HAIR PROBLEMS SOLVED

Colour damage?

Highlights are a brilliant way to lighten up your hair without colouring it all over, but, as you’ll know if you’re a regular to highlights, when you get your roots done, those foils can be layered again and again over old colour, which can leave your hair dry and prone to breakage. And if you go for an all-over colour, Sam Burnett, owner of Hare & Bone salons, says that some dyes, especially if high in ammonia and used incorrectly, can damage the hair. ‘Lightener or bleach, if applied in the wrong way, can break the bonds in the hair shaft,’ he warns.

Sometimes if your hair is very damaged, the only solution is to cut it off. But the latest hair healers can fix the bonds in your hair by working from the inside out to repair damage, strengthen each strand of your hair and reduce breakage. Olaplex is the gold standard in the salon but now you can get similar products to use at home. In clinical trials, Living Proof Triple Bond Complex, £42, livingproof.co.uk, was found to make the hair eight times stronger. Just apply it to damp hair like a mask, comb through and dry as normal for visibly healthier hair. Or try Aveda Botanical Repair™ Bond Building Styling Creme, £28.50, which works inside and outside the hair to repair damaged bonds and seal hair from future harm.

Grey gone wiry?

‘Grey hair can have a different texture to non-grey hair,’ says Sam. ‘This is because the hair loses colour pigments as we age, but also your scalp stops producing as much natural oil, so your strands can start to feel drier and coarse.’

Always use hydrating and smoothing products – Charles Worthington Colourplex Glowing Grey Shampoo and Smoothing Grey Conditioner, £8.99 each, not only neutralise brassy pigments in grey hair, they also work to smooth and hydrate wiry grey strands. Sam recommends keratin treatments in the salon for a long-lasting, smoothing effect or try new Ondine Hair Botox, which works in a similar way to keratin treatments without the formaldehyde and the lengthy application. It is essentially a deep-conditioning treatment ideal for turning frizzy, wiry hair back to smooth and glossy. Prices from £175 for a full-head treatment, find your nearest salon at hairbotox.org

Suffering from hair loss?

Just like your skin changes as you get older, your hair does as well. ‘Women from ages 55-60 onwards will almost always notice their hair is less full and thick than it was in their 20s or 30s. It is a natural part of the ageing process,’ reassures consultant trichologist Anabel Kingsley. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take action to make the best of your hair and get it looking as good as it can. ‘As the scalp is simply an extension of the skin on your forehead, it should be cared for with the same attention devoted to facial skin,’ advises Anabel. ‘A healthy scalp is vital to hair growth.’ Forget that old wives’ tale that the less you wash your hair, the healthier it will be. A healthy scalp is a clean scalp. So don’t be afraid to shampoo frequently, at least every other day, if possible, to help boost the overall cleanliness and health of your hair and scalp. ‘This prevents yeasts and bacteria from building up on the scalp, and stops redness, flaking or irritation,’ adds Anabel. Try Philip Kingsley Density Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner, £25.50 each, which promote fuller-looking hair and roots, due to their volumising effects on fine, fragile hair. >>