Shampoos

Banish brassiness with Redken's Color Extend Blondage Shampoo; a colour-correcting formula infused with ultra-violet pigments to help eliminate yellow undertones in blonde hair.

Powered by an innovative Triple Acid Protein Complex, the purple shampoo expertly cleanses hair whilst nourishing and strengthening to help protect from breakage. Protects colour vibrancy and promotes bright, luminous locks with salon-worthy shine.

Suitable for colour-treated hair.

How to use:
Wearing suitable gloves, apply to wet hair, lather and rinse well.
Repeat if necessary.
For maximum benefits, leave second lather on 3-5 minutes.
Rinse.

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Hair breakage is my nemesis. Years of monthly hair bleaching and constant styling using heated tools left my hair in a sorry state. Don’t get me wrong, I tried my best to take care of it, but the bleach eventually won the day. I had to surrender, reassess my hair colour choice and make sure I stuck to the best products to help bring my hair back to it’s former glory.

Breakage happens when your hair is just too brittle; from hair colouring, from the elements, styling etc., that it snaps right off. If this sound like you, I beg you to consider the following precautionary steps to avoid the avoidable. Your hair is the only hair you’ve got and I don’t imagine many of us would consider shaving it off and starting again. Just saying!

Tip 1: Go Sulphate-Free

If you find that your hair is dry, try avoiding sulphates in your shampoo, as they will dry it out even more. Sulphates can be harsh on the body as they emulsify and pry dirt and grime from your skin and hair. Look for the word SLS (sodium lauryl sulphate) in the ingredient list. If you find it, put it down and step away. Your hair will thank you for it.

Kérastase Aura Botanica Bain Shampoo 250ml is the ultimate sulphate free shampoo. Unlike most sulphate-free shampoos the sulphates have been replaced with natural origin agents to make sure your hair is truly nourished. Great for brittle hair types, obviously.

Tip 2: Protein is your friend

This one is good news for those of you who’ve jumped on the smashed avocado on toast train. Protein-rich foods help sustain hair growth and body. As with skin, hair health starts from within, so if you pay more attention to what you are feeding your body, you’ll see the results in your hair.

Tip 3: Step away from the heat

One of the biggest changes I’ve made has been to move away from my hair dryer a few days a week. All you need is a change in routine. I was stuck in a morning hair routine, which meant I was low on time so had to use my hairdryer. Thanks to a new set of products by Redken, I’ve been able to switch up my routine, and let my hair air dry. I just wash my hair in the evenings, towel dry a little and add in a bit of Redken No Blow Dry: Just Right Cream 150ml. I comb it through, part my hair as usual and just leave my hair to it. It’s been a revelation. My hair’s always dry by the morning, so I just brush through and add some curls in using a wand. I will always use Kérastase Resistance Ciment Thermique 150ml, a strengthening and anti-breakage milk for damaged hair straight after the Redken cream, to layer in the heat protection ready to use the wand in the morning.

I can’t recommend this step enough. Even doing it once a week will make a difference.

Tip 4: Reconsider your hair brush choice

Hair brushes have a lot to answer for when it comes to breakage. You need to make sure that you’re using a brush that is kind to the hair and that actually removes tangles and knots rather than just snapping them off. Say hello to a Tangle Teezer to keep your hair in the best condition. They are great for detangling wet and dry hair without any tugs or pulls, keeping breakage to a minimum.

Now there are obvious ways to stop hair breakage; such as not colouring your hair, never using straighteners or curling wands, but we all know that’s not feasible for 99% of us. Making a few simple changes, like I’ve mentioned above, will help save your hair and keep it in the best condition possible, without sacrificing style.

What are your anti-breakage tips?

xoxo

You know and I know that no two hair types are the same. Each comes with its own set of issues and quirks but if you follow a few rules, you’ll find your day to day hair life will be a breeze.

Let’s explore the golden rules of fine hair to start you off:

1: Shampoo

If you have fine hair then you will know this by now; fine hair gets greasy easily. Fine hair tends to be smoother and less porous than coarser hair types, so the oils sit visibly on top of the hair, appearing greasier. The secret to good looking fine hair isn’t how often you shampoo though…it’s where you shampoo that makes the difference. I would always suggest that with fine hair, you shampoo the top area where you feel it’s greasy and avoid the bottom half where it isn’t. Then do the opposite with your conditioner, to avoid a flat look.

In terms of the amount of product you should use, this will depend on your desired look. If you’re after volume, use less conditioner, more shampoo. If you want a softer look…do the opposite. The rule is…the more conditioner you use, the softer your hair and the flatter. Simple.

My top picks for shampoo and conditioner for fine hair have to be Redken Beach Envy Volume Texturizing Shampoo 300ml and Redken High Rise Volume Conditioner 250ml

2: Cutting

Fine hair tends to be a bit more sensitive to the way that it’s cut. With fine hair all the finer details show up when you get a cut. The key here is subtle layers. A good stylist will be aware of this and will suggest appropriate styles for your hair type. The key is good communication here. Let them know what’s worked for you and what hasn’t. Give them examples of the look you want to achieve, how long you’re willing to spend styling it and how you like to wear your hair day to day. The more information your stylist has, the more likely you are to walk away with a cut you love. Communication is key.

3: Styling

The secret here is with the type of products you go for. Finer hair types should opt for ‘hold’ product over ‘oil’ based products (oils, creams or serums). Oil based products will weigh your hair down and make it appear greasy.

When I say hold products I’m talking salt sprays, dry shampoo, mousse, texturising mists. These won’t weigh your hair down. With fine hair – golden rule is use less of the greasy stuff and more of the sticky stuff. My favourites are L’oreal Professional Beach Waves Texturising Salt Spray 150ml and OSiS+ Refresh Dust Bodyfying Dry Shampoo 100ml