Tress Management

With expertise from Limelite, the beauty salon that has been making waves in Chennai, Susan George untangles the basics of hair care for the busy corporate executive

Ever had one of those days when your hair stubbornly refuses to co-operate? Too flat or completely out-of-control, too frizzy or too limp, bad hair days occur as frequently as the common cold. What is the hair care routine that best suits your mane? Isadora Zhimomi, senior hairdresser at Limelite with eleven years’ experience in the line, says that first off, know your hair type.

"The basic routine is wash and condition," says Zhimomi. If that sounds elementary, think again. For oily hair, she advises completely eliminating conditioner, as it only enhances the "grease factor" in the hair. If you’ve lucked out with healthy, low-maintenance tresses, your hair care budget should still include conditioner, says Zhimomi. "Even for healthy hair it’s best that you condition the ends, as it tends to get drier than the rest," she contends. For men with shorter hair, a mild conditioner, preferably from natural extracts like avocado, is the best option. "Men tend to wash their hair every day and so it dries out easily. It’s best to gently massage conditioner to the hair, as otherwise it will get overly greasy." In the whirlwind of corporate life, most executives tend to blow dry their hair, before heading off to a meeting. It’s advisable to limit blow drying to once or twice a week as it weakens and dries the hair, causing it to break off. While on a corporate trip, it’s best to carry your own set of shampoo and conditioner. (Though up-market business hotels do provide quality bath products, they may not suit your specific hair type). Zhimomi says that indulging in a hot oil head massage, can help relieve much of the travel stress. There is no substitute to eating right and drinking plenty of water among hair care rules.

Hues Out There?

Choosing the ideal hair colour can be an arduous task. Zhimomi suggests that instead of first focussing on the colour, choose a brand that is proven to have less chemical content. "At Limelite, we use the German product, Wella, which incorporates a lot of natural ingredients," explains Zhimomi. When it comes to colouring hair, don’t get locked into the latest trends from the West, she advises. "The criterion should be, ‘What goes with my skin tone?’. Each brand has different shades of the same colour and it’s better not to experiment too much with colours, especially in the business world. It’s always better to stick to darker tones like reds and violets, and not simply opt for what’s "in"." The post-colouring phase is as significant as picking the perfect shade. It’s important that one uses a specialised shampoo and conditioner for colour-treated hair, says Zhimomi. Not only does the colour stay on longer, these products also give extra nourishment and protection to one’s tresses. Dismantling myths, she says that colouring hair may actually strengthen thin hair as it coats the cuticle, giving hair more thickness. As far as gel-styling mousse-hair spray rules, the rules are simple: steer clear of cheap products and wash it off as soon as possible.

Tressence

While no one promises miracle cures, hair Aromatherapy seems to be the new thing in hair care. "At Limelite, we have an aroma lab where we mix the oil according to client requirements. The carrier or basic oil is usually olive or almond oil and then we add two or three drops of the therapeutic oil and then we steam the blend," states Zhimomi. While cedar wood oil is used for hair infections, lavender and rosemary are added as healing or relaxing oils. With the assortment of products now in the market, one thing’s for sure - corporate grooming has never been quite so much fun.