Long hair? Follow these stylist-approved steps to maintain it

Trying to grow your hair or simply maintain your already luscious locks? Read on... 

1. Never use harsh shampoos

Shampoos that strip the scalp of its natural oils are a complete no-no! You need to understand that the longer the hair, the drier the ends.

You need to cleanse the dirt but you can't strip your hair of its nutrients. Opt for a super mild shampoo and conditioner and see the difference.

2. Never skip haircare regimes

The longer your hair, the more it gets damaged by the heat, styling and sun damage. So make sure you take some time out once a week to do a hair mask or give yourself an oil massage. Take yourself out to get a hair spa treatment with us once a month, too. 

3. Never ill-treat wet hair

Seriously, never ever start using the blow dryer on dripping wet hair! Make sure you towel dry hair thoroughly and let it semi air dry before you apply heat. Also, do yourself a favour and get a microfibre towel, which is gentler on the hair. Don't forget to add moisture with hair serum and heat protectant. 

4. Never backcomb your hair for volume

Teasing is the worst thing that you could do to your long hair. Your hair is already stressed by the weight. Instead, invest in a great texturising spray and scrunch your hair for volume.

5. Never douse your hair in chemicals

Steer clear of alcohol-laden hair sprays and products with parabens, especially when those products need to be applied to your ends. Remember, the longer your hair the more nourishment your ends need!

6. Never cancel your trim appointments

You know how we keep recommending that you get regular trims? Well, we're not just saying it for fun - it's vital to do so when you have long hair to keep it healthy and strong.

7. Never tie your hair up the same way

This is a two-fold misdemeanour: give your hair a break, switch up the position of your ponytail/bun, let your hair down or braid it. Make sure your hair is not tied too tight and you don't use a hair elastic that causes breakage. 

8. Never use plastic hair brushes

Use a ceramic or wooden bristle brush. It is less harsh on your scalp and also makes sure the natural oils get evenly distributed through the hair. 

This is an edited version of beauty journalist Kannagi Desai's article on the Popxo website. Read the original version here.

Fix swimming hair with these simple steps

Hot weather, chlorinated swimming pools and salty sea water can all wreak havoc with your hair, resulting in dry lengths, damaged ends and dull, faded colour.

So, how do you keep your hair looking full, shiny and healthy during the warmest months of the year? A few small tweaks to you everyday routine can make all the difference.

Don’t forget the SPF for your hair

UV rays can damage your hair as well as your skin. Investing in a hair protector that has UV filters has the same effect as sun cream, shielding the strands from harmful rays (which can break down the structure of your hair as well as fade any colour). 

Fight humidity with serum

Rising temperatures can leave any hair type frizzy and fluffy, and a good hair serum is the fastest way to restore order. The best hair serums will work to smooth frizz while also adding shine, making your hair look as healthy as can be. What’s more, today’s best options come with a whole host of added benefits, from colour-protecting ingredients to nourishing actives and deep-hydrating extracts.

Hydrate with a hair mask

Just like hydrating yourself with a glass of water (or a cool G&T), using a hair mask puts moisture back into the hair giving it a new lease of life. It also helps weakened hair follicles to regain strength and elasticity, helping to avoid further sun damage.

Give your scalp some TLC

Just like the skin on your face, your scalp can become dry and sensitive when it is exposed to the sun. You may even find your parting becomes pink and burnt if you leave it unprotected. Like your skin, you should treat your scalp to some extra TLC in the summer, using products that specifically address your issues. For instance, applying a weekly soothing scalp mask in the summer is a great way to calm and moisturise your scalp. Daily hydrating scalp toners can also be very beneficial – a healthy scalp is key to hair growth.

These are our favourite sea salt sprays for beautiful beach waves

If you love the way your hair looks on holiday then you need to invest in some sea salt spray for those effortless beachy waves. We’ve tracked down the ones that we think REALLY work…

If you're hair is fine this is what you need to do to add volume

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…

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.

…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.

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.

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

How to grow out a bob

When you're growing out your hair it can feel painstakingly slow, and there's nothing worse than that in between stage when you feel like you're neither one style nor another.

The thing is, there is no single product that will make your hair grow quicker (sorry, we wish there was!). But there are certain things you can do which will get your hair in great condition to help it grow:

Treat your hair with some TLC

Try and exfoliating shampoo to properly cleanse your hair and strengthen it against breakage. We like this one from L'Oreal Paris. A rich argan-oil based conditioner like this will also keep your locks in good condition.

