Whatever your hair type follow these top tips for busting all kinds of hair problems for healthy and beautiful tresses
- Fight Frizz: Naturally curly hair needs looking after if you don't want it resembling a bird's nest. Keep it well moisturised to prevent frizz and flyaway ends and if it's very curly handle it gently, particularly when it comes to brushing. Use a diffuser when drying to help encourage curl formation.
- Superfoods: Dull and lifeless hair can be evidence of a poor diet. The more fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts and oily fish you eat the healthier you will be in mind, body and hair. Supplements recommended for promoting healthy hair growth are Zinc, Vitamins B and C, E and Iron.
- Back to basics: If you shampoo your hair twice, concentrate on cleansing the scalp with the first application, and the hair with the second. Make sure you use the correct variant for your hair type. For instance if you use a shampoo for dry hair on greasy hair, then you may be adding extra oils. Likewise conditioning is an important part of healthy hair. Whilst adding moisture it will also smooth the cuticles down, making it shine. Only apply conditioner to mid lengths and ends, never the roots.
- Get the right temperature: Wash in and rinse off shampoo with hot water as this will swell the hair and open up the cuticle layer. Use cool water for the final rinse after conditioning as this will close the cuticle and lock in the benefits.
- Raid the fridge: It's not just conventional products that perk up locks. Guinness makes a nourishing conditioner for dry hair as does whisked up egg, and extra virgin olive oil. Mashed avocado makes an effective hair mask. Tomato ketchup will help neutralise chlorine induced green tones in bottle blonde hair.
- Moisture Managment: Winter is a time of dramatic contrasts in temperatures - central heating indoors and freezing cold air outside - which can affect hair in negative ways, one of which is an increase in static. Fight flyaways by lightly smoothing one of those tumble-dryer conditioning sheets, like Bounce, over the surface of the hair. Reduce the drying effects central heating has on hair, scalp and atmosphere by placing large bowls of water next to any radiators. Switch to a richer conditioner during the winter months to replace lost moisture.
- Shiny healthy hair: Brushing the hair regularly encourages the production of sebum, the hair's natural conditioner responsible for shine. This naturally occurring combination of waxes and fats acts as both a lubricant and protector as it includes antiseptic qualities. However over-brushing can strip hair of vital oils and encourage static build-up so don't feel you have to make 100 strokes a day.
- Colour me beautiful: Adjust hair colour seasonally to work with your skin tone - it's one of the celebs' favourite beauty tricks. Adding more warmth during autumn will compensate for winter pallor, boosting both complexion and eye colour. Introducing a few highlights or lowlights around the hairline can have a really rejuvenating effect.
- The Perfect blow dry: Smooth hair cuticles (the translucent scales that form the outer protective layer of each hair) are key to achieving a high level of shine. When blow-drying always hold the hairdryer angled from above and direct the heat downward from root to tip so as to encourage cuticles to lie flat. Straight hair will always have more shine than its curlier counterpart as it provides an unbroken surface for light to be reflected back from.
- Build body: Fine hair needs bulk so don't have lots of layering done. One length blunt cut styles retain as much hair as possible. Colour, curls and waves will all add body as will body building products and blast-drying the roots with head tipped upside down.
