Tag Archives: Michael van Clarke

Longer, sexier and younger hair – we test a new product from Michael van Clarke

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London: 3’’ MORE INCHES is a new range of hair conditioning products from London crimper Michael van Clarke. It contains a combination of amino acids (proteins) which coat the hair, protecting it from the ravages of the ageing environment – sun, pollution, smoking and other hair products!

The new range includes a “hero” product – an intensive conditioning treatment that you use every other wash, before you wash(£27.50 for 500ml) a shampoo and conditioner (£16 each for 250ml). Michael worked on developing the new range with clients at his Marylebone, London Salon (pictured).

The critical difference between 3 More Inches range and other products on the market is that it does not contain silicones and polymers which Michael says coat the hair and make it dryer in the long term. 3 More Inches nourishes the hair shaft allowing even the most fragile hair to be grown longer and healthier.

Michael has a passion for his product and believes that having your hair cut just because you have reached the age of 40 is not necessary if you can keep your hair young looking, healthy and gorgeous.

ELIXIR Tried and Tested all three products and our verdict 9.9 out of 10. The shampoo and conditioner left our ageing hair soft as a baby’s! And the treatment gives your hair a super conditioning boost – great swing. They smell great and because of the superior quality ingredients,a little goes a long away.

Michael says: “From my experience over three decades the market has been looking at hair quality from a very narrow perspective. All I hear from various product suppliers for super healthy hair is to give it a cosmetic fix with a plastic or silicone laden product. A Faustian pact of clever shrink wrapping that whilst giving an attractive cosmetic appearance initially, can lead to brittleness over time, shortening life expectancy…

“Or take these pills and rub this snake oil into the scalp to titivate the follicle and problem solved, your hair will flow forth like an Amazonian Goddess. Well that’s just not the case. Sure, if someone is seriously ill their hair will tell. Or if they’re morbidly malnourished (super thin or super fat for that matter) taking some vitamin and mineral supplements is going to have a positive effect on the quality of hair coming out of the scalp.

“But for most of us, our hair starts out okay anyway – granted some more okay than others. It’s what the hair goes through once it’s birthed into daylight that makes the dramatic difference down the road between A-List and D-List. A piece of hair just 6 inches from the root has a life story all its own…

A year of sun, the sea, the colourants, the flat irons, the inept and aggressive blow-drying (who moi?… No? Maybe the idiot at the local salon who doesn’t know or doesn’t care), the one or two hundred washing cycles – all the taking out and just maybe not enough putting back to keep this amazingly strong but not indestructible protein matrix fed, nourished and protected.

That’s what 3’” more inches is addressing. That’s it’s raison d’être”.”

Michael Van Clarke’s new range of conditioning products – 3 More Inches – is available online at www.3moreinches.com and also at his salon at 1 Beaumont Street, London W1G 6DF. T: + 44 (0)20 7224 3123 Email salon@vanclarke.com.
Website: www.vanclarke.com

10 Top Tips for Younger & Sexier Hair by Michael Van Clarke

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London: Healthier hair is often a lifestyle choice. If you are generally fit, a non smoker (do I really need to say that?), have a good balanced diet, etc. you are not going to get better hair than that coming out of your scalp. How quickly this hair dries out and disintegrates is very much down to you.

Better habits across a range of hair care areas will make a massive difference in slowing the aging process when all put together. You can have your hair dry out and split after 5” of growth, or 7”, 8”, 9”, 10”…..it’s your choice, and you don’t have to live like a nun. Here are a few tips to get started on.

1. Throw away your dryer nozzle

Unless you have thick wavy hair that you need to dry dead straight, your nozzle unnecessarily concentrates heat and can lead to excessive damage. Keep a one inch gap between your hair and the end of the dryer.

2. Always use conditioner

Shampoos open the cuticle to clean, conditioners
reseal the surface cuticle for protection, shine, and comb-ability.

3. Use a professional saw-cut comb

Moulded plastic combs often have imperfections on the teeth that can lacerate the surface cuticle, ageing the hair prematurely. 3’’’more inches professional combs (my own brand) are saw-cut from one piece then hand polished by artisans in Germany.

4. Use a deep treatment at least once a week.

3”’more inches Pre-Wash Treatment System with its unique cashmere protein complex, is the quickest and the best for restoring suppleness, reducing breakage, and maintaining the vibrancy of colours. Just 60 seconds of your time to apply it.

5. Trim ends regularly

Every 3-8 weeks depending on length and style. As the ends decay and disintegrate they look tired and unattractive; also any splitting can travel up the hair shaft if not caught in time.

6. Do not use a brush to take out knots on wet hair

When hair is wet use a wide tooth comb to gently ease out knots from the ends first, working up to the roots. Don’t believe the myth of brushing hair 100 times before bedtime. Once it’s brushed, further friction just wears it out quicker.

7. Always protect your hair in the sun

Hats or scarves are best, protective treatments come second. The uv rays of the sun break down the molecular structure of hair, which unlike skin doesn’t recover its appearance within a few weeks. Long hair can take years to renew.

8. Colour your hair professionally

Choose a colourist that cares about condition and quality, and is up to date. Modern tints are much gentler on the hair.

9. Choose a good stylist

The right haircut well executed can save you 95% of the time you may be spending over styling your hair.

10. Use a little light wax or moisturizing cream on dry ends.
This will protect and keep the hair looking and feeling healthier. Try 3”’more inches Thicken & Shine Finishing Feed.

Many women think it is socially unacceptable to have long hair past 40. Like many social observations this one is out of date. It was always about condition not length. In the old days before good conditioners, great colouring, skilful cutting and styling, etc. long dry stringy white hair just made a woman look haggard. But today we have the skill and technology – 60 really is the new 40!

Michael Van Clarke’s new range of conditioning products – 3 More Inches – is available online at www.3moreinches.com and also at his salon at 1 Beaumont Street, London W1G 6DF. T: + 44 (0)20 7224 3123 Email salon@vanclarke.com.
Website: www.vanclarke.com