Hair myths

I was talking to somebody yesterday about hair myths. Even some hairdressers give the wrong info, so here are some of the most common.

Courtesy of Hooker and Young

Myth: drying your hair with your head bent forward increases volume and still keeps the cuticle smooth

Truth:  it does. Says hair guru Philip Kingsley: “Blow-drying backwards with the head forward still follows the cuticles (outer layer) and does not roughen them."

Too much hot air can make your hair frizz, cool air can help smooth out your hair in between blow-dries.

Myth: brushing your hair 100 times a night is good for the hair.
Truth: no, brushing should be kept to a minimum to avoid damage.

Myth: frequent trims make the hair grow.
Truth: they will get rid of dead ends, but won’t encourage hair growth.

Myth: acute stress can make your hair full out.
Truth: it can. We normally shed 50-80 hairs approximately a day, but stressful situations can increase hair loss. Other factors such as a poor diet can also have an effect. If, over a period of a month, you think more hair than usual is falling out contact your doctor or go to see a trichologist.

Myth: switch shampoos as your hair gets too used to it.
Truth: there is no scientific evidence to prove this. You might think it does, especially if your hair type has changed.

Myth: frequent washing of hair harms it.
Truth: it doesn’t. Heated appliances can damage the hair if not used correctly.

Myth: rinsing your hair in cold water makes your hair shinier.
Truth: it doesn’t, according to Philip Kingsley.

Myth: colouring your hair causes damage.
Truth: it can. According to Philip – who thinks that if you want to colour your hair you should – if you don’t follow the manufacturer’s instructions, all colouring processes are potentially harmful. Always do a patch test each time you dye your hair and never leave the colour on for longer than the instructions say. Don’t over-process your hair. Coloured hair does need looking after otherwise it can get dry.

Myth: semi- permanent colours are less harmful than permanent colours.

Truth: semi-permanents tend to fade after a few weeks and need to be reapplied. Permanent colours tend to last a lot longer as normally you apply only to the roots after the first application.

Myth: products can mend split ends.
Truth: they can't, but they can improve the look on a temporary basis.

Myth: plucking out a grey hair means two grow in its place.
Truth: no it doesn’t, but it can damage the hair and continually pulling them out could create a bald patch.

Myth: grey hair is coarser.
Truth: Philip says it may be drier and is usually finer.

By Daralyn Danns

Daniel Galvin team work their magic again

Luckily, this time round my colour had hardly faded. It was slightly warmer than I prefer but most people wouldn’t have noticed, I’m just really fussy especially, where my hair is concerned.  

I now feel that I am beginning to see that the wonderful Liz Edmonds, colour director at Daniel Galvin had well and truly put my tresses on the road to recovery.

“We’ll do the roots and put a gloss through the ends,” said Liz. While she set to work we started to talk about new hair colour product launches as I had recently been talking to Wella Professionals about its latest innovation Illumina Color which claims to be a natural-looking dye that will give your hair an incredible sheen It is also supposed to cover white hair effectively. I’m sure coming from Wella it is a good product, but as I know from previous experiences, not every new colorant on the market is right for everybody.

Liz has well and truly turned the corner

It is all too easy to be seduced by adverts from companies promising beautiful coloured hair that won’t fade. But, how many of us when, we go to the salon to get our hair coloured,, ever ask for a colourant by brand name? We are more likely to ask for a certain colourist as we like their technique.

“At Daniel Galvin, we take the best from each manufacturer,” says Liz. “Your colourist will know your hair type and what product to use. Everybody’s hair is totally different.”

Shades can vary from brand to brand making it more difficult to colour match, so if you want to keep stay the same colour don’t switch brands. Manufacturers tend to have different bases for their colours. For example, one make may have more greenish tones, while another may contain red hues making the colour warmer.

Some brands are more suited to certain types of hair than others. If you have really porous hair, the cooler tones will be absorbed more readily, so the colourist needs to work with bases that will provide the desired results. So, in short, if you are going have your hair coloured, leave it to the experts and try to go to a salon such as Daniel Galvin that works with more than one brand.

By the way, if you are going on holiday, Liz suggests having your hair coloured a couple of weeks before you go and protecting it either with a hat or a product that has an SPF. “Hair is dead and you won’t feel it burn,” says Liz.

When Liz unveiled my locks, I saw a beautiful shade of brown, which a friend said matched my eyes. I have to admit, this time is the best it has been since I can remember. Liz has well and truly turned the corner.

By Daralyn Danns

Daniel Galvin (www.danielgalvin.com)

Five surprising items of food and drink that are bad for your teeth

We all know that a healthy diet is important for our overall well-being as well as our oral health. But your teeth are under acid attack for approximately an hour every time  you eat or drink something sugary. Acidic foods as well as drinks such as wine can also result in decay. The general advice is to cut down on sugary foods and drinks and have them with your meal.

Dr Uchenna Okoye, clinical director of London Smiling Dental Group and Oral-B’s smile director, lists the worst offenders:

Sports drink
“Usually sipped, meaning they are regularly swished around the mouth and are often full of sugar for plaque-causing bacteria to feed on and also contain acids that can damage our enamel.”

