Making a hairy good impression

Your hair is your first impression. It’s your statement piece for every outfit. Healthy tresses and shiny locks are for every occasion, but they don’t happen without attention, care and an understanding of what products are best to use. 2021 is the year you start using the right ones.

Washing your hair:

Regardless of your hair type, shampoo and conditioner is most likely a part of your routine. However, it’s crucially important to get the quantity of washing correct; if your hair is curly, dyed, bleached or naturally dry and porous, then over-washing is a risk. If your hair fits these descriptions, limit washing your hair to a maximum of three times per week to avoid stripping the oils and proteins which keep your scalp healthy and your mane looking lush. When you do wash your hair, make sure to choose a hydrating brand. I recommend Herbal Essences’ ‘Hello Hydration’: effective and affordable, it’s perfect for a student budget; however, if you’re happy to spend a bit more, The Stylist recommends Percy & Reed’s Perfectly Perfecting Wonder Wash Shampoo.

If you have straight hair you will probably find it becomes oilier faster, so you may need to wash your hair every two days to avoid looking oily. Choose a gentle shampoo which is kind to individual strands, such as Simple’s ‘Kind to Hair’. If you do struggle to wash your hair every two days, you can try using dry shampoo. Dry shampoo soaks up excess oils to leave your hair looking fresh; however, you should beware the risk of build-up on the scalp which can clog hair follicles and impede hair growth. Dry shampoo is a brilliant fall-back on those occasions when you’re just too busy, but it shouldn’t be part of your regular routine.

Using Heat:

Heat is damaging to any hair type because it raises hair cuticles and leads to porosity (therefore increasing dryness and the risk of split ends). When you are using straighteners, tongs or your hairdryer, be sure to apply heat protection to your hair first to minimise the damage. I recommend Neäl & Wølf’s ‘GUARD Heat Protection Spray’, which protects hair up to 220˚C by using a film-forming polymer. This locks in moisture and will therefore reduce frizz which comes from dried and splitting hairs.

Moisturising:

Having always struggled with dry hair and split ends, I can vouch for the importance of moisturising your hair. Neglecting to care for dried hair will lead to that difficult-to-control and impossible-to-style frizz that many of us have experienced. Aside from careful shampoo-selection and heat-protection, I would suggest coconut oil as the must-have for all dry-hair sufferers. You can find coconut oil in almost any supermarket, sitting alongside the cooking oils. It’s inexpensive and deeply moisturising. Personally, I use it as a hair mask every three days; I apply it across my hair before loosely tying it up, covering it with a shower-cap and sleeping with it in. Although you will find that you wake up very oily, your hair will have had time to absorb the moisture. You can then wash it out (it may take two wash-rinse cycles) and find that your hair is super-soft and super-shiny. If you don’t fancy sleepy with an oily head and shower-cap, then try leaving the oil in for as long as you can during the day before your shower.

Once your hair is washed, I would recommend using jojoba seed oil to add more moisture. My favourite is Aussie’s ‘Shine On Serum’, which makes your hair incredibly soft and bright. If you still need an extra boost, try John Freida’s ‘Frizz Ease’, a moisturising cream. I run it through my hair post-wash for health-boosting frizz control. Because it is a cream, you can target particularly dry sections of hair which may get less attention with sprays. If you find this product useful, I would also recommend Aussie’s ‘SOS Frizz Treatment Shot’. The term ‘shot’ is perfect: you don’t need much for it to have an impact. A small amount massaged into your split ends should have noticeable results immediately.

The most important thing is consistency; your hair will flourish with care over time. Be gentle and be patient, and enjoy 2021 with luscious locks.

Edited by Madeleine Gill