Hands up if you regularly blow dry, straighten and curl your hair, use harsh products and hair dyes (or even bleach) and tie it literally in knots, and then expect it to behave and swish with shine and bounce?

So many of us have a specific facial routine, and wouldn’t dream of applying harsh chemicals to our skin. Yet we put our hair through the mill and still ask it to perform on a daily basis.

So how can we maximise the health of our hair? Here’s our five top tips:

1. Have a good hair washing technique – the professionals say that the best way to wash your hair is to brush it first to help the shampoo coat all of the hair and minimise the risk of breaking the hair when it’s wet and at its most vulnerable. Then apply your conditioner from mid-way down to the ends which need the most amount of conditioning, then work your way up to your scalp which needs the least. Lastly, don’t use very hot water to rinse the hair, make sure it’s warm and if you dare, finish with a cold rinse to close the cuticle and promote smooth locks.
2. Eat your way to healthy hair – protein is a major constituent of our hair, and a low protein diet could be making your hair weak. If you eat meat, opt for lean chicken or eat a diet rich in fish and eggs. If you’re meat and fish free, make sure you’re eating plenty of protein-rich nuts, seeds, beans, lentils and chickpeas.
3. Use a hair mask – Just like a face mask, using a hair mask is a luxurious treat for the hair, adding back the natural oils that can be stripped by heat, UV and harsh products and dyes. Also use a heat protection spray if you use heat stylers and love a blow dry. They add an extra conditioning treatment to the hair and help to protect the hair shafts from heat damage.
4. Don’t scrimp on the products – your hairdresser uses premium, salon grade products for a reason. Investing in decent hair care products rather than sticking with the same one from the supermarket every month is like investing in your hair future. They’re more expensive, yes, but you’ll probably find they last longer as you won’t need as much. The same goes for your hairbrush and heated tools.
5. Turn your hair brushing on its head – top stylists recommend that we all brush our hair, using gentle strokes rather than a harsh dragging of the brush or comb, twice a day for around a minute each time. But don’t be tempted to brush from the top, straight down to the bottom. Instead, start brushing from near the bottom, still downwards, but in small sections. Then gradually move up the length of your hair in sections brushing downwards, so by the time you reach the top, the length is already smooth.

We can’t all have a bouncy blow dry every day, but we can take steps to improve the health of our hair, which is the next best thing!