#1 Start the Day with a Good Breakfast

It’s here where a proper nutritional boost is most needed – Energy available to your hair follicles is lowest first thing in the morning! Incorporate a mixture of proteins (at least 120g) with any form of complex carbohydrate.

PK’s Top Breakfast Picks:

Scrambled eggs on whole-wheat toast with sautéed spinach.

Fresh berries with honey and a pot of low fat cottage cheese.

Smoked salmon and sliced tomatoes on a seeded bagel.

Don’t have time for these culinary delights? Prepare some hard-boiled eggs before going to bed to take to work with you. If you have a fridge at your office, keep a stash of breakfast foods to have along with your morning coffee.

#2 Steaky Sunday

Yes – we’ve all heard of meatless Monday, but here at PK we have Steaky Sunday. A prime opportunity to embrace Sunday roasts and summer BBQ’s. Red meats are your bodies’ best source of iron – a mineral essential for healthy hair growth, and it’s important that you incorporate it into your diet at least once a week to keep your levels sustained. This is especially important if you are menstruating as you lose blood (and therefore iron) during your period. Low iron, or ferritin (stored iron) levels can cause increased hair shedding – and can also make your hair fall out before it reaches its optimum length.

If you are a vegan or vegetarian, nutritional supplements are often needed to maintain healthy iron levels. While iron is present in certain vegetables and dark, leafy greens, it is not as easily absorbed or found in the same amounts.

#3  SNACK (healthily)

Energy to form hair cells drops 4hrs after eating a meal. Snack on a complex carbohydrate, such as whole meal crackers, fresh fruits, dried apricots, or a fresh fruit/vegetable smoothie, to keep your follicles nourished.

#4 Stay Hydrated

Drink approximately 1.5-2 litres of water a day depending on your activity level and climate. Your scalp, just like your skin, can become dehydrated.

# 5 ADD MILK TO YOUR TEA

Research has shown that drinking black tea can increase the likelihood of anaemia. If you don’t add milk (preferably skim or semi-skim) to your tea, the tannin is free to bind with iron in your body and can therefore reduce your iron stores.

#6 DON’T SKIP MEALS

As well as being bad for your general health, skipping meals can be especially bad news for your hair. As your hair is not a vital tissue,  your body will never prioritise its nutritional needs. Think of it this way – If your essential organs aren’t getting the energy they need to function properly , or are receiving the minimum amount of nutrients, your hair cells certainly won’t be!

If you are concerned you are losing your hair due to nutritional issues, it is a good idea to have blood tests done by your GP or trichologist. These will help ascertain whether you are deficient in any vitamin and/or mineral so that appropriate supplements and changes to your diet can be prescribed.

Remember, your scalp is skin; it needs to be cleansed, exfoliated and toned just like the skin on the rest of your body in order to be healthy. The most essential of these 3 is to ‘cleanse’ i.e. shampoo – which is something an overwhelming number of people don’t do enough. Think of what would happen if you didn’t wash your face or body every day – it would get pretty gross, greasy and grimy (I could go on here, but I think you get the idea). The same goes for your scalp and hair. If this isn’t motivation enough to hop in the shower with your favourite shampoo, research has shown that a dirty, flaky scalp can exacerbate and even cause hair loss.

WHAT IS DANDRUFF?

Dandruff is related to increased cell turnover and is essentially a build-up of dead skin cells on your scalp.  It often occurs when there’s a change to your skin secretions – like sebum (oil) and sweat – and can be triggered by stress and use of the wrong products. But not always – you may think you have dandruff, when in fact you’re just not washing your hair enough! Skin shedding is happening all the time, but you usually don’t notice it on your body as it’s rubbed off on your clothes throughout the day or removed when you bathe. However, you begin to notice these cells on your scalp when they’re allowed to accumulate.

WHY DOES DANDRUFF ITCH?

Associated itching and irritation are caused by an over-growth of bacteria, and often, the pressure of the flakes on the nerve endings in the hair follicles.

Shampoo Daily. Frequent shampooing (daily if you can) removes dead skin cells and promotes healthy scalp flora. Already have dandruff? Use anti-dandruff shampoo & scalp toner.

