‘Cutting My Hair Felt Like Letting Go Of A Lot Of Baggage’: Millie Mackintosh Talks Haircare

'The brief was Sienna Miller,' says Millie Mackintosh of her latest hair revamp, 'my daughter was about to start school, I had moved house, I felt like I was in the middle of a really transitional time in my life, it was the right moment.' Mackintosh, known for her long, dark honey hair, went for the chop last summer and followed it up with a bright blonde makeover courtesy of Harriet Muldoon at Larry King the following November, 'this is the blondest I have been since I was a teenager.'

Mackintosh is big on haircare and it's healthy a preoccupation that led, recently, to a partnership with Pantene. 'I have used Pantene since I was a teenager,' remembers Mackintosh, 'nowadays I really appreciate all the research and expert-led science that goes into their product development.' She's a big fan of that iconic Pro-V Formula, 'it's all about repairing the hair - mine goes through a lot when it comes to heat styling and colouring and since becoming a mum, I have found that I have much less time to set about undoing all that damage, I need products that work quickly and efficiently and I know that I can rely on Pantene to deliver.' And Mackintonsh's haircare regimen goes way beyond shampoo and conditioner. 'I take collagen supplements to help support my haircare routine. I recently tried a new treatment, Salmon Stem Cells, which is injected into the scalp promoting, over time, new hair growth and improved scalp health.'

Scalp health is important to Mackintosh too. 'Health in general really, and that includes skin health, scalp health, the lot,' she says, 'when I was younger I was more concerned with things looking good, now I need to know that they're healthy as well - I have always invested in my hair but as I got into my late 20’s I started to understand that hair scalp health is just as important, so I incorporated more science backed products.'

We're talking via a video link and Mackintosh is visibly glowing, fresh from a holiday in the Maldives. Absolute paradise as far as getaways are concerned, but when it comes to hair - especially dyed blonde hair - the combination sun, sea and saltwater can often prove a nightmare. How did she keep her lengths in check? 'I like to protect my hair in the sun as much as I do my skin,' she says, 'but sometimes when you’re running around after little ones, in and out of the pool, your gets pushed further down the list, so a multi-tasking product is always good to pack. The Pantene Molecular Bond Repair Miracle Cream, £15, is a 5-in-1 leave-in, perfect after a day in the sun, I keep it in my beach bag, apply it on-the-go and let it work its magic.'

With a book launch, long-haul holiday en famille and a house renovation in the works, how does Mackintosh avoid burnout? She has a few tricks up her sleeve. 'Firstly, don’t give yourself a hard time about trying to get everything done,' she says, 'for every one thing you tick off your list, there will be three more that appear. For me, simplifying my routine and being strategic about where I put things made a huge difference. Simply by making my bedside table the beauty, vitamin, wellness station, means that I have everything to hand at night and first thing in the morning. I tend to be an early riser and love having 30 minutes to myself most mornings, whilst everyone is still sleeping. 5.30AM starts aren't for everyone but for me it’s the only time when both my mind and the house are quiet. Whether it be meditating, listen to a podcast whilst unloading the dishwasher or simply just enjoying a coffee while the sun comes up, it all feeds the soul_._'