On Tuesday I learned that world famous Trichologist, Philip Kingsley, had passed away. I met Mr. Kingsley over three years ago in East Hampton. I was 6 months away from launching Travel Beauty and was not only keen on carrying his iconic hair care line (at the time you would have been hard pressed to find his line in The US) but have him sit on Travel Beauty’s panel of experts.

My First Encounter With Philip Kingsley

I still remember vividly picking up the phone to cold call Mr. Kingsley to ask him for a meeting. I was so nervous, heart pounding and hands clammy, the phone virtually slipping out of my hands. As the phone rang – my heart was in my throat. By some miracle I was invited to meet him at his home in East Hampton. I couldn’t believe that I was actually going to meet Philip Kingsley. Growing up in New York City in a building where many famous celebrities were my neighbors, I have never been one to be star struck, but I was in Mr. Kingsley’s case. I also had the pleasure of meeting his lovely wife Joan and daughter Anabel. Philip Kingsley was such an inspiring man. There are times when we cross paths with people that make an impression and Philip Kingsley did.

We sat down in the living room and he recounted stories about how Laurence Olivier had come to see him. Apparently a lesser known player in The Royal Shakespeare Company had visited Mr. Kingsley who was able to help him with his hair and scalp issues. Laurence heard about Philip and went to see him as well. The rest of The Royal Shakespeare Company followed soon after. “I remember one chap” he said, “he had no hair left, so there was nothing I could do for him, you see.” He joked “I don’t like to waste anyone’s time, if I can’t help someone I tell them straight away and if there is no hair left, there is nothing I can do to help, I’m afraid”

A Tale of Ducks

Philip Kingsley was a great storyteller. Every product in his line had a magical story behind it. He told me about Audrey Hepburn, The US Olympic Synchronized Swimming Team and ducks – yes ducks! Let’s start with the ducks. Kingsley painted a picture: “Fall was turning into winter and I was in the country and noticed a number of ducks at the foot of a pond…” Their feathers were healthy and glistening and I thought, let me find out what gives their feathers such sheen – their feathers were always so healthy looking despite the bitter cold and constant immersion in water. Kingsley was onto something. He conducted some research and discovered that there was an element in duck feathers that promoted shine and luster. Using this knowledge he formulated Preen Cream for the purpose of infusing life back into dry, dull hair. This was my favorite story.

A Bespoke Formulation For Audrey Hepburn

Then there was Audrey – Elasticizer had been devised expressly for Audrey Hepburn. Her hair had been so over processed from coiffing on film sets that it had become exceedingly brittle and dry to the point of breakage. Audrey went to visit Philip and he created Elasticizer for her to address her severe brand of hair fry. Today Elasticizer is an iconic hair hero and one of the most important fixtures in my shower.

Kingsley’s Passion For His Work

Kingsley truly cared for his patients and wanted to communicate just how important his work was to him. It was as if he was trying to impart upon me the feeling of joy and passion that he felt for the people he cared for, his field of Trichology and product development.  After 50 years of practicing, he still loved what he did and was in a constant state of wonder and fascination. This is a common trait that I have observed in so many successful individuals over the years. It does not matter how hard one works, if he or she does not love the work, it is difficult to become successful, however one defines success.

Here is a round-up of some of the wonderful editorial pieces that Mr. Kingsley kindly authored for Travel Beauty over the years. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to know and collaborate with him.

Vacation Hair Care: Sand and Slopes

There is very little difference between caring for your hair at the beach and while skiing. In each instance your hair is subjected to similar environmental hazards. For example, windy conditions, the sun, sweat, salt or chlorinated pool/sauna water, even hats—be they large rimmed sun hats or snug & wooly ski attire. The primary consideration is protection from all of these elements, of which I will describe below: Read more.

Summer Hair Myths Debunked

Having practiced trichology for over 50 years, I have heard a fair few misconceptions about hair in my consultation rooms, ranging from the misguided to the downright absurd. I thought I would share the more common ones, and, as we are in the height of summer, they shall be summer themed, too! Read more.

