After more than 55 years in the hairdressing business, we’ve seen our fair share of hair faux pas. From home bleaching gone wrong to ill-advised YouTube tutorial fringe trims, we’ve fixed many a blunder.
Some errors are so subtle it can be easy to make them day by day, without realising why your hair is feeling lacklustre.
Ever wondered why your hair feels greasy, despite washing it daily? How it feels like straw despite the fact you’ve just conditioned it? We’re here to share some of our expert tips that you can easily adopt into your haircare routine, to encourage your tresses to be the very best they can be!
Today we talk you through the three most common mistakes you could be making when it comes to your wash and blow dry routine.
1. Not getting your hair wash routine right?
One of the most common mistakes with your wash and blow dry is to do it too often, or with the wrong product.
Over washing can affect the integrity of your hair, especially when using harsh shampoos or the wrong shampoo for your hair type.
Too much washing can remove the sebum your scalp produces, which is vital to shiny, healthy hair. If you’re noticing your hair looking more frizzy than glossy, you may well be overdoing it. A little oil isn’t a bad thing; over cleansing contributes to hair dullness, possibly creating coarse feeling, difficult-to-style hair.
Ideally, we should be washing our hair when it feels unclean to the touch, and of course this often depends on our hair type.
Fine hair often gets greasier quickly, while thick, wavy or curly hair can afford to leave a little longer between wash days. Hair can often be ‘trained’ with a little patience, trial and error to forego the shampoo a little longer. But what if we have a particularly oily scalp, work out daily, or feel the need to wash more often due to a certain style? Hair that gets oily, sweaty, plied with styling products or just won’t sit right without a daily blow dry can be cared for better with the right daily shampoo. Solve bed-head problems with heatless styling; experiment with sock curls and sleep in rollers.
Shampoo with the product that best suits your hair type and hair needs. Your hairdresser can advise you on the product that suits you and your routine.
Investing in premium haircare might be the best thing you could possibly do for your beauty routine. Using sulphates, drying alcohols and other damaging ingredients might be the reason your hair isn’t thriving. Look for high quality ingredients and tried and tested products with a professional seal of approval.
A little goes a long way.
While it might seem pricier, you need only use a small amount of product, and may well get away with an extra day or two in your routine. For fine hair in need of a boost, pump up the volume and give your hair body and bounce with our salon-quality Volume Shampoo, and quench thick, dry or curly hair with Hydrate Shampoo, which works wonders on dry hair and scalps.
See our handy directions for how to wash hair like a pro.
2. Not taking care of your wet hair after your wash might affect the final finish.
You’ve got that wash routine down, now it’s time to ensure you’re detangling your tresses properly! Even if you’ve remedied all other mistakes with your wash and blow dry, being heavy-handed with your just-washed hair can undo all of your hard work.
Gently blot and squeeze the excess moisture from your hair. In salon, our trainees do this using a microfibre towel, but an old t-shirt will work as a great substitute.
Our hair is at its most vulnerable when wet, so it makes sense that we should be treating it as gently as possible at this stage. However, it’s easier said than done when we’re in a rush.
Despite being in its most delicate state, our wet hair is a utopia for nourishing products while damp.
Even after using the best shampoo and conditioner for your hair concerns, your locks may still need further treatment.
Much like our skin which often needs more than just a cleanser and moisturiser to look its best, our hair often cries out for a little extra TLC.
When detangling, comb or use a wet brush and gently work from mid lengths to ends first. Only comb straight through the hair once your hair is carefully untangled. Our 10 in 1 spray is full of Charlie Miller magic! This leave in conditioner spray nourishes dry hair, protects your hair and scalp from the sun and prevents split ends – all with a formula that’s paraben and sulphate-free.
The change in your hair’s structure allows ingredients to penetrate and nourish the hair from within, so this is your optimum time to treat it with your preferred (and recommended) product. We suggest Charlie Miller Smoothing Blow Dry Crème to protect your hair from heat of up to 230°C. Both paraben and sulphate free, this heat protectant treatment keeps hair looking smooth, soft and frizz-free after styling.
3. Your final wash and blow dry mistake could be that your blow dry technique needs work!
We’re all guilty of blasting our sopping wet hair dry when we’re in a rush. Learning some skills from the experts could save you time in the long run.
Don’t tackle too much at once. Separate your hair into sections, starting underneath and clipping the rest away. Investing in a professional hairdryer with a nozzle can make the world of difference and use a vent brush for more control. Take a small section of hair in your brush, point your nozzle downwards and slowly work it down the section from root to tip.
For the perfect finishing touch, apply an oil to your lengths and ends. A small amount of our Gloss Oil will give an extra boost of moisture, help repair any split ends and encourage shine.
Don’t be afraid to ask for a demonstration on the best technique for your hair the next time you’re in the salon. Your hairdresser wants your chosen style to work for you every day; they’re more than happy to share their tips and tricks, to advise on products or tools to make every day a great hair day!
The full range of Charlie Miller products are available exclusively in our salons, as well as our haircare website. Revamp your haircare routine today with free delivery when you spend £20 or more!