Be Wary of Dairy. Dairy products can worsen dandruff, so try avoiding these if you’re having a flare-up. Add soy or almond milk to your morning coffee(s).

Drink Sensibly. Alcohol can dehydrate your scalp. However, white wine and champagne in particular can irritate flaky/itchy scalps. Sorry!

Don’t Add Oil. Contrary to popular belief dandruff is oily, not dry. Don’t rub in oil to remove it – you will just get greasier flakes.

Stress Less. You may have noticed that when you’re irritable, your scalp follows suit! Try to relax – stress can trigger dandruff.

If the steps above don’t clear your scalp, or it’s inflamed, you may have a more serious scalp condition, such as psoriasis, pityriasis amiantacia or seborrheic dermatitis. Don’t hesitate to see your GP or trichologist if you’re concerned. The faster these are addressed, the better!

TOP TIPS FOR A HEALTHY SCALP

Use The Right Shampoo. Each hair on your scalp is attached to a sebaceous (oil) gland – and the finer your individual hairs, the more hairs you have. This is why fine hair tends to get oiler quickly at the roots. Match your shampoo to your hair type to fit your scalp and hair’s specific cleansing needs.

Condition Correctly. A common cause of greasy looking roots is applying conditioner too close to your scalp. Only apply to the mid-lengths and ends of your hair, where moisture is needed most.

Sun Protection. Your scalp can burn, just like your skin. Protect it in the sun with a water-proof cream that contains UV protection.

Stay Hydrated. Your scalp is more prone to dehydration than any other area of skin!

Taken from the bi-monthly ‘Ask Anabel’ Column in Hair Magazine, written by our very own Anabel Kingsley.

While it’s always best to wash your hair daily, we understand this isn’t realistic or time permitting for everyone. With this in mind, we went to work on formulating a dry shampoo designed to give you one more day of beautiful, shiny hair and a healthy, clean and irritation-free scalp. Our unique and carefully selected ingredients also help to reduce excess dirt, oil and odour - one less thing to worry about in the mornings and a step towards hassle-free happy hair days!

The launch saw the PK team lunch with the whose who of hair and beauty journalists at one of London’s most prestigious restaurants – Scott’s. Guests included writers, contributors and editors from Marie Claire, Vogue, Elle, Cosmopolitan, The Daily Mail, Hair Dressers Journal, GOOP, Hair Magazine, Creative Head, InStyle, Stylist, Good Housekeeping, The Financial Times, Woman & Home and Harper’s Bazaar.

One More Day’s Star Ingredients:

Zinc PCA: Anti – Flaking and sebum control properties.

Allantoin: Soothing agent, calms irritated and itchy skin.

Bisabolol: Anti – Inflammatory properties relieves irritation and flaking.

Oryza Sativa (Rice) Starch: Absorbs sebum and adds texture and volume to hair.

One More Day is being sold exclusively at M&S beauty halls from June to mid-July. It will then be available on our website and from our retailers. Stay tuned!

Fatty alcohols belong to a family in organic chemistry called, you guessed it, ‘The Alcohols’. Other members of the alcohol group include alcohols you rub on the skin, alcohol to drink, and even gas alcohol. While some of these are drying agents, fatty alcohols are emollient, protective, smooth to the touch and highly beneficial when dryness is the problem. They include wax alcohols, oily alcohols and fat alcohols, such as cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol – all of which are used extensively in cosmetics for their moisturizing properties.

In short, an ‘alcohol-free’ product is not necessarily better than one containing alcohol – it may even be worse and have diminished results.

Please click on the following link to learn more about common hair myths on the brand new PK Website.

This premium salon has been established since 1988 in the 300yr old New Dawn House in Chester. Having occupied the cellars of the historic building for the past 25 years, on April 10^th they moved to the top floors. It is a fabulous new look! Hair Matters celebrated last week with a party for clients and friends, raising donations for My New Hair, a cancer charity to help individuals with medical hair loss.

“Hair Matters offers a personal and friendly service, catering for all your hair care needs. Fine hair is our speciality!”

