A woman’s relationship with her hair is often a tumultuous love affair. She’s satisfied, unsatisfied, fulfilled, unfulfilled…she breaks it off (pixie cut, anyone?), tries to change her lover (highlights, perms, flat irons) and sometimes only finds relationship bliss with the help of a good therapist (mine is Lina Arrojo of Arrojo Studios). With Spring in the air, I thought now would be an ideal time to tackle the issue of thinning hair.

A Love/Hate Relationship with My Hair!

I’ve often loved (thank you, Lina) and occasionally hated (thank you, genetics) my hair. Then a year and a half ago, after two kids, one MBA and a very exciting entrepreneurial venture, my hair and I starting having some major relationship troubles. My hair was leaving me – for the shower drain, my hairbrush and the back of my wool coat. Anyone who’s experienced hair thinning knows what an unsettling, upsetting experience it is.

A Trip to Philip Kingsley’s Trichological Clinic

After much fretting and lamenting, I remembered that beauty is my business, and I got proactive. I visited the Philip Kingsley Trichological Clinic in New York City. In addition to the transcendental scalp treatments I received, I also received invaluable healthy hair and scalp diet and lifestyle guidance from trichologist Elizabeth Cunnane Phillips. I never skipped a protein-rich breakfast again and stocked up on hair-healing supplements. My quest for healthy hair also led to my discovery of Phylia de M. products.

Along Came Phylia de M.

I read in beauty book after beauty book that this new, organic hair and scalp care line produced extraordinary results for those suffering from thinning hair. I could not get my hands on them quick enough! I started with Condition and Connect, adding in Re-Connect after a month or so, as directed. The short and long term results were extraordinary. Immediately, I noticed an improvement in the overall look, feel and texture of my hair. Since I would massage Connect and Re-Connect into my scalp with my fingertips, I also noticed an immediate improvement in my nails – they were less dry, less brittle and started growing like weeds. I was fairly certain this boded well for my mane.

Eyebrows, Nails and Hair – Oh My!

The first place I noticed significant hair regrowth was my eyebrows, where I also applied Connect and Re-Connect. I was genetically blessed with my mom’s big eyes, and I had full brows to match. I then proceeded to pluck my brows into oblivion in the 90s, when Kate Moss made us think we all could pull that off. Years of tweezer detox later, I still had brows that didn’t quite pass the ideal brow length pencil test. It took a few months, but after diligent daily application of Connect and Re-Connect, my brows started to go all the way…to the end of my big eyes.

At Last…New Baby Hair

Now, this was all very exciting stuff, but I purchased these products to treat the hair on my head. Though I saw a significant improvement in the overall health of my hair rather quickly, regrowth on my scalp was harder to gauge. I kept spraying and praying though, and sure enough, I started to see new little hairs sprouting about 2 months in. Elizabeth at Philip Kingsley had taught me how to distinguish new hair growth from broken hairs: new hairs would be tapered at the end, broken strands would not. A subtle distinction though this was, it became very clear upon close inspection: I knew these little hairs were newbies. These baby hairs are still there today…and have grown long enough so as to not stick straight up when I part my hair. Progress!

The Science Behind the Products

Phylia de M.’s science defines scalp & hair care as an integral part of optimum total health. The brand’s proprietary formula restores the body’s inherent ability to grow its best hair and help activate and maintain hair’s vital role in maintaining overall well being. In other words, Phylia is focused on getting to the root of the problem. Hair is a barometer of one’s health; internal disease and dysfunction are reflected in the condition of the scalp and hair. Whether we are conscious of it, (and whether it’s fair or not) we certainly cast aspersions on someone with thinning, greasy, stringy and/or fried hair, no?

By: Claire McCormack

Sometimes it seems there is no end to the list of products that everyone says you simply MUST be using on your hair.

Shampoo
Conditioner
Mask
Leave-in Conditioner
Defrizz Serum
Volumizer
Curl Enhancer
Dry Shampoo
Moisturizing Gel
Protectant

You get the picture.

So what’s the truth? The truth is that everyone’s hair is different, has different needs, and therefore everyone has to discover what is best for his or her own hair.

There are some basic facts that are true of all of us.

Here’s a piece of information that may help your understanding of hair health: every strand of hair on your head is technically dead. That’s right. It’s all dead. By the time hair emerges from the hair follicle on the scalp the cells that make up the hair have completed their life cycle. They’re hardened protein, which gives hair (and nails, incidentally) their durability. But this means hair strands aren’t continuing to receive nutrients or moisture from the body to build them or repair them. Hair continues to grow and hair strands lengthen, true, but because of new hair being created in the follicle and pushing old hair out.

