Let your HAIR DOWN
Make sure your tresses are party-ready with these expert tips
You can spend ages on your make-up and throw as many sequins as you want at an outfit, but if your hair feels flat, so do you. To get our locks in shape for the busy festive season, we asked our favourite hair stylists for their words of wisdom.
GET MASKING
Over-styling, along with harsh winter weather, can leave hair frazzled. Treat it weekly with a hydrating mask that contains moisturising coconut or argan oil. ‘Towel-dry your hair beforehand, as trapped water can dilute it and make it less effective,’ warns Ricky Walters, director of London’s Salon64.
TIME YOUR WASH
‘Nobody wants to be stressed before a big Christmas party, and freshly washed hair is tricky to style,’ says Ricky. ‘So wash and blow-dry your hair the day before, keeping it free from any oily products. The next day, just refresh with a texture spray.’
SUPPORT FROM THE ROOTS
Experts agree you should use products tailored to your hair type. As we get older, oestrogen levels can fluctuate, causing hair to start thinning. If you’re worried about a loss of volume, invest in products that target these concerns. Plantur39 Shampoo and Tonic are developed for women over 40 and contain a blend of caffeine, zinc and niacinamide. For a targeted hit of these hairboosting ingredients, massage the Phytocaffeine Shampoo into your scalp, leave for two minutes, then rinse. In between washes, Plantur39 Phyto-caffeine Tonic, a daily leave-in treatment, can help to energise the follicles.
BRAID FOR TOUSLED WAVES
‘For a loose, natural style, braid your hair the day before,’ suggests John Manolakis, manager at Blue Tit salons. ‘Then, take it out a few hours before the party and add a bit of sea-salt spray for texture and hold.’
PERFECT YOUR BLOW-DRY
‘For a salon-worthy ’do apply a volumising spray to the roots, then blow-dry your hair upside down until it’s about 70% dry,’ says Flavex Lima, treatment specialist at London’s Neville Hair & Beauty. ‘Use a round brush and, starting at the roots, pull it towards the ends of your hair, following with the hairdryer. Point the nozzle towards the ends for a frizz-free finish. Then, with the cool setting, blast the roots for a second before doing the next section.’
Plantur39 is tailored to the needs of women over 40, helping to counteract menopausal hair loss and thinning – to find out more, visit plantur39.com/en-gb