What makes this salon even more unique is that Richard Hall, the owner of Hair Matters, is a trichologist himself. He recognised the growing needs of his clients regarding support with hair and scalp health. He has recently launched a new trichology practice for hair issues – Chester Hair Clinic – and also works with Trevor Sorbie to cut and fit wigs and hair pieces:

“Over recent years I have noticed more and more people, both women and men, suffering from hair loss and scalp problems. When clients asked me for advice I wanted to build on the knowledge I already had, so trained as a trichologist”.

To find out more about Hair Matters, or to book an appointment, please visit their website www.hairmatters.co.uk or call them on 01244 346798.

What is the Thyroid and Why Does it Affect Hair Growth?

Your thyroid is a gland at the base of your neck that regulates your bodies’ metabolism via the production of ‘thyroid hormone’. It also controls the production of proteins and tissue utilisation of oxygen – which is why it affects hair follicles and hair growth.

Thyroid disorders occur when your thyroid gland produces too much or too little hormone. This is classed as either ‘hyper’ (high) or ‘hypo’ (low) thyroid, whereby your thyroid is either over or underactive. Either a hypo or hyperthyroid can cause hair loss – and in fact a hypothyroid is known to cause hair loss in up to 50% of people.

Diagnosing Thyroid Disorders

Thyroid disorders are easily diagnosed during a routine blood test. However, it’s important to note that thyroid levels within the ‘high normal’ and ‘low normal’ range can also impact your hair as it’s not a vital tissue. Luckily, there are many prescription medications available that can help regulate your thyroid and reduce associated side-effects such as hair loss. Please speak to your GP and a trichologist for further information and/or if you are concerned.

What is Telogen Effluvium?

Telogen effluvium is a diffuse hair loss and is best understood by looking at your hair growth cycle. Your hair grows in 3 stages – anagen, the growing phase; catagen, a short intermediary phase; and telogen, the resting phase where the hair is released and falls out. Follicles rest for around 3 months, and then the whole process is repeated.
Due to the nature of your hair growth cycle, your hairs are not all in the same phase at the same time – some will be actively growing, others shedding etc., or else you would lose all your hair at once. It is normal to lose up to 80 hairs a day – provided the hair is growing back.

Telogen effluvium is where more hairs that usual enter the telogen phase and you experience increased diffuse shedding all over your scalp.

What Causes Telogen Effluvium?

Telogen effluvium can occur when your bodies’ internal balance, and therefore your hair growth cycle, is disrupted. This can be caused by a wide number of factors ranging from physical or emotional stress, post-partum loss and dieting to illness, a high fever and certain medications. However, due to your hair growth cycle you usually won’t see increased shedding for up to 3 months after the event that caused it.

How long does it take for Telogen Effluvium to Correct Itself?

The amount of time it will take your hair to recover from telogen effluvium depends largely on what caused it and for how long your system was disrupted for. However, once the underlying cause has been addressed, hairs that were lost should start to grow back within 6 – 12 weeks. Follicle shrinkage rarely occurs.

If you are concerned with the amount of hair your are losing, or have been experiencing hair loss for a prolonged period of time, please contact us to set up a consultation with a Philip Kingsley trichologist.

In this post we will talk about what you can do to get your hair growing at its optimum rate – and how to prevent hair loss in the future!

Eat a Well-Balanced Diet

Hair is the 2^nd fastest growing cell in your body, but as it’s also not a vital tissue it’s usually the first thing to be affected negatively by a poor diet. Keep in mind the following nutritional tips to help keep your hair growing at its best rate:

PROTEIN

Your hair is composed primarily of a protein called keratin, and so including enough in your diet is important to growth. Try to eat at least 120g in weight of a first class (animal) protein with breakfast and lunch. Examples of these are chicken, fish, eggs and lean meat. You can also add protein supplements into your diet for an added boost.

COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES

Complex carbohydrates provide cells with slow-released energy and are vital to hair growth. Add some type of complex carbohydrates, such as whole meal bread, rice, potatoes or pasta to every meal.

SNACK HEALTHILY

Energy to form hair cells drops 4hrs after eating a meal, so snack on a complex carb, such as fruit or crackers,  between meals to keep your follicles nourished.

