If you want healthy hair growth follow these five stylist-approved steps now

Growing out your hair can be challenging but with patience and dedication, you will get there!

And with our expert tips, you'll be on your way to achieving the long, healthy hair of your dreams. Simply follow our five steps, below:

1. Experiment with different styles

During the awkward phase, experiment with different hairstyles to find what works best for you. Try plaits, messy buns and ponytails to keep things interesting.

2. Get regular trims

Although it may seem counterproductive, getting regular trims can help your hair grow longer and keep it healtthy. Having a trim every six to eight weeks helps avoid split ends from travelling up the hair shaft, causing additional damage and breakage.

3. Avoid over-shampooing

Over-shampooing can strip your hair of its natural oils, leading to dryness and breakage. Ideally wash your hair every other day or every two days, depending on your hair type.

4. Use heat protection products

Using hot styling tools such as straighteners, curlers or your hairdryer can damage your hair. Protect it by applying a heat protectant before using hot tools, which helps reduce breakage and split ends.

5. Stay positive

The awkward phase can be frustrating, but it's important to stay positive and remember that it's only temporary. Keep your hair healthy and take care of it, and before you know it, you'll be out of the awkward phase and well on your way to achieving your hair goals!

Do these three things to get salon style hair, say the experts

Want salon style hair at home? Here are three of our salon-approved tricks.

Trick one: Make your own sea salt spray

If you love the tousled beach look, and are already a fan of sea salt spray, did you know you can make it at home?

Simply mix together 500ml of sparkling water and a teaspoon of sea salt in a spray bottle. While your hair is damp, spritz the mixture onto the ends of your hair, and use your fingers to scrunch them up.

Trick two: Ue your straighteners as a curler

Learning how to curl your hair with your straighteners is great especially when you’re going away and don’t want to take loads of different styling tools with you.

First, grab a small section of hair. Then, hold your straighteners vertically with the open end pointed upward. As you clamp the hair, begin rotating it away from your face. Don’t slow down or stop - the key to getting consistent curls is to keep the movement fluid.

As you keep rotating the straighteners away from your face, allow your hair to slowly slide through the clamp until you reach the end. For looser waves, lower the heat on your straighteners and brush them out after you’ve finished curling.

Trick three: Level up your ponytail

This ponytail trick is the fastest way to make your updo look professional. After you’ve secured your ponytail, grab a small bit of hair from the pony and wrap it around the base of your ponytail to cover the hairband. Coat the very end of the section with hairspray, and smooth it against the base to seamlessly secure it.

Winter hair care you need to know about

When it gets colder, our hair can really take a hit.

Throw in central heating, cold winds, friction from wearing hats and a lack of sunlight and it can be a recipe for flyaway, dry and damaged hair.

But the good news is the secret to sorting winter hair is starting from the inside out and that means feeding the body with the right nutrients.

Here are the top foods and nutrients we swear by for healthy hair (and skin):

Oily fish - Salmon, mackerel and sardines are packed with omega-3s which can hydrate your scalp and make hair bouncier. If you’re plant-based, chia or flax seeds are a great alternative and it only takes a few weeks to notice a more natural shine.

Vitamin C - Citrus fruits, kiwis, tomatoes, red peppers and berries all have a ton of Vitamin C in, which boosts collagen and can repair dry and damaged hair from the inside out.

Protein - Our hair is full of protein so eating more of this can help keep it healthy. Think eggs, lentils, mushrooms, tuna, Greek yoghurt and peas.

Iron and zinc – For particularly weak and brittle hair, upping your iron and zinc intake can help. Either buy a supplement or eat more spinach, pumpkin seeds or lean red meat for healthy hair growth.

Water - We often forget that dehydration can cause dullness, especially in hair. Keep a bottle by your side to remind you to drink, little and often.

Fine hair ladies - this is our step by step plan to boost volume today

Want to know the best ways to look after fine hair? The endless pursuit of volume can be tricky for those with fine hair, but there are a few tricks you can to do care for it like a pro. Read on to find out how…

Step 1: Invest in a volumising shampoo…

Avoid sulphates - these harsh detergents are found in most shampoos and can weaken hair over time, making it more likely to break and appear thin. A volumising shampoo can help plump up the roots and add nutrients back to depleted strands.

Step 2: …but don't go crazy with the shampoo

Most fine hair clients feel the need to wash every day because they feel greasy, but it makes more sense to limit this to 2-3 times a week. Why? Over-washing the hair can create too much oil, which can give the appearance of flat and lifeless hair.

Step 3: Limit conditioner

Volumising shampoos tend to be quite drying, which can make the scalp overproduce oils. Using a moisturising conditioner can help maintain the balance. Note: only apply conditioner on the middle of hair to the ends, never directly on the scalp.

Step 4: Air-dry hair

Fine hair should be left to air-dry 75 percent before you hit the heat. This is because wet hair is the most vulnerable to stretching and breaking while being pulled. Once almost dry, you can use a hairdryer to finish it off. Dry upside down for extra shape and volume in the roots.

RELATED: Three ways to take care of dyed hair

Four simple tricks to have a good hair day all the time

How do I make my hair look good all the time? If you want a good hair day every day, these are the three things you need to do.

Want to know how to make your hair look good all the time? These are some of our salon-approved tricks for glossy, healthy hair every day. Which one is your favourite?

