YOUR COOL GIRL HAIR CHEAT SHEET
Don’t overdo it
‘It’s all about not trying too hard. You want to make sure the hair doesn’t take over. The key is not to do too much. A little Happy Endings Nourishing Balm, £22, through the ends to de-fluff and a few spritzes of Cool Girl Texture Mist, £27, to add some messy volume. If it looks overdone, muss it up a bit.’
Be fearless
‘People get so terrified about changing their hair or having a new cut, but your hair grows! Try a few different cuts. When people say, “What if I don’t like it?” I just say, “Well, what if you do?” A fringe will have grown out in a few months and, if you really hate it, in the interim you can style it out with curtain bangs.’
Wash hair regularly
‘You wouldn’t go for a week without washing your face, so why would you do that to your hair? There’s a movement at the moment with people washing their hair less, saying you shouldn’t wash your hair every day. Why? Shampoo and conditioner don’t damage hair. The scalp needs cleansing, hair gets a bit smelly. We’re not in the Stone Age! Hygienically and for the scalp benefits, regular cleansing is crucial.
Revive lifeless locks
‘When hair is dry, tip your head upside down, spritz with a texturising spray and flip it back for instant volume. If you want hair to look shiny or glossy, add a little balm or oil.’ Try Sam Mcknight Love Me Do Nourishing Oil, £32.
Use dry shampoo correctly
‘Don’t rub it in. It’s a powder that soaks up the oil, so you’re just rubbing that oily powder into your scalp and hair. Spray it on and blow it off with the cold air from a dryer. Not warm air, that will melt it again.’
Define your face with a topknot
‘On bad hair days, scrape hair up into a tight bun, leaving the ends out, and stick a great pin through it. The trick is to pull hair up rather than back and down – it lifts the face.’
Add volume with the right cut
How to get volume is the question I get asked the most. The answer is in the cut. The longer the hair, the less volume you will have. Equally, if your hair is one length it will be tricky to achieve fullness. You need layers. Get a few layers cut and you’ll immediately notice more oomph.’ Products that add volume can help too, try: Sam Mcknight Volumizing Root Lift Spray, £26.
Get a salon-worthy blow-dry at home ‘Velcro rollers are the best thing ever for faking a blow-dry, they’re less harsh on hair than heat tools, too. You don’t even need to put them all over. When hair is dry, pop four rollers at the crown of your head – that’s where you want the volume – add a little hairspray and leave them in for as long as you can.’