Bad Hair Daze?

The secret to luscious holiday hair, it seems, is self knowledge…

Nothing reflects inner health and vitality like a clear complexion, sparkly eyes and – your crowning glory – glossy hair. Clean shiny hair like Penelope Cruz’s or Jennifer Aniston’s is a joy to have and head-turning to look at, but is deceptively difficult to achieve.

However, nourish and condition your hair with plenty of love and attention, with the best products for your specific hair type, and it will shine on for many years.

Taking care of your locks is a threefold affair: providing plenty of nourishment, treating it with care and consideration and using the right products for your individual hair type. Imagine your hair is as precious as a cashmere twin set – treat it accordingly and you will reap the rewards. Using the right products on your hair could make bad-hair days a thing of the past. The absolute first thing to do is to determine your hair type. Once you’ve got that right, then you can thing about the extras.

Curly wurly:

Curly hair can be unruly and out of control, and it is very important to have a good hair cut that is created to work with the natural movement in your hair. And naturally curly like Katie Meluas’s, can often be misunderstood. Very curly hair has a strong, coarse texture which can look dry. This does not mean that the hair is in bad condition, it’s just its natural texture.

The rule of ‘less is more’ doesn’t apply for very curly hair - it will absorb a lot of product and tends to need deep nourishment. The right products will control even the most unruly hair and make it smooth, Bumble and Bumble, Frederic Fekkai, TIGI, and Kerastase all have ranges specially designed for curly hair. Try Bumble and Bumble Curl Conscious shampoo and conditioner, Frederic Fekkai Luscious Curls shampoo, at Space NK, and Origins Knot Free shampoo.

Ensure curls never look dull or frizzy with intensive conditioners, serums and conditioning sprays such as Lush Jungle solid conditioning bar, or TIGI Control Freak Conditioner. Style with Philip Kingsley Smoother, or Charles Worthington Salon Shine Results Curl Definition Cream.

Fine and dandy:

With fine hair, the best cut is usually based around strong lines, like a classic or graduated bob. They also always work better with more solid form, especially if they are worn longer. Fine hair needs to be trimmed every six to eight weeks, to keep ends looking thicker.

This type of hair can look land and lifeless very soon after washing. Over conditioning will weigh the hair down, so only use it sparingly. Always use volumising products especially formulated for fine hair. The best shampoos tend to the pricier ones, like Bumble and Bumble Thickening shampoo, considered to be the Rolls Royce of thickening shampoos. Philip B Peppermint & Avocado shampoo, and Philip Kingsley Body Building shampoo.

There are some ranges that won’t break the bank, such as John Frieda Volume Thickening shampoo.

Cameron Diaz and Daryl Hannah love MOP Lemongrass Lift, a light mist containing lemongrass, grape seed and gingko to plump up hair. If you want dramatic lift, dry your hair upside-down. For extra height, don’t be frightened to gently backcomb hair at the roots.

Chunky tresses:

Thick hair is open to a variety of haircuts, from short to mid-length to long. You should talk to your stylist, who will be able to advice you on a cut to suit you, taking into consideration your face shape and position of your hair line. This hair can sometimes be coarse, so you should use a good anti-frizz shampoo and conditioner that penetrates the hair and reacts with damaged areas, as well as forming a smooth and glossing film over the hair. Clean thick hair thoroughly with Nicky Clarke Smooth Frizz Control shampoo, £4.29, or Andrew Collinge Simply No Frizz shampoo.

A good-quality super-rich conditioner such as Kevin Murphy Leave-In Luxury, or Mark Hill De-Frizz Moisturizing conditioner, is essential.

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Miraculous Recovery, Denise McAdam Anti-Frizz sachet, and