FACT OR FICTION?
‘I have fine hair so
I should skip conditioner’
“Fiction! It’s important for fine-haired individuals to
use conditioner as fine hair is naturally more fragile
and prone to breakage,” Anabel Kingsley says. If you’re
worried conditioner will weigh hair down then she
recommends choosing something lightweight and
avoiding anything moisturising or for dry, damaged
hair. Apply only to the mid-lengths and ends. For
a lightweight conditioner try Pureology Hydrate
Sheer Conditioner (£23), which is formulated to
nourish fine hair without heaviness.
FACT OR FICTION?
‘Hair thins as you age’
Just as we lose collagen and fullness in our faces as we
age, the same thing happens to our hair. “How much
your hair changes depends on your genes, how
sensitive your hair follicles are to the presence of male
hormones and to hormonal shifts that occur leading
up to and during menopause,” Kingsley says. But take
note that it’s not just hormones that cause hair loss
and hair density changes. According to Errol
Douglas:“Your diet and external damage from heat
and environmental factors can all play a part too.”FACT OR FICTION?
‘Hair growth products
will help with hair loss’
“This depends on what type of hair loss you are
experiencing,” Kingsley says. If you have androgenic
alopecia, female pattern hair loss or genetic hair
loss then shampoos won’t do anything to increase
the density of your hair. “They are simply not left
on the scalp long enough to have an impact on
the hair growth cycle in the way they need to,” she
says. However, there are some topical drops and
prescription foams that can help tackle hair thinning.BOOK The Philip Kingsley London Clinic makes
bespoke, prescription-only drops that can help with
genetic hair loss. Initial consultation, from £200;
drops, from £72; philipkingsley.co.uk.Another common cause of hair loss in women is
telogen effluvium, or excessive daily shedding, in
which the hair is often described as coming out “in
handfuls”. “This is a reactive hair loss that occurs due
to an underlying factor, like a poor diet, a vitamin or
mineral deficiency, a thyroid imbalance, sudden
hormonal changes or illness,” Kingsley says. Once you
find the cause you can then work out whether you
need a prescription medication, to change your diet,
add in a supplement or to do nothing at all and wait
for the condition to correct itself over time.FACT OR FICTION?
‘I’m pregnant so
I can’t dye my hair’
Science says that this is fiction. “There have
been several scientific studies published on the
effects of hair colourants during pregnancy and
they indicate that exposure to hair colourants by
hairdressers or clients does not adversely
affect the unborn child,” Zoë Irwin says. Of course,
if you’re worried about using hair dye while
pregnant, speak to your doctor.FACT OR FICTION?
‘A cold water rinse
makes my hair shinier’
Myth! “For years I was taught that a cold water
rinse would seal your cuticles and make your hair
shinier,” Syd Hayes says. The reality isn’t so shiny.
“A cold-water rinse could be bad for your hair —
it constricts capillaries and blood flow to your scalp,
which is where we gather nutrients for growth
through each follicle.” For shiny hair use
conditioner, not cold water.FACT OR FICTION?
‘Coconut oil is great
for hydrating hair’
Yes! Yes! Yes! “Coconut oil is packed with essential
fatty acids that protect and nourish the hair,”
Frédéric Fekkai says — and Charlotte Mensah
agrees: “Natural oils soften the hair’s outer layer and
let moisture penetrate deeply.” Coconut oil, coconut
water and even the lesser used green coconut water
are all excellent hair hydrators, especially if you have
textured, dry, coloured or keratin-treated hair.
Remember, though, coconut oil is, well, an oil, so
those with oily or very fine hair need to go slow as it
could weigh down or overwhelm your scalp.COCONUT-INFUSED HAIR HYDRATORS
Herbal Essences Coconut Milk Shampoo
(£4.50) also contains soothing aloe vera and
sea kelp to remove impurities while still leaving
hair with plenty of moisture.Curlsmith Moisture Memory Reactivator (£20)
is a hair lifesaver when you’re between wash days.
The moisturising spray brings lank curls back to life
and even adds some welcome shine to limp hair.Garnier Ultimate Blends Smoothing Hair Food
Coconut & Macadamia 3-in-1 Hair Mask (£7)
is a bestseller, with fans rating it for giving them
supersoft strands. Use as a conditioner, a three-
minute hair mask or overnight for a deep treatment.THE HAIR
SPECIAL
12 • The Sunday Times Style