Your precious strands deserve to be coddled, especially as they’ve been subjected to all kinds of elemental and chemical assaults.
Your precious strands deserve to be coddled, especially as they’ve been subjected to all kinds of elemental and chemical assaults. The next 14 pages are chock full of tips and tricks to care for your crowning glory, plus the best tried-andtested products and treatments for hair that’s thicker, lusher and stronger
You have: OILY ROOTS AND DRY ENDS
The solution here is not only a huge hair helper, it’s time-saving too. Shampoo less often, or opt for one of the new breed of cleansing conditioners. Often, your scalp and roots become oily as the sebaceous glands are overactive from shampooing too much, and the same shampoo that strips the oil can leave your ends dry and frazzled. Leave as long as possible between each cleanse. It can actually slow down the oil production quite a bit. When you do cleanse, be sure to massage gently, not roughly, as this can also trigger oil flow.
You have: DRY, DAMAGED HAIR
You really want to replace the lost oils in your hair and strengthen the strands to prevent further damage. Choose a hydrating shampoo and conditioner, but avoid one that is too heavy. The idea is to leave your hair clean, shiny and not weighed down. Only shampoo hair once, and ensure you gently towel dry prior to conditioning to allow maximum product absorption. Leave your conditioner on for as long as time allows. Never wrap your wet hair in a turban – it can stretch already weakened strands and cause them to snap where the towel twists. Instead, use a soft cotton T-shirt that’s gentler on hair.
You have: LONG, THICK, UNRULY HAIR
In this situation you need to smooth your hair. Smoothing the cuticle deflates the hair a bit so it isn’t as big and is much easier to manage. Seek out products that will infuse plenty of shine. When conditioning, apply only from the mid-lengths to the ends, unless your colour is taken all the way to the roots, in which case you will require moisture in that area. And always use a very widetoothed comb to detangle and spread the conditioner through your hair.
You have: COARSE, CURLY HAIR
Hydration is paramount. You really want to load up with moisture to help control stubborn frizz and unruly curls. You could even replace your regular conditioner with a conditioning treatment and leave a bit in the hair to add some weight and pull the curl down to smoothen it.
You have: A DRY, SENSITIVE SCALP
Your scalp is tight and dry, and it might flake, but don’t get this mixed up with dandruff as it’s a completely different issue. The skin on your scalp is dry, and requires a hydrating but lightweight formula. Use a shampoo that will heal and treat your scalp, and massage very gently. Look for specific scalp-therapy products.
You have: SHORT, FINE HAIR
This type of hair can flatten fast. You want to thicken it up, right from the start. Volumising is like a layering process – begin with shampoo and conditioner and work from there, incorporating your volumising and finishing sprays and serums throughout the styling process. You can actually skip conditioner if your hair is short enough – it will help give height.
You have: DANDRUFF
Dandruff is a big issue for many women. Shampoo less often, but rinse hair every single day. Using a harsh shampoo can exacerbate the problem. When you do shampoo, choose a light formula with anti-bacterial ingredients such as eucalyptus or tea tree, which will combat the bacteria, as well as soothe and nurture the scalp.
TEXT: BAUERSYNDICATION.COM.AU / ADDITIONAL REPORTING: ELIZABETH LIEW / PHOTOS: DEREK KETTELA / TRUNK ARCHIVE / SNAPPER MEDIA
