Celebrity Hair Stylist Patrick Melville Answers Our Questions and an Amazing Giveaway Contest

Synonymous with glamour, high fashion, and timeless beauty, Patrick Melville is one the most prestigious and premiere hair stylists in the fashion industry. A former boxer (!) in England, Patrick began his 30-year career in London for British Vogue. His work has graced the pages of Vogue, W, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar, and he has collaborated with top editorial photographers.

When he moved to New York City, Patrick joined the creative team at the renowned Pipino Buccheri Salon and then spent several years as Creative Director of the Warren-Tricomi Salon. In July 2007, Patrick launched his first-ever independent salon, The Patrick Melville Salon & Spa, at The Sports Club/LA at Rockefeller Center. His list of celebrity clients would blow you away. They include Catherine Zeta-Jones, Halle Berry, Heidi Klum, Demi Moore, Sharon Stone, Brooke Shields, Sting, Mark Tom Cruise, and Harry Connick Jr. That's variety!

Patrick is also the official spokesperson and branding consultant for AVEENO. He recently answered AVEENO Ambassador questions and shared some tips with us (yes, I'm fortunate to be an Ambassador, and you benefit from the relationship, as you'll see below). Here are Patrick's tips and tricks.

What cut will create the most volume for fine, long hair? What should we ask for at the salon?

The cut that is best for fine, long hair is a cut that has long layers…some softer, shorter pieces around the face. Also add a sweeping fringe that sweeps to the side and creates a lot of versatility to give hair maximum volume. Products are key, such as a lightweight volumizing spray at the roots because, as you know, volume comes from the roots. Remember to make sure to tell your stylist to keep the layers long. Layers can thin the hair if too short.

I have long black hair that used to be shiny and silky, now it has lost some of its luster. How can I get it back?

The best way to get back your luster is to use the AVEENO Nourish+ Shine Shampoo and Conditioner along with the AVEENO Living Color Shine Glaze, which can be used on all hair types. This will give you maximum shine and close the cuticle and boost the life back into your hair.

I'd love to hear Patrick Melville's specifics on hair care for extensions and hair care for mixed hair (like hair for half black/half hispanic, hispanic hair-care problems).

The best way to treat extensions is to make sure they do not stay in too long or grow out too much. Either will put stress on your own hair when using styling tools. The best way to take care of them is to be sure to condition every time you shampoo and to use the AVEENO Nourish+ Leave-In Treatment before styling. This will make the extensions more manageable and will lock in moisture. This also applies to African American hair or Hispanic hair that tends to be drier by nature and more coarse. Like your skin, when it's dry you need to apply more moisture. The leave-in conditioner locks in moisture and helps elasticity to lessen breakage.

I’d love to get the scoop from Patrick about how to make thin hair look thicker. Mine just gets super-stringy as it grows longer. It’s awful!

Make sure you trim your hair on a regular basis and do not use any type of oil or silicone-based products. You should use a volumzing spray and apply a lightweight styling glaze to damp hair before blow drying. Do not over-blow dry, and when you are finished, use the AVEENO Nourish+ Style Fortifying Hairspray to create fullness and body, making hair swell and look thicker.

Does Patrick have any hairstyle tips to get women over 40 out of the hair "frump"? Maybe some tips on how to update a look. Most images and tips I get are for young women, so I'd love some for "older" women.

As you may know, women over 40 do not have to cut off their hair to look less frumpy. I suggest cutting the hair to the collarbone with some longer layers. This will give the hair some energy and still allow you to be very versatile with styling options. For example this cut allows you to put your hair back into a low chignon or a French twist. This will still give you that soft, sexy look without having to cut off your locks to stay youthful and feminine.

Patrick recommended AVEENO products in his answers to these questions, and AVEENO and Recyclebank have an offer for you. One lucky winner will receive five products, which will be sent directly to the winner by AVEENO.

• AVEENO NOURISH+ Shine Shampoo and Conditioner
• AVEENO Living Color Shine Glaze
• AVEENO NOURISH+ Style Fortifying Hairspray
• AVEENO NOURISH+ Leave-In Treatment
  

How can you enter this contest (technically a sweepstakes)? Just leave a comment on this feature (not in another BTiB post). After you comment here, feel free to send me an e-mail at bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing an e-mail address you care about on a blog, so feel free to follow this step (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment).

You can earn extra entries. Follow this blog (through an e-mail subscription, GFC, or though one of the many Google readers - see sidebar at right) to earn a second entry. If you are a follower, it would help me tally entries if you tell me in your comment how you follow. You don't have to follow to enter. I want everyone to have a chance, but I also want to reward my followers. I must be able to track this entry.

You can earn a third entry by tweeting this contest. You must include "@BTiBeauty" (without the quotes) and the contest title in your tweet. Remember, tweet the contest title - if you don't, that entry won't count. I will tweet the contest early this evening, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry - if that's easier.

The deadline for entries will be Saturday, December 17, at midnight. The next day, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner on Sunday morning. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your e-mail - and look in your spam folder - when the contest ends.

This contest is open to residents of the United States. For all the legalese related to this contest, please see the Contests/Sweepstakes page at the top of the blog. Good luck!

Photos courtesy of Patrick Melville and AVEENO