Hair Health at Home
Hairdresser Dylan Bradshaw shares some practical advice on choosing the right homecare for both your hair and your pocket
We know it can be overwhelming with the amount of haircare brands out there, all with varying price points? Whether you feel your shampoo is weighing your hair down or you are finding that no matter what you do your hair is constantly dry and lacking shine, I will be able to guide you towards caring for your hair in the best possible way without overspending unnecessarily.
The main difference between drugstore products and salon professional products is the concentration of cleansing and caring ingredients. Salon professional products contains a much higher concentration of these ingredients meaning you need a lot less product when shampooing, conditioning and treating your hair. If you are using too much of a professional shampoo, this might be why your hair is feeling weighed down.
A lot of drugstore products also contain high amounts of silicones, unnecessary amounts of sulphates and fillers to bulk up the product. Bulking shampoos up with sulphates helps to create more of a lather which gives the illusion that the shampoo is thoroughly cleansing your hair and scalp but actually that might not be the case. The same goes for silicones added to conditioners and treatment masks. This makes your hair look conditioned and soft when actually the silicones are smothering your hair and preventing it from being able to absorb the vital nutrients and hydration your hair needs. This is why investing in your haircare products might initially seem more expensive but over time will last you a lot longer and will give your hair the specific care it needs, whether it be nutrition and hydration or cleansing and regulating the production of natural oils.
Choosing the right shampoo, conditioner, mask or styling product can be difficult so let me point you in the right direction. Here’s a list of hair and scalp types and what I would recommend for each.
Oily roots: Shu Uemura Anti-Oil Cleansing Oil Shampoo. Choose a conditioner and/or mask suitable to the needs of your mid-lengths and ends.
Sensitive scalp: Kérastase Specifique Bain Vital Dermo-Calm for sensitive scalps with combination hair or Bain Riche Dermo-Calm for sensitive scalps with dry hair.
Dry, dehydrated hair: Shu Uemura Urban Moisture Shampoo, Conditioner or Masque depending on where the dryness is. If it is all over you could use any of the three products. If the dryness is from mid-lengths to ends only the Conditioner and/or Masque is what you are looking for.
Overprocessed, damaged hair: Shu Uemura Silk Bloom for damaged hair or Shu Uemura Ultimate Reset for extremely damaged hair. Again if only the mid-lengths and ends of your hair are damaged, opt for the Conditioner and/or Masque.
Curly, unruly hair: Kérastase Discipline Bain Fluidealiste and Fondant Fluidealiste to help combate frizz and to enhance the hairs natural curl. Two fabulous styling products for anti-frizz and curl definition are L’Oreal TechniArt Bouncy & Tender and Kérastase Discipline Oleo-Curl.