Cut your hair every six - eight weeks

We know this sounds scary and counterproductive to someone growing their hair, but regular trims will give your follicles a boost and help with your game-term plan to have long, luscious locks . Book your next appointment by calling us on 01865 553725 or clicking here.

Stop towel drying your hair

If you wrap your hair into a bath towel turban after washing, stop! This causes hair to break, and towel rubbing it dry causes even more damage. Instead invest in a microfibre hair wrap like this, which is more gentle on the follicles and also helps to de-frizz at the same time.

These are our favourite hair products that really work

Fed up with expensive hair products that over-promise and under-deliver? We’ve tracked down the ones that we think REALLY work, from frizz busters and heat protectors to hydration boosters and thickening lotions.

How do I protect my hair while I sleep?

As much as we love sleeping is, it can play havoc with your hair.

But there are a few things you can do to protect it. Here are our top tips and tricks for protecting your hair while you sleep…

Seven ways to protect your hair while sleeping:

1. Dry your hair before bed: wet hair is fragile so if it’s dry when you go to sleep it will be less likely to get damaged when you move around.

2. Avoid sleeping with your hair tied up: wearing your hair up puts it under pressure so keep it loose and carefree for perfect ‘just got out of bed’ hair in the morning.

3. Use scrunchies over hair bobbles: hair bobbles are more abrasive than scrunchies.

4. Apply some dry shampoo: this adds an extra layer of protectin when you’re moving around in your sleep.

5. Use a silk scarf: another level of protection from friction when you move positions in your sleep.

6. Apply an overnight conditioning treatment: hair needs hydration and when you sleep in a deep conditioner you not only add moisture but you also protect it from movement-related friction.

7. Splurge on a silk pillowcase: in the same way as a silk scarf, this type of pillowcase keeps hair soft and protected.

Our favourite hair products for shiny hair

We’ve come up with some of the best products out there to give your hair a healthy shine boost. Let us know which ones are your favourites!

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Your ultimate winter hair care guide - by the experts

How do I look after my hair in winter: the tips and tricks you need for shiny glossy hair.

Want to know how to look after your hair in winter? We’ve got the answers.

We all know that the cold, dry air and harsh winds can strip our hair of moisture and leaving it looking dull and lifeless.

Photo by Martin Reisch on Unsplash

Static can be a big problem in winter too particularly after wearing a woolly hat, or if you spend a lot of time in rooms with the central heating on.

This is basically because the hair starts to pick up a static charge whenever it dries out - under normal circumstances this static charge would be absorbed by water molecules in the air, but dry winter air means there is nowhere for this moisture to go. And that means FRIZZ!

So if you want to know how do I look after my hair in winter, here are our top three tips to try today:

PUT THE MOISTURE BACK WITH A HAIR TREATMENT

Give your hair a lovely hydrating shampoo, use a hair oil treatment or deep conditioning mask to lock in that moisture and stop hair becoming brittle.

Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

LOOK AFTER YOUR SCALP

As well as the hair follicles the scalp is covered in a ton of microscopic sebaceous glands (responsible for producing the healthy hair sebum oils that keep the hair nourished).

When the scalp gets dry or irritated, these glands stop working properly and your body’s supply of sebum dries up - so the hair is stripped of its natural protective coating, and exposed to the cold winter air - this is what makes it brittle or dry in the colder months.

To counteract this, look out for specialist shampoos and treatments designed to nourish the scalp. Most of these products have a combo of peptides, proteins and plant extracts to maintain the balance of natural oil needed for a healthy scalp.

GET A HAIRCUT

Regular trims mean that the split ends, and any damaged dry or old hairs are left on the salon floor. We recommend getting a trim every 4-6 weeks, more if you have a shorter style you want to keep in check. Click here or the button below to book your next haircut.

How do I take care of blonde curly hair?

Being blonde and curly are two things that need just that little bit extra attention when it comes to hair care.

Here are our top tips for looking after your colour and curls.

Shampoo sparingly

Over-washing curly hair can strip it of the natural oils you need to keep it healthy, shiny and hydrated. Opt for colour enhancing purple shampoos. Click here to read about our pick of the best.

Condition like crazy

Coloured hair, as well as curl, need extra moisture, so invest in some quality deep conditioner and try and do a hair mask once a week.

Over avoid-styling

Heated styling tools like hairdryers, straighteners and curlers really play havoc with hair, so try to minimise how often you do this, and keep the heat setting low.