Posts Tagged ‘James Corbett’

As a teenager I had greasy hair, but it’s normally shiny and healthy looking. However, recently I have found that my roots are greasy and the ends can be dry. I’m struggling to get a shampoo that doesn’t seem to make it worse. At the moment I’m using a clarifying shampoo, which is okay but not really working. Can you suggest any alternatives?

Cult Beauty expert James Corbett says:

“What causes some people to produce more sebum than others is not always known and the reasons for the problem may vary among individuals. The solution is largely trial and error, finding what works for you.

Oily hair can be an inherited condition, but if you feel this is a recent change then look to your hormones. The regularity of your cycle and birth control pills can change the body’s natural balance and cause the sebaceous glands to overact. In this case consult a doctor.

Have you changed your diet? I strongly believe diet can play a strong role in hair condition. If you fill your body with high fat foods (or too much dairy) low in nutrition and protein, it will come out in your hair. Of course, this is over a period of time and I’m not saying that if you splurge on a cheeseburger and fries one night you will wake up with oily hair. It’s a lifestyle thing, and you should consult a dietitian if you want to learn more.

Also consider if you have been more stressed than usual. (Who isn’t in this economy?) Stress boost bloodstream levels of androgen, a hormone that activates the sebaceous glands. So take a yoga class, a guided meditation class, or whatever you find makes you relax.

Now we have determined the general causes, let’s discuss ways to combat the problem. Try not to run the fingers/ hands through the hair, and avoid brushing as much as possible. The more you stimulate the scalp the more oils it will produce.

The matter of how often to shampoo is a very split topic. I recommend trying each method for a while to see, which works best for you. Some say that the more you shampoo the more you will remove oil. This seems logical but some believe that this stimulates the oil glands to produce more and exacerbates the problem. You could try letting your hair rest to stop the oil glands producing more, but if you go for this method you have to commit to it and give it a good try. I would say at least a month. Try washing every other day and the hair glands may regulate, but it doesn’t happen overnight.

The type of shampoo you use can help as well. Clarifying shampoos are a good option, but make sure they don’t contain harsh ingredients like Sodium Lauryl Sulphate. Harsher shampoos may cause your glands to produce more oils so don’t think chemicals are the answer! Look for ingredients like Sage, Rosemary, Peppermint, and Zinc. I personally love Philip B products: Peppermint and Avocado Shampoo and the Anti Flake Shampoo for oily hair (which also contains Zinc). When using treatment shampoos like this, let them sit for 3-5 minutes, make sure to work through from root to tip, and rinse very well.”

I also do oil treatments with these oils applied to the scalp to regulate the glands.”

Philip B hair care products are available from John Lewis stores nationwide.

Flicking through the December issue of Allure magazine this morning we were totally pleased (but not at all surprised) to see Cult Beauty expert James Corbett featured in Allure’s directory of the top colourists in the US.

And it seems James’ innovative and multi-dimensional use of colour left Allure all aglow as they noted:

“The last time we requested barely there highlights at a salon, we spent two hours in the chair and got nothing but a few face-framing streaks. But Corbett painted dozens of superfine sections in champagne and wrapped them in foil, coating the sections in between with a sandy shade for contrast. After a deep conditioning treatment, he added a translucent glaze that produced a mirror-like sheen that was hard to miss – and easy to love.”

So if you find yourself in New York in the run up to Christmas be sure to pop along to the James Corbett Studio and have this wizard work his magic. You too could be a bobby dazzler in no time.

James Corbett Studio, 32 Union Square East, New York, +001 212-388-1296. Prices from $225.

I just read this piece of beauty news and I’ve got to tell you, it annoyed me. A new survey has shown that three quarters of UK beauty consumers don’t check the ingredients list of products because they perceive there to be ‘no need’.

Why do we continue to bury our heads in the sand and allow the cosmetic giants to fill products with harsh/unnecessary/carsinogenic ingredients thanks to this unfortunate consumer condition, ‘brand loyalty’?

It’s naïve to assume that just because a product is made by a big name manufacturer its ingredients are actually good for you. Many nail varnishes, for example, contain formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phthalate – three highly toxic chemicals that have a high hazard score of 10 on the Skin Deep database (the hazard score is on 0-10 scale, 10 corresponding to highest concern). All three ingredients are linked to cancer, reproductive toxicity and allergies, but  are totally unnecessary in nail varnish formulations. (Nubar is a fantastic cult nail brand that keeps all its products ‘3 free’.)

The survery, carried out by Mintel, also revealed that consumers are reassured by products that are labelled natural, believing such assertations leave no reason to check the ingredients. Yet there is currently no EU regulation on the term ‘natural’, meaning brands are free to use it on any product they like, regardless of what’s in it, just to jump on the green bandwagon. (At Cult Beauty we believe this is wrong, so when we say natural we mean products that use at least 50 per cent natural ingredients.)

This not only means that we’re parting with hard-earned cash for products that aren’t what they seem; we’re failing to spot the products with truly beneficial ingredients. Do your research on what you should be looking for in, for example, a shampoo, then study the label to see if your chosen product will deliver the results it claims to. (FYI, Cult Beauty expert James Corbett recommends looking out for ingredients like Sage, Rosemary, Peppermint and Zinc when choosing a shampoo). And watch out for that nasty formaldehyde, it’s a preservative that  crops up everywhere; in shampoo, conditioner, shower gel…even children’s bubble bath.

The label: it really is the key to beauty’s best kept secrets.