Dry and frizzy hair, what can I do?

Thanks so much for writing to me. You sound as though you have come to the end of your tether with your hair! I think lock down had a huge affect on our relationship with our hair. If you have grey hair and let your colour grow out, either by choice or the subjection of lock down it can be very difficult.

The first thing I would say to you is to make an appointment with your colourist and have a chat about the options open to you. Your hair is definitely not greyer from having your hair coloured over the years.

Hair goes grey when the pigment or melanin cells die and the follicle declines in the production of pigment. This hair then looks like a transparent or grey colour. As we age our hair follicles will produce less pigment resulting in more grey hair . Genetics also play a big role. If one of your parents went grey at a young age you may have a higher chance of your hair going grey earlier too.

Grey hair tends to be drier as when the melanin producing cells slow down, then the follicle also produces less sebum. Sebum is the natural oils that keeps your hair looking shiny and hydrated. This is why you’re finding your hair harder to manage as it will appear wirier, drier and harder to style.

Getting stressed about your hair will only make you feel worse. You mention that you don’t want to meet anyone as you feel it looks so bad. With this in mind, I would suggest that you try and decide if you felt better with your hair coloured like before lockdown. If this is the case then maybe a new colour and style will give you the boost that you need. Hair colour will add shine and vitality to your hair.

Either way a chat with your stylist and a new hair style will give you a well-deserved boost. If you decide to keep your hair grey there are toners that can be applied that can take out any yellow tones. This can keep grey hair looking fresher and brighter. Hopefully when you look at all the options and decide either way you will feel ready to meet with your friends again

Here are some tips and tricks for looking after your hair:

Get Some Advice

Not only will it be beneficial to get advice on your hair colour but it would be worth it to book in with a professional make-up artist and see if you need to change your foundation and the colour palettes that you use. When you change your hair colour it’s always a great time to introduce some new make-up shades.

Our skin, like our hair changes and sometimes a base foundation or lipstick colour that once looked great, can look dated and not complement our skin anymore. All the make-up counters in department stores can help and some brands offer on-line consultations too. It will be a great pamper day to get a few new things for your make-up bag!

Keep It Conditioned

When you get your hair colour it’s a good time to invest in some new hair care. Getting some customised hair products will make it so much easier for you to manage your hair. Try using a hydrating shampoo and conditioner such as Alterna Caviar moisture shampoo and conditioner. This is an anti-aging shampoo and conditioner with key ingredients being caviar and Vitamin C. Great for keeping your colour fresh and will stop your hair colour from fading.

Indulge In A Treatment

Since you haven’t had your hair colour treated for a while, I would recommend that you put a nourishing hair mask on your hair once a week. This is a great way to relax and have some time to yourself while getting your locks into tip top condition, so it’s a win win!

Try a mask like Olaplex No 8 which is a wonderful hydrating mask. It works brilliantly on colour treated hair and your hair will feel like silk afterwards.

Keep It Icy

If you decide to embrace your grey hair then investing in some blue or silver shampoo will keep it looking clean and omit any yellow tones. Keeping it looking on the cooler side can look more modern, although it depends on your skin tone how cool will suit you. Try Kerastase Blond Bain Ultra Violet Shampoo to keep out brassy tones and keep your hair looking luminous and healthy.