Are you making these common haircare mistakes?

Desire long hair? It’s a myth that you can grow great lengths without having to look after it.

This season’s colour trends look magnificent on a longer mane, but achieving bountiful, beautiful hair requires tender loving care.

SCISSOR SISTERS

Your locks need a trim every eight to 12 weeks,
at least. Do not skip salon visits, even if you aim to
add inches. This will stop split ends, and keep your follicles healthy, which encourages growth and imparts length.

If you don’t trim, the hair shaft will split, leaving it damaged, unhealthy, frizzy and thin – the opposite of the full head of hair you seek. The only remedy for split ends is a sharp pair of scissors.

WASH UP

A good shampoo and conditioner is a must; it doesn’t have to be expensive, but it should come with a recommendation from your stylist. Poor quality shampoo and conditioner is the main reason long hair becomes unmanageable.

Despite the initial cost of a salon-bought shampoo and conditioner regime, in the long run, it is the easiest and cheapest way to keep hair healthy, getting rid of oil and product build-up. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but it does need to be purchased from a professional hairdresser or haircare store.

SOMETHING SPECIAL

Like skin needs a facial, hair can do with a salon treatment now and then, even if only a couple of times a year. And for extremely frizzy hair, invest in a good keratin treatment in the salon. It’s not meant to relax your hair but will add moisture. It’s worth asking for a keratin treatment from one of Cezanne, Alfaparf or Goldwell.

TRUTH SERUM

Next time you visit your hairdresser, ask them
to educate you on your hair and what it needs.
A great hairdresser will talk specifics with a client without trying to sell them a hundred products. Seek out a stylist who is honest, and recommends
a routine for you that is simple, easy and affordable to maintain at home.

The long run …

1 IN THE SHOWER \ Shampoos and conditioners that I have used on clients and swear by are Eleven (a Melbourne-based brand), Wella SP and Living Proof.

2 WHEN WET \ You need a nourishing product, applied before drying. I recommend Miracle Hair by Eleven, Smooth Style Serum by Oribe, Young Again Immortelle Infused Treatment
Oil by Kevin Murphy and my all-time favourite, Luxe Oil from Wella SP.

3 DRY RUN \ To finish off, treat hair to a few drops of Smooth & Shine Anti-Frizz Serum by Eleven, Oribe’s Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil, or Dark Oil by Sebastian.

Anoinette Bekos is the founder and director of AB Hair and Makeup in Albert Park. She looks after celebrities in Melbourne and has worked in film and television over her 20 year career.

abhairandmakeup.com.au