London’s Hair Expert Gina Conway gives advice on your hair concerns
By Gina Conway
Hey there Time and Leisure fans! If your relationship with your hair is a rollercoaster of emotions – from battling frizz to saying goodbye to those precious strands that seem to have their own escape plan – then you’ve landed in the right place. I’m Gina Conway, multi-award winning hairstylist and salon owner, in other words, your hair guru extraordinaire, here to sprinkle some magic (and a dash of sass) into your mane journey.
Now, let’s talk hair woes, shall we? From pesky dandruff to the never-ending struggle against frizz, I’ve seen it all – and conquered it! But fear not, dear readers, for I come armed with a treasure trove of tips and tricks to tame even the wildest of tresses.
So, whether you’re fighting the frizzies or waging war against a greasy scalp, sit back, relax, and prepare to embark on a hair-raising adventure (pun totally intended). Because with a little wit, wisdom, and a whole lot of hairspray, we’ll have you loving your locks in no time!
Today I will address your tip 3 hair issues and in subsequent articles I can cover everything else and also answer your hairy queries…
- Hair Loss
Whether due to genetics, hormonal changes, medical conditions, or stress, hair loss can be distressing for many individuals. And even the stress of losing hair can make you lose more hair! So urgent for you to book in with a hair regrowth professional. We look at factors such as diet, lifestyle, nutritional deficiencies, thyroid, and many other reasons. Once we determine a cause, if no blood tests needed, we can go straight into solutions and getting back on track with supplements and treatments. Treating hair loss often requires a multifaceted approach.
Here are the top three things you can do to address hair loss:
- Nutritional Balance and Diet: Ensure your diet includes essential nutrients like protein, vitamins (particularly vitamins A, C, D, and E), minerals (such as iron, zinc, and selenium), and omega-3 fatty acids. These nutrients are crucial for maintaining healthy hair growth. Consider incorporating foods like fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, leafy greens, fruits, and vegetables into your meals. Additionally, stay hydrated by drinking an adequate amount of water daily.
- Scalp Care and Hygiene: Keep your scalp clean and free from buildup by washing your hair regularly with a gentle shampoo. Avoid excessive heat styling, harsh chemical treatments, and tight hairstyles that can damage the hair follicles and lead to breakage. Consider using a mild conditioner to keep your hair moisturized and minimize friction when combing or brushing. Scalp massages can also help improve blood circulation and stimulate hair follicles, promoting healthier hair growth.
- Lifestyle Modifications and Stress Management: Manage stress levels through practices like meditation, yoga, exercise, or hobbies that help you relax. High stress levels can contribute to hair loss by disrupting hormonal balance and increasing cortisol levels, which may affect hair growth cycles. Adequate sleep is also essential for overall health, including hair health. Additionally, avoid smoking and limit alcohol consumption, as these habits can impair circulation and affect nutrient absorption, potentially exacerbating hair loss.
While these strategies can help address certain types of hair loss, it’s essential to consult a healthcare professional or a dermatologist for personalized advice and treatment options tailored to your specific needs and underlying causes of hair loss. Good news is with proper dedicated treatment advice we can get most of the hair back unless it is over 7 years lost or genetic factors.
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- Dryness and Brittle Hair
Lack of moisture can lead to dry, brittle hair, which is prone to breakage and split ends. Do you eat enough oily fish? Do you spend time indoors in air conditioners and heaters? Or maybe you are a beach babe and swim in seas and pools or hike in altitude which can be drier air? Generally this can be controlled by taking Omega 3 as your body doesn’t naturally make omega 3 so if you are not paying attention it’s easy to become deficient in this. Think about eating foods high in hair goddess nutrients… Grapes for instance offer numerous benefits for promoting healthy hair growth and maintenance. Rich in antioxidants, particularly vitamins C and E, grapes help protect hair follicles from oxidative stress and damage caused by free radicals. These antioxidants also aid in improving blood circulation to the scalp, ensuring that hair follicles receive essential nutrients for growth.
Grapes contain natural polyphenols, such as resveratrol, which possess anti-inflammatory properties that can alleviate scalp conditions like dandruff and itching, fostering a healthier environment for hair growth.
The presence of vitamins like vitamin K and B-complex vitamins in grapes contributes to the nourishment of hair strands, enhancing their strength and resilience against breakage. Additionally, the high water content in grapes helps keep the scalp hydrated, preventing dryness and flakiness, which are common factors contributing to hair damage.
Grapes also contain minerals like iron and copper, essential for maintaining optimal hair health. Iron facilitates the transportation of oxygen to hair follicles, promoting growth, while copper assists in the synthesis of melanin, the pigment responsible for hair colour, thus preventing premature greying.
And if that just isn’t enough… have a look at the latest trend. Hair oiling is the new must have like an Hermes bag or the crop bob… Hair loves oil in all guises.. we make loads of it, some more than others, and we have been using it for centuries from the ancient Greeks to the Indian royalty and ayurvedic medicine. People with dry hair naturally tend to have dry skin too as well as thinner skin and fine features. Ayurvedic medicine uses coconut oil, or olive oil as a natural hair nourisher.
Nowdays we use oils with a smaller molecular structure to penetrate rather than sit on the hair for a more lasting effect. Think what would Cleopatra do, grease up, grab a turban and enjoy some grapes.
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3. Frizz:
Frizzy hair occurs when the hair’s outer layer is raised, allowing moisture to pass through and swell the strands, resulting in a fuzzy appearance as well as a multi-texture in the hair that “has a mind of its own” or stubborn as some of my clients call it. I’m sure you have seen that wiry strong hair type that often is looking battered and bruised, until it gets the benefit of a wonderful haircut, colour, conditioning mask and blow dry.. then transformation happens and all is well in the world again. I know because I too suffer from this dastardly hair type. I’m sure my husband would also suggest I am stubborn too, and I would agree.. I say its only because I want the best. So this I know I can help you with. Frizzy hair is generally on courser textures or hair that has gone into the greying phase and has a wild look in some cases. Frizzy hair benefits greatly from a nourishing shampoo and a conditioning mask. This hair type tends to be dryer than other types so think how do you make it softer? Using an emollient or hair butter usually tames the frizz. But that is only the first part of the equation. Next you need to style it so that it behaves. Blowing this hair texture dry is a great idea as long as you use a boar or natural hair bristle brush (has the best tension and won’t pull or break as much) and a round brush normally works wonders to pull and smoothen the texture into submission. By spinning the brush around in circles, you mechanically help the cuticles lay down and create incredible shine. Using a styling cream to finish will help keep the humidity off and keep your locks locked in place. Now stay away from the gym, pool, and sleep on a silk pillowcase to stop dampness to ruining your fabulous hair.
HAVE A HAIR CONCERN? Gina will help you! Email us at editorial@timeandleisure.co.uk and she will answer all your queries in her next column.
