You and your hair for the festive season

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MOISTURISE

The moisture content of your hair’s cortex (fancy word for the core of your hair!) is what makes it manageable, shiny, bouncy, elastic and less prone to breakage – a real necessity for hair to look and feel fabulous! To restore hydration and get your tresses in stunning shape for New Years, use a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment once a week. You can even sleep with it in. We make one called ‘Wheat Treat‘ that was originally formulated for Audrey Hepburn, the ultimate style icon. Daily protective sprays can also be lock-savers when battling the cood winds and effects of indoor heating.

USE THE CORRECT SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER

Use the correct shampoo and conditioner for your hair texture to help it look its best. Contrary to popular belief, hair does not get used to the same shampoo – its needs might simply change. Always choose your shampoo based on your hair type (i.e. whether it is fine, medium, coarse or African Caribbean) – and then a conditioner based on your hair length, diameter and level of processing. Hair tends to be drier in winter, so a more moisturising conditioner might be needed.

COMB THROUGH CONDITIONER

Gently comb through your post-shampoo conditioner with a wide tooth comb, starting at your ends and working up, and rinse as usual. This helps to evenly distribute the product over your hair, coating and smoothing the hair cuticle, locking in moisture and adding shine.

REVITALISE HAIR WITH DRY SHAMPOO

Too busy to wash and dry your hair as often as you’d like? Invest in a good dry shampoo with scalp benefits. We have one called ‘Revivogen’ that adds body and shine, while soaking up excess sebum and soothing the scalp. A perfect pre-party tool to maximize volume and vanquish dull and greasy roots. If you have fine hair, you can even spray this onto your roots at the end of the day after shampooing in the morning to boost body. It even comes in a handbag friendly 50ml size for volume on the go!

 

TREAT YOUR SCALP TO SOME TLC

Are you prone to having a flaky itchy scalp? Well, they tend to flare up during the winter months due to increased emotional stress and cold weather. Use a weekly exfoliating scalp mask and a daily flaky/itchy scalp toner and shampoo to keep your scalp crystal clear. You should also try to minimize consumption of dairy, white wine and champagne as these are known to worsen dandruff in certain individuals. Stick to red/ mulled wine (in moderation!) and nibble on some protein packed almonds and whole wheat goodies. Your hair (and your skin) will thank you.

TRESS TAMER

Hair gets frizzier in the winter due to moving in and out of  heated areas, drizzly weather and taking on and off warm hats – the constant change in atmospheric moisture causes your hair to re-configure its shape throughout the day. Use a product containing light-weight silicones to guard your hair against moisture changes and to keep your style smooth and ready for evening events.

OPTIMIZE YOUR DIET

A balanced diet is vital to hair growth – and Winter is the perfect time to indulge in some hair essential amino acids found in proteins such as turkey, roast chicken, eggs and ham. Hearty beef stews and Sunday Roasts are also a superb way to up your iron intake – a mineral essential for healthy hair growth. Eat at least 120g (in weight) of protein with breakfast and lunch and red meat at least once a week.

STYLE RIGHT

Always use a heat protective spray or protective serum. When you do use straighteners, don’t go over the same area repeatedly or pull too hard. This can break and damage your hair even more rapidly. If your straighteners start to feel “sticky”, it’s time to change them. Don’t know what to do with your end-of-day messy mane? Try an Updo or chic braided hairstyle for the party season – no straighteners needed!

IS HAIR DEAD?

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It may horrify you to know that the hair you see above the scalp is dead… someone could cut it off in the middle of the night and you would not feel a thing! Scary thought indeed. However, the bulb of your hair (which lies inside the fat of the scalp) is very much alive and thriving. In fact, hair cells produced here are the 2nd fastest growing cells of your body and are supplied by an intricate network of tiny blood vessels. This is why diet is so important to hair growth. As hair that has already grown will not ‘heal’ or regenerate itself like living tissue (i.e. your skin) it’s very important you look after it. Weekly use of a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment and daily environmental protective sprays are key to ensuring your hair looks full of life. Continue reading →

Vegi’s and Vegans

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We respect a person’s choice not to eat meat or other animal products, but the fact remains that vegetarian and vegan diets affect hair growth. Not everybody’s, mind you – much depends on genetic predisposition. Some people have such good hair genes that no matter what they do, their hair doesn’t seem to suffer.

However, taken as a percentage, we see far more vegetarians and vegans in our clinics with hair-thinning problems than any other group. If you are a vegan or vegetarian, it’s likely you take vitamin and mineral supplements. In many cases this is important as deficiencies of calcium, iron, zinc and vitamins D, B12 and B6 are common. However, you need to be careful to take the right combinations and also not to take too much of any supplement.

