Beauty Bulletin had Pantene’s hair expert Dr Gray chatting to our community, answering all their hair questions.
This is what he had to say…

Beauty Bulletin were so incredibly excited to have the Pantene hair expert, Dr John Gray chatting to our community about everything and anything they wanted to know about their hair. During our chat we learnt that this British doctor is blessed with a full head of hair, very little grey and good genes. He goes against the stereotype of liking tea and prefers Chardonnay – something we all have in common it seems!  

Now after learning about the hair guru himself, let’s get down to the root of all the most interesting hair concerns that Dr John Gray so kindly answered for us. We were also lucky enough to have beauty blogger Megan Kelly Botha compile these answers together. Thank You Megan!

This is what Dr John Gray had to say:

•Not everyone seems to know how to apply shampoos and conditioners. General rule – shampoos top (roots) down – that’s where the grease is. Apply Conditioners from the tips upwards. If you have long hair – brush it into segments and apply to that.
•Turning grey is a natural and genetically predetermined event – blame your parents! Unfortunately there is no medical treatment
•Grey hairs do not grow faster – they just look as though they do!
•Smoking is bad for EVERYTHING – there is certainly some evidence that smoking damages the hair as it is formed in the hair bulb
•Supplements are controversial – In a normal healthy adult there is no scientific evidence (that I have seen) that there are any magic ingredients which will transform your hair. In people with severe (and I mean severe) nutritional problems – that’s a different matter
•You can’t make hair grow faster – it seems to have its own steady rate
•Hair loss – please don’t guess.  If people have noticed it, it is probably real. An evaluation by one of the many fine doctors in SA is essential and PLEASE don’t try “remedies”
•Seasonal hair loss – if real – it is just so small that it is almost impossible to measure. It is more apparent in peoples who live near the North Pole where daylight changes are extreme.
•Stress and hair loss is a VERY controversial subject. The scientific community now believes that the general stresses and strains of life do NOT affect the general loss of density which occurs with age. There is still some controversy over short term and severe stress and its effect. We recognise dramatic weight loss and severe illness cause a temporary and usually reversible form of hair loss
•If you can see your scalp looking straight on – that is already approx. 50% loss. You need help!
•Genetic hair loss in men can be treated – ask your pharmacist for the lotion or your doctor for the tablets
•Hair loss after a baby or breast feeding is entirely normal – it is a sort of catch up after the hormones disappear. Don’t worry and there is no need for any treatment – it will stabilise in its own good time
•Pantene as a cosmetic reduces hair loss from breakage
• If you have dandruff – use Head & Shoulders – it is the most effective and pleasant way of getting rid of this troublesome problem
•If you have tried Head & Shoulders daily for a month and there is NO improvement – see a doctor in case it is something else
•Regular trims do NOT make your hair grow faster. Hair is dead – there are no feedback mechanisms
•Pimples are NOT caused by hair falling on your face
•Natural bristle brushes are better than synthetic as it does not generate so much static. The more the volume of your hair – in general, the larger the brush
•Grooming dry hair IS much less damaging to hair than wet.
•When drying, towel and then blow drying keeping the dryer a safe distance away is OK. Put your hand in between the dryer and your head – when your hand can’t stand it – neither can your hand.
•DON’T blast wet hair with a hair dryer and particularly at close range – it causes water to bubble in the hair shaft and may lead to breakage. Pat your hair dry , take some extra time and then use gentle heat and styling products to get the look you want
•If your hair is black – the only way to go lighter is bleaching and so there is more potential damage.
•However, a good colourist and good conditioning makes everything possible with due care
•Split ends are the result of time, wear and tear and possibly not conditioning sufficiently. Remember that if you have 30 cm long hair – the hair at the tips is 30 months older than that at the roots. It is bound to suffer over that time so needs extra attention
•Pantene products can effect a temporary improvement of split ends but eventually, get them trimmed off
•Detangling hair – in general prevention is better than cure – ingredients in Pantene shampoos and conditioners specifically help with this but it is important if your hair is long and or damage to segment it with a broad brush when it is dry
•No cosmetic product leaves a permanent residue – they are all removed when you next shampoo
•Wash your hair as often as fits with your needs and lifestyle. Always condition and if you have processed, damaged hair – condition, condition and condition
•Henna is a traditional method of colouring and is widely practised. My only comment is that it is important to know where the henna came from and its concentration. It is true to say that it is not naturally “better” for hair. With Pantene, you can be absolutely certain of its Quality Assurance
•It is absolutely NOT essential to change hair care products. Our hair does NOT get used to them. It is just human nature to keep on trying something else. Find what works for you and stick to it
• Sleep damage- there is some evidence that pillow damage is a real problem – so think how your hair will be on the pillow before dropping off
•Volume is a major problem – particularly as we get older and hair volume naturally diminishes. Pantene products contain polymers which help. Get your stylist to show you how to create volume with the aid of styling products
•Pantene is designed and tested for ALL types of hair. Ladies with ethnic hair have a greater need to conditioning as the hair tends to be dryer and is naturally more fragile.
•Shampooing with any product does remove excess oil but also environmental pollution. Pantene is so mildly formulated that it mimics natural oils – better still, it allows grooming and styling in a more pleasant way
•With mineral oils it is important to know the source of the oil – is it safe. The conditioning elements in Pantene have the advantage of years of safety evaluation and are tailored to meet the needs of women all over the world with all types of hair.
•Styling products do NOT damage hair. Years of research and selection of mild ingredients ensure that the hair is protected
•For regularly coloured hair – the most important hair care tip is conditioning particularly the tips.
•Really fine hair needs special care. Light conditioning is advisable BUT if it is long and the ends look dry (split) just apply a more intensive conditioner to this area.
•Dry brittle hair needs intensive conditioning. Learn to apply to the affected areas rather than all over. If your hair is not damaged – unbleached or near the roots – do not over condition especially in humid conditions. Pantene shampoos have light conditioners in them
•Oily hair seems to be a concern. Each hair is naturally coated with sebum from the scalp but other factors such as the environment contribute to it – particularly in a South African summer. Whatever you do – remember – REGULAR shampooing and gentle conditioning PROTECTS your hair. If in addition you have dry (probably split ends) – just apply an intensive conditioner to those parts.
•Frizz and other undesirable consequences of the weather can be controlled by regular use of Pantene products – consult your store or advisor. Don’t forget , with so many women having colour chemistry on their hair, the protective outer layer – the so called “f” layer is ripped off and it is IMPERATIVE that regular intense conditioning is carried out to stop humid air flooding into the hair shaft

Showee! That makes for some seriously valuable hair advice that we can all take with us and learn something new from. Who knows maybe it has even saved every strand of your gorgeous locks! Thank you Dr John Gray, we are truly grateful to finally put our hair concerns at ease. And to end it all off, we would like to leave you with our favourite tip we thought everyone should live by:

“Make the best of what mother nature gave you by accentuating it, and never move too far away from your natural look”