“The main cause of damage to the hair that we commonly see
is over use or incorrect use of chemical processes such as bleaches, perms,
relaxers, and chemical straighteners or reverse perms,” says Philip Kingsley, a leading authority
on hair and scalp health. “Damage most commonly occurs when more than one
of these processes is carried out on the same hair.”
Using too much heat can also seriously harm the hair, especially
if it is chemically processed. So be
careful with straightening irons and curling tongs. Even a hairdryer that
is too hot can “burn” the hair.
“If handled
incorrectly, hot irons are a potential danger to hair, although if they are
used with care, the damage they cause is minimal,” says Philip. “For irons to
work effectively the hair should be fairly dry, in this way the natural
moisture content of the hair is used to create a new style. If care is not
taken, you can make your hair brittle.”
Heat can damage the hair’s cuticle (the outer protective layer)
by lifting it and roughening it up leading to tangling and potential breakage.
Hair can also become dull and you will have difficulty in handling it. “The hair’s configuration is compromised by
this. It is interesting to note that very dry hair (due to heat) frizzes and in
many circumstances, moisture penetration from the air and rain can also have
the same effect,” says Philip.
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| Courtesy of Philip Kingsley |
Keratin treatments
You many want to think twice before shelling out on these
procedures.
“Keratin treatments are to smooth hair – not necessarily to
defrizz or straighten, so they are not as damaging as permanent straighteners,”
says Philip. “They are still damaging to an extent, particularly when the
process is repeated, as it has to be.”
Philip advises the best way of caring for fluffy hair is to
use a moisturising shampoo and conditioner and to use Elasticizer (£27.50), a
pre-shampooing treatment once a week and a product such as his Philip Kingsley
Preen Cream (£22.50) to help protect and condition.
If you want to have your hair extra sleek for a special
occasion, head to the salon. A good blow-dry should last a couple of days,
unless you have greasy hair.
Choosing rollers and
curlers
Waves and curls are still on-trend and many of us use rollers
to create the look, so which ones are the best?
“Look for smooth or foam-covered rollers without spikes and,
preferably, without a Velcro-like covering. Why? Because Velco rollers can
tangle the hair and can also be impossible to remove without breaking off some
hair,” says Philip.
“Be careful not to
roll the hair too tightly, nor sleep in your rollers. Similarly with curlers,
remember not to roll too tightly nor over-dry with a hairdryer.”
Heated rollers may be convenient and quick to use, but
Philip cautions about over using them as you run the risk of dried and split
hair. “Choose steam-producing, thermostatically controlled rollers,” he adds!
By Daralyn Danns