Too much vitamin A, for example, can cause hair loss. Blood tests will tell you how much iron, zinc or B12 you need to take so that you take the correct amount.

PROTEINS

Vegans and vegetarians need to be particularly aware of the food that they eat in order to ingest adequate proteins for hair cell renewal and bodily nourishment. Hair is made of protein, and proteins provide energy needed to sustain tissue growth. Not just for your hair tissue, but for essential tissues such as your heart, liver and lungs, which your body will always prioritize. This means that if you don’t eat enough protein, your hair will be the first thing to suffer.

Proteins consist of amino acids – some of which are ‘essential’, while others are ‘non-essential’. Essential amino acids are most plentiful in animal proteins and more easily absorbed this way. They include argimine, histinide, isoleucine, leucine, L-lysine, methionine, phenylalamine, threonine, tyrptophen and valine. While proteins are also found in certain grains and vegetables, a huge quantity of them needs to be ingested in order to absorb enough amino acids to produce the required energy for hair growth. This is particularly true with teenagers.

 

The following are some examples of the best plant-based sources of protein to include in your diet.

Best plant-based sources of protein:

  • Quinoa
  • Seitan
  • Tofu and soy products, such as edamame and tofu burgers
  • Tempeh Beans
  • Lentils
  • Nuts
  • Peanut butter
  • Coconut

If you are a vegetarian, and can tolerate lactose, you should also eat cheese and milk for extra protein. However, fish and eggs are the best sources of protein if your vegetarian diet allows them.

IRON

Good iron and ferritin (stored iron) levels are essential to the growth and health of hair. Red meats are the best sources of iron, but neither vegetarian nor vegan diets allow them. The following are examples of the best plant-based sources of iron. However, it’s important to note that iron from plants isn’t easily absorbed, so you may still need to take an iron supplement.

 

Best plant-based sources of Iron:

  • Beets
  • Dark leafy greens such as spinach, okra, kale and broccoli
  • Watercress
  • Fruits such as dried apricots, prunes and figs
  • Prune juice
  • Dark treacle or molasses
  • Pulses
  • Almonds
  • Cereals fortified with iron

Sun, Sand,and Your Dubai Hair

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Seasonal changes in weather patterns, eating habits and metabolic factors often affect hair. Summer is perhaps the most enjoyable season.

Sitting in the sun is great for relaxation, stress relief and mental well-being, and is also an excellent source of vitamin D. However, summer can also be a damaging time for your hair and scalp. Just like your skin, they can burn if not protected.

SUMMER DAMAGE DEFENCE

You may think that because the sun’s rays are natural, the lightening effect that they have on your hair isn’t damaging. However, it’s actually just as detrimental as applying bleach, and as with bleach, the effects aren’t just confined to colour changes. The sun weakens your hair’s protein structure, de-moisturizes it and reduces elasticity so your hair breaks more easily.

 

When combined with wind, heat, salt water or chlorine, the results can be disastrous. The following are some ways to keep your hair and scalp healthy, hydrated and protected during the summer months.

APPLY SPF

  • To help protect your hair from the sun, sea and salt water, apply a conditioning hair mask containing SPF, or wear a hat. Be sure to add extra product to the ends of your hair, especially if it is below shoulder length. Your ends are more prone to damage simply because they’re older and have been weathered by previous summers.
  • Salt and chlorinated water can discolour and dry your hair. To prevent damage to your hair when swimming in the sea or pool, wear a protective conditioning mask and reapply afterwards, just like you would with sunscreen.
  • The sun can burn your scalp, so it’s very important to apply a hair mask containing SPF to your parting. While short-term irritation and flaking are initial problems, recurrent burns and exposure to the sun can eventually cause cell changes and skin cancer anywhere on your body.

RE-MOISTURIZE

To keep your hair hydrated, elastic and shiny during the summer, use an intensive pre-shampoo conditioning treatment at least once a week. Work the mixture into your hair with your fingertips, leave for 10 minutes and then wash off.

DON’T BRUSH TOO OFTEN

Guard against split ends by not over-brushing. Sun, salt water, wind and chlorine are enough to cope with; you don’t want to have twice the number of ends as well. Brush gently, and preferably use a saw-cut comb.

SHAMPOO AND CONDITION DAILY

We recommend daily shampooing all year round, but it’s especially important in the summer. Your scalp, as well as your skin, is prone to increased sweating and clogged pores in warmer weather. A healthy, well-balanced diet is always vital to the health of your hair. However, summer is a great time to take advantage of a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables and seafood.

HYDRATE

Make sure to drink enough water in the summer. Your scalp, just like your skin, can dehydrate if you don’t replenish your liquids.