'Could you grab me a 1 and 3?' mdlondon just made hair styling that simple – and Davina McCall is a big fan

Hairdresser Michael Douglas launches The Numbers - it’s the simple hair styling system we’ve all been waiting for

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Michael Douglas and Davina McCall holding The Numbers hair styling products
(Image credit: mdlondon)

As a woman in midlife, hormonal shifts have caused significant changes to my hair, meaning I often have to try new products. But doing so is never easy, and the selection in Boots can feel totally overwhelming. So when I saw mdlondon’s new styling range - The Numbers - which simplifies styling by, yes, you guessed it, numbers, my interest immediately piqued.

Introducing the first six numbers at a press launch, Michael said: ‘I had this idea for a product range back in 1991, where I would just number them one to whatever, and that would be it. Make it a simple thing, with a number to help people, not a puzzle to solve - just make life easy. Just 1 and 2, and out the door - great, your hair looks fab.’

And his new wife, Davina McCall, is a big fan. Sat alongside her husband, she said: ‘I really need to talk about this because the 1 is amazing. If you're going to use something, use the 1. Talk about making it easy - imagine saying to somebody, could you just go and grab me a 1 and 3? It’s such a brilliant, easy concept.’

  • 1 - Hair Primer: a leave-in pre-styler for all outcomes: straight, waves, and curls, heat protection, and conditioning
  • 2 - Volume & Shine Blow Out Spray: a spray to reduce frizz with heat protection for improved volume and conditioned shine
  • 3 - Volume Curls & Waves Mousse: amazing curls and waves, helps tame frizz, diffuse, air dry, or blow out
  • 4 - Hairspray That Holds: Reworkable, flexible, firm hold dry hairspray
  • 5 - Voluminous Texture: Dry Shampoo with volumising long-lasting hold for all hair styles
  • 6 - A Settling Finish: A cream clay that takes the edge off fluffy hairstyles for a natural texture and finish

The Numbers

‘They are in order of use,' Michael says. 'Number 1 - hair primer - goes on first, and that would be for everyone,' Michael explains. 'Then number 2 or 3, depending on your hair type, or you could use both if you want an extra zap. 4 is hairspray, 5 is dry shampoo, and then 6 is a finish that you use at the very end.'

As well as being a super simple system to use, each product features a QR code on the front, which you scan to enter a WhatsApp chat where you can ask Michael anything about how it works and other hair-related questions via an AI system he has developed.

‘I’ve trained a small language model called The Knowing,” he says. 'I've lectured everything I've learned over the last 38 years in hairdressing into it - you can ask me anything to do with hair, and it will help.'

If you're looking through The Numbers and feel something is missing, don't worry. Numbers 7-12 are launching in September, and include a dry heat protection spray and one Michael himself is particularly excited about: 'Number 7 is a knockout'.

We'll be trying them all over the next few weeks, so stay tuned for a closer look at the range. One thing we can say now, though - they all smell incredible.

The Numbers are £15 each, available buy at mdlondon now, and in Boots early March.

Kerrie Hughes
Kerrie Hughes
Editor

Kerrie is the editor of woman&home (digital). As a woman&home reader and senior digital editor with over a decade's experience, Kerrie’s main purpose is to ensure the brand delivers high-quality, relevant content to help enrich and improve women’s lives – a responsibility she feels hugely passionate about.

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