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Whether for celebrities or normal people, the late celebrity hairdresser Joshua Galvin – one of Vidal Sassoon's top London stylists in the 60s – always gave the same hair tips to everyone:
- Never let your hair get out of condition. It's much easier to keep your hair in hand than to try and do damage control. Once it's damaged, there's only so much a hairdresser can do.
- Ask the experts before you treat your own hair. Most damage to hair is done by the owner of the hair. Many people do heat damage to their hair, overwork the hair, do damage while straightening it or spend too much time under hot dryers. The sun, sea and the wind can also do a fair amount of damage; so can brushes, combs and heat.
- Leave conditioner in your hair for at least 2 - 3 minutes. Many people apply conditioner and wash it off straight away. This doesn't allow enough time for it to do its job. Rinse off the conditioner in water that's as cold as you can stand it.
- A rake-type comb is best. Start at the bottom and divide your hair into sections. Work upwards from there. Never use a brush on wet hair, as wet hair is very pliable and can break easily.
- Stay away from real hair wigs. If your hair has fallen out because of stress or chemotherapy, or for whatever reason, rather get a fibre wig than one made from real hair. Fibre wigs with wider meshes, aren't as hot to wear, as they allow for more ventilation. Real hair is very expensive, and with it comes all the problems people have with real hair. Few people can tell the difference between real hair and artificial fibres.
- Your hair reflects your health. If you're very ill or run-down, your hair is going to show it. If you live on junk food, you're going to have junk hair. For the time you're ill, your body diverts energy from you hair and nails in order to facilitate the healing process elsewhere. If you hair has become limp and lifeless, you should get to your GP – there might be something else going on with you.
- Always go to the best you can. Don’t waste money, but go to the best hairdresser you can afford. Well-cut hair grows into a good shape, and you might not have it cut quite as often.
- Think carefully before cutting your hair short. Hair grows about a centimetre a month, but it can all be cut off in minutes. You have to be sure it’s what you want, as it cannot be reversed. It's also an idea to go for a consultation with a hairdresser first, before you make any drastic, irreversible decisions.
- Have your hair cut every 6 - 8 weeks. This avoids split ends, and it also enables the hairdresser to alert you to any sudden change in the condition of your hair. Long hair can be left for longer than this, if it's well looked after.
- Be clever with colour. Don’t use a colour that doesn’t suit your complexion. It's going to look artificial. Be careful with very dark colours. Older people need to go lighter when choosing hair colour, as very dark hair on someone of 75 is going to look unnatural.
