The Stylist Hotline: Your Burning Haircare Questions, Answered by Our Stylists

Jul 14, 2026

There are few things we love more than talking about hair. Give us all your hair woes and we'll happily chat for hours. We put the call out a few days ago and asked you to send us your hard hitting haircare questions. The ones you've Googled at 11 PM or have been wondering about even after buying a ton of products and still not seeing a difference.

Your virtual hair therapy appointment starts now: professional advice for curly hair, blonde hair, fine hair, scalp health, frizz, hair thinning, and everything else. This is a no-judgement-zone, and absolutely zero gatekeeping.

Let's get into it.

Q.1: "I have shoulder-length, 2B, low-porosity hair. What clean products would you recommend? I love enhancing my waves and never blow dry it straight."

A: First of all, we love that you're embracing your natural texture!

Because your hair is low porosity, it takes longer to absorb moisture due to the tightly wound cuticle. That means heavy creams and butters can sit on top of the hair when, leaving your waves feeling weighed down.

Our solution is to keep things lightweight.

Look for:

Light shampoos and conditioners that won't leave buildup like the Davines LOVE Shampoo + Conditioner designed specifically for curly hair.
Lightweight curl creams like the Davines LOVE Curl Cream.

A few best practices can make just as much difference as the products themselves:

Apply styling products to soaking wet hair so they distribute evenly and help lock in your wave pattern.
Scrunch gently with a microfibre towel instead of rubbing the hair dry.
Avoid brushing waves once they’ve started to dry, as this can break up the pattern and create frizz.
If you diffuse, use low heat and low speed to encourage definition without roughing up the cuticle.
Try not to overload the hair with heavy butters or rich oils, especially coconut oil, which can feel too dense for many low-porosity or fine wavy hair types.

Q.2: "What on earth do you do with curly hair in hot weather, rainy weather, or hat season?"

A: Curly hair really does have a personality of its own.

Instead of trying to make your curls behave exactly the same year-round, think about adjusting your routine with the seasons.

In humid weather, focus on hold. Humidity pulls moisture into the hair, causing the cuticle to swell, which is why frizz appears even when your hair is perfectly healthy. A lightweight gel like this Davines Curl Gel Oil or this Davines Curl Building Serum or mousse creates a protective barrier that helps your curl pattern hold its shape for longer.

During hot summer months, hydration is your best friend, especially if you're spending time in the sun, chlorine, or salt water. A leave-in conditioner and a UV-protecting hair product can make a noticeable difference in keeping curls soft and defined.

For hat season, rather than forcing your curls into the same ponytail every day, try low buns, loose braids, claw clips, or silk-lined hats when possible. They create less friction and help preserve your curl pattern instead of flattening it completely.

Twentyseven Tip: A light mist of water and a touch of leave-in conditioner can often bring your curls back to life in just a few minutes.

If you don't already have a diffuser, this is your sign to get one. Trust us, it's a game changer! Unlike blasting your curls with a traditional blow dryer, a diffuser gently distributes airflow, helping your curls dry in their natural shape while reducing disruption to the hair cuticle (aka less frizz and more definition). The key is to use it on low heat and low speed, gently cupping curls into the diffuser instead of aggressively moving the hair around.

Q.3: "What is the best way to care for a dry scalp or dandruff?"

A: Although they can look similar, a dry scalp and dandruff aren't actually the same thing.

A dry scalp usually feels tight, itchy, and produces small, dry flakes because the skin is lacking moisture.

Dandruff is often caused by excess oil and an overgrowth of naturally occurring yeast on the scalp, leading to larger flakes and irritation.

If your scalp feels dry, gentle hydration and avoiding overly harsh shampoos can help, we recommend starting with the Act+Acre Cleanse + Conditioner. If you're dealing with persistent dandruff, we like to use this Act+Acre Scalp Relief Trio to feel soothing effects immediately.

And if your scalp remains itchy or irritated despite trying different products, it's always worth speaking with a dermatologist.

Q.4: "Why is my hair so frizzy even though it's healthy?"

A: This might be our most-asked question.

The biggest misconception is that all frizz = damage. In reality, frizz can come from environmental factors like humidity, dryness, natural texture, static, new baby hairs growing in. If you've had your hair coloured or are a frequent user of hot tools, then yes it could be caused by damage and breakage.

