TOP TIPS - CARING FOR YOUR HAIR
So I’ve been known to skulk around TK Maxx in The Pavilions Swords a couple of mornings every week. It tends to be first thing on a Monday or Tuesday, hair stuck to my head, bare faced, swilling a coffee with a mischievous Tom in toe. Apologies to anyone that I’ve ever bumped into.
The reason I go there at that time is because the early bird catches the worm and I have been buying THE most luxurious, organic candles from a very well known brand at a fraction of the normal price for over a year now. All of my favourite pieces at home are from there - my cushions, my rug in my dining room, my beautiful planters, my lamps. You could say that I’m obsessed. So when TK Maxx called to see if I wanted to work with them for an upcoming beauty event, I was like HELL YEAH!!
I, for one am SO excited because tomorrow (27th of April ) in TK Maxx, there are literally thousands of luxury beauty products hitting the shelves. I’m talking big name brands and cult products and the haircare lines are going to be off the charts. My already massive wedding kit will be bursting at the seams!!
I was in the Carrickmines store on Monday, filming a little video with some hair tips and advice and now I just can’t wait to see everything in it’s entirety. We’re talking HIGH END people and up to 60% less than the normal price. Yep. Can’t wait. I may need to leave Tom at home because this time I mean business.
To get you prepared before you go in store, I’m going to give you the low down on some of my top tips on what type of products you should look out for with your hair type and style. Hope you enjoy!!!!
J x
SUMMER HAIR
- SPF, SPF, SPF. We lather it on our skin and forget about our poor hair. Find products that contain sun protection and your colour will thank you. If you plan on spending all day in the sun then try using something like an SPF balm or leave in conditioner.
- Isn’t it so annoying when you go on holidays and you just somehow get this magical, effortless beachy hair and then you come home and try to do it and end up looking like Worzel Gummidge? Like, so annoying. Well, what you need in your life is some salt spray. I’ve never smelt one I haven’t liked, close your eyes and pretend you’re in Hawaii, not on the M50. They smell salty and coconutty (is that a word?) and they just give that “lived in texture” that everyone wants. I like to spritz mine over wanded waves and then work it in using my fingertips and hairdryer. *Top Tip - leave the ends straight for extra cool points.
- If you have spent the day at the beach and exposed to the sun (lucky you!), your hair can become extremely dry and tangled. Using a really intensive conditioning treatment at the end of the day is SO important. Apply a mask that’s rich in coconut or argan oils, not only do they smell AMAZING but they’re extremely nourishing and your hair will detangle much easier, which in turn will reduce breakage.
AGEING HAIR
- Like your skin, as we age, the scalp becomes drier so it’s important to care for it as you would do your face. The scalp is basically an extension of your skin and failing to look after it will result in dull, lifeless hair. Make sure you cleanse your hair really well and massage the scalp gently but firmly with the balls of your fingers. Use a conditioner that’s rich in antioxidants and even massage a nourishing elixir into the scalp at the end. It’s great to boost circulation. I love ones that contain peppermint oil, soooo tingly.
- Hair gets weaker and sometimes brittle as we get older, that’s another thing to look forward to! So it’s important to care for it when using any hair tools. Applying a heat protection spray before styling your hair will not only stop the high temperatures from damaging your hair but it will hydrate and strengthen your locks in the process. Win, win.
- If you’re finding that it’s just impossible to get volume into your hair when you’re blowdrying it then get back to basics and introduce volume at every stage of the styling process. Start with a volume boosting shampoo, followed by a lightweight conditioner and then apply some root lift volume spray before styling. I like to lightly massage the head after using the root spray, just to make sure it’s evenly applied. Try some Velcro rollers at the end for added bounce.
TREATMENTS
- Pre-cleansing treatments have now become a popular new step in the haircare routine. What? A shampoo before a shampoo, I hear you say. Yep, your eyesight is fine. It’s basically a treatment that you use before your shampoo. Some of these thoroughly exfoliate the scalp and remove any build up of products in the hair, while others protect against colour fade and add nourishment. Whichever one you choose for your hair type, you’ll find they’re AMAZING to use a few times a month to keep your hair looking really clean and shiny.
- Using an intensive conditioning mask a couple of times a month will play an important role in keeping your hair full of vitality. I always recommend setting aside a couple of hours, heat a towel, then after you’ve applied your mask wrap your hair in the warm towel. I know it’s such a luxury to find the time to do that but it really activates the treatment and I find that it improves results. If your hair is severely damaged, has been chemically treated and has suffered at the hands of bleach etc. then you need to look out for treatments that contain keratin and protein. coconut, argan and castor oil are also widely renowned for revitalising dry and damaged hair.
- When looking for treatments that help with thinning hair then look out for products that contain powerful antioxidants and amino acids. Amino acids are often referred to as the building blocks of protein and without them you can suffer hair loss as your hair is made up primarily of protein. Biotin is another one to look out for, it’s part of the Vitamin B Complex and promotes hair growth and cell function. These treatments will also help those new mothers, who have lost a lot of hair post pregnancy, to strengthen the new growth.
