We spoke with the trichologist ahead of her stint in Hong Kong at the Mandarin Oriental Salon

Few of us have the same passion as girls in shampoo ads, who wash their hair with far too much enthusiasm and vigour, or those on the red carpet who effortlessly flip their camera-ready manes. A perfectly coiffed head of hair, these days, sadly seems to be a luxury few of us have the time to afford.

Lisa Caddy was quick to debunk this myth, emphasising that healthy hair is not simply a matter of slapping on the hair masks and deep conditioning treatments (although these are bound to help), but a matter of living a well-rounded lifestyle that includes a nutritious diet, and off-setting a hectic and stressful schedule with exercise and sufficient rest.

Caddy is a certified trichologist (a branch of dermatology that deals with the study of hair and scalp care) from Philip Kingsley, a leading authority in hair and scalp health in London and New York. The Mandarin Oriental’s salon has stocked Kingsley’s products for seven years and will host Lisa Caddy later this month when she visits Hong Kong to conduct a series of one-on-one consultations, recommended treatments and workshops. We were fortunate enough to speak with Caddy prior to her arrival:


I would say the most common hair problem is hair loss as the result of improper nutrition. The best way to fix this is to eat a healthy, balanced diet that contains all essential food groups, vitamins and minerals. There is no ‘quick fix’ for this. You must eat consistently well for at least 12 weeks to see a difference in your hair and continue doing so if you want the improvement to remain!

There tend to be more causes of hair loss in women than in men such as nutrition and a high stress lifestyle, which are the two major contributing factors.

Pattern hair loss has reared its ugly head in my family tree. I had always had a pretty fine head of hair throughout my teens, twenties and thirties but once I entered my fourth decade I saw a noticeable thinning. This had been a very slow progress over the years but I’d not noticed it until a family bereavement caused me to have a considerable amount of shedding. All of a sudden I was aware of my being able to see my scalp more which sent me into panic mode.

Putting the extra effort into my diet and being ‘kinder’ to my hair has made all the difference. I’ll never be rid of my pattern hair loss but it has improved significantly and for that I am extremely grateful!

Most people don’t consider scalp care as part of their beauty regime until they encounter a problem. However, hair growth is highly dependent on the health of the scalp, so it’s very important to look after it as part of your daily hair care routine similar to how you look after the skin on your face.

Hair masks are a great way to replenish moisture levels in the hair shaft. Pre shampoo treatments won’t leave the hair heavy and will help to reduce the effects of humidity on the hair.

Many things that affect the skin on your face can affect the skin on your scalp. For instance, those who are prone to facial acne are also more likely to get acne on their scalp. Furthermore, in adults acne is commonly due to hormonal imbalances, which can definitely affect the hair and cause it to thin. This also applies to stress, as any stress on the body can affect the immune system, leaving you more susceptible to illness. Lastly, an improper diet will affect both your skin and hair as healthy cell turnover will be affected.

Keeping your hair hydrated and supple during the summer is also important. With regard to humidity, summer heat is full of moisture and the moisture penetrates your hair strands making it go into its natural form. The best way to deal with this is to use anti-frizz products. Pollution in the air can coat your hair and make it dull and dirty so sometimes shampooing daily is essential.

For reservations and further details, please call the Mandarin Oriental Salon at +852-2825 4800 or email mohkg-salon@mohg.com

Lisa Caddy at the Mandarin Oriental Salon
Date: May 26 to 29, 2015
Time: 10:00am to 5:00pm
Venue: The Mandarin Salon, 24/F at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Central


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