Haircare... I Care!

debbiehair.com offers advice on caring for your hair at home

As a professional mobile hairstylist I am often asked what a client can do about the poor condition of their hair. Quite often the clients condition of their hair is due to one or a combination of reasons such as the vast array of hair products used daily that build up on the surface of the hair, or the overuse of heat appliances such as straighteners. A poor diet deficient in vitamins and nutrients and the general health of the person can play a major part in the poor condition of the client’s hair and often the repetitive abuse of chemical treatments such as colours and perms are all contributing factors determining the condition of the hair. Many products are available to help combat these problems at home without the expensive of salon conditioning treatments. Please note however that a consultation with a professional hairdresser is a must if you are considering further chemical treatment.

Understanding your hair type is key and what you can do to improve your hair condition at home can be down to adopting the right washing routine. With greasy hair it is important to try to avoid daily washing. The more you wash your hair the greasier it will become; this is due to the sebaceous glands that are over stimulated. Quite often clients complain of over greasy roots and dry ends. This generally indicates that the rest of the hair has been stripped of its natural oils. A mild ph-balanced shampoo should be used, children’s shampoo is a good example, make sure that you don’t over massage the scalp, and only apply conditioner to the mid to end of the hair. Pay particular attention to your diet and avoid oily and fatty foods.

Dry hair in comparison needs to be nourished within. Gently shampoo the hair with an intensive moisturizing shampoo and follow with a treatment conditioner such as hot oil. Steer away from using mousse as it can make the hair dull and opt instead for a thickening lotion. Frizzy hair needs to be treated with the same intensive conditioning as dry hair. Frizz can only really be reduced with a good cut, try to avoid having cut too many layers. To style frizzy hair use a diffuser attachment on the hairdryer and finish with a hair serum to tame stray hairs. Styling products such as serums can contain silicon, which build up on the hair and need regular cleansing, so only use a little amount.

Once you have mastered your washing routine your hair will begin to improve in condition. Unfortunately if your hair has been damaged no amount of conditioning will repair the hair. Once your hair has split the damage is done and will require cutting. Once cut you should try to continue to protect it by using a leave-in conditioner. A serum applied to split ends will help disguise them and can help protect the hair when applying direct heat such as from curling tongs or heated rollers but if you have split ends the only real solution is a good cut.

Written by Debbie McBride

Debbie is a professional mobile hairdresser in the Newbury and Thatcham area. She is a full member of the Federation of Mobile Hairdressers representing only qualified and experienced freelance hairstylists. Visit www.debbiehair.com for further information.