GOOD HAIR 101 — A SURVIVAL GUIDE UNTIL SALONS OPEN
Colour touch-ups and instant shine, Rosie Fitzmaurice has all the hair hacks you need
APRIL 12. The sacred date is circled in your diary, when our beloved hairdressers can finally reopen. But even if you were lucky enough to snap up an appointment, six weeks feels like a long time, especially if your hair is in dire need of a cut. Here is how to hack your way over the finish line.
The high-tech treatment
Longing for shiny, swishable locks? Look to rebuilding treatments that will strengthen strands from within. Olaplex, which uses a patented formula to reconnect broken hair bonds deep in the shaft, is widely used in salons, but it also has at-home treatments No.0 Intensive Bond Treatment (£26, spacenk.com) and No.3 Hair Perfector (£26, spacenk.com) which are game-changers for dry or damaged hair and can be used on all hair types.
British brand The Inkey List, known for its single ingredient skincare formulations, entered the haircare scene last year and its new PCA Bond Repair Hair Treatment (3) (£12.99, theinkeylist. com) is being hailed as a rival to Olaplex. “PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid,” Inkey co-founder Mark Curry explains. “This patented technology can penetrate deep into the cuticle and get to the hard-to-reach bonds to protect and strengthen the hair and can be used on all hair types, from fine to curly or texturised hair.”
Meanwhile, over in the States, L’Oreal sells a bottle of its Dream Lengths Wonder Water (1) (£9.99, boots.com) every minute. The conditioner replace
1
ment, which has just launched in the UK to much hype, is designed for all hair types and uses lamellar technology to coat strands in a lightweight formula that smooths and strengthens in a mere eight seconds.
Oil up
Add a hair oil or serum to your haircare arsenal for extra nourishment. Inspired by the ancient Indian ritual of hair oiling, Nikita Mehta, co-founder of Fable & Mane, launched the brand’s HoliRoots Hair Oil (2) (£29, fableandmane.com) last year. “Massaging oil into the scalp is supposed to promote hair growth through increased circulation and nourished roots,” she says. Apply to dry hair and leave on overnight before washing out.
For curly and afro hair types, Deborah Johnson, co-owner of Simply Gorgeous Afro Hair Salon recommends Bloom Hair Oil from The Afro Hair & Skin Co (£22, theafrohairandskincompany.co.uk). “Use it at night or when you want to re-do your at-home braids,” she says. “It’s lightweight and absorbs really well so doesn’t leave curls or textured hair looking flat.”
Add another layer of hydration by spritzing the hair all over with Afrocenchix Sheen Spray (£11.95, afrocenchix.com) a couple of times a day. “It really helps to revive hair that is naturally prone to dryness,” she says. Invest in a satin or silk pillowcase to avoid knotting or loss of moisture. Over in Walthamstow, Anita Rice and Stephen Buller, founders of Buller and Rice, swear by Oway’s Nurturing Drops (4) (£34, bullerandrice.com). “We call this our ‘hero’ product, it’s a lightweight protective serum made with marrubium and organic black quinoa that seals split ends. Hot tip: add a few drops to a deep conditioning 5 treatment like Oway’s Rebuilding Mask (£28.50, bullerandrice.com) for extra hydration.”
The colour spruce
A gloss or colour-depositing mask will add some well-needed vibrancy to tired colour. “If your ends are looking a bit dull and faded try using a semi-permanent gloss treatment through the mid lengths,” suggests Bryony Cairns, colourist at Larry King hair salon in Westbourne Grove. Her top pick is the Christophe Robin colour gel (£30, spacenk.com). For clients with balayage, Jack Howard, at Paul Edmonds in Battersea, recommends Schwarzkopf’s Chroma ID semi-permanent bonding colour masks. “It’s about neutralising brassy tones or enhancing once white blondes, they’re also great for brunettes who are feeling flat.” Meanwhile, Kamila Pruszek, co-owner at Blue Tit Portobello, suggests the Hblonde Hair Bath by Oway (£32, bluetitlondon.com) to freshen blonde hair. The brand’s Hmelt masks come in a variety of hues like Authentic Chestnut and Red Energy (£29, bluetitlondon.com). Just after some extra shine? The Hair Boss’s Clear Shine Gloss (£14.99, superdrug.com) adds shine for up to six washes. Simply use as a weekly conditioning mask.
Quick fix touch ups
To edge you over the finish line, Cairns recommends L’Oreal Magic Retouch (5) (£8.99, lookfantastic. co.uk) or Colour Wow Root Cover Up (£28.50, spacenk.com), a mineral powder which comes in a variety of shades to disguise emerging roots or greys. For blondes, the team at Buller and Rice recommends a good dry shampoo or texturiser to blend roots and add oomph. Try Davines’ Dry Texturizer (£22, bullerandrice.com). Styling-wise, the stronger the parting, the more noticeable the regrowth will be, Paul Edmonds’ Howard says. “So play around with your parting for that Zoom meeting to soften any colour lines.”