Beauty Clinic: Should I use a blow dry spray?
Q. I have thick coloured hair in a long bob, which tends to be dry and dull looking; it also gets frizzy in the winter if there’s any rain/mist/fog in the air. I blow dry it then style with a hot brush. Would it be a good idea to use a blow dry product?
A. Short answer. Yes! As Alfie O’Neill, Creative Director of Paul Edmonds in Knightsbridge, says ‘It’s important to use a blow dry prep in order to protect the hair from any heat damage and also to assist with styling and taming the hair.’
Remember hair is weakest when it’s wet and, what’s more, it swells so it’s easy to damage. Shine is all about light reflection. If the cuticles on the surface of each strand (think of them as scales) are roughed up rather than lying smoothly, the hair won’t reflect the light and look silky, shiny and healthy. The situation is exacerbated if you have dry hair to start with.
The most obvious problem about using a hair dryer and hot styling brush is the heat – the villain when it comes to drying out hair at the same time as drying it. Using a good product can really help keep your hair healthy. Also, if you combat dryness, you’re over half way to combatting frizz.
There are lots of good blow dry products. On Sarah’s last visit, Alfie (who’s a genius cutter and stylist btw and, like all the team at Paul Edmonds, very nice indeed) introduced her to his current favourite – Kerastase Chronologiste Thermique Blow-Dry Cream, part of a new anti-ageing range from the leading haircare specialists Kérastase. It worked so well on her mane that she has ordered it (full price – no beauty ed freebies at the moment). Find Kérastase Chronologiste Thermique Blow-Dry cream at Kérastase salons nationwide and online here/£34.90 for 150ml.
Kérastase say one reason for formulating this range is that scalp and hair start ageing much earlier than you’d probably think. So women from 26 years old are looking for products to help counteract the effects of pollution of all kinds as well as hormonal flurries, not to mention heat styling.
The ingredients for Chronologiste include super hydrating hyaluronic acid, vitamin E to nourish and protect, and a marine molecule called abyssine, which they tell us is a ‘miracle regenerative molecule that offers restorative repair, imparts voluptuous bounce and revitalises each strand for a flawless finish’! (They said it, not us, but we can tell you the Blow-Dry Cream is pretty amazing – investment yes but you only use a tad so it should last.) You can find Kérastase full Chronologiste range here.
According to It’s A 10, the US best-selling haircare range now in the UK, there are some tips that apply to every hair type. Their Miracle Blow Dry Glossing Leave-in mist, which has a bouquet of botanicals, is well worth trying for smooth, shiny hair/£20 for 120ml.
It’s A 10 tips:
• Never blast sopping wet hair with the dryer on top heat.
• Let your hair air-dry naturally until it’s about 70-80% dry.
• Prep with a leave-in, heat-protectant product, working section by section
• Use low to moderate heat
• If you use a nozzle attachment, slant it pointing down the hair shaft and keep it at least 3 inches away from your hair.
A couple of our other favourite tips now: don't rub-a-dub your wet hair with a towel – instead wrap it up in a specially designed Aquis Lisse Luxe hair Towel/£35 for the version for long hair. This smart towel sops up the moisture and cuts drying time significantly plus importantly it keeps hair smoother as it doesn't ruffle up the surface of the strands. Aquis also offers a range of turbans here.
Secondly, if you want to incorporate volume, simply turn your hair upside down and dry downwards. When you come to styling it, flip your head up and you’ll find there’s lots of bounce.
LATE NEWS!! Paul Edmonds (himself!) has just emailed to recommend two products for autumn/winter frizz. He says ‘the most important thing is to keep looking after the condition of the hair and the ends. Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Overnight Hair Serum/ £36 for 100ml, helps to get hair into shape, leaving it glossy and lush. To add moisture and strengthen hair, Shu Uemura Ultimate Reset Extreme Restoration Duo Serum/ £36 for 30ml, is brilliant; it helps prevent future breakage and creates long-lasting shine and softness.’