Here’s another bit of data that is generally true about hair:

It grows at a rate of about half an inch per month.

Do the math. A strand of hair that is just 6 inches long is about one year old. If you have a mane that falls below your shoulders and is more than 12 inches long, the hair at the end is more than two years old. And it’s been dead for two years. With your hundreds of shampoos, blow drys, curling irons, and flat irons, together with sun, wind, and dirt, it’s taken a beating.

And that is why hair needs all the support you can give it to keep it looking fresh.

Dryness is the main culprit.

Dryness leads to a rough, scaly cuticle, a brittle texture, and a damaged look. Therefore, products that replace moisture, that protect the hair from drying out, are very important to maintaining healthy looking hair.

Conditioning hair after shampooing is good. Very good. Saturated hair allows the conditioner to penetrate better. But you’re still rinsing most of it out.

Styling products offer some protection, they’re good for supporting the hair and achieving desired looks. But they don’t necessarily add moisture or conditioning.

You need to be using a leave-in-conditioner.

To give your hair the moisture it needs, throughout the day, every day, and help it look it’s best, you need to be using a leave-in conditioner. As the name implies, this product is applied after you get out of the shower and is left in until the next time you wash your hair. Apply to damp hair and style as usual. If you’re fighting frizz or fly-aways you’ll find this step really helps.

Arimino’s Bamboo Moisture Veil and Caretrico’s After Treatment Enrich Milk are proven as a leave-in conditioner, defrizz lotion, and detangler, formulated for all hair types and never too heavy. This may just be the secret you’re missing.

Find Brent Lockhart on Twitter and Instagram @brentlockhart

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 Part One of my ode to Phylia de M., I gushed about how effectively the products did what they said they would do – namely providing a potent and powerful remedy for hair loss, slow growth, thinning, limp or lifelessness and chemical treatment damage. But the results went way beyond that; these products caused another unexpected, though very, VERY much welcome, result.

Sebaceous Cysts on the Scalp

Since my teen years I had been getting sebaceous cysts on my scalp; a hereditary condition. These cysts would literally sprout up anywhere on my scalp, with no rhyme or reason. Though they were mostly painless, they could – and did – become inflamed and/or infected, which was rather unpleasant. I went to countless doctors to find out how I could prevent these cysts from forming, and was told time and again that there was no help to be had. One doctor recommended I go on Accutane. I was apprehensive since Accutane is such a harsh drug with serious side effects, but if it meant no more cysts, I was game. When I went to get a second and third opinion on this course of therapy, however, it was vehemently shot down by other doctors. I was partly relieved…but mostly frustrated.

In Treatment

With no preventative measure available, the only “treatment” was excision once a cyst had formed. This entailed going to my derm’s office, getting my scalp partially anesthetized, then cut open, the cyst “popped out”, then the incision stitched back up (usually 3-4 stitches per cyst). The surgery site throbbed like the dickens for at least 24 hours, and was very tender for a week. For the 2 weeks I had the stitches in, shampooing, conditioning, brushing or in any way touching my head or hair was something to be done with extreme caution, lest I experience extreme pain. Two weeks later, I had to go back to my derm to get the stitches removed. The process itself was quick, but like all highly sought after NYC dermatologists, the wait was 30-45 minutes for this 5 minute visit. Also, not being a hair stylist, my derm was not so indiscriminate with the scissors he used to cut out the stitches, he also removed some chunks of hair!

You can imagine my dismay when I looked ahead to a life of endless minor scalp surgeries…the pain, the stitches, the inconvenience. It was my only choice, however. And in a way I was glad to even have that choice: had I not had excellent health insurance, the medical expenses probably would have prevented me from getting many of the cysts removed. Over the years, these cysts had become a hopeless situation for me. I told myself there were much worse medical conditions to have and I should just get over it, but every time I sat in the shampoo chair at the salon, I would literally cringe with embarrassment at having my head touched.

Phylia de M. to the Rescue

Enter Phylia de. M Clean, Connect and ReConnect. I immediately delved more deeply into the science behind the brand.

The Science Behind the Products

Phylia de M.’s science defines scalp & hair care as an integral part of optimum total health. The brand’s proprietary formula restores the body’s inherent ability to grow its best hair and help activate and maintain hair’s vital role in maintaining overall well being. Hair is a barometer of one’s health; internal disease and dysfunction are reflected in the condition of your scalp and hair. Whether we are conscious of it, (and whether it’s fair or not) we certainly cast aspersions on someone with thinning, greasy, stringy and/or fried hair, no?

