Greying and thinning, and flat and dull hair shouldn’t be problems you have to live with just because you’re getting older. These tips, treatments and products should help take years off the way your hair looks. Think bounce, shine, volume.
Greying and thinning, and flat and dull hair shouldn’t be problems you have to live with just because you’re getting older. These tips, treatments and products should help take years off the way your hair looks. Think bounce, shine, volume.
DELAY THE GREYING PROCESS
The hair follicles contain pigment cells that give your hair its natural colour. As time passes, these cells decrease, so new hair is lighter in colour. The cells decrease to the point where none are left. That’s when hair becomes white.
TRY THESE:
1 L’Oreal Professionnel Serioxyl Black & Full Scalp Rejuvenating Essence ($78) is a daily hair-loss treatment with black shou wu, a traditional Chinese herbal extract that infuses hair with dark pigments – so that what would otherwise become grey stays black longer.
2 PHS Hairscience is a clinical-grade bio-cosmetic brand whose Age Defy Grey Reverse Activator ($274) helps reactivate pigment cells. The result of this increase in melanin production is darker hair.
BRING THE BOUNCE BACK TO FLAT, LIMP HAIR
Humidity, dirt and your scalp’s natural oils are a sure-fire combo for weighing hair down. Singapore’s all-the-time humidity is also the reason why wavy strands straighten out, and fine strands go limp. Why? All that moisture in the air has to go somewhere, so it lands on skin and is absorbed by hair. If your hair is already thinning as a result of ageing, it will inevitably appear a lot flatter.
TRY THESE:
1 The idea behind aesthetic clinic SW1 Clinic’s Full Potential Program ($8,731.20) is that if the scalp is healthy and strong, the hair will also be healthy and strong as well as thick, so it has more volume and bounce. The holistic programme creates an optimised environment for hair so it feels thicker and fuller. It comprises two treatments: two Kera-clone Therapy sessions to increase circulation in the scalp and stimulate the hair roots; and six Revage 670 low-level laser sessions, which are meant to encourage hair cell regeneration for strands that feel thicker, suppler and more durable.
2 A volumising product sprayed at the roots gives fine, limp hair the extra lift it needs to look fuller. Percy & Reed Up, Up & Away Root Lift Mousse ($29) is a lightweight spray-to-mousse product with styling polymers that give hair volume and movement. It also protects against heat styling and humidity, warding off frizz and flyaways.
MAKE DULL-LOOKING HAIR SHINE AGAIN
The constant use of heat-styling tools, too much chemical processing, and exposure to chlorine and/or salt water strips hair of its keratin and natural oils.
An easy way to bring back the shine: Brush your hair regularly. This stimulates natural oil production and distributes the oils for a healthy-looking gleam. It’s best done with a natural boar-bristle brush, which is regarded as gentler on hair. And it helps if you drink plenty of water too – keep your body hydrated and your hair will benefit from it.
TRY THESE:
1 A multi-nutrient oral supplement like Swisse Ultiboost Hair Skin Nails ($49) could give hair, skin and nails a boost. The biotin, selenium, vitamin C and zinc in it are meant to protect cells against free radical damage and promote collagen production. Available in tablet or liquid form.
2 Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask, from $14, is an intensive treatment that delivers vitamin B, rose hip and argan oils, collagen and algae extracts to repair and improve hair.
TREAT UV-DAMAGED HAIR
Years of sun exposure can ruin the hair cuticle, resulting in discoloration (in short, hair becomes sun-bleached). It can also cause thinning, dryness, brittleness, frizz, breakage and split ends.
If you already apply sunscreen on your skin, do the same for your hair. In addition, replenish lost moisture and nutrients with a hair mask or serum so the strands look smooth, healthy and shiny again.
TRY THESE:
1 DrGL Sun Protection Mist SPF29/PA++ (Hair/Face/Body), which costs $88, is a top-to-toe sunscreen mist. It’s also said to protect against blue light, which can lead to premature ageing of skin and hair. We like how its lightweight texture doesn’t weigh hair down.
2 IGK Antisocial Overnight Bond-building Dry Hair Mask ($50) is a leave-in treatment that repairs and protects hair with vegan silk proteins (derived from plants, not silkworms). Apply before bedtime and wake up to smooth and shiny hair the next day.
GIVE HAIR A CHANCE TO GROW
We lose an average of 80 to 100 strands a day. But if you suspect you’re shedding more than that, you might want to visit a trichologist to rule out causes like hereditary factors, stress, diet and hormonal fluctuations.
While it’s hard to do much about genes or hormones that contribute to hair loss, there are treatments – both in the doctor’s office and over the counter – that are designed to help normalise hair growth in cases where stress and a poor diet are causing preventable hair fall. Supplement the treatments with a hair-friendly diet rich in protein, biotin, vitamin C, iron, folate and omega-3 fatty acids.
TRY THESE:
1 Rene Furterer Triphasic Stimulating Shampoo ($39.90) is a silicone-free hair wash that boosts microcirculation in the scalp. A blend of hair root-stimulating essential oils like orange, lavender and rosemary encourages the hair to grow more normally.
2 Infused with a natural ginseng derivative and containing saponins (which are phytochemicals), the lightweight Ryo Hair Loss Care Essence ($26.90) treats hair from root to tip. Use it as a leave-on treatment in the final step of your haircare routine.
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