 

Beetroot
“One of the worst offenders for staining. Reduce this by drinking water or milk after eating it.”

Smoothies
“The high level of naturally occurring sugar and its thick consistency mean drinking one is heaven for bacteria which can lead to gum problems. They also contain a lot of fruit acids which can damage our enamel.”

Citrus fruits
“Oranges, grapefruits, etc are all very acidic, so avoid brushing your teeth 30 minutes after eating them to reduce causing enamel erosion.” [The British Dental Foundation recommends not brushing your teeth until at least one hour after eating.]

Hot drinks
It’s not just cold food that can cause teeth to be sensitive, hot drinks also cause the fluids in the holes in the dentin to expand and contract creating sensitivity. 

By Daralyn Danns

The perfect smile part two

I asked Dr Uchenna Okoye, clinical director of London Smiling Dental Group and Oral-B’s smile director, to tells us about some of the most common ways of perfecting your smile.

Dr Uchenna Okoye

Braces

“There is a big increase in wearing braces, especially as invisible braces are getting more effective. This means that I can create beautiful smiles without having to do any drilling and it is less long-term maintenance. Veneers generally need replacing after 10 years, with braces, once it is done, it stays put,” she says.

Veneers

A veneer is a thin slice of porcelain which fits over the front surface of the tooth. Some of the outer surface of the tooth may have to be removed beforehand. They are often used to treat discoloured teeth or unsightly teeth and can also be used to close small gaps between teeth.

“There are times when veneers are the only option, especially if speed is important, but the skill is in making them look natural and 'disappear'. It is one of the reasons, at the moment, I am teaching American dentists in the States, how to create more natural smiles,” says Dr Okoye.

I asked her in what situation she would recommend veneers over anything else.

“If a person’s teeth are too short e.g.if someone grinds their teeth and has worn their teeth down. I’m doing more of these as I have seen an increase in bruxing (grinding) due to more stress. They’re also good if someone is in a hurry e.g. a wedding where they have crooked teeth but no time to wear braces.

“I tailor the type of veneer to different situations e.g. the type of veneer I would use for someone who grinds their teeth needs to be stronger [than other types],” she explains.

Dr Okoye also points out that you need to have enough tooth to support them; a big filling is not a deterrent. “The only proviso is that the mouth needs to be healthy, especially no gum disease.

Crowns

A crown fits over the remaining part of a tooth like a cap, making the tooth look natural. Crowns encase the entire visible part of the tooth. These are used to restore the tooth to original shape when it is broken or weakened by decay or large fillings. Your dentist will advise what is right for you. Dental implants could provide the solution if you lose a tooth or all of your teeth.

When are crowns better than veneers? “If the teeth are very broken down,” says Dr Okoye. “In the same way that you use a thimble over your thumb to protect it, crowns work in the same way.”

In the current economic climate, according to Dr Okoye, people are looking for long-term solutions that are cost effective. “This can range from investing in braces to maintaining the existing colour with whitening toothpaste.”

Dental implants

Dental implants could provide the solution if you lose a tooth or all of your teeth. 

Oral-B  TriZone 5000, £199

Looking after your teeth

Plaque is the major cause of tooth decay and gum disease so ensure you floss once a day and brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes using a fluoride toothpaste as it helps fight decay. Change your toothbrush every three months. 

Whether to use a manual or electric toothbrush is down to personal preference. My favourite is Oral-B Professional Care Triumph Toothbrush 5000 with wireless SmartGuide (£199.99). I use the Precision Clean brush. If you are using a manual brush and want to try an electric try the new The Oral-B TriZone brush head.

By Daralyn Danns

Perfecting your smile part one

Finding a good dentist is hard. If you want to turn to cosmetic dentistry to improve your appearance, then you have to do plenty of research.

Dr Uchenna Okoye

According to Dr Uchenna Okoye, who qualified at the highly-respected Guy’s Hospital London, and is now clinical director of London Smiling Dental Group as well as Oral-B’s smile director, word of mouth is always the best way to find recommendations. She also advises ensuring that your dentist is a member of the BACD (British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry) or AACD (American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry).

There are plenty of options on offer to whiten, straighten, or repair your teeth. Here, over the next two posts, is a look at the most common.

Whitening treatments

How many of us have hankered after gleaming white teeth? Firstly, you have to consider your colouring, not everyone suits bright, white teeth, it doesn’t look natural. It is all too tempting to be seduced by pictures of celebs with perfect smiles but you need to be careful before undergoing any whitening treatment.

“Don't be fooled by cheap offers, there is always a reason,” says Dr Okoye. “At the end of the day you need to invest time and money to stay safe, otherwise it is best not to do it.

“It should only be done by a dentist or a hygienist under dentist supervision. Anyone else doing it is illegal and dangerous. The General Dental Council is actually prosecuting people as we speak.”

By Daralyn Danns

Destination Beijing, China

Red Square and the Forbidden City

The phrase “made in China” took on a whole new meaning for me when I arrived in the capital city, Beijing.

