The hair expert is in - and wants to answer your questions.
ASK PHILIP B.
ISSUE: Volume & Color Protection, Please!
December 31, 2008 | Fine & Limp Hair
Dear Philip,
I’m amazed at the number of new products in your line! My very fine hair is in excellent condition - not dry, no split ends, and not permed or colored as it is evenly white in color. Fortunately, there’s a lot of it, but it’s so fine, it lacks body. Most products weigh it down or discolor the white over time.
Is there a rinse or conditioning product that will add body and not discolor white hair, that could be used in conjunction with your shampoos?
Since you have healthy hair, I suggest my pH Rejuvenating Detangling Mist: It will leave your hair in good condition without weighing it down. (If you want deeper conditioning, try my Four-Step Scalp & Hair Treatment Kit.) As for the texture of your hair, a few mists of Maui Wowie spray won’t discolor your hair a bit - and will certainly give extra volume and conditioning benefits. Spritz a little on wet hair, comb it through and let your hair dry naturally. Or, if you blow it dry, apply a few mists at the end. (In this case, the trick is to massage the mist in a downward direction through your hair. The product dries fast, so it’s important to move it through the hair quickly.) Enjoy!
ISSUE: Buying Your Products
December 31, 2008 | Special Cases
Dear Philip,
I live in the South Gate area of L.A. and would like to know where I can buy your products nearby.
Please check our website for locations or please feel free to order our products directly online. For the best customer service and selection, I always recommend ordering from our website.
ISSUE: Hair Conditioning for African-American Non-Chemically-Treated Hair
December 31, 2008 | African-American Hair, Damaged Hair
Dear Philip,
I’d like to receive recommendations of your products for African-American hair (non-chemically-treated). I have thick, somewhat coarse hair and normally wear it straight (flat ironed or pressed), yet at times wear it naturally curly. I have some breakage. My hair endures a lot of heat with the flat ironing and curling iron. I’m sure the Philip B Rejuvenating Oil is a good product to use. However, I’d like to receive additional recommendations to minimize breakage, improve the overall condition of my hair, intensify my curl pattern/enhance curls and control and minimize the frizz when wearing it naturally curly.
It sounds like you’re not shampooing more than once a week due to all the intense styling - and understandably so. Here’s my prescription: Every week, use the Peppermint & Avocado shampoo to lift away any styling product residue or debris - that will give you a good, clean starting point. From there, I’d use the Russian Amber or African Shea Butter Shampoo and Conditioner - and if you have time, a Katira Masque would be so protective. It actually imparts into the hair for up to a month, so when you iron it out, you truly get a Hollywood finish: soft, shiny, bouncy dream hair.
If you’re wearing your hair straight, you’ll want it to look clean and fresh, so use Anti-Frizz 57 on the ends. If you’re wearing your hair curly and need to bind it together, the Lovin’ Leave-in Conditioner would be fantastic.
ISSUE: Horrible Breakage
December 31, 2008 | Curly Hair, Damaged Hair
Dear Philip,
I come from such a racial mix, it’s insane - my ancestors are from at least 14 different countries. Therefore, I have frizzy, thick and curly hair. But my main concern is breakage. As far back as I can remember, I’ve had a lot of breakage, all in the front. I’m almost positive there isn’t a piece of unbroken hair on my head!!! I’m at a loss and sick of looking at this wild mane.
Katira Masque is incredible on hair like yours: It makes coarse, curly hair manageable and moisturized. I’d start with a dollop of Russian Amber - smush it into dry hair and lather it up in the shower, adding water gradually. Follow with a Katira Masque (comb it through and let it dry to a hard finish.) Rinse and use a little bit of African Shea Butter Classic Formula Conditioner - it’s particularly good for silkening and slip. And since curly, ethnic hair tends to be fragile, getting the right pH balance is really important, so finish with the pH Restorative Detangling Mist. If you want an alternate shampoo, I’d recommend the African Shea Butter Shampoo - it combines 3 different types of moisture and offers a way to cleanse your hair without stripping it.
ISSUE: Fine, Color-Treated Hair
December 31, 2008 | Color-Treated Hair, Fine & Limp Hair
Dear Philip,
I read about your products in the Nov. issue of Vogue and tried the Peppermint Avocado Clarifying Shampoo. I am more than hooked! I love this shampoo! I was hoping you could help me figure out the correct regimen for my hair type. My hair is extremely fine with a good amount of wave, which I typically try to straighten. I just ordered the Russian Imperial Shampoo and Katira Masque and can’t wait to try them: I figure with all of the processing, I can’t go wrong! I’d appreciate any advice on other products that would be appropriate for me. Thanks for such wonderful products!
Excellent choices. If I were you I’d simply integrate the Four-Step Treatment into your regimen - you can do that once every 1-2 weeks and alternate with a Katira Masque and Russian Amber Shampoo. As for styling, Shinade Pomade is great for making the ends piecey after a blowout; a little dab of Drop Dead Straight before you dry your hair can be wonderful, too. And if you want a little more texture and volume, I’d recommend Maui Wowie.
ISSUE: Thin Hair
December 31, 2008 | Special Cases, Thin Hair
Dear Philip,
I’m a 27-year old mother of four and have androgenic alopecia. My hair is very thin and just keeps getting thinner. Will you be making anything that will regrow hair or make hair thicker?
