The Beast from the East may have left our shores, but the snow and wind it bought our way marked the end of a harsh winter. As well as your skin taking a battering from sub-zero temperatures outside, and central heating blasts inside, your hair can also be damaged by the elements.
We have had a look at how to get your hair healthy for spring and summer 2018.
Wash less
The truth is, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes how many times you should wash your hair, but over washing it – which means every day or more – can dry it out and strip it of natural oils. While thick and curly hair can benefit from a few days without washing, someone with thin, straight hair might not feel the same way. Find a good quality shampoo and conditioner that works well for your hair, and lifestyle, and aim for two to three washes a week. If you hair does get oily, try using dry shampoo on your roots to help soak up excess oil in between washes.
Go for a cold rinse
When it comes to your conditioner, rinse it off with cold water if you can bear it. This will help with improve strength and leave your locks looking super shiny when your hair is dry.
Careful combing
It is important to tame wet hair with a wide toothed comb and run it from the roots to the ends of your hair as gently as possible to prevent damage.
Pat it dry
Even better than combing your hair, is patting it dry. While many people rub their hair dry it is easy to yank it which will damage the roots and ends. Pat drying might take longer but it is gentler on the hair and more effective. When you hair is dry, don’t brush, comb or handle too much as this can make it lank, dirty and greasy which means you will want to wash it all over again.
Get it cut
Having your hair trimmed every few weeks will get rid of split ends and allow your hair to grow and look healthy. Chopping off around 1cm every 6 to 8 weeks will make a big difference to your hair and you will be surprised at how fast it grows when you look after it.
Be kind
Avoiding really hot water, straighteners and hot settings on hair dryers makes sense if you want to keep your hair healthy so leave it to dry naturally when you can. When you can avoid styling products and give your hair a break from mousses, gels and waxes when you’re not going out.Couring and highlighting your hair might give you a fashion edge, but bleach and chemicals can really destroy your hair so either go back to your natural colour or use gentle options if you want to stay blond or branch into being a brunette.
Apply a soothing mask
Once a week treat your hair to a rich, coconut oil mask. Wash your hair as usual and pat dry. Mix two tablespoons of warm coconut oil with one tablespoon of olive oil, then massage the mixture into your scalp and then from the roots to the ends and wrap your head in a warm towel for 20 minutes. Wash and rinse your hair then leave it to dry and see how soft it feels and how shiny it looks.
Eat protein
Hair is made of protein so adding eggs, tuna, steak, beans, lentils, nuts and soy into your diet will not only strengthen your hair and promote growth, but it will add to your overall health and wellbeing.
Get a hat
Whether it’s a beanie in the winter, a sun hat on holiday or a swimming cap when diving into a chlorine pool, covering your hair can make a bigger difference to keeping it healthy.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.