IRON & FERRITIN

Low iron and ferritin (stored iron) levels can cause your hair to shed before it reaches its maximum length. This can cause your hair to stop growing past the length you would like it to and can also cause a general reduction in volume. To help ensure your ferritin and iron levels remain healthy, eat red meat at least twice a week – this is especially important if you are menstruating, as blood (iron) is lost during your period. If you suspect you are anaemic, make an appointment with your GP to have your iron and ferritin levels tested. You can then speak to your doctor and/or trichologist about appropriate supplements.

HEALTHY WEIGHT

Being underweight, losing weight too quickly, and also going on extreme diets (such as juice fasts), can cause excessive hair loss. If you are thinking of losing weight, do so responsibly and slowly – and always under the guidance of your doctor or nutritionist!

Keep Your Body Healthy

Your hair is an excellent barometer for your general health and wellbeing. Keeping your body healthy helps ensure healthy hair growth!

STRESS MANAGEMENT

Stress is a known catalyst for hair loss. Try yoga, meditation, pilates, or even daily walks to help keep your body and mind calm! Exercise can also be good, but make sure not to overdo it. Over-exercising can also trigger excess hair shedding by increasing certain hormone levels. Moderation is best!

DON’T HESITATE TO GO TO YOUR DOCTOR

If you’re feeling unusually tired, lethargic or are experiencing other symptoms such as unexplained weight gain/loss, increased facial hair or heavier periods – go to your doctor and have blood tests requested. These can be symptoms of underlying disorders such as anaemia, vitamin deficiencies, follicle sensitivity, thyroid imbalances and PCOS. All of which can affect hair growth and the sooner you address them, the sooner your hair growth can improve.

KEEP YOUR SCALP HEALTHY

A healthy scalp encourages healthy hair growth. Try to wash your hair daily (or at least every other day) with the correct shampoo and conditioner for your hair type. Infrequent washing encourages dandruff, and studies have shown that dandruff can cause or exacerbate hair loss. If you already have dandruff, or a flaky/itchy scalp, use specialist shampoos and toners to help clear irritation and flakes.

If you are experiencing hair loss or are concerned with the rate which your hair is growing, please contact us at our Trichological Clinic to book an appointment with one of our trichologists.

Curly hair can either be medium textured, coarse or Afro-Caribbean, and depending on which texture category your curly hair falls into, the products will differ. To help find out your specific hair texture, please click here.

In general though, curly hair tends to tangle more easily than other hair types so use a daily detangling spray to ease out knots and reduce hair breakage.

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MEDIUM TEXTURED CURLY HAIR

SHAMPOOS & CONDITIONERS

Choose shampoos and conditioners that will balance the needs of dryer and older ends and newer roots.

Our Products: Moisture Balancing Shampoo & Conditioner

STYLING PRODUCTS

Medium textured curly hair needs styling products that will tame frizz, but at the same time won’t weigh the style down. Always apply styling products to the mid-lengths and ends of your hair and make sure that ‘silicone’ is not listed within the first 2 ingredients.

Our products: Preen Cream, Straight Hair, Daily Damage Defence and Curl Activator.

MOISTURIZING TREATMENTS

Apply a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment to medium textured, curly hair once a week. Twice weekly use is recommended for damaged, dry and chemically processed hair.

Our Products: Elasticiser

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COARSE TEXTURED CURLY HAIR

Coarse hair is usually always curly or very wavy. Due to the thicker diameter of coarse hair, it is more prone to moisture evaporation at the ends and dryness.

 SHAMPOOS & CONDITIONERS

Coarse, curly hair types should use shampoos and conditioners that restore moisture. Look for labels such as ‘moisturizing’, ‘re-moisturizing’ or ‘hydrating’.

Although time consuming to style, try to shampoo and condition your hair at least every other day. Contrary to popular belief, shampooing actually helps to re-hydrate hair as it’s water, not oil, content that keeps it supple. Use of a daily conditioner will help add shine and gloss, as it flattens the hair cuticle.

Our Products:  Re-Moisturizing Shampoo & Conditioner, Moisture Extreme Shampoo & Conditioner.

 STYLING PRODUCTS

Coarse, curly hair tends to get quite frizzy, so use of heavier styling products that add control and weight and tame flyaways are needed.  Coarse, curly hair doesn’t naturally reflect light as well as straight hair, so choose products that flatten the cuticle and encourage shine. If you straighten your hair, always use a product that helps protect against heat damage.

