
Some people are born with great hair, but some simply have their routine and their product stable down pat. Jen Atkin, please tell us EVERYTHING.
As a teenager, growing up in Utah, I was ob-sessed with Natalie Imbruglia’s hair in her Torn music video. A neat but wild and quirky bob. Actually, it’s more like a pixie cut. Alas, no-one could do it how I wanted so I ended up having a crack myself. It looked great. I’ve always enjoyed experimenting - if not on me, on my clients - even if it’s something as subtle as bangs.
Despite only having my sharp bob since 2017, it’s become my calling card. That said, I do let my stylist Anh Co Tran have a play around when I sit in his chair. He’s always encouraging me to do something different, which I’ve got to listen to, because I’m usually the one doing the convincing. I only trust one person to colour my hair and that’s Cassondra Kaeding in LA - she’s amazing.
Great hair starts with good shampoo. I sometimes use two different products in the shampoo process. Why? Because my hair at the root is different to the ends. Sometimes I need a cleansing formula and the roots (my Clean Shampoo), and a more hydrating one at the ends. Listen to your hair, people! Oh and when I’ve been heavy handed with product and I suspect there’s build up at my roots, I get right in there with a scrub, pre shampoo.
Christophe Robin Regenerating Mask with Rare Prickly Pear Seed Oil, £54
Just so nourishing. So health-giving. Makes my hair so soft to touch, and somehow stronger - I'm told it's the prickly pear.
This was a total game changer for me. You can literally, achieve any style you want, and the fact that you can dry and style at the same time, without damaging your hair is genius. The different barrels motivate me to try different things that I wouldn’t otherwise. Each head adds such different shape and texture - I honestly use them all.
Mason Pearson Bristle/Nylon Junior BN2, £79.50
I know it’s expensive for a brush. I balked a bit too, but this is the brush, and if you’re looking for super sleeker styles, this is a necessity, because the different layers of bristles catch every hair.
Balmain Session Spray Strong, £25.50
I could not live without this Session Spray Strong. Strong is the operative word, but it's also easy to brush out when I want to change my style between washes. For pesky baby hairs and flyaways, I use this with a toothbrush. It secures the wispiest of hairs. Thank me later.
Ouai Haircare Thinning Supplement, £26
I worry about the quantity and quality of my hair often, hence me creating supplements with biotin (vitamin B - great for hair health) and amino acids (to strengthen). Prescription wise, it's just one a day, and I've had such good feedback from all ages and hair types, particularly women post-partum.