Hair care

 

Is your hair not in great condition? Are you using too much heat? Are you spending a fortune on products which do not seem to help?

According to renowned hair stylist, Michael Charalambous, the less you do to your hair, the healthier it will be.

He adds he is seeing more clients opting for styles that work with their lifestyle and hair texture rather than following fashion. This cuts down on heat-styling and use of products.

However, he points out fringes are having a moment and are very popular with his clients. Fringes have benefits such as softening the face and hiding fine lines. Before you go ahead with a new look, discuss with your hairdresser what maintenance will be needed.

Hair care starts with your shampoo and conditioner. If you have grey, coloured, or curly hair, you may find using products without sulphates and silicones improve your crowning glory.

Apply shampoo to the scalp and let it run through the lengths. As my hair is dry, I use a pre-shampoo treatment (a mask or conditioner) and apply shampoo that does not contain sulphates on top and rinse out.

After years of testing so many potions that promise the earth, I found few that really made a difference. Have I found one that gets rid of frizz? The answer is no. However, a good moisturising concoction can help. The expensive ones are not always the best. New is not always better, but it does sell!

The best advice is to use products that are formulated for your hair type. It is a matter of trial and error to find the best for you.  I tend to use as few products as possible. Your hair will change over the years. As you age it becomes finer and drier. When you find that your current regime no longer works, it is time for a change.

 

 

Hair in good condition

 

 

I found that it makes little difference whether you use microfiber or cotton towels to dry your hair.  (For that matter, I have never found a difference between sleeping on silk, satin or cotton pillowcases.) However, rubbing your hair does cause damage. Wrap your wet hair up in a towel for about 10 minutes to soak up excess water. Pat your locks dry, never rub. Alternatively, air dry them.

Brushing wet hair can harm it. Try using your fingers to get rid of any tangles. When using a hair dryer, start with your dryer on high heat and reduce it as your locks begin to dry. The lower the speed setting, the more control you will have when styling.

 

 

The people who have the healthiest hair, do the least to it

 

 

Keep the nozzle at least 15 centimetres (six inches) away from your hair. Correct use of the hairdryer should not cause harm. However, if you carry on using heated tools once it is dry, you run the risk of unhealthy hair.

If you cannot give up your straighteners or curling tongs, try to use them occasionally. Remember, heat protectants are generally formulated with silicones and polymers.

For some people, like myself, with curly hair, silicones seem to make the hair dry and brittle. I tend to stay clear of high-heat appliances so use a primer without silicon. However, leave-in products that contain silicones can help guard against heat damage. Read the label to see if it contains heat protection.

To revive my hair the next day I tilt my head forwards and give it a blast of cold air. It seems to get the body back into my strands and helps to tame those pesky flyways. I use my hands to put it into place. Still using cold air, I go over any sections that need a little extra help, always pointing the nozzle of the hairdryer downwards.

Colouring can also damage fragile hair so try to have these processes done as infrequently as possible. Grey hair may not tolerate highlights as it once did. Speak to your colourist about alternatives.

I was relieved that Michael said my hair was in good condition. It had gone through a bad stage. Giving my hair plenty of moisture, foregoing silicones and sulphates, using heat as little as possible and only using a round brush to smooth out when needed, has paid off. In short, as Michael says: “the people who have the healthiest hair do the least to it.”

 

By Daralyn Danns

 

 

 

 

 

 

For inspiration visit nyumbasalon.com or follow on instagram.com/nyumbasalon 

 

The versatile, short bob

 

My amazing hairdresser, Michael Charalambous, has a knack for instantly making my bob look fresh and up to the minute. He works with my hair and features to create the perfect style,

When he declared he was going to take it shorter, I did not bat an eyelid. From chin-grazing to skimming the jawbone, he gave me a classic, blunt bob cut complete with centre-parting and wispy fringe. Styled straight by Michael, it looked chic.

My hair has a natural kink. When the weather is damp and humid, it moves and shrinks up. Messy and tousled, with plenty of movement and body, I enter into French bob territory. (Usually cut skimming the cheek-bone with a full fringe.)

Learning to work with your hair’s natural texture makes life easier. My hair has a mind of its own. I have learnt to let it do its own thing.  It can go to from falling into waves and curls to the mushroom bob where the ends curl under and the overall shape looks like the top of a mushroom.

 

 

 

 

According to Michael, short hair is having a moment. You can understand why, it is easy to manage and can make the face look lifted. Longer hair, if it is not in good condition, especially on mature women, can drag the face down.

Cutting down on heat-styling helps keeps strands in better condition. Hair thins as you age and becomes drier. Products can make hair more manageable and make it look better. However, they will not get rid of damage. Going for the chop makes your strands look thicker and healthier.

You always know you have a good haircut by the compliments you receive. This cut gets me plenty from not just friends but from people I hardly know. It definitely has the wow factor!

 

By Daralyn Danns

For inspiration visit nyumbasalon.com or follow on instagram.com/nyumbasalon 

Test before you buy your salon hair products

 

Warm and welcoming! Nyumba’s new temporary salon (54 Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7JN, tel: +44 (0)20 7408 1489) reflects the personality of its owner, Michael Charalambous and his team.

My hair had grown a lot over the last few weeks so I was in need of a cut. Michael took off about one and a half inches (almost 4cm). Having worn my hair in a longer bob for almost a year, this chin-skimming version looked and felt sassier.

As he was working away, we got on to the subject of products. Salons, generally, encourage you to buy theirs. Michael does not.

Most of us have been there. You buy the shampoo, conditioner and styling aids the stylist used, thinking you will achieve the same result at home. Often, you are disappointed. If that is the case you are not alone. Michael says: “Some clients have said the products work in the salon but not at home.”

 

 

 

 

A hairdresser told me years ago that it did not matter what products I used, it is your blow-drying skills that make the difference between a good hair day and a bad one. In my case, this holds true.

Michael stresses not all styling aids work for all hair types. He also points out that while a range may have one or two great items, others may not be quite so impressive. What is important is to use the right ones for your hair type.

For the salon, Michael buys the best from each line, unlike many salons who only stock one or two brands. He will also source products that work for clients’ specific needs. He does not want them to buy something until they are sure that the conditioner, styling cream, etc really is making a difference.

Michael also has a word of caution about some of the new hairdryers and hot air stylers and brushes on the market. He finds that they get too hot and can damage the hair. He has seen too many clients come in with frazzled strands.

When he opens his new salon, he is thinking of taking a completely different approach to most salons. He does not intend to sell any products!

 

By Daralyn Danns

 

For inspiration visit nyumbasalon.com or follow on instagram.com/nyumbasalon