Minimizing Static Hair and Hat Hair

Three amazing phenomena of hair (and I could name many!) are its electrical properties, insulation potential and ability to change shape with the addition of heat and/or water. Sadly, however, these also mean the occurrence of static flyaways and horrendously frustrating hat hair. No one is immune, but from my many years of experience, both personally and from helping my clients, I have accumulated useful methods of minimizing their occurrence. Read more.

By: Alyssa Barrie Weiss, Twitter: @AlyssaBarrie

Last winter we begged Philip Kingsley—much like the magazine editors he mentions, below—to advise us on how to best show our hair some TLC during this party/travel/cold weather-laden time of year. We’ve resurface Philip’s guidance as the holiday season jumps into full swing.

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During December, I am inundated with questions from magazines regarding maintaining hair health in the winter. This isn’t the case with my patients, mind you, who come en masse to my clinics during January with hair that has been subjected to various assaults over the holiday season. It seems that many (including my wife and 2 daughters!) throw caution to the wind during this time, choosing to suffer the consequences afterwards. I am hoping this article has caught your attention early enough so you can avoid the January hair blues this year. In this month’s article I am sharing my PRE New Years Resolutions so you can toast in 2015 with beautiful, healthy locks.

CONDITION. And Correctly!

Conditioner is a vital component of any hair care regime. It isn’t simply a devise to mask problems, but a well-formulated one will help restore health to your hair and treat brittleness and dryness. However, many people – especially those with fine hair – steer clear of using conditioner as they find it weighs their hair down. To avoid this, simply apply it to your mid-lengths and ends only. Contrary to the ‘all over’ application I frequently encounter at hair salons, conditioner is never meant to touch your roots. They don’t need it and it will indeed create limpness.

General Health

Hair is an excellent barometer of general health – with flus, high fevers and stomach bugs frequently affecting the hair growth cycle. This can result in mass hair shedding 6-8 weeks later and may last as long as 6 weeks depending on the severity and duration of the illness. While there is no foolproof way to avoid getting sick, I strongly suggest you ask your doctor about getting a flu shot. It takes a mere few seconds and may help you avoid a serious hair blip.

Bleaching

December is one of the busiest times for salons in terms of hair processing. Who doesn’t like to have a head of freshly done colour for Christmas and New Years!? While you may time this quite well after your last appointment, leaving at least 6 weeks in-between, this isn’t always possible. Quite commonly, it is much less and this can lead to overlapping of previously done colour, resulting in breakage near the root area. To strengthen your hair pre-colour, prep it a few days before a salon visit with my pre-shampoo conditioning treatment, Elasticizer, and then again a few days after. You can also discuss your concerns with your stylist so that they are even more cautious than usual.

Split Ends

It may well be the season to be jolly, but it is also the season of blow-dryer tomfoolery, sizzling styling tongues and haphazard de-tangling. The result? A frightful case of split ends. Firstly, take a look at your ends (yes, right now). If you see splits occurring, make an appointment to see your stylist ASAP. If you leave them, they can split all the way up the hair shaft and cause a great deal of damage. Contrary to popular belief, split ends cannot be mended – and the only cure is to snip them off. To avoid them in the first place, choose brushes with widely spaced and padded plastic prongs, always apply a detangling spray (Daily Damage Defence) before combing, and be sure to detangle starting at your ends – never your roots. Also, limit your use of hair straighteners to twice a week, and use a heat protective conditioning serum, like my Straight Hair, when doing so.

Though some members of the Travel Beauty team have sworn off blow dryers, we know such a stance is not a viable option for everyone. Blow dryers have become an indispensable styling tool to women (and men) everywhere. We here at Travel Beauty would certainly never underestimate the positive effects of a beautiful blowout! Unfortunately, constant blow drying can damage hair, making it look less beautiful over time. What to do, what to do?!

