Davina McCall has been buffeted by some unexpected headwinds over the past year, but her latest ‘blow’ is anything but unpleasant. Her partner and hairdresser Michael Douglas has shared an exclusive video of the beloved TV star getting all her (hair) troubles smoothed away, as he demonstrates his latest MDLondon Blow hairdryer on her.
Davina underwent surgery in November last year, after a routine health scan picked up a rare form of benign brain tumour. She recovered from the operation at home for several weeks under Michael’s care, and their latest (adorable!) video shows the TLC is continuing now the pair are firmly back in work mode.
As Michael explains how to get the ultimate, glossy, blow-dried finish, he picks out a small, shorter section that needs to be blow-dried neatly into Davina’s longer lengths. ‘This is some of her new hair,’ he explains. ‘From the scar, from the operation.’ A smiling Davina chimes in: ‘Tuck it in!’
The pair, who look tanned and holiday-happy (‘We’ve been to Ibiza! Can you tell?’), show how exactly to get a smooth, shiny finish, using the newly upgraded MDLondon Blow hairdryer. This GH beauty team favourite has just been upgraded with magnetic clip-on attachments, and a bigger range of heat settings to make it as gentle as possible on hair without sacrificing power. ‘It’s the best hairdryer I’ve ever used,’ Michael says.
Michael has also shared some gorgeous 'after' photos of Davina to show the final effect of the dryer, which has an RRP of £199 but is currently on a flash sale for £149 at MDLondon.
To help you get the best-ever blowdry, Michael has helpfully shared his mistake-busting rules, which even Davina finds foolproof. ‘I’d never been able to blowdry my own hair before Blow,’ she’s previously told us. ‘If I can do it, anyone can!’
Rule 1: It’s not about the products
Yes, styling products are great for protecting and helping get the best finish, but they won’t make your hair magically shiny on their own. ‘The thing that makes hair shiny isn’t ‘shine’ shampoos or products, it’s the hair surface,’ says Michael. ‘If you have a smooth surface, it reflects light. And if you don't, it won't, doesn't matter how many ‘shine’ products you put on.’
For Davina’s hair, ‘all I’ve used is a bit of water and air dry cream, and that’s all you need.’ So yes, while shine products can be a nice finishing touch, they need a smooth surface to polish up.
Rule 2: Dryer plus brush is your dream duo
As Michael explains: ‘The only tools you need to create a smooth, shiny surface is a hairdryer with a nozzle and a brush.’ Having a round brush that’s the same length as the smoothing nozzle is helpful: ‘It means you can blow dry the hair faster with more control’.
Rule 3: It’s all about the angle
Tools plus technique is THE secret to smooth hair. ‘The angle at which the air comes out of this hair dryer is everything,’ says Michael. ‘That's what makes the hair super shiny and polished.’
Showing the perfect positioning in his tutorial, he explains that you need to angle the air flow so it’s moving directly along the surface of the hair, not pointing down into the hair, blasting it and ruffling it up. ‘Pick up a section with the brush. Get the nozzle very flat, very close to the head, then run it over the section. Go in again, two or three times. This angle is what gets rid of all the flyaways.’
Rule 4: Make sure it’s dry
All this advice will fall flat if you’re not patient. ‘The other thing that’s really important is that the hair has to be completely dry before you let it go,’ says Michael. ‘Moisture is the enemy of all hair styles.’ As Davina puts at the end of the video: 'We hate moisture!'
