Are your tresses suffering from the heat and humidity at this sweltering time of year? Angela Beitz finds out what you can do to help and tries a new and innovative treatment which is perfect for unruly locks.
It’s a common problem – summer hits and your hair either resembles a lank mop or a dry, frizzy mess that can’t be tamed. Some de-frizzing treatments can be very costly and hard to maintain. We spoke to Ilyn Macarilay, hairstylist and Kerastase ambassador at Sisters Beauty Lounge to get some advice and find out why hair becomes so difficult at this time of year.
‘It is quite usual for hair to frizz in the summer due to humidity levels – especially here in Abu Dhabi, [as]humidity is so high. The water can also make hair look frizzy because it is hard and contains a high amount of chlorine,’ she says.
The war to combat frizz all starts with washing and the products you use after. ‘When washing hair, for the second wash use cool water instead of warm. This will help to close the hair cuticle which in turn will decrease frizz because heat on hair opens the cuticle. It is best to leave hair to dry naturally when you can. Once [your]hair is towel dried apply a serum such as Kerastase Elixir and then comb through and leave to dry.’
With oily hair, you first need to decide if the problem is all over or just at the roots. ‘If just the roots of your hair are oily (and scalp is normal or dry), use a balancing shampoo such as Bain Divalent from Kerastase and only blowdry your hair on cold since heat makes the scalp oilier. If you have an oily scalp and oily hair, use a clarifying shampoo such as Bain Clarifiant shampoo also by Kerastase. These shampoos will regulate the production of excess sebum and cleanse your scalp, leaving your hair soft and deeply cleansed. Also, don’t overload your hair with product as it will add excess oil you don’t need.’
The main cause of hair frizzing is dryness. Dry hair can also be caused by your body lacking in essential acids which, in turn, result in dehydration, so Ilyn recommends drinking plenty of water. ‘If you tend to colour your hair the chemicals used can also dry your hair. To maintain great looking hair without the dryness a great mask is vital to use at home. Use a hair mask once or twice a week to tame away frizz and leave your hair smooth and shiny.’
Sisters Beauty Lounge, Khalifa Bin Sjakbout Street, Al Bateen (02 222 2502).
The L’Oreal Steam Pod: the beginning of a frizz-free revolution?
The L’oreal Steam Pod is a new hair initiative. It is essentially a treatment that uses a mask and then a steam straightening iron system to improve the condition of the hair by closing the cuticle, smoothing and eliminating frizz. The end result promises smooth, healthy and conditioned hair with a radiant shine.
We meet our hairdresser, Scenaria Malaika, senior hair stylist from Dashing Hair who started by talking us through how the treatment actually works.
First we had our hair washed with a L’Oreal shampoo and a conditioner suited to our hair type. A pro-keratin cream or serum (or both) is added to your locks before they are dried off to 80 percent or 100 percent depending on your hair type.
While this was happening we asked Scenaria about the Steam Pod. ‘I have been with L’Oreal for eight years and at first I was very against the idea. I thought it would be bad for hair. But it really is amazing and you will be addicted once you see the results.’
Scenaria dries our hair completely because she says it gives the steam pod a better chance of closing the cuticle. The hair straighteners (which are larger and heavier than regular ones) work like a clothing steam system. The temperature settings can be adjusted to suit the sensitivity of the hair and the desired style. As the straighteners are worked through the hair, the anodised ceramic floating plates deliver a continuous flow of high-pressure steam, allowing the pro-keratin to penetrate the hair cuticle. Hair can be styled with volume and bounce or super straight. Either way, hair remains frizz-free.
The verdict
We could feel the incredible softness and smoothness of our hair straight away. There wasn’t a fly-away strand in sight and it had more shine. It felt heavier and dense, which is to be expected since the treatment coats the hair to weigh it down, which helps to make it smooth. Scenaria was great and gave us some really good general advice. She had also recently had the Steam Pod treatment on her own hair so was in the perfect position to give us some useful first hand advice.
The Steam Pod treatment costs from Dhs200-Dhs450 depending on length of hair. Dashing Hair, Delma Street behind Trans AD building (02 441 0333); Khalifa City A, next to Silkor (02 553 1775).
Three more great treatments to try
Hair relaxing
An effective option for people who want to beat frizz without changing their look Prices start at Dhs1,500.
Kazumi Salon, Grand Millennium Al Wahda (02 495 3940).
Kerastaste hydration
Hydrating treatment that will transform dry hair along with helping to seal the cuticle to avoid frizziness.
Dhs200. Hairworks Abu Dhabi, first floor, above Spinneys Khalidiyah, Khalidiyah (02 681 6678).
Wella hydrating treatment
Helps smooth your hair and give it body.
Glamour Hair Salon, El-Nilen Bank Building, 4th Street by Corniche Road Al Markaziyah (02 626 3002).