The dull, grey, buildings that once were the embodiment of China have been replaced with skyscrapers that are works of art in themselves. Modern shopping malls have sprung up. Gucci and Louis Vuitton stores – the originals – are almost as common place as Starbucks. Most of the old hutongs, once overcrowded slums, have been converted into high-rises or luxury homes that anybody would be proud to own.

Beijing

The Chinese, renowned for their ability to copy almost anything, have gone into creative mode to produce a no expense-spared futuristic-looking city that will sweep away any preconceived ideas you may have of this country.

There are so many cars clogging the roads that it makes driving through New York seem like a picnic. Bicycles are a convenient way to dodge the traffic which constantly snarls up. I stuck to taxis – a cheap and convenient way to get around the city – and the subway, when I was with my Chinese friend. In the city itself, I tended to walk everywhere – the best way to discover the hidden small pockets where China’s traditional way of life, almost oblivious to modernity, still continues.  

As for the pollution haze that hangs over the capital. Well, I didn’t feel compelled to wear a mask before I hit the streets. Walking around of Beijing felt safer than London. However, not everybody speaks English so don’t go out without having your hotel name and destination in Chinese, especially when taking a taxi.

Standing in Tiananmen Square, Beijing’s pulsating heart, watching the red flag of China fluttering in the breeze, I began to comprehend China and its people. 

Ready to climb the Great Wall

Mao Zedong, whose giant portrait still hangs over the gate of the Forbidden City, might have been dead for decades, yet he continues to draw in crowds that a pop star could only dream about. The longest queues I have ever seen snake past his embalmed remains.

Not wanting to join them, I headed to the Forbidden City, so called because only the emperors and their servants were allowed to live there. Like a scene from a film, this labyrinth of rich red walls and bright yellow roof tiles played out a bygone era. 

The next day I took a three-hour drive to The Great Wall of China. This jaw-dropping sight is more inspiring in reality than in pictures. Avoid touristy Badaling and go to Jinshanling.

View from the Great Wall

The climb maybe arduous, but it is extremely rewarding as you can see the sentry stations at the top and the wall zig-zagging across the mountain ridges stretched out in front of you as far as the eye can see.

Getting down is the hardest part. When I encountered some steps where the gaps were so wide, that my short legs couldn’t reach the next one, half of me wished I had taken the cable car. Necessity… as they say, so I ended up sliding down on my backside. Mao said you are not a hero until you have climbed the Great Wall. I now know why!

Getting there

British Airways (www.britishairways.com)

I stayed at the Grand Hyatt Beijing (www.hyatt.com)

Secrets of a beautiful smile

A smile can get you anywhere, well almost. Not only can it boost your mood but also that of people you come into contact with. So, it is important that our teeth look their best.

If you want to avoid mammoth dental bills, prevention is better than cure, so it is important that you take good care of your teeth.

Start with a good tooth brush. Over the years I worked with many hygienists and dentists who swear by Oral-B. Dental nurse, Tanya van der Merwe, tells me that at Oralon, the practice where she works, they like the oscillating and rotating precision clean brush head as it fits the shape of the tooth and does a good job of cleaning the teeth. The new Oral-B TriZone (prices start from £49.95 oralb.co.uk) is ideal for those who prefer the shape of a manual toothbrush or are still using one but want to try an electric brush. 

Dr Uchenna Okoye

Of course, even having the best brushes won’t help the health of your teeth if you are not using them properly. Dr Uchenna Okoye, who qualified at the highly-respected Guy’s Hospital London, and is now clinical director of London Smiling Dental Group and Oral-B’s smile director, says that a lot of a lot of people do not know how to brush their teeth correctly, which can often result in plaque build-up and tooth and gum decay.

“Oral-B have developed a new toothbrush called the TriZone which is fool proof and simple to use – It doesn’t matter which brushing style is used, the TriZone will still remove up to 100 per cent more plaque than an ordinary manual toothbrush,”  she adds.

One of the biggest mistakes people tend to make, according to Dr Okoye, is to brush too hard.  “Generally, people think brushing harder gives teeth a more thorough clean however, it actually just damages gums and may erode the enamel of the tooth,” she says.

“You should also ensure that you change your toothbrush or toothbrush head, every three months. A worn toothbrush is less effective at removing plaque.

Oral-B TriZone 5000, £199.99

Here are some of Dr Okoye's tips for correct brushing:

“Brushing teeth too quickly is a bad habit that a lot of people tend to do. We should all be brushing our teeth for at least two minutes twice a day. Brushing your teeth well takes time, and doing it for at least two minutes will help to eliminate the build-up of plaque on the teeth.”

“It is crucial to rinse your toothbrush well. It is common sense to give it a quick rinse, but it is important to be thorough in order to wash away the bacteria that have just been removed from your mouth. If you don’t rinse your toothbrush well, the next time you use it the bacteria will go straight back inside your mouth and on to your teeth and gums.”

“Skipping teeth is a common problem people do when brushing. It usually occurs when you flip your toothbrush to brush the other side of your mouth, which would cause plaque and bacteria to build up in this area. Once you’ve brushed your molars at the back of your mouth, make sure you brush right round into the middle of your mouth before turning the bush around – this will help avoid missing a tooth at the front.”

By Daralyn Danns