We asked legendary Trichologist and Travel Beauty Expert Philip Kingsley for his sage advice on blow dryer best practices so we can style as safely as possible. You’ll be surprised to hear his stance on blow dry styling! Read on…

Q: Should blow dryers be eliminated from my hair routine?

A: Definitely not! The blow dryer is an excellent tool to help style the hair in the way that is most pleasing. Hair is deeply psychological and a hairstyle you are happy with is a great morale booster.

The poor blow dryer has been unfairly blamed for many hair problems: hair loss, dry hair, breaking hair, dull hair…just to name a few. However, with correct use, the blow dryer does no damage at all. It should be held a minimum of 9 inches away from the hair, and as the hair dries, the heat should be reduced until the hair is just dried – not longer. Damage occurs when the dryer is kept on after the hair has dried. This will result in the moisture content of the hair cells being depleted – and can lead to breakage and dullness. You can also help protect your hair with a heat protective conditioning spray, like Daily Damage Defence. (If the dryer damage is already done, weekly deep conditioning treatments with Elasticizer will go a long way in restoring hair health.)

Furthermore, it’s important to remember that the styling brush you use can do a great deal of damage. I have seen many cases where excessive pulling of the hair and scratching of the scalp has resulted in mass hair breakage and traction hair loss, as well as a sore (and sometimes damaged) scalp. In terms of the hair, it is technically dead tissue once grown, and therefore does not regenerate itself once damaged like the cells of your skin do. Hair needs to be treated with consideration! Careful use of both brush and blow dryer will give you happy hair days!

Hungry for more expert hair and scalp care tips and advice? Visit Philip’s expert page on Travel Beauty. (His daughter, Anabel Kingsley is a Travel Beauty expert too!) You can also check out Travel Beauty’s full collection of Philip Kingsley products, including shampoos, conditioners, scalp treatments and styling products.

In case you haven’t noticed, we have been raving about Philip Kingsley’s Elasticizer for years. It has won numerous awards, and is a go-to hair hero for celebrities, stylists, beauty editors and The Travel Beauty Team. Elasticizer was developed by Philip Kingsley in the 70s for legendary actress Audrey Hepburn. Audrey sought Philip’s help after years of on-set over-processing had left her hair majorly damaged. Audrey’s condition prompted Philip to formulate Elasticizer, which recently celebrated its 40th birthday.

                                                  Intensive Moisturizing Hair Treatment

This intensive moisturizing pre-shampoo treatment is magic! It delivers elasticity, bounce and shine to all hair types, even after just one use.

Elasticizer has been a lifesaver for the highlight-loving Travel Beauty Team. We wanted to share a quick how-to guide, as we have received many questions about how to apply Elasticizer at home. (Though if you can get to Philip’s Trichological Clinic in New York City or London to have an expert treatment and/or Elasticizer application, definitely do!)

Step-by-Step How-To-Guide

• Lightly dampen hair with hands
• Apply Elasticizer in sections, smoothing on the top of your hair and then working it into hair in sections with your whole hand
  • Fine & medium textured hair apply sparingly through mid lengths and ends two to three times a month
  • Coarse, wavy, curly or frizzy hair use more generously through entire hair length once or twice a week
  • Afro Caribbean hair – try Elasticizer Extreme
• Leave in for 10-20 minutes…or longer
  • We have gone to the gym and played golf with Elasticizer on—just put hair in a bun after you apply the product and be on your way. The heat that your body generates from these activities gives the treatment and extra added punch!
  • It’s safe to leave Elasticizer in all day or sleep with it overnight under a shower cap
• Rinse well and follow with appropriate shampoo, conditioner and scalp toner
  • When you condition after Elasticizer, you only need to rinse it through your hair—no need to leave on for several minutes

When to Use on Processed Hair

• Do not use Elasticizer for three days before and three days after coloring hair
• For fine & medium textured hair, use once a week
• For coarse, wavy, curly, frizzy and Afro Caribbean hair, use twice a week

Experiment with Elasticizer

Elasticizer can also be used to style hair—this is something we learned through experimentation! It can be applied with a styling cream with some hold to give great frizz-free definition to curls and can be used to achieve that piecey ends look on an edgy bob.

