Gorgeous hair, do care. If you want healthy, glossy hair (who doesn’t?) read on to find out how to transform your tresses.
“Healthy hair is strong, smooth and shiny,” says celebrity hairdresser Mark Hill. “If your hair is weak, brittle, prone to breakage, frizzy, unruly or dull, then it’s time to do something about it!”
Beat the heat
“When you expose your hair to any heat, be it from the sun or from heat styling, moisture levels in the hair change. Hair becomes dry and damaged,” Mark warns. Luckily, it’s easy to protect your hair from heat styling with a heat protection spray. Similarly, if you want to protect your tresses from the sun, spritz on a UV spray and you’re good to go. “Remember to spray over partings to avoid scalp damage too!” Mark advises. If you’re out in the sun for a prolonged period, or if it’s a super-hot day, pop on a wide-brimmed hat for extra protection (and extra sass).
Bounce back from breakages
According to Mark, there are a number of reasons why your hair can snap, including because it’s over-processed, already dry and damaged, or because you’re not showing it enough love. Luckily, he's got some top tips to help prevent future breakages.
"Wet hair is a lot more fragile than you think. If you drag a comb through your hair when it’s wet, breakage can happen." -Mark Hill
“Wet hair is a lot more fragile than you think,” explains Mark. “If you take one strand of wet hair and stretch it, it stretches by a third of its original length and then breaks. If you drag a comb through your hair when it’s wet, breakage can happen. Make sure you always use a wide tooth comb and comb the ends first, working up towards the roots.”
“If your hair is dry, it’s easier to suffer breakage, especially towards the mid-lengths and ends. Make sure you always use a conditioner after shampooing and once a week use a conditioning treatment to keep the optimum moisture levels,” Mark advises. We love a good hair mask once a week for a real hair treat
Shine on
Healthy hair and diet go hand in hand. “They say you are what you eat, and it’s true!” says Mark. “If you eat nothing but chips, your hair will be greasy. A well-balanced diet together with drinking lots of water will keep your hair, skin and nails looking great.”
Get your locks in a lather
How often you should wash your hair and what products you should use depend largely on your hair type. Our hair washing guide dishes the dirt on how often you should lather up and which shampoos best suit your hair type.
Take things back to basics with a clarifying shampoo once a month. Clarifying shampoos are designed to deep clean your hair and rid it of any residue and product build-up, leaving your locks squeaky clean and ready to take on anything.
Be a smooth operator
Don’t skip the conditioner. It’s the first rule in the hair handbook, and with good reason. “Conditioner helps replace lost moisture, detangles, smoothes and adds shine,” says Mark. But what if your hair is greasy? Mark recommends only putting conditioner on the mid-lengths and ends of your hair if it’s fine or if your roots tend to get a little greasy.
Don’t get your tresses in a tangle
“Anything you put on or in your hair can cause damage,” warns Mark. “Hair ties, bands and grips can cause stress at the roots or can break damaged hair. Try to find material hair ties, or bands containing silicone as they slip out of the hair easier. When you pull your hair back, don’t put too much tension on the hair around your hairline.”
You grow, girl!
Growth serums are huge news right now, and with good reason. Who doesn’t dream of long, luscious locks that would make even Rapunzel green with envy? If you’ve not discovered hair growth serums yet, here’s the skinny: think skincare serums except for your hair. Apply a few drops to your scalp every morning or night, massage in and sit back while they work their magic.
Now your locks are on point, all that’s left to do is straighten up your crown and let your hair do the talking!
