How to wear- The Leyla
Products, potions and lotions. Humectants, Cationic resin and Behentrimonium Chloride. No its not JK Rowlings new book- it’s the hair product shelf in your local Boots and Space NK.
If you have had a haircut by one of us at your home, or ever seen a picture of our kit bags, you will know we keep about a maximum of 6-7 products stashed in there at any one time. Now this is partly because at least once a week something doesn't have a lid on and leaks, but it is more so down to the fact that once we find something we like, we use it for practically everything.Just like your favourite bowl, it may have been made especially for one kind of dish- but you end up using it for everything you cook. The same goes for products, a great one can be used for both air drying and blowdrying; giving volume, texture, movement and hold without making the hair feel crunchy or weighing the roots down on the second day. In all cases, less is more. You really have to build it up.
So with that in mind lets go back to the hair shelf in Boots or Space NK…
The ever growing array of volumizing shampoos, mousses and texture sprays across the market these days is confusing at the best of times.
Below are what some of our beautiful clients love to use. The best thing about hair is all the secret products and routines people swear by. You don’t get this from the back of a product label- it is the culmination of years of living with your hair, whether you hated it in your teenage years, then embraced it later on. There are gems of brilliant knowledge out there if you look for it.
Enjoy!
Millie -
In terms of hair care I use a moisturising shampoo and a curly hair conditioner that makes my hair really soft and shiny.
I usually just leave it to air dry and don't use anything else - most of my styling is done with a tiny bit of water on my fingers/brush and then doing it all by hand.
Louisa- I honestly do absolutely nothing, I just get out the shower and occasionally dry it with a Tshirt, and just let it chill.
I feel like maybe that’s a lockdown thing. Pre-lockdown I’d use some of that lush R+B hair moisturiser which was really good to make it less dry at the ends when it was long but don’t need that anymore thanks to you!
Bashi-
To be honest I don't like spending too much time on my hair. I used to be doing the no poo method but now I'm back to using shampoo.
The brand I'm using is called Desert Essence Organics. I wash my hair with it and then put the same brand's hair conditioner and leave the shower without rinsing my hair.
I try to air dry my hair when possible but if it's cold or I'm in rush, I only blow dry my roots and let the rest air dry. This way I don't loose my waves and also freeze 😃
Bea-
I wash my hair around once a week, alternating between Noughty’s co-wash, To the Rescue shampoo, conditioner and hair mask. I love their products because they’re cruelty free and smell great, without breaking a poor art student’s bank!
On a wash day, I comb Noughty’s leave in conditioner through my hair followed by a spritz and scrunch of their curl primer.
For a mid week refresh, I love Hershesons’ almost everything cream. When it gets a little knotty between washes, I wet my hands and run them through my hair to lightly dampen it, then comb it with a wide toothed comb and massage in a little Almost Everything cream or if it’s getting greasy then something lighter like the curl primer.
The best trick of all is, if my hair is looking flat, I turn my head upside down and ruffle and scrunch my hands through it, like Sean Paul taught me!
Oh crap I always air dry it...forgot to put that in
And then I just let it air dry, I usually wash it on a Sunday so wander around doing something for an hour or so.
Clarice -
I’ve found a few little tricks which work to help keep my curls as bouncing and happy as possible.
The final thing I do in the shower is to hang my head upside down and let the water run down through it, then I gently comb my finger through and squeeze it dry.
After this, I don’t over touch it and certainly wouldn’t comb it as that almost definitely is going to make my hair frizzy. After trying so many different oils, serums, mouses and sprays, I’ve realised that my hair is most happy with a gel with a light hold.
I use Umberto Giannini Curl Jelly, applying a small amount into my hands, distributing it evenly through my curls, squeezing them as I go. I then loosely find my parting and use my hair dryer with a diffuser on a low heat and a low air flow.
I hold it there for a while until I think that part has dried and then move on. It takes a little while but I find that it will help make my curls as bouncy as possible.
On days that I’m in a rush I do everything as above but let my hair dry naturally instead, this results in a looser curl for me but I still love how it looks!
Leyla - As you guys remember about one year ago exactly one week before the official lockdown I had a hair cut with Sean. The hair has grown but I still adore it as I did day one!
Styling is so easy with this hair cut! The messier the better. I wash it with Philip Kingsley shampoo and conditioner then towel dry and apply Be curly by Aveda then let it air dry and voila!!