Here's the easiest way to tell: if the shorter hairs are concentrated around your hairline or crown and all roughly the same length, congratulations — they're probably new growth. But if you're noticing random broken pieces throughout your hair, especially around areas exposed to heat or bleach, it's likely breakage.

Humidity frizz tends to show up the second you step outside. Dryness is what makes the hair feel rough and fluffy. Before buying another anti-frizz product, ask yourself what kind of frizz you're actually seeing.

Twentyseven Tip: Our holy grail for frizz taming is the Davines OI All in One Milk, truly the first step before any style!

Q.5: "My hair gets greasy after one day. Am I washing it too much or not enough?"

A: Your scalp's oil production is largely influenced by genetics, hormones, age, and even the weather.

If your scalp is oily after a day or two, there's a good chance that's simply your how your body naturally produces oil.

That being said, there are a few things worth looking at:

Are you using products that are too rich for your hair type
- Heavy conditioners, thick oils, and rich masks can be amazing for dry or textured hair, but if your hair is fine, straight, or gets oily easily, those formulas can leave your roots feeling greasy faster. Think of it like skincare: a rich face cream might be perfect for someone with dry skin, but feel heavy and congesting for someone who needs something lighter. Hair works the same way.
Are you applying conditioner too close to your scalp?
- Your scalp naturally produces oils, so it usually doesn't need extra moisture from conditioner. Conditioner is designed to smooth and hydrate the areas of your hair that need it most: the mid-lengths and ends, where your natural oils have a harder time reaching
Are you touching your hair throughout the day? (We all do it.)
- Every time you run your hands through your hair, adjust your part, tuck it behind your ears, or play with your ends, you're transferring natural oils, sweat, and products from your hands onto your hair. This is especially noticeable if you have fine hair. We're not saying never touch your hair again (because, same), but be mindful of how often you're doing it can help your style last longer.
Are you shampooing thoroughly enough?
- Sometimes greasy hair isn't caused by washing too often, it’s actually caused by not fully cleansing your scalp. This is why many hairstylists recommend a double shampoo, especially if you use dry shampoo, styling products, oils, or go several days between washes. The first cleanse breaks down buildup. The second cleanse actually gets your scalp fresh and clean.

If your scalp leans on the oilier side, a scalp serum can be a great addition to your routine. Act+Acre’s Niacinamide Oily Scalp Serum is designed to help balance excess oil production while supporting a healthier scalp environment, making it a great option if your roots feel greasy quickly or your scalp needs a little extra attention between wash days.

Q.6: "Are there ways to prevent split ends and breakage?"

A: You can absolutely prevent breakage, but once a split end happens, it can't be repaired. It can only be trimmed.

A few habits make the biggest difference:

Use a heat protectant every time you style with heat.
Brush gently, starting from the ends and working upward.
Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase.
Get trims regularly!
Don't wear overly tight hairstyles every single day.
Keep your hair hydrated with conditioning treatments.

Q.7: "How often should I use purple shampoo? Can I use it every day?"

A: Not every wash. Purple shampoo works more like a toner than your everyday shampoo. It's designed to neutralize unwanted yellow or brassy tones, not replace your regular cleanser.

To maintain your blonde, using a purple shampoo every second or third wash is plenty. Using it too often can leave your blonde looking dull and slightly lavender, especially if your hair leans more porous.

Twentyseven Tip: Purple shampoo keeps your colour looking fresh, but it doesn't replace a proper toner at the salon.

Q.8: "I have fine hair. How can I get curls to hold their shape?"

A: It's all about choosing products that create hold and without adding unnecessary weight.

Fine hair can be a little tricky to style because the individual strands are smaller in diameter and often smoother, meaning there’s less natural texture for curls to grip onto.

For fine hair, your routine could look like:

A lightweight conditioner like the Davines VOLU Conditioner (it's lightweight and adds extra volume to your locks)
Heat protectant like the Davines MELU Hair Shield
Volumizing mousse like the Sam McKnight Cool Girl Volume Foam
Your curling tool of choice
Flexible-hold hairspray like the R+Co Outer Space Hairspray