Five ways to spring clean your haircare routine

With the days getting longer and spring around the corner, it’s time to change up your haircare routine for the new season….

Show your scalp some love

Winter can play havoc with hair - woolly hats, cold temperatures and central heating can all damage the hair and scalp.

The secret to reviving a dry scalp? Hair oil before shampooing. Leave it in your half for half an our, or even better, overnight, to give it time to nourish the scalp follicles and restore the hair's natural shine.

Invest in B vits

Increased hair loss can be more common in spring, often because of vitamin deficiency. Counteract this by increasing your intake of B vitamins, zinc, copper, vitamin C and protein. However, if your hair loss is worrying, it’s worth looking into the cause, including hormonal imbalances, diet, stress etc.

Rinse hair with lukewarm water

If you already have a dry scalp or hair, avoid very hot water in the shower, especially for fine hair which is more delicate. Instead opt for lukewarm water for rinsing. Colder water means will cause the hair cuticle to lay flat, which leads to a shiny, glossy finish.

Use heatless drying techniques

If your hair has become dry and brittle over the winter months, give it a break from hair drying. Why? Heated styling compromises the cuticle and over drying leads to moisture loss in both the scalp and the strands. Take advantage of the weather as it gets warmer and allow your hair to air dry where possible.

Use heat protectant spray

Air drying not your thing? Use protection! Heat protection sprays create a barrier between the cuticle and the hot air, minimising any moisture loss and preventing breakage and split ends.

Your hair questions answered - by the experts

Always wanted to know what happens if you pluck a grey hair out? What about if washing hair in beer is a good idea? We answer some of the most common hair care questions….

Q: Can apple cider vinegar make hair shinier?

In a word, yes! Try working about 5ml of apple cider vinegar into your hair and leave for roughly five minutes before rinsing with cold water. This leaves your hair shiny and less frizzy because the apple vinegar lowers the PH scale on your scalp, redressing the balance. It also closes and smoothes the hair cuticles to retain nutrients and moisture. Note: if you have dry hair, don’t do this too often, but if you have oily hair, do it frequently to help with build up.

Q: If you pluck a grey hair, will 10 grow back in its place?

You’ll be pleased to know that this is a complete myth and your grey hair will not grow back. If a single strand annoys you, just cut it as near to the root as possible as plucking it will only cause stress to the follicle, and if it gets infected you could cause hair loss in that area which is the last thing you want!

Q: Does washing your hair in beer help make it healthy?

There is no clinical evidence that this is true, but some say that Guinness, because of all the B vitamins and antioxidants it contains, can add shine to hair.

Q: Will brushing 100 times a day keep hair healthy?

No, brushing your hair that many times a day will actually do some damage through all the friction, especially if you have fine, brittle hair or if you do it when it’s wet. However, a few gentle brush strokes daily with a natural bristle brush on dry hair can stimulate scalp circulation, and help to distribute natural oils from roots to tips.