brushes are kinder to weakened hair and scalp and help cut down on drying time which ultimately means less blow drying damage. Generally the rule for choosing the right brush is the longer the hair the bigger the brush ‘pad’ required”.   8. Do a 75% rough dry and a 25% blow dry “When drying hair it is extremely important to rough dry hair until it is 75% dry by keeping hairdryer at a distance on a low heat, then use a brush and the hairdryer to concentrate on smoothing out the remaining 25% section by section. This limits intense heat damage.” 9. Break the habit  “Don’t get into the habit of fiddling with your hair, absent minded twisting round fingers or scratching the scalp can cause damage to the follicle and result in hair breakage – try to be consciously aware of when your hands are near your hair at all times”. 10. Be careful with colour “Weakened hair and damaged scalp tends to lead to dry hair, and colouring can make the condition even worse. Opt for highlights over a whole head of colour to limit the damage. If hair is dark be careful not to go too light as this can make hair weak and brittle.” < Prev