New TikTok hair trend sparks concern

Haircare has definitely been an area of life to suffer immensely during the lockdown.

From at-home dye jobs, to months without seeing a hairdresser, many of us are craving a deep, scalp to tip clean to give our locks a new lease on life.

If you think the fulfilment to that desire lies in a new TikTok trend that is rapidly gaining momentum, however, consider yourself warned – experts say the apps latest trend is a hair accident waiting to happen.

The hair trick involves people using scissors to drag out the excess product from their tresses, and it has stylists concerned.

Videos on the social media platform show people removing excess products left in their hair by scarping the scirssor’s blade long a section.

The grime collects on the blade in a satisfying visual, but it’s a very unsatisfying twist that could await the user.

While ‘clarifying’ your hair in this way can help stop build-up of product, experts don’t recommend you try it at home.

“If done wrong, you will lose a huge amount of length and even end up with a hole in your hair,” says Ricky Walters, director of SALON64.

What does clarifying involve?

Clarifying simply means giving your hair a ‘deep clean’ Walters says, and no, you don’t need a pair of scissors to do it.

“Clarifying products remove far more from your hair than regular products,” he explains. “It is a great way to ‘re-set’ your hair and remove any unwanted product build-up.”

Walters says that build-up occurs after years of using products such as hairspray and serums leaves a residue on the surface of your hair.

“We tend to call this ‘product build-up’,” he explains. “Sometimes regular shampoo just doesn’t hit the spot which is when you need to clarify your hair.

“This removes any toxins on the hair surface and we even sometimes use clarifying products to remove unwanted colour.

“It is a great way to leave your hair feeling fresh and brighten up dull tired hair.”

How can you avoid build-up?

There are a number of ways to clarify your hair, and stylists have some words of warning about using the scissor method.

“This technique certainly should only be performed by not only a professional but a very experienced professional that has successfully done this before,” Walters explains.

“My fear is after seeing these videos on TikTok, clients may pressure hairdressers into trying something they are not comfortable with.”

Or picking up the scissors themselves.

Mark McCarthy, owner of MARKDAVID salon, agrees the TikTok trend should be avoided.

He recommends those looking to give their hair a deep clean should first consult their stylist about what and how much product they are using on their hair.

“Often, a lot of us use far more product than we need and this just accumulates in the hair over a period of days, building up and building up,” he said.

“We also then style our hair, which penetrates the product into the hair further and can give it a shiny plastic-like appearance and can make our hair appear greasy, rather than the soft and shiny finish that we desire.”

How to clarify your hair without scissors?

The stylists say to sub a specialised shampoo for the scissors.

“I always recommend using a good clarifying shampoo such as the Davines Solu Shampoo to get rid of build-up and to deeply cleanse and clean the hair,” McCarthy said.

“This shampoo does not strip the hair of essential nutrients, is rich in antioxidants and leaves the hair feeling deeply moisturised, strengthened and restores the body in the hair that build up would have diminished.”

But according to Walters you shouldn’t use clarifying shampoo with every wash because it can strip and remove natural oils from your scalp and nutrients from your hair, leaving it feeling dry and brittle.

“I recommend clarifying your hair only once every four to six weeks,” Walters says. “Using it simply as a deep clean to refresh your hair and brighten up when looking a little tired.”

Additional reporting by Marie Claire Dorking

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