Silky shine in, split ends out

It’s amazing how celebrities can transform seamlessly from curly-haired vixen one day into a flat-ironed, straight-haired chick the next. To get gorgeous locks, heavy pampering is a must. While most people opt for an easy wash-and-go lifestyle, there is always room for more glamour – especially when it comes to a stylized curtain of healthy hair.

Imagine the long beautiful mane you’ve been growing for months with split ends – this is one hair nightmare most women dread. Whatever hair type you have – be it straight, curly, or wavy – you are not free from these awful split ends.

One option is to go to the parlor and have the ends chopped off. Another way of getting rid of crispy ends (with their odd, slightly kinky finish) is to bombard the hair with various products. But by subjecting the hair to heat, chemical treatments and products that contain alcohol, your hair will become dry and even more prone to split ends. So, take it easy on the chemicals. Pay attention to the ingredients. It’s good to let your hair breathe once in a while.

Sunsilk recently launched its Strength and Shine shampoo line, which has a split-end prevention formula to make the hair strands stronger. It contains lemon and kiwi vita-complex that conditions the hair to prevent breakage; coats the hair to cushion from wear and tear; and nourishes it against dryness and brittleness.

The brand partnered with celebrity hairstylist Charles Dujic to demonstrate the "marriage of artistry and chemistry" which encourages women to be the best they can be with their healthy, beautiful, split-end-free hair. Dujic’s A-list celebrity clients include Cate Blanchett, Sara Michelle Gellar, Alyssa Milano and singer Vanessa Carlton.

During his trip to Manila, he personally styled local celebrities such as Angelica Panganiban, Erich Gonzales and Mariel Rodriguez. He also collaborated with hairstylists from different salons to create glam hairstyles for local models. So, what exactly is Dujic’s hair-care philosophy?

"Concentrate on prevention – so as to keep damage from even happening," Dujic says.

Hair plays a big factor in determining how you look and perceive yourself. "When you have the ‘B-factor’ or the beautiful ends, you have so many style options available to you, because any hair with healthy ends can pull off the latest trends," he says.

Healthy is hair that has life to it. It is shiny, free from split ends, bouncy, and vibrant. Hair that has been overly processed with chemicals and straightening agents tends to lack luster. So, problems like lack of volume, brittleness, dryness, and oily scalp all account for unhealthy hair. "I tell my clients to stay away from too much chemical work. Sure, do a little to enhance but do not get carried away," explains Dujic.

However, split ends are the most common problem of unhealthy hair that women have to face. Little do we know that brushing hair while it is wet or towel drying it in a brisk motion actually causes split ends. These can wear down the strands’ protective layers, eventually causing it to turn gray like an old rope. Shocking, eh?

Sadly, there is no miracle product to remove split ends. The only way to remove them is to go to the salon and have a trim. Prevention is another matter. And this is where the Sunsilk Strength and Shine line comes in.

"The kiwi in Sunsilk is the strengthening agent while lemon enhances the hair’s softness and shine. If you mix these two ingredients together, they will basically give you silky hair," he explains. Here are more facts: Sunsilk Strength and Shine also has an ingredient that coats the strand that keeps the cuticle down so you won’t end up with split ends. Test results conducted by the brand show that 97 percent of the people who used the product have done away with split ends.

The wrong tools for the hair can damage it even more. Using the wrong brush to untangle wet hair causes split ends. Exposing the hair to heat can damage it even more. With the advanced technology of blow dryers and irons, hair damage can be minimized. As much as possible, it is best to stay away from metallic irons and use ceramic irons instead. Dujic uses an ionic tourmaline blow dryer because it is much healthier for the hair. The infrared technology makes use of less heat to create long-lasting curls or straight hair.

I have naturally curly locks. Every time I go to the salon, the hairstylists immediately freak out because they do not know what to do with my hair. Their biggest challenge is to blow dry it and this usually takes a grueling hour and a half of yanking my hair. Ouch! But with the humidity here, the curls begin to appear in the evening. On one occasion, this woman literally gave up blow drying my hair. So, I was left with cotton- candy hair until my next shampoo. Is blow-drying really worth it? Definitely! Having straight hair for a few hours is a liberating experience for me.

Dujic used the tourmaline dryer on my hair and it took less than an hour. His technique was to do it slowly. Afterwards, he used a ceramic iron and gave me a trim. My hair never felt so healthy and it was unbelievably straight and long which made me look like a different person. The best thing about this experience was that my hair stayed straight for two days. A minor miracle, indeed.

There is no doubt that hair is definitely your crowning glory. Hairstyles can transform you into a whole new person. At the end of the day, we all want healthy hair without frustrating split ends. So, take good care of your hair.

The celebrity hairstylist gave a few pointers: Do not overabuse your hair with chemicals and heat, and do not concentrate heat on one area for too long with a hair dryer or iron. It is important to be gentle when it comes to handling your hair. If your hair is wet, squeeze out the water. Use a wide-tooth comb, starting with the ends and working your way up. Dujic concludes, "Follow a very good hair-care regimen."

By doing so, you can definitely be on the A-list with split-end-free and healthy hair.