CROWNING GLORY - When Less is More

We all know colouring hair can be damaging but the combination of coloured hair and summer really does take its toll so this year I let my hair take a break too ….  I realised during my summer break that my colour had got a little heavy and solid.  Over the summer months I let my roots come through, cancelling my colour appointment and embracing a multi-tonal effect – my own natural ombre.  

The result? My hair is feeling revitalised, there is less breakage and I have discovered that a little re-growth can look attractive – Less truly is more.  The summer sojourn has allowed my hair colour to transition into my autumn/winter colour, a slightly darker, warmer blonde with subtle lights to break up the re-growth without reinstating the solid colour. Colour treating your hair isn’t all bad news but by avoiding block colours and having more multi-tonal hair can help give the illusion of depth and movement without leaving hair too dry or damaged.  

When colouring hair, it is essential to restore natural moisture so weekly intensive treatment masques help improve elasticity, reduce breakage and restore shine.  Try my Intensive Treatment Masque once or twice a week – leaving on overnight if possible to protect and nourish, use a shower cap to protect bedlinen or alternatively apply masque and wrap in clingfilm and give hair a blast with a hairdrier for maximum penetration …. See here for tips on caring for Fine Hair and helping to prevent breakage by combing correctly

Have you found it difficult to transition from summer to autumn/winter?

CROWNING GLORY - Caring for Fine Hair

“Your Sacred Locks Shampoo for Fine Hair was a game changer for me … Really brilliant!”

Newby Hands

Global Beauty Director

PORTER & NET-A-PORTER

 A recent press article in the Saturday Times Magazine on Fine Hair Haircare reminded me why I started Sacred Locks back in 2004 … there was so little on the market that worked on my own Fine Hair.  I had endless problems with my hair feeling ‘sticky’, weighed down or lacking volume and shine.  An endless round of seminars for my father requiring daily blow dries and styling left my hair looking and feeling rather lacklustre. 

Conversations with stylists as to what is was in the ingredients of these shampoos and conditioners I was using revealed that there was a build- up on my hair, leaving it brittle and prone to breakage. I realised then that the formulations and active ingredients of shampoos and conditioners are key to creating products that are suitable for Fine Hair.  

Excluding silicone first and foremost, a plastic that builds up on the hair shaft, leaving it dull and brittle, was an important step.  Removing Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) was also important, not only harsh on hair and scalp but also impacting on the environment and damaging our marine life.  The addition of vegetable proteins from wheat and soy help to add natural volume to hair. 

Whilst some of the bigger high street brands have embraced some of the more natural philosophies rarely do they encompass all of them and retain efficacy … my formulations are clean, green but most importantly they actually work.  The formulations have changed very little from those first days because I still believe they are the best for fine hair.

Caring for fine hair starts with the product you choose, look for gentle products that won’t strip the hair of its natural moisture – my SACRED LOCKS for FINE HAIR COLLECTION is free from silicone, parabens, petrochemicals and Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) – eliminating many of those ingredients is essential in your product choice as they are all moisture depleting.  Stripping hair of moisture whether through hair-colouring, poor product choice or environmental damage – the result is the loss of hairs elasticity.  When hair is wet its elasticity is further compromised and combing or brushing hair puts a lot more tension on hair strands which can result in breakage. 

Combing hair correctly is a great step towards protecting and caring for your hair, whether fine or otherwise.  After applying conditioner or treatment, let product really penetrate the hair shaft before adding water to loosen the product in your hair and allow for easier combing. Using a wide-toothed comb or a soft bristle brush, ALWAYS tease out tangles from the ends upwards and NEVER drag the comb through from the root first.  As you ease out tangles, work your way gently up the hair until you are tangle free and the comb runs smoothly. I now use the wonderful Shu Uemura Art of Hair Paddle Brush as this glides through my hair in seconds without over-stretching the elasticity.

Rather than rough drying hair with a towel, press gently with a towel to remove excess moisture before drying with a hairdryer.  I love the Dyson Supersonic Hairdrier, fast gentle drying that protects hair from heat damage. 

Gentle products and gentle handling of hair are paramount to protect Fine hair … what are the problems you have with your fine hair … let me know!