If your hair is dry or/and damaged, you probably dread humidity as the outer layer of your strands suck in moisture from the air, causing them to swell up and frizz.
My locks are naturally prone to go fluffy. I have a lot of new hair coming through which produces even more fuzz.
As my strands were different lengths and thicker on top than at the bottom, my amazing hairdresser, Michael Charalambous at Nyumba in Chelsea, said we need to take my hair from skimming the collarbone to above the shoulder. I nodded in agreement and let him release his creative genius.
Having blunt ends helps to keep the hair weighed down and, in my case, makes it look denser. Michael advised me not to use too many products as my hair is fine. He suggested not rinsing out all of the conditioner. Leaving a light coating on my strands will provide a barrier between them and the heat from the dryer.
All conditioners, be it a mask, deep conditioner or one that you instantly rinse out will make your hair feel softer as well as helping to reduce damage from brushing. Michael told me not to use oils as they can weigh the hair down too much and have the tendency to make it look greasy. He said I can add a drop of almond oil to my conditioner if I feel I need it. Choose what works for you.
Michael stressed the importance of reading the manufacturer’s instructions and following them implicitly. “This will give you the best results,” he said.
He also suggested leaving hair to air dry until it is approximately 70 per cent dry before picking up a brush. If your hair is curly you will want to leave in a bit more moisture than if you have straight locks.
Frequent colouring, over-styling with heated appliances and washing your hair too often can dry out the hair which only makes it frizzier.
In the winter, I rough-dry my hair with a hairdryer. I use my head as a giant roller to remove the kinks, always drying my strands from root to tip so I do not create the dreaded frizz. When it is almost dry, I pick up a brush to shape it.
Michael recommends using a round brush to smooth the hair. It is best to work in small sections. You want the cuticles to lie flat, so always blow-dry hair in the direction it lays.
I put the brush in as close to the root as possible and then wrap the hair once round the brush and pull it through to the ends as I follow it with the dryer.
You want to create enough tension to smooth your locks. You need to experiment to see what technique and type of brush works for your hair type.
My new cut has been easier to maintain during the continual damp weather we are experiencing. I feel sassy with it. Another success but what else would I expect from this great man?
By Daralyn Danns
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