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: 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: 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: Relaxed Hair
December 10, 2008 | Damaged Hair, Dry Hair, Fine & Limp Hair
Dear Philip,
I relax my hair and it’s thin and dry from over-processing. Which line do you recommend for my hair type and why?
All together now: Russian Amber Imperial Shampoo. It’s an amazing rejuvenator for fried, overworked hair. Alternatively, a Four-Step Hair & Scalp Treatment would do wonders for you, too. Use it once a week and on the morning of your next salon appointment: Women all over the world have told me that they’ve gotten better results and far less breakage when they apply my Rejuvenating Oil (part of the Four-Step treatment) right before they have their hair relaxed.
ISSUE: Fine, Highlighted & Waist-Length
December 10, 2008 | Curly Hair, Fine & Limp Hair
Dear Philip,
I’ve just discovered your products! Being a an organic-minded purist — with very damaged, highlighted, fine, waist-long hair – I’m very excited to try them but have no clue where to start. After reading all the wonderful product descriptions, I know I could use them all, but can’t afford everything. I just got your Katira Masque, but what else?? I live in Hawaii, so on top of the drying effects of my hair color, I also have to deal with the sun, ocean and pool chlorine. I don’t want to cut my hair again — and I might not need to, since it’s slowly breaking off… Please help!
The natural oils from your scalp don’t tend to make it past the first 5-6 inches of your hair. So for someone with fine, super-long hair like yours, it’s especially important to give the lower reaches some intercellular moisture – something really rich and nourishing, yet light enough to not weigh you down. A Four-Step Hair & Scalp Facial Treatment gives a lot of bang for your buck. You’ll be amazed at how different your hair will feel after just one application; after that, use it once a week. In your case, Russian Amber would be the icing on the cake – use it sparingly and one jar should last you 4-5 months. And as for styling, I’d recommend Maui Wowie. It rocks in terms of giving hair volume and smells amazing. I spray it on damp or dry hair. (Since everyone’s hair is different, I make sure my products are versatile.) Play with it and see!
ISSUE: I want my fine hair to look thick!
November 12, 2008 | Fine & Limp Hair
Dear Philip,
Your Peppermint & Avocado Shampoo is my Favorite Hair Product Ever. Now I’m just looking for the right styling product. My hair is on the thin side and I want it to look thick and full.
Best,
Shannon
Dear Shannon,
For fine hair, I’m a strong proponent of a leave-in conditioning and thickening spray like Maui Wowie Beauty Mist – it really boosts volume and gives any style a wonderfully cool, piecey feeling. Spray a little on your hair – damp or dry – and work it through with your fingers. Mark my words, your hair will feel about ten times thicker!
ISSUE: My hair is breaking!
November 11, 2008 | Fine & Limp Hair
Dear Philip,
I have fine, straight, highlighted hair. I have to blow it out if I want any volume at all, but then I see a lot of breakage.
Jennifer
Dear Jennifer,
That means your hair’s not getting enough moisture to keep it in one piece. Conditioning fine hair is tricky – most people with this hair type are afraid of using an oil treatment, but in this case, it’s key. When I use my Four-Step Hair & Scalp Facial Treatment on thin hair, clients can’t believe the difference it makes: The hair looks ten times thicker and fuller, because I’m lifting away the heavy sebum; filling the strands with moisture; and then whisking any trace of oil off the surface. Also, my Katira Masque is ideal for fine hair. The formula is completely oil-free and you just apply it to clean, wet hair and let it dry before rinsing. While your hair is still swollen with water, the Katira jelly floods into all the gaps and absorbs into each strand. Once the water evaporates, you’re left with a fine, beautiful, weightless film of moisture, to make each strand plumper and smoother. Rinse it out and blow your hair dry – the fluffiness and manageability you’ll get is really and truly (swear to God!) dramatic.