Hair Health is an Indicator of Overall Health

Though hair is considered a “nonessential” tissue, the action of growing hair is an essential mechanism for optimum health. Hair helps to draw toxins, such as heavy metals, out of the body. (There’s a Def Leppard/Poison/Motley Crue joke to be made here…) When our internal health is in balance, skin (including the scalp), hair and nails look healthy and effectively play their part in maintaining overall health. For me, using Phylia products kickstarted my hair’s ability to properly detoxify, which helped inhibit new cyst growth.

When I spoke to Phylia de M. founder, Kazu Namise, she said I wasn’t the first person to tell her that Phylia products helped cure his/her cyst issue, or cyst-ssue, if you will. She recommended that I add Phylia’s Fulphyl nutritional supplement to my personal care regimen to further support my body’s detoxification process, which of course, I did. It’s only been a week, but I am excited to see just how much better my results can get.

By Claire McCormack Twitter & Instagram: @clairemcmack

By the end of summer, your skin may be tanned, but the rest of you could probably use a total beauty overhaul. Now that the kids are back in school, you may just get enough time to yourself for a spa day…the next best thing to a beach day. Don’t know where to start? We’ve got some suggestions (of course).

Hair and Scalp Care

During summer, we all want to suck the marrow out of the sunlight hours. If you have kids, bedtime might have become a bit lax in favor of fireworks and franks. If you’ve been sleeping less and not eating as healthfully as you usually do, your hair and scalp may pay the price. If sunburned skin isn’t the only thing you’re shedding, we highly recommend a visit to Philip Kingsley’s NYC Clinic. Whether you need a deep moisturizing treatment or a complete hair and scalp overhaul, book an appointment with Elizabeth and team to get your scalp and strands back in shape.

Also, pick up an Elasticizer. Used 1 – 2 times per week, this award-winning hair and scalp mask is akin to an at-home hair moisturizing treatment. Explore Kingsley’s other award winning hair care products.

Facials & Skin Care

If you have let your skin care routine slide a bit over the summer, now is the perfect time to get back into the groove. Make an appointment at Yasmine Djerradine Institut de Beauté on the Upper East Side. If you live anywhere in the New York Tri-state area, it is absolutely worth the trip. If you can’t get in to see Yasmine, we recommend Lily or Karen. A remodeling facial or power peel are the perfect treatments to wake up the face and slough off the skin that has likely had its share of elemental damage from the rays of the sun. Also, recommit to a regular routine of cleansing, moisturizing and applying an under eye cream and/or serum morning and night. It’s never too late to turn back the hands of time.

Brows And ‘Stache

While you are at Yasmine Djerradine Spa, make sure that you maximize your time by minimizing your facial hair. Your eyebrows really do frame your face and don’t worry, waxing your lip will not strip the elasticity from the skin around it. Word to the wise: you are not fooling anyone by dying your mustache blond. The hair will still be there, it will just be blonde and everyone will talk about you behind your back (Well, we certainly will).

Makeup Lesson

Once a year, its worth it to have your makeup done professionally. Even if you have your routine down pat, you can learn a new trick or two that can kick your look up a notch! For those of us in the New York Tri-state area who can’t get to LA or Scottsdale to see M.B. York, stop in to see Kaoru at Salon Ishi. She will not only do a flawless application for you, but also show you how to create the look yourself and make a list of exactly what she used so that you can recreate the look at home.

Nail Care

There is only one place in NYC that Travel Beauty entrusts with our fingers and *especially* our toes: Celina Nails. Located on the Upper West Side, this mani mecca is the cure for the common pedicure. Celina’s team of Eastern European Pedi Professionals painstakingly care for your feet with surgical precision. A few flicks of their files and these ladies could turn Frodo into foot fetishist fodder. (By the way, if your soles really do look straight out of the Shire after a summer in the sand, you can request the private room on the second floor.)

Visit our RGB Cosmetics collection of five-free nail polishes to see the colors that we are loving now.

Don’t Let Go of Your Summer Glow

Prolong your sun-kissed look with a sunless tanning session at Euphoria Spa in Tribeca. Consistently awarded in Allure’s Best of Beauty, the tans here are always impeccably done. In a few minutes flat you’ll have a natural bronzy glow that we promise will have you add an extra sway to your step. Can’t get to the spa? Try our self-tanning products.

“Bach” To School

We know back to school time isn’t all makeup and manicures. Stress is inevitable in September. The multiple runs to Staples alone are enough to make anyone consider homeschooling! When it all seems too much, be sure to have some Bach’s Rescue Remedy on hand…and/or in purse! Just a few sprays will help you stay cool calm and collected, no matter how many backpacks your daughter says she hates until she deems one “tolerable”.