14 DAY TRIAL // Having a bouncy, healthy mane can sometimes be a difficult thing to achieve, as the weather, stress and many other factors are strong enough to take their toll on it. Since brittle, dull hair is not something that anyone would want, experts draw our attention to the many things we must focus on to reverse the process and have the kind of hair we’ve always dreamed of.
The British publication the Daily Mail spoke with nutritionists and hairstylists to get the best tips for great looking hair. In this sense, the first essential tip we must bear in mind, they say, is that what we eat impacts on the way our mane looks, so knowing on which foods to cut back and of which to have more is of vital importance. In her book “Beauty Superboosters,” nutritionist Amanda Ursel, for instance, advocates a protein-rich diet for beautiful hair.
“A protein-rich diet is key for the production of keratin, a major part of the hair’s structure. Protein sources rich in fatty acids, such as salmon, mackerel and sardines, will also help keep the scalp healthy. If you’re considering cutting red meat out of your diet, make sure you replace your iron intake as a sudden drop in iron can result in thinning hair. But don’t overdose on vitamin A supplements – too much can cause bald patches.” Ursel says.
Remembering to cut the hair every six weeks (eight at the most) is also important. It doesn’t matter how long or short the hair is, trimming it regularly will ensure that we’re not confronted with the very unpleasant problem of split ends, while also guaranteeing that the ‘do is always in top shape, just like we want it. Stylists also point out that trimming the ends does not equal a haircut, so we shouldn’t let the financial aspect push us into doing it ourselves at home. “I recommend going to your salon for fringe trims – this should be a free service for existing clients.” Josie Chaleyssin, senior stylist at John Frieda, says for the Mail, adding that DIYs are not a good idea when it comes to hair, even if we’re only talking about a fringe or a few locks here and there.
A good brush can make all the difference when it comes to hair and making it look great. On the same note, a brush for every occasion (that is, for each type of ‘do) would be a smart investment, as stylists recommend choosing different sizes for all occasions, as well as buying only quality products and not making any compromises. “Invest in a good bristle brush. I like Mason Pearson ones. I’d recommend having different brushes for different hairdos. Get a medium round brush, a flat brush for pony Tails and then a paddle brush and a wide-tooth comb when you want texture.” Zoe Irwin, stylist at a renown London salon, explains for the same publication.
Great hair also means taking proper care of it all the time. This, in turn, translates into a good shampoo, conditioner and even treatment – and the only thing we have to do is to make sure we try as many as we can until we find the one that suits us best. Contrary to popular belief, when it comes to hair, we shouldn’t stick to just one brand that we tried once and were happy with, but have more brands, each for one occasion, stylists advise.