Lucy Slight on Everyday Haircare and Rituals
Lucy Slight on Everyday Haircare and Rituals
Beauty writer and editor Lucy Slight has a refreshingly real approach to hair - think natural texture, low-maintenance styling, and a love of scent that turns everyday rituals into small moments of joy. We spoke with her about her hair icons, embracing her natural colour, and her simple yet effective routine.
WHO’S YOUR ULTIMATE HAIR ICON? PAST OR PRESENT?
Mary-Kate Olsen has always been a hair icon for me. I know it’s a bit cliche to choose an Olsen twin but those long, slightly tangled,
bohemian waves are exactly the vibe I strive for, and the reason I’m growing my hair long again after chopping it into a chin-length bob a couple of years ago. Mary-Kate and Ashley are rarely photographed in public anymore, but having recently been snapped at a W Magazine party in New York, I was excited to see they were both leaning towards a more natural hair colour, as opposed to the blonde highlights they’ve had in the past.
WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF HAIR ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
Not to pluck out your greys! I admit, when mine first started popping up, especially along my parting, I was quick to yank them free of my scalp, but as my 40th birthday approaches and more and more spring forth, I understand that plucking them achieves nothing aside from delaying the inevitable. I haven’t coloured my hair in about 18 months and I am actually quite excited to watch my hair gradually turn grey. I think grey hair is beautiful and I know I’ll be relieved not to have to grow my grey out from the roots further down the track.
What hair trend is making you mostexcited right now, and which one do you secretly hope never comes back?
I am loving seeing a return to more natural hair colour, as we’ve seen with celebrities like Taylor Swift, Hailey Bieber and of course, Mary-Kate and Ashley. Prior to getting my bob, I had been various shades of blonde since my twenties and was quite shocked to discover my natural hair colour was brunette! As someone who has had hair pulled through a rubber cap and coated in bleach in the past, I hope we never see the return of stripey highlights. Don’t get me wrong, I love the look of lightened strands and it’s incredible when done right, but those Y2K zebra stripes (despite being a vibe at the time) just didn’t look that great on anyone…
Walk us through your own haircareroutine, from everyday rituals to the 'can’t-live-without' products.
I am currently trying to stretch my hair washing out by an extra day, so I usually wash my hair every third night. I always do a double cleanse to remove any build-up and make sure my hair is clean enough to go a third day and follow with a super nourishing conditioner, applied to the lengths and ends only. Post shower, I will towel dry and then let my hair dry naturally. In the morning I’ll use my straightener to take out any strange kinks, or a conical or barrel tong to accentuate the natural wave. I’m actually very low-maintenance with my hair, and now that it’s getting longer it needs far less attention. The bob required a lot of styling and I’ve now realised that’s not really my bag!
HAIRCARE ISN’T JUST ABOUT THE STRANDS, WHAT ROLE DOES SCENT AND SENSORY EXPERIENCE PLAY IN YOUR RITUALS?
I do my entire nightly routine while my two girls are in the bath - shower, skincare, everything. It’s often done in a rush, and using products that smell amazing and make my hair and skin feel great is key so that in spite of the madness of the evening, I’m still getting in some calming moments. I love anything with essential oils and herbaceous notes that linger lightly on my hair and skin and help me move into night time feeling fresh and comfortable. Ashley and Co Wash Locks Peppy Lucent has notes of mint, basil leaf, citrus and blackcurrant leaf, which ticks all my sensory boxes. We use Ashley & Co. Awoof Wash on our Golden Retriever, so the scentual experience really does extend to the whole family!
Quick Fire Q’s
Blow dry or air dry?
Air dry (I only blow dry in an
emergency).
Middle part or side part?
Middle parts forever.
Morning wash or nighttime ritual?
Nighttime ritual. It makes the mornings
much easier!
Scrunchie or claw clip?
Both! But not at the same time.
Sleek and straight or big and bouncy?
I’m going to say sleek but wavy…
Discover more about Lucy Slight
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