Tip 1: Use a hydrating shampoo twice a week

Tip 2: Invest in a hair oil

Tip 3: Pick the right product for your hair type

Tip 4: Avoid over-styling your hair

Why is my hair oily?

Why is my hair so oily?

Healthy hair produces a certain amount of sebum, or oil, as a way to hydrate your scalp and protect your hair. And the amount of oil you produce varies depending on your hair type, how often you shower and other lifestyle factors like that.

Sometimes this natural oil can collect on your hair, especially at the root - and this can look greasy or oily.

If this sounds familiar, then we’re here to tell you the causes of oily hair, products that can control oil production, and some home remedies for when your hair looks too greasy.

So what’s the cause?

The oil in your hair is part of your body’s defense system for the sensitive hair of your scalp. This oil mixes with sweat and dirt, coating your scalp and sometimes the top of your head, too. This is actually normal, so don’t panic.

How to fix it

Practicing good hygiene by washing your scalp often with a shampoo cleanses the oil and gives your hair a fresh start. But saying that, some hair types (straight hair for one, sorry guys) are prone to oil build-up and certain lifestyle habits, like exercise, over-use of styling products, and being out in the heat or humidity can add to your bad hair day.

Photo by Chris Slupski on Unsplash

Cause 1: Over-washing

If your hair is oily or greasy one of the causes could be over-washing.

Every time you wash your hair with shampoo, it sends the scalp the signal to produce more sebum. If you’re washing your hair too often, your scalp gets the message that it needs to be in oil production overdrive.

This can result in oily build-up on your scalp - and the greasy look you’re trying to avoid.

Cause 2: Hair type

Straight hair is especially prone to collecting oil because the hair shaft doesn’t have any texture or wave to it, so oil slides straight down the hair shaft and collects all over your head. It also makes oil in your hair more visible when hair hangs straight down.

Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

Cause 3: Using the wrong products

Another cause of oily hair is the type of styling products you use. Sebum is a type of oil, which means that simply washing it with water doesn’t break it up.

Rinsing your hair with just water or skipping the shampoo step and using only conditioner can allow oil to build up. While it might not be easy to spot the oil when your hair is drying, it quickly appears oily again only a few hours or so later.

That’s because only certain ingredients, found in most shampoos, can break down the oil that builds up on your hair.

How to choose a hair colour

When it comes to choosing the right hair colour for you, our colourists know the three elements that combined will create your perfect look...

1) Your complexion

The colour of your skin tone is actually one of the most important aspects of choosing the perfect hair colour. The correct colour will compliment your skin and make it appear even more beautiful, while the wrong colour might make your skin look dull and dreary.

2) Your eyes

To really enhance and intensify your eye colour, we might recommend a contrasting colour. For instance - if your eyes are blue, a caramel or golden blonde tone will make them appear even bluer. If they are green, a fiery or soft red tone could be the perfect colour for you.

3) Personal style

Once the hair colour has been narrowed down to suit your complexion and eye colour, your personal style should be considered - and this is where you know best. Do you want to be noticed or blend in? Do you need to be more daring or does your outfit say enough? Make sure the shades you and your hair stylist choose is one that will make you feel confident and yourself.

How to fix frizzy hair: your step by step guide (and the frizz-busting products we love)

If you have curly hair you’ll know what a challenge it can be to keep the frizz factor under control.

To effectively tackle frizzy hair, you need to focus on adding moisture, minimising heat and friction and using the right products for you. This means gentle sulphate-free cleaning, deep conditioning and the best styling techniques that help to smooth the hair cuticles.

Gentle cleansing: That means investing in sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners that add moisuture. Avoid over-washing as this can strip the hair of its natural oils and make the frizz factor even worse.

Invest in deep conditioner: Doing a weekly hair mask or using deep conditioner once a week will repair frizzy hair and add intense hydration.

Use leave-in treatments: Serums, leave-in conditioners and hair oils can lock in moisture and protect against the humidity that can lead to frizzy hair.

Chill out on heat styling: Use styling tools on the lowest settings and use a heat protectant spray to keep hair from getting frazzled.

Cold water rinse: End your shower with a cold water rinse as this seals the hair cuticle making it look shinier, and reducing the frizz factor.

Gentle drying: Carefully blot hair dry with a microfibre towel or cotton T-shirt instead of rubbing vigorously with a towel. And always wait for hair to dry a bit before brushing it as this can cause frizz and breakage.

Fix dry hair with these stylist-approved products

If you’re never used hair oils, they are a really inexpensive way to add moisture and shine while strengthening the follicles to encourage growth.

They can also help repair dry, damaged hair, split ends and even dandruff. Here’s the main benefits of using hair oils:

Moisturising: Hair oils work by penetraing the hair shaft, giving a deep hit of hydrating and helping to repair dry and damaged hair. They also help to keep the mositure in, keeping your hair feeling extra soft.

Strengthening: Hair oils also strengthen the hair shaft, and this helps to make it less likely to suffer from breakage and split ends. Amazingly, they can even help reduce hair loss, promoting healthier looking, thicker hair. You’re basically giving your hair a good old drink with hair oils, and this can reduce friction when styling so hair appears smooth and glossy.

Promotes shine: Hair oils add shine and life to lacklustre, dry hair. They can make your hair texture feel softer, too.

Protection: Hair oils provide a protective barrier around the hair shaft, helping it stay protected from environmental damage like pollution, central heating and UV rays, as well as styling tools.