Our products: Smooth Cream, Minimizer, Straight Hair, Daily Damage Defence.

MOISTURIZING TREATMENTS

Use a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment at least once a week on curly, coarse hair. If you process, heat style  or colour your hair often, or if it is below shoulder length, use twice weekly. For a super moisturizing treatment, leave the treatment in overnight.

Our Products: Elasticizer Extreme.

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AFRO-CARIBBEAN HAIR

Afro Caribbean hair is the most vulnerable to damage out of any hair type due to its unique structure and configuration. While Afro hair is extremely curly, the individual diameter of each hair is fine, which make it even more prone to breakage. For this hair texture, use of bespoke products that restore hydration and elasticity is essential.

SHAMPOOS & CONDITIONERS

Choose shampoos and conditioners that intensively hydrate and add shine. Philip Kingsley has a special range called ‘Moisture Extreme’ that is specifically designed for African-Caribbean hair types.

STYLING PRODUCTS

If you allow your hair to dry naturally, use products that help add curl retention, separation and shine. However, if you regularly straighten your hair, always apply a heat protective styling spray and/or serum beforehand.

Afro-Caribbean hair can become very tangled, so gently ease any out with a wide tooth comb, starting at the tips of your hair and gradually working up towards the roots. Roughly pulling a brush through any hair texture that is knotted, but especially Afro hair, can cause severe breakage.

Our Products: Daily Damage Defence, Minimizer, Straight Hair.

MOISTURIZING TREATMENTS

Use an intensive pre-shampoo conditioning treatment at least twice a week. For extra hydration, try sleeping with it in overnight.

Our Product: Elasticizer Extreme

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1.  Shake together equal quantities of witch hazel and mouth wash – 60g of each is sufficient.
2. Add 15ml of Vodka and shake again.
3. Apply the mixture to your scalp with a ball of cotton wool in 2inch partings from ear to ear.
4. Massage into your scalp for 5 minutes and follow with the appropriate shampoo and conditioner for your hair type.

If you have an itchy, irritated scalp you may also want to try our (ready made!) and award winning Philip Kingsley Flaky/Itchy Scalp Shampoo, Scalp Toner and Exfoliating Scalp Mask.

As it is Thinning Hair Awareness Week, we thought we would shed light on this sensitive subject by dispelling one of the most common and counterproductive misconceptions – that hair loss and hair thinning predominately effects men.

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If you are a woman experiencing hair loss, the major problem with this misconception is that it can cause you to feel embarrassed about seeking help. And you may also hesitate to ask for support or guidance from friends and family thinking you are alone in your struggles. But, rest assured this is not the case. The occurrence of hair loss in women is vastly underestimated – and it may surprise you to hear that hair loss and thinning hair in women of all ages is very common. In fact, not a day goes by in our trichological clinics when we do not encounter a new case of female hair loss. However, the earlier that the problem is treated, the better the prognosis and the sooner you can start to regain your self-confidence!

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Hair loss and hair thinning in women can be caused by a wide number of factors ranging from pregnancy, diet, stress and general health to birth control pills, menopause, PCOS and genetics – it can also occur anytime from puberty. However, the good news is that a lot can be done to correct it. And you will be happy to know that female hair loss is often much easier to treat than men’s due to a wider variety of treatments available. If you are concerned you are losing your hair, and would like to find out more, please contact the Philip Kingsley Clinic, in either London or New York, to book an appointment to see a Philip Kingsley trichologist.

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If you are interested in learning more about the different causes of female hair loss, please click on one of the links below.

HAIR LOSS IN WOMEN: POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME AND ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES.

POST PARTUM HAIR LOSS

HAIR LOSS AND YOUR DIET

STRESS AND HAIR LOSS

EXAM STRESS AND HAIR LOSS

PK TRICHOLOGIST, GLENN LYONS, DISCUSSES CHEMOTHERAPY AND HAIR LOSS

HAIR LOSS: 5 COMMON CAUSES OF HAIR LOSS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT

‘MY HAIR WON’T GROW PAST A CERTAIN LENGTH’: THE CAUSES AND REMEDIES