Spring hair

By Kai Wan, owner of three busy salons and on the council of The Fellowship of British Hairdressing.

Spring hair renewal & growth

Finally, after what seemed to have been a long winter of relentless storms, we now head to the promise of warmer weather and the season of renewal and growth.

This leads me to think about how our hair is constantly going through a cycle of renewal and growth and how you can help your locks to blossom and bloom from the roots up.

We naturally shed between fifty to one hundred hairs each day. A new hair is then generated from your hair follicle and grows for several years before the follicle becomes dormant. Once again, the hair falls from your head and the cycle continues. So, the best way to take care of healthy hair growth is to start at the roots and the condition of your scalp.

I recommend keeping the scalp clean and removing dead skin cells which could potentially temporarily block dormant hair follicles. This ensures a good blood supply to the scalp to aid cell production which is essential. There are also dermabrasion or exfoliating treatments available that help clear the scalp. Nioxin is a brand dedicated to scalp health, hair renewal and thicker locks and their micro-dermabrasion in-salon treatment is particularly effective at helping create the perfect environment for hair growth. It gently exfoliates the layer of dead skin cells, whilst at the same time actively stimulates the scalp with a fresh, tingling sensation, drawing more blood to the area. The service can also be backed up at home with a home-care ritual.

Now, I’ve looked at ways in which we can help promote healthy hair growth on the outside, but what about from the inside out? As always, the starting point to health is through a balanced diet of protein, vitamins and minerals. As hair is made up of protein, make sure you're including enough protein sources in your diet. The minerals Zinc and Selenium and the vitamin Biotin are always key ingredients for healthy hair growth and as our nails are made of the same stuff as our hair, it's a double whammy - your nails will benefit too!

When styling hair to look thicker and fuller, try adding a volume mousse or gel to the root area and using a radial brush to lift the hair upwards, directing the hairdryer underneath. There are many brands on the market that claim to aid in thick, fuller hair so ask your stylist about what they have on offer. Happy spring hair ladies!