Have a kid with curly-ques? A little Elasticizer makes a great leave-in conditioner and detangler.

We’ve even been told that some sensitive-skinned men love TO SHAVE WITH IT!

Have YOU conducted a successful Elasticizer experiment? Please do tell! We would love to share your tip(s) with the Travel Beauty community.

By: Claire McCormack @ClaireMcMack & Alyssa Barrie Weiss @AlyssaBarrie  (Team Travel Beauty Joint Effort)

While it’s well known that working out is beneficial to the body, it can actually be good for hair, too. Mild to moderate exercise helps to reduce stress levels, calm anxiety and ward off a whole host of health problems – all of which can affect hair growth. There are even things you can do to immediately improve the condition of your hair while exercising. However, there can also be drawbacks. Below I’ll explain how to keep your hair in tip-top condition during your weekly workouts.

Swimming

It’s a definite must to protect your hair when you swim. Like bleach, chlorinated water is an oxidizer and can seriously dry out your strands. It may also turn blonde hair green. A safe bet is to wear a silicone swim cap. And if you have hair below shoulder length, purchase one specifically for long hair (Speedo, amongst other brands sells them and in an array of fun colours). Personally, I like to apply our waterproof hydrating Philip Kingsley Swimcap Cream before doing my morning laps. It not only protects the hair, but also moisturizes it. Shampoo it out and condition as usual for shiny post-pool hair. You can even wear it under your regular swim cap if you don’t like getting your hair wet. The longer you leave it in, the more intensive the treatment will be – so as an added benefit it gives me extra incentive to crawl through those last laps (pun intended).

Hair-up

Take a look at how you tie your hair up. If it feels like your ponytail/bun is pulling, make it looser. Traction from tight styles can break hair around the hairline and temples, and over time pull it from the follicle resulting in hair loss. What you use to keep your hair in place is also important. Tight rubber/plastic bands can cut into the hair shaft and fracture it. I suggest purchasing some large scrunchies and/or fabric-covered bands. They are gentle on the hair shaft and less likely to pull.

Cardio

It may seem obvious, but you should wash your hair after you work up a sweat. Your scalp becomes just as sweaty as the rest of you. Forgoing shampoo is bad news for two reasons. Firstly, hair traps sweat, which creates the ideal environment for bacterial growth. As bacteria begin to break down the sweat, your hair can start to smell. Secondly, proliferation of bacteria can irritate your scalp. If you don’t have time to shampoo, make sure to use an anti-microbial dry shampoo and scalp toner. (PK One More Day Dry Shampoo and Scalp Toning Tonic).

Don’t Overdo It

High intensity work-outs can be fine, but overdoing it can send your androgen (male hormone) levels rocketing. And if you have a genetic pre-disposition to hair thinning, this could be a problem.

Re-fuel

Eat nutritious, energy dense foods post workout. Nuts, bananas and granola are good choices. If your body is left hungry and depleted, your hair cells are going to be feeling it even more. As hair is a non-essential tissue, it is usually the first part of you to take a hit from any form of dietary or energy deficiency.

Mat Work

Depending on the class you take, you may not work up a huge sweat during an hour of yoga, Pilates or meditation. You may also have washed your hair in the morning, or leave it until the next day. Do yourself (and your hair) a favor and wipe down the mat you use before lying on it. You are otherwise subjecting your hair and scalp to other people’s germs and sweat while your doing roll ups, hip lifts and mindful breathing.

Multi-task

Using a weekly deep conditioning hair mask can do wonders for the condition of the hair. But sometimes it’s hard to find the time. The solution? Work one into your locks before working out. I recommend our Philip Kingsley Elasticizer – a multi-award winning pre-shampoo conditioning treatment that was originally formulated for Audrey Hepburn.

Have questions for Anabel? Please comment on this blog and all will be answered.