I’m a celeb stylist – some shampoos destroy your hair but 4 cheap buys can grow it back, use my ‘would you eat it?’ rule

IF you don’t live under a rock, you'll have seen videos on social media promoting hair oils and other hacks to grow your tresses fast.

But how much of the information is reliable? Celebrity hair stylist Gustav Fouche has weighed in on current haircare trends and shared exactly what you need to do if you’re looking to add volume to your locks.

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And if anyone has the credentials to speak on hair, it's Gustav.

He has over two decades in the hairdressing industry under his belt, recently launched a namesake brand and owns a salon in London's posh Notting Hill.

But be warned: you might not like everything he has to stay. 

From "damaging" shampoos to oils drenched in silicone, Gustav advised that you're probably coating your scalp in nasties that are stunting hair growth.

Speaking exclusively to Fabulous, he shared that you may need to ditch some of your favourite hair products if you’re looking for a fuller mane…

Two Key Mistakes

Gustav warned there’s two key mistakes people make when looking after their hair.

The first is using “damaging” shampoos that coat the scalp in plastic and stunt any new hair growth. 

“One of the key things to hair growth is good scalp health,” Gustav said.

“I always say to people that I don’t mind what they spend on their products, but the number one thing to look out for is that it has to be silicone free. 

“Silicone coats the hair and scalp, and it’s hydrophobic so it doesn't come off with water - it’ll just stick to the surface of your scalp.”

Gustav warned that too much silicone can even “destroy the hair”, but noted that Garnier’s new Ultimate Blends range is silicone free and an affordable swap. 

You can pick up the Garnier Ultimate Blends Glowing Lengths Pineapple & Amla Hair Food Shampoo and Conditioner for £6.50 per bottle.

However, the products are currently slashed to £5.75 in Boots right now.

Gustav said that the second mistake women make is putting way too much heat on their hair - and the threshold is probably lower than you’d anticipate. 

And while he doesn’t believe heat should be avoided altogether, he warned that the average person doesn’t have the “sensitivity in their hands” to feel when heat is causing damage on your locks.

Most of the time, he said it’s better to “let the hair breathe in a natural way” and only heat style it for special occasions. 

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The ‘Would You Eat It?’ Rule

Hair oiling has been doing the rounds on social media in recent months, with countless brands promising to add inches to your tresses with regular use of their oils. 

But Gustav follows a very strict rule when it comes to hair oils. 

You should only use one if it is made from ingredients that you’d eat. 

“If you can eat it, you can put it on your head,” Gustav said. 

“You have to be able to eat it because a lot of companies will say the oil is natural but it will still have silicone in it, and that’s the key thing to look out for. 

“Brands say a product is natural, but it’s actually naturally derived. It’s a marketing thing.”

If you can eat it, you can put it on your head

Gustav Fouche

Gustav recommended using amla, coconut and rosemary oils with zero additives or silicone in them. 

The fruit and oil from amla (A.K.A Indian gooseberry) are rich in potent antioxidants and vitamins that protect against environmental stresses.

One of the most popular versions is Dabur's Amla Hair Oil, which costs £4.49 for a bottle in Superdrug.

For coconut oil, any 100% pure version from the supermarket will work - and yes, you'll find it in the world foods section.

One of the most popular silicone-free rosemary oils is the viral Hair Syrup Growsmary Pre-Wash Treatment at £15.50, which has seen jaw-dropping results for a number of women and men on TikTok.

However, Gustav urged people not to get too caught up in the hype.

“With any form of natural oil, it’s not going to do any harm but there isn’t enough studies to prove that it actually will grow hair super quickly,” he said.

“I understand that TikTok has made it a huge thing, but it’s often shown on the hair of girls who are still very young.”

According to the expert, your hair grows for an “optimum” amount until approximately age 25.

So once you’re over that age, you have to work extra hard to protect the locks you have and encourage new strands to grow. 

“Over 25, every time the hair comes out of the follicle, it comes back slightly thinner and slightly weaker,” Gustav explained.

“There’s an even more noticeable difference when women go through the menopause.

“So I would say if you put oils on your hair, it won’t do any harm but remember that age plays a factor.

“I must stress, it has to be 100% pure with no additives.”

Who is Gustav Fouche?

Gustav has created looks for everything from red-carpet events and editorial shoots to hundreds of weddings.

In 2006, he made his first trip to London, sparking his dream to open a salon in the city one day.

Then after moving to London in 2011, he opened bustling salon Gustav Fouche in Notting Hill in 2019.

Throughout his career, he has worked with the likes of Kate Hudson, Gal Gadot, Leanne Rimes and Peter Andre's bride, Emily.