12 rules for healthy hair

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We are all guilty of finding our locks less than friendly, but follow our pro tips and you can jump back into an area with healthy hair …

1. G.et the snip

Do you see this solid line between healthy hair and ends that have become transparent and stray? You want to cut there. If you don’t, hair can split and break off the shaft, even though the follicle is still growing.

“With fine hair, the back should stay a length – just one layer through the front to create shape,” says the A-list favorite, stylist Larry King. “Curly and afro hair should be cut dry and blunt to maintain the definition of the curl.”

2. No more tongs and straighteners (for now)

Too much strong, dry heat can weaken the hair shaft. If you get cold for a few weeks, try smoothing it out hair conditioner to like Toni & Guy Smooth Definition Conditionerbecause it contains a high proportion of Babassu oil to weigh down blurred hair.

Toni & Guy Smooth Definition Conditioner, £ 7.19, boots

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Explanation Hair clips will also persuade unruly strands to submit – or distract attention from them!

Versace gold and silver tone hair clip, £ 142, Net-A-Porter

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3. Add a 10 minute prewash treatment

As a rule, these are oils, conditioners or masks that are applied to wet hair before cleaning and help to restore moisture and protect against frayed ends caused by massage in the shampoo.

Sisley pre-shampoo cleansing mask with white clay, £ 71, Space NK

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4. Blow dry only at a low setting

It may sound counterintuitive, but don’t let the hair dry naturally – the curls are weak when wet. “Blow-dry sections at low heat and speed, and give them a blast of cool air at the end to make sure the hair’s inner bonds are restored and the style is sealed in place,” he says Adam Reed, Ghd’s global ambassador.

5. Try braids

“The protective styling gives Afro hair the opportunity to rest and deviate from chemical treatments,” says the natural hair specialist Charlotte Mensah.

“My favorite are box braids that are made by attaching synthetic hair to your own, because you can wear them loose or throw them back in a ponytail. Then you can massage a few drops Manketti hair oil into your scalp for healthy hair growth. “

Charlotte Mensah Manketti Hair Oil, £ 48, Space NK

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6. Start the bonding

It can be difficult to use additional hair care. Thankfully, bonding treatments designed to restore the disulfide bonds that make up the hair from the inside are now offered in the form of a leave-in styling cream to tame frizz and flyaway. Dyed hair can also be healthy hair.

Olaplex No.6 Bond Smoother, £ 26, Space NK

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7. Increase your protein intake

“It ensures that the hair stays strong as long as possible and in its anagen or growth phase,” says the top hairdresser Luke Hersheson. “Animal proteins like eggs and fish are good. If you are vegetarian, add plenty of beans, lentils, and legumes.”

8. Snack on sunflower seeds

They are Hersheson’s hair hero because they contain vitamin E, omega 6, biotin, potassium and zinc – basically everything that healthy hair needs. “Hair cells are the second fastest growing cells in the body and therefore require an almost constant energy supply,” he says. “Sunflower seeds give follicles the best fuel source.”

9. Speed ​​up blow drying

Less heat means less damage. Cut yours blow dry Time with Aveda’s Speed ​​of Light hair dryer accelerator, £ 21, which uses naturally derived lactic acid from sugar beets to lower hair pH and separate strands for better airflow. Pretty smart, no?

Aveda Speed ​​of Light hair dryer accelerator, £ 21, Lookfantastic

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10. Update your brush

According to the trichologist Anabel KingsleyWild boar bristle brushes are one of the most common causes of cuticle damage. “These can tear off parts of the hair cuticle, increasing porosity and loss of moisture,” she warns. “Instead, use a brush with rounded plastic tines and a ventilated, padded base.”

Philip Kingsley Ventilated Paddle Brush, £ 25, Lookfantastic

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11. Let your color stay true longer

Purple shampoo for blondes has been around for ages. Enter blue Shampoo, the equivalent for brunettes and those with balayage who want to prevent unwanted warm tones from entering. A bit like a color-correcting makeup for hair, it leaves blue pigments that help neutralize brassy orange tones, making your color look fresher and fresher for longer. Bonus: You can postpone the visit to the colorist chair longer.

Redken Progressive Color Depositing Shampoo, £ 18.95

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12. Build a shampoo wardrobe

“Your hair is not the same every time you wash it,” says King. “So if you only use one shampoo, you won’t meet all the requirements.” Your main shampoo should be tailored to your hair type – fine, thick or curly – and add a supporting plaster cast if necessary.

For dry medium lengths and ends, look for formulas loaded with keratin.

Virtue Recovery Shampoo, £ 36, Net-a-Porter

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For greasy roots, choose a mild peeling with salicylic acid.

Kerastase Energizing Scrub, £ 43, Lookfantastic

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For weak, porous strands, choose a daily biotin-based shampoo to reduce hair loss.

Pantene Pro-V Miracles Grow Strong Shampoo, £ 5, Superdrug (only available in the store)

The result? Hot hair, not a hot mess.