Beauty Blog

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

I think we can all agree that these days, very few of us have a simple skincare routine. More often then not, we’ve added product after product into our routine, and rightly so, as they all have their own benefits. Where it can get tricky is understanding the best order in which to layer your skincare for the best results. Let me be your guide.

No two skincare gurus are the same and very often we’ll never totally agree on the same order of skincare layers. That said, there is a golden rule that helps cut through all the confusion; lightest to heaviest. The lighter the product, the smaller the particle size. That means they can penetrate deeper into the layers of your skin. We’re talking serums and toners here.  Then you can work your way up to facial oils and moisturisers.

Another top tip that has served me well has to be…less is more. Trust me when I say you do not need more than 3 steps between your cleanser to your moisturiser. Your skin will thank you for it. Don’t confuse your skin. Keep it simple and concise and you’ll reap the rewards.

So if that’s the case, I’m sure you’re thinking…’how hard can it be to pick an order?!’. Well, there’s a teeny thing you need to be aware of…ingredients. There are a few big ones that you shouldn’t mix unless you’re up for a bad reaction.

Acne Prone skins: If you’re fond of spot treatments you need to bear this in mind; benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, lactic acid, and glycolic acid shouldn’t be mixed with any retinol products as the Retinol will break down your skin barrier and lead to irritation.

Serum: The ingredient to watch out for here is vitamin C. While it can be a little miracle worker treating the likes of acne to helping with sun protection, it can also be quite drying and irritating when used with too many other active ingredients. The best way round this is to use your vitamin C products in the daytime and saving any irritants like your retinols or acids until after your evening cleanse.

Facial Oils: This one’s a bit obvious. Remember kids, oil and water don’t mix, so make sure you layer your water-based serums on before adding a few drops of oil to lock it in…but only after leaving it enough time for the product to be absorbed first. Let each product soak in completely before adding another product on top. My favourite Decléor Aromessence Neroli Hydrating Oil Serum 15ml

SPF: Don’t skip this step. It’s important for your skins health. SPF should always be the last step of your skincare routine. Adding a layer of moisturiser on top of it can mess with the protection factor of your chosen SPF, and you don’t want that.

So remember my golden rule, lightest to heaviest and you can’t go wrong. At the end of the day, it’s your skin, your rules. Just bear in mind, less is more and take the time to let your products absorb before adding more layers.

xoxo

Curly hair…everyone wants it, unless they already have it. If you have curls naturally you know…curly hair comes with issues. Sure, it can hold style like nobody's business, but it's fragile in its own way. There's the obvious problems, such as curls tend to be on the dryer side and are prone to breakage. But some problems you wouldn’t know unless you were born with curls, like the fact that brushes are the enemy. Brushes will only ruin your bounce. 

So let me fill you in on the secrets behind styling your curls and help put those issues to bed. The basics of styling curly hair with minimal heat damage, involves three main styles: wet, natural and dry and roughly pulled back. Allow me to guide you through each style

Style 1: Wet

Not really a style, mainly just a starting point. This is when product plays a key role to give you the foundation you need. For finer curls opt for a product that will give you some grip and hold, such as a mousse. I always recommend Kérastase Resistance Volumifique Mousse 150ml. If you find your curls are a little more coarse, you’ll need to layer a mousse over a moisturising cream when your hair is still holding water. Try Moroccanoil Intense Curl Cream 300ml. It will control your curl and stop any frizz in one step.

Style 2: Diffused

To dry your curls naturally, without too much styling, you need a low-heat, low-fan setting along with a diffuser attachment for your hairdryer. As you dry your curls with the diffuser twist your hair between your forefinger and thumb. By using this action on your hair cuticle you ensure your hair is fully dry. If your curls aren’t completely dry, they will change shape and change style throughout the day.

Style 3: Roughly Pulled Back

The other great thing about curly hair is that buns are easy and all you really need a hairband. Something about roughly pulled back curls makes it look like you’ve made an effort. Winner. Just make sure that when you pull your hair back, to keep it from feeling too ‘ready for the gym’, pull some strands out in the front for some curls to frame your face. In many cases, the best way to show off the amazing texture of curly hair is a simple ponytail with lots of volume in the back. Don’t be too precious about it though. Curly hair rarely stays where you put it for long. Sometimes it's best to just let it do it’s own thing. Afterall…you have the hair everyone wants.

xoxo