Heatwave hair care in three easy steps

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

Shampooing with a formula that’s too harsh for your dry hair, or washing too often can strip away your hair’s natural oils. On the other hand, you really can’t use too much conditioner — it’s dry hair’s best friend! So choose a shampoo that’s designed for dry hair like Elvive Extraordinary Oil Dry Hair Shampoo. These are usually creamy rather than clear, and they may contain ingredients like aloe vera or apricot kernel oil that help dry hair retain moisture. Then opt for a leave-in conditioner (we like Aussie Miracle Recharge Moisture Infuser Leave-in Conditioner) or Matrix Biology Keratindose Renewal Spray, available to buy now in the salon, to really hydrate the hair.

Heat-busting hair

Up-dos are the best option in the heat, keeping your neckline fresh and cool. Channel Kim Kardashian and brush your hair into a low ponytail for a modern look, or roll into a messy bun like Meghan Markle for a timeless classic. Use a light serum to smooth flyaway hairs.

Fight the frizz

If high humidity levels are playing havoc with your hair, keep a vial of oil like this L'Oreal one in your handbag for an instant de-frizz solution. Another tip is to give your hair a cold rinse post-shampoo - it'll not only keep you cool but also shut off the hair cuticle to prevent hot-weather frizz.

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3 quick ways to beat hair loss

Feed your follicles

What you eat really does affect how healthy your hair is. The hair follicle lives in what is known as the ‘dermal layer’ of the scalp, which is supplied by a network of blood vessels that deliver nutrients to the cells. So you need a healthy diet rich in proteins and vitamins in order for your hair to benefit. Protein like meat, eggs, cheese, tofu and nuts is particularly good for follicles because it helps boost the hair-thickening fibre, keratin. Eat foods rich in Vitamin D - like tuna,mackerel and salmon - to keep the hair growth cycle ticking over. Iron, found in red meat and spinach, helps carry oxygen to the hair and zinc, found in baked beans and almonds, encourages the production of protein.

Give yourself a head massage

Massages aren’t just good for the body and soul - a head massage is a simple and quick way to boost the blood flow to your hair bulbs, spurring them into action. You don’t even need to go to a fancy salon. Just use your fingertips to push and press products into your scalp, or invest in a tool like Briogeo’s Scalp Revival Stimulating Therapy Massager, £13.50. Apply some castor or sesame oil, which is full of fatty acids and proteins to promote growth, into your hair before massaging. A recent study revealed that scalp massage increased hair thickness!

Blame the seasons and fake it

Eating well, not feeling stressed and have no history of hereditary hair loss but you’re still filling the shower plughole daily? Research has found that hair tends to shed most in late summer and early autumn, which could be down to evolution. Less hair loss in summer means we are protecting the scalp against harmful UV rays with our luscious locks, but as they die down in autumn the hairs will often fall out. So what’s the answer? Fake it by investing in some of these scalp-stimulating and follicle-fattening products….

L'Oreal Paris Hair Expertise Total Repair 5 Serum

Toppik Hair Building Fibres

Aveda Invati Advanced Thickening Conditioner

Philip Kingsley Trichotherapy Tricho Pro Spray

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Massage Your Scalp

Your scalp, or more accurately, your hair follicles, are key to transforming your fine, limp mane into the glamourous hair of your dreams. Massaging the scalp regularly will increase blood circulation to the follicles and boost the strength of the hair roots and plump up thin hair.

Condition Before Shampooing

Conditioner should always be applied after shampoo right? Wrong! Applying a conditioner to your hair before shampooing might not be the normal routine but if you want to create volume to your hair it works. Although conditioner nourishes hair, it also weighs it down, so shampooing afterwards will remove any heavy residues left by the conditioner and leave your hair feeling clean and bouncy.

If you just can't bring yourself to apply your conditioner before your shampoo, then condition only the tips of your hair after shampooing. This will keep conditioner from weighing down hair from the roots.

Switch Your Parting

Keeping your hair styled in the same way forces it to lay flat on your scalp over time. To achieve an instant lift, switch your parting to the other side every couple of months or every time you have it cut. This will create volume and also change your look slightly.

Blow-Drying Tips

Before you blow dry your hair, spritz volumising texture spray into your locks. Tip your head upside down when hair is still wet. Blow dry your hair in this position until it is 60% dry using a big round brush, as this will redirect the roots and create extra volume. Flip your head upright and continue to blow-dry your hair, using your fingers to pick up your roots. You’ll be left with professional looking big and bouncy hair.

Get The Right Cut

Having your hair cut one length will make hair look its thickest. Too many layers will make hair look stringy. Go for something in-between. Opt for regular trims with us and throw in a few layers to create volume. Book your next appointment here.

Hair Products

Dry Shampoo

Freshly washed hair can often feel too silky and flat. To add volume to clean hair, use dry shampoo on your locks. Flip your head upside down and spritz some dry shampoo all over the roots. Gently rough up your hair, shaking your strands with your fingertips. This will instantly add lift to your hair.

Texture Sprays

Think dry shampoo, hairspray, sea salt spray and backcombing all in one can! Texture sprays are great because they work just as well on freshly washed hair as they do on second or third day hair. A quick spritz on your roots will instantly add lots of volume to your hair without having to backcomb. The beauty of these sprays is that they’re self-setting so once it’s been sprayed on there’s no need for hairspray.

Volumising Styling Powder

This is great for a quick volume fix to your hair. Volumising powders work by creating maximum volume at the roots as each hair strand is texturised by the powder. Simply shake the powder directly into your roots and with your fingertips, massage the powder in to create a big, volumised style.

Backcombing

Backcombing your hair is a sure fire way to create volume and body to even the thinnest of tresses. If done properly, it can create beautiful hold and lift but get it wrong and you could cause some serious damage to your hair. See the step by step guide on How to Backcomb Your Hair for glamorous, volumised hair.

This article was originally featured on the Superdrug.com website.

Four ways to protect your hair from sun damage

INVEST IN SOME LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER

Comb a restorative leave-in conditioner L'Oréal Paris Ever Strong Break Proof lotion in wet hair, then throw it up into a bun to create a barrier from UV rays and keep hair hydrated. Buy it here.

PROTECT WITH A HYDRATING HAIR MASK

The sun’s rays are harsher in the summer, so even if you aren’t outside every day, your hair can still get damaged when you are. Use a hair mask like Lóreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil Very Dry Hair Masque once a week to maintain moisture. Buy it here.

CUT BACK ON WASHING YOUR HAIR

The oil your hair naturally produces protects it from the sun, so you don’t want to over-wash during the warmer months. Instead of lathering up daily, use a dry shampoo like Batiste a couple times a week to give your hair a break. Buy it here.

SPRAY ON THE MOISTURE

Some styling products can give you those effortless beach hair waves. L'Oréal Paris Stylista The Beach Wave Mist Salt Spray creates texture while adding moisture back into the cuticle so your hair is less susceptible to the sun’s heat damage. Buy it here.