Women’s Health UK – September 2019

WEAK SPOT

COLOUR DAMAGE

Highlights will give you

sun-kissed hair no matter the

season, but colour and bleaching

come with a price. ‘When hair is

bleached, some of the proteins

and amino acids that make up

the building blocks of the

strand’s foundation are stripped

away, along with the natural

pigment,’ says Bleach London

brand manager Sapphire Driver.

‘This process is what leads to

brittleness and breakage.’

STRENGTHENING MOVES

‘Preparation before topping up

your colour is key,’ says stylist

Daniel Galvin. ‘If you’re dying

your hair at home, look for

protective treatments with

moisturising oils that you can

mix with your colouring

products.’ Bleach London

Alex-Plex, £4, minimises the

damage that can occur during

the process by strengthening the

bonds within the hair structure

that are weakened during

bleaching. ‘Have a shampoo

overhaul and opt for hydrating

products that don’t contain

silicone, because while it gives an

initial brilliance, once overused,

it builds up, making coloured

hair look lank and lifeless,’ says

Galvin. Opt for Ouai Repair

Shampoo, £22, as it’s silicone-

free. Leave-in treatments, such

as Briogeo Color Me Brilliant

Mushroom + Bamboo Color

Protect Primer, £24, are

essential. ‘Colour shows most

effectively on hair that’s in good

condition,’ adds Galvin. Colourist

Jo Hansford advises to down

tongs as often as possible when

styling to give hair a break.

‘Instead of using heated tools,

you could braid the hair, then

brush it out and use salt spray

to mimic loose beach waves.’

WEAK SPOT

HEAT DAMAGE

Sure, you may opt for air-

drying, but that doesn’t mean

your locks won’t get damaged

when you turn on your hair

straighteners or curlers. ‘Heat

breaks down the hydrogen

bonds in hair, melting the

cortex and the cuticle of the

hair, which causes irreparable

split ends and breakage,’ says

Redken creative director

Antony Rawlings.

STRENGTHENING MOVES

Though you can’t technically

repair heat damage after the

fact, there are things you can do

to lessen future damage. ‘Hair

can stand temperatures of up to

around 230°C before burning

or becoming damaged,’ explains

Rawlings, so try using low or

medium heat settings. Most

stylers don’t go higher than

230°C and some have dials on

them to adjust the heat setting.

Always prime your hair with

a heat protectant. Work the

product on to the mid-lengths

and ends of damp hair to infuse

it with moisture and protect the

hydrogen bonds. Shu Uemura

Essence Absolue Universal

Balm, £38, works wonders,

thanks to oleic acid-rich camellia

seed oil, which wards off

damage. Make sure you only

use a deep reconstructing mask

weekly, not daily. ‘These are

usually lighter than moisturising

masks so don’t weigh hair down,’

advises Rawlings. ‘Only apply

a mask to the lower lengths of

the hair to ensure it’s nowhere

near the roots to avoid

greasiness,’ he adds. Weak

spots? What weak spots?

Hair

raising

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80 | SEPTEMBER 2019 Women’s Health

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