Sasha and Amber’s tips for best-practice hair

Sasha Lenski is Bettjemans’ creative director and Amber Evans is the salon manager. Together they are the spark that drives extraordinary hair performances in the fashion world, including New Zealand Fashion Week. We asked them for answers to some of the peskiest hair questions.

My hair is coloured, but also has other challenges. How do I choose the right shampoo? Every year new technologies are optimising the simple task of shampooing. Once shampoo just cleansed the hair and scalp, but now you can find multi-tasking products. For example, Pureology Perfect 4 Platinum Shampoo cleanses, has a UV protection to reduce fading, and a blue foam to keep blondes cool and bright. Another example is Pureology’s Hydrate Cleansing Condition, which is 70% conditioner and 30% shampoo. At last a reliable quality shampoo and conditioner in one – great for the gym bag.

I’m failing Blow-drying 101. What am I doing wrong? A good hair dryer, like the Parlux 385, is essential. It’s light, powerful and will last for years. The right brush is also critical for the optimum result. At Bettjemans we’re very fond of the Termix round brush – perfect for volume and a smooth shiny wave.

Is it OK to wash my hair every day? Wash your hair as often as you want. Most people wash their hair every day or every other day. Some people once every five or six days. It’s important to use the best shampoo and conditioner available to you. The ‘Rolls Royce’ of shampoo and conditioner is the Kerastase range. We recommend Chronologiste by Kerastase for weightless moisture and optimum scalp and hair regeneration.

At some point, should I go grey? Grey hair has an age stigma attached to it. There is no doubt that even people who suit grey hair, like Judy Dench and Helen Mirren, would look much younger with their hair cleverly coloured. Nature should not be ignored, however, so as we age, we must lighten the hair at least around the face. Hair tinted too dark is just as ageing as grey hair. Here are some hints to avoid ‘Nana’ hair. • Exaggerate your look – wear a short, sharp modern cut and push the

fashion boundary. • Grey hair can easily look dull and lifeless, so get your dryer out and use products to make the hair shine. Lóreal’s Silver Shampoo by Serie Expert neutralises any gold in the hair and makes it shine. • Accessorise with makeup and jewellery always. • Talk to your hairdresser about soft colour options that only require a minimum of maintenance. We have huge success with ‘foxing’, where we lighten just the ends so that grey looks a funky blonde. • Hair length is not an issue, as long as it’s well coloured and beautifully groomed. Pulling hair straight off the face can be ageing. Only a perfectly oval, well made-up face can get away with it.