How can I make my hair look healthy? It’s one of beauty’s most asked questions, and it also happens to be one of the questions I get asked the most, too.
Everyday styling, pollution and general wear and tear can take its toll on your hair so having a foundation of good and easy to commit to hair habits can really make a difference.
I take a lot of pride in my hair. My hair is my ‘thing’; I’m proud how healthy it’s become, even though it gets its fair share of heat styling it’s essential I make sure I look after it. But the funny thing is, most people are surprised when I reveal that my regime is very low-maintenance and doesn’t cost the earth.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a miracle solution that’s going to transform your hair overnight. But hear me out here, my secret to shiny, healthy hair is to condition and treat it on a regular basis and the good news – it requires minimal effort.
#1 Detoxify Your Tresses Weekly
Did you know that pollution and product build-up are the main culprits when it comes to dull and lifeless hair that lacks shine and volume? So If you take one piece of advice from this edit, let it be this.
Pollution in the form of dust, tobacco smoke, smog and fumes can attack the hair fibres and lead to damage, dullness, an unpleasant smell and can even cause greys and in some cases, hair loss. Product build-up is the easiest way to dull your shine too, so you need to use a specialist detoxifying shampoo and conditioner once a week to remove both for healthy and fabulous-looking hair. Getting into this habit will also make hair easier to style because you don’t have so much build-up and pollution on your hair.
Since discovering the Klorane Aquatic Mint range I haven’t looked back. Its minty fresh aroma smells just like freshly poured mojito and it’s also packed full of polyphenols that have both antioxidant and anti-pollution properties. Its gentle formula that’s suitable for all hair types removes 97% of pollution particles, as well as the metals and minerals that are found in hard water and can sometimes cause hair to look flat.
Read more about the benefits of the Klorane Aquatic Mint range here.
#2 Brush Your Way To Healthy Locks
According to experts brushing your hair twice a day, once in the morning and then again in the evening is ideal for shiny locks. This will obviously depend on the length of your hair and the texture, personally I tend to brush mine morning, lunchtime and before I go to bed because my hair gets tangled easily and if I’m perfectly honest, I love the feeling of freshly brushed hair!
We tend to brush our hair for one or two reasons: To detangle or to brush for shine and health. The sebaceous glands produce oil to lubricate the scalp and hair so brushing is a good way to distribute the natural oils in your hair through to the ends – resulting in shiny hair.
There is a caveat though, you need to be using a good quality brush and If you really want to brush your way to healthy hair then you need a boar bristle brush. Why? I hear you ask. What’s wrong with my regular hairbrush? Some brushes, particularly those with the bobbles on the end of the bristles can actually cause your hair to break and snap because they get caught on the bobble. Boar brushes help to gently break up tangles and knots while distributing natural oils to give you that glossy appearance.
I’ve used a Mason Pearson brush for many years now and although they are expensive I really believe that something that you use every day that will last is worth every penny, especially when you break it down to price per use (over a five year period, that would be just five pence per day!) – it’s well worth the investment if you care about the condition and appearance of your hair.
#3 Intensively Hydrate and Nourish
I used to think that hair masks were a bit of a faff, until a few years ago, I decided to use one on a whim one Sunday morning before eating my breakfast. In the time it took to prepare and eat my smashed avocado on sourdough toast, my hair was left intensively nourished and deeply hydrated – I haven’t looked back!
It’s a weekly ritual that makes such a big difference to the overall condition of my hair. I’d recommend this as a simple and easy step for everyone to make to improve hair health.
Each strand is always in need of more moisture and protein, so a regular injection of hydration can help to plump the hair follicles. More often than not your hair isn’t damaged, just dehydrated and a moisturising hair mask can help to transform parched tresses, especially if you get into the habit of doing it weekly.
My long-standing favourite is the Vichy Nutri-Protein Restorative Mask because it does the job in just five minutes and offers instant results. It’s silicone-free, paraben-free and nutrient-rich formula helps to improve the appearance of split ends and prevent future breakages by strengthening the hair. Hello shiny!
It’s not difficult either. Simply apply it all over your hair (I used a brush or a comb to help evenly distribute it) and then pull your hair back into a bun, ponytail or plait to keep it off your face if your hair is long. I try to leave mine on for as long as possible, so sometimes I might even go to the gym with it in. Plus, if you’re not going anywhere important you could realistically leave it on overnight to maximise its benefits.
Over to you…
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