Michelle Sample, Partnership Manager for Paul Mitchell at Sweet Squared, shares her real day and night hair routine.

If you’ve ever wondered what someone who works with professional hair products every single day does with their own hair, you’re in the right place. We’re kicking off our Day & Night Hair Routines series with Michelle Sample, Partnership Manager for Paul Mitchell here at Sweet Squared. She’s someone who truly lives and breathes the brand, so we couldn’t think of a better person to start us off.

FIRST, TELL US ABOUT YOUR HAIR

Michelle’s hair is long and medium thickness the kind of length that looks gorgeous but comes with its own set of challenges. “My mid-lengths and ends are more prone to dryness and porosity, just because of the age of the hair,” she explains. She uses a base 5 demi-permanent colour to keep things looking fresh, which means moisture and protection are high on her priority list.

THE MORNING ROUTINE

Michelle’s mornings are refreshingly low fuss. Her hair goes straight up in a clip while she gets on with everything else. It’s only when she’s ready to style that things get a little more intentional.

When she’s wearing her hair straight, her routine is a tight three-step process:

1. Prep with Paul Mitchell Hot Off the Press for heat protection and a light hold.
2. Straighten using Paul Mitchell straighteners.
3. Finish with one single drop of Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Styling Treatment Oil for smoothness, frizz control and shine.

“One drop. That’s all it takes. The condition of my hair after using it is amazing and it smells fabulous!”

THE EVENING ROUTINE (AND THE SCRUNCHIE SECRET)

Michelle’s evening routine is beautifully simple: she puts her hair up in a scrunchie.

But here’s the clever bit — it’s not just about protecting her hair while she sleeps. “It’s excellent if you don’t want to wash your hair in the morning,” she says, “because it gives great volume when you take it out.” Natural volume, no heat required, no extra time in the morning.

WASH DAY: THE FULL RITUAL

Michelle washes her hair three times a week, and her wash-day routine is genuinely worth following. She does a double shampoo, a method that’s well worth trying if you’re not already.

First shampoo — Paul Mitchell Shampoo Two: a clarifying wash to remove any build-up from oils or styling products.

Second shampoo — Paul Mitchell Lavender Mint Shampoo: “The fragrance is amazing. It’s hydrating, nourishing and colour safe.”

Conditioner — Paul Mitchell Lavender Mint Conditioner: lightweight enough not to weigh long hair down but leaves it “manageable and incredibly soft” thanks to the combined oils.

Between washes? Long hair comes into its own. “You can tie it up in various styles,” Michelle points out. It’s all about working with what you’ve got.

THE PRODUCT SHE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT

When it comes to her absolute hero product, Michelle doesn’t hesitate to say it’s the Paul Mitchell Extra Body Finishing Spray.

“When I curl my hair, the hold keeps my curls in all day. I couldn’t be without it.”

MICHELLE’S ADVICE

“Always use professional products, ideally the same shampoo and conditioner, because the ingredients are designed to complement each other. And use a treatment at least once a week, especially if your hair is long or colour treated. It gives the hair the extra nourishment it needs to prevent porosity and split ends. Oh, and regular trims to maintain your style and condition.”

PRODUCTS MENTIONED •  Paul Mitchell Hot Off the Press •  Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Styling Treatment Oil •  Paul Mitchell Shampoo Two •  Paul Mitchell Lavender Mint Shampoo •  Paul Mitchell Lavender Mint Conditioner •  Paul Mitchell Extra Body Finishing Spray •  Paul Mitchell Straighteners

This is the first blog of our Day & Night Hair Routines series. We’ll be featuring more people from across the Sweet Squared family soon, stay tuned!

• #Hair
• #Hair Routines
• #Paul Mitchell