The Hair Dilemma

Now the salons are back open it’s decision time on whether to keep your hair length and embrace your natural hair colour - our resident hair expert Dylan Bradshaw offers some advice for home haircare.

After months of being away from the salon, you’ll have had a chance to see what your hair is like with that bit of extra length and maybe even with your natural colour coming through. So, returning to the hairdresser means it is decision time. For instance, you might decide to keep the length and say goodbye to colouring your hair. If so, there are ways in which you can keep that longer length healthy and embrace your natural colour. A visit to the salon for a quick maintenance trim or an in-salon treatment can do wonders, but home care is where it really matters as this is where you wash, treat and style your hair the most.

Keeping Hair Longer

If you are enjoying having your hair a little longer than usual and decide to keep most, if not all of the length, then you need to make sure that you care for the ends of your hair. Avoiding split ends and keeping your hair looking healthy will enhance your longer style. As always, not over-shampooing and reducing heat styling is key. To keep your hair nourished, choose home care that is suitable for your hair type. If your hair is dry, then you need products that will pump the hair with moisture. If your hair is damaged the you need products that will nourish and strengthen the hair. I recommend that my clients only shampoo their hair 2-3 times a week and that they use a treatment mask at least once every week or fortnight. A mask is a great way to give the hair a real boost of whatever it needs. If you are someone who wakes up in the morning to hair that has tripled in size overnight from all the tossing and turning, then plaiting or tying long hair up in a low bun can really help. Friction between your hair and your pillow can also cause damage. Applying an oil or overnight serum to the hair before plaiting it will keep the hair smooth while providing deep nourishment. A great overnight serum is the Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Overnight Serum (€50).

When you visit your hairdresser, book in for a haircut and ask them to tidy up the style, to trim the ends but keep as much of the length. This will keep the ends looking healthy.

Embracing your natural colour or grey can be a wonderful transition. It saves a great deal on time and expense but consider it carefully. Lockdown offered everyone a chance to let their hair grow naturally and the underlying colour to return. But as you start to go out and about again are you comfortable not colouring your hair again? Maybe have a conversation with your colourist about how you might be able to make the transition a little easier. It might be as simple as lightening the previously coloured hair to a level bright enough to tone it to a cool ashy shade, that is more or less identical to the grey regrowth. If you are lucky enough to not have much grey hair, you might only need to match the previously coloured hair to your natural colour. It could also be that you decide to just be patient with it and let it grow out naturally, but if there are ways to make it easier for you then maybe consider them. Having regular haircuts will help to cut out your unwanted coloured hair and speed up the transition. For blondes going grey, the Kerastase Blond Absolu Masque Ultra-Violet (€45) can be a game changer as it neutralises unwanted, yellow tones to give the hair a cooler silver look.

In-salon treatments can condition and illuminate the hair, whether it is coloured or not. Treatments like Kerastase Fusio-Dose (€20) - as an add-on treatment - can tackle a number of hair concerns from dry, dull hair to weaker, fine hair. You can mix them to tackle more than one problem area to create a customised treatment for your hair needs. Another good add on treatment to try is Kerastases Fusio-Scrub (€12) which helps exfoliate both the scalp and the hair to illuminate and give it a healthy shine.

Follow Dylan on Instagram @dylanbradshawdb @dylanbradshawdublin – for more email reception@dylanbradshaw.com