I assume you’re under a dermatologist’s care. Androgenic alopecia is tricky. The leading dermatologist I work with - Los Angeles’s Dr. Ava Shamban - says that the first thing you should do is get your hormones checked. If there’s no clear hormonal imbalance behind your hair loss, consider trying Rogaine for Women. It contains 2% minoxidil, the highest percentage approved by the FDA for women. (Depending on the severity of your problem, you might want to ask your doctor about stepping up to Extra-Strength Rogaine for Men, which contains 5% minoxidil.) A Four-Step Hair & Scalp Facial Treatment would be good for you, too. After the oil and shampooing steps, just be sure to apply the conditioning cream rinse and pH Balancing Mist to the hair only (not your scalp). Towel dry and apply the Rogaine to thinning areas. You’ll have to do this twice a day, morning and night, and hang in there: It usually takes 3-6 months to see results, and that’s with conscientious and continuous use.
ISSUE: Long Hair With Breakage at the Bottom
December 31, 2008 | Damaged Hair, Dry Hair, Fine & Limp Hair
Dear Philip,
My hair nearly reaches the bottom of my back. A day after I shampoo, I find that it’s oily at the top but dry from the mid-section down and the ends break. I have virgin hair and am wondering what products you would suggest and what care regimen I should adopt. I came to the site to order the Shea Butter and Peppermint & Avocado shampoos which I use alternately. I don’t use a conditioner or a rinse as they weigh my hair down, leaving it flat and lifeless.
This is easy. Step 1: Invest in a really good, natural bristle brush and use it before you shampoo. Make sure to brush from the scalp out to bring your natural oils to the rest of the hair shaft. (Even if you have an oily scalp, its conditioning effects usually don’t penetrate beyond the first five inches of hair without help.) And a bonus: Proper brushing helps to normalize the scalp. Step 2: To nourish the lower half of your hair, use my Four Step Hair & Scalp Facial Treatment Kit. The light plant and flower oils will condition the ends from the inside out without added weight; they’ll also soften the natural oils from your scalp. From there, the Peppermint & Avocado Shampoo washes away any excess oil to leave your hair and scalp squeaky clean, and the conditioner and pH Restorative Detangling Mist in the kit help ensure that your hair has the same level of moisturization from top to bottom. Step 3: On a regular basis, the Peppermint & Avocado Shampoo or Scent of Santa Fe would be ideal for soothing and normalizing an oily scalp. (If you have any flakiness, you can integrate Anti-Flake into your regimen too.) Finally, a Katira Masque once a week would be wonderful to keep your roots and midshaft healthy, and to give your hair natural volume and bounce.
ISSUE: Finally Growing!!
December 31, 2008 | Color-Treated Hair, Damaged Hair
Dear Philip,
In a word - thank you. I tried your products by sheer chance (the ladies at Blumercury happened to throw a sample in my bag) and the result was literally a miracle.
The top of my hair has not grown past the tops of my ears in 2 years. Not kidding. I’ve had this “bangs helmet” for ages and it’s as bad as it sounds. The main cause is breakage from several very bad highlight jobs. I even abandoned highlights for six months with no improvement.
Anyway, I’ve used your products for two months now and my hair has FINALLY crept below the top of my ears. It’s amazing. I use the White Truffle combo, along with the occasional Peppermint Avocado and now Katira. Love it.
I can’t thank you enough for the impact your products and website advice are having. BTW, do you have a hair color line or are you thinking about one?
I don’t have a hair color line coming out yet, but I’m so glad that you’re finding a way out of your predicament. On occasion, I come across cases like yours, usually caused by overlapping bleach in the highlighting process. First, ask your colorist to be extra careful when retouching your roots. Secondly, you should definitely integrate my Four Step Hair & Scalp Facial Treatment into your regimen, and always do a rejuvenating oil treatment two days before you color. Hair takes color so much better if it’s oiled in advance: Once the caustic chemicals ht your hair, that builty-in moisture will protect it from burning.
ISSUE: Alternating Shampoos
December 10, 2008 | Color-Treated Hair, Dry Hair
Dear Philip,
I’d like to know the appropriate way to use the truffle shampoo. Do I use it for 2 or 3 consecutive days and then alternate with another shampoo? Or can I use it every time I shampoo? Also, regarding the new hair mask: Should I use it on wet or dry hair for better absorption? (My hair is dry and color treated if that helps.)
You can use the supergentle White Truffle Shampoo almost on a daily basis. But after every second or third shampoo, you might want to use a clarifying shampoo like Peppermint & Avocado to release any styling-product buildup. No need to be aggressive: Just go in with a light lather and rinse well. From there, you can use the moisturizing White Truffle Shampoo or Conditioner. As to your other question: the Katira Masque works best when it’s applied to wet hair and left to dry. Since your hair feels parched, I suggesting mixing a small dollop of Lightweight Deep Conditioning Crème into the Katira jelly. Comb it through your hair, let it dry hard and rinse well. For best results, finish with a spritz of the pH Restorative Toning Mist – it detangles and gives you a nicer finish to work with.
ISSUE: Mixing Styling Products
December 10, 2008 | Curly Hair
Dear Philip,
I just recently started using your products, and already love them – I cannot say how much my hair has changed! My question: I have wavy hair, and I ordered Creme of the Crop for styling. Can I use this with the Shin Shine spray or Anti-Frizz, or will that be too many products?
I love to cocktail products myself. The key is to start off conservatively: Using too much at once will get you nowhere. Try a mist of Shin Shine on towel-dried hair, then work a little bit of Crème of the Crop and let it dry. The combination will give you beautifully defined waves and a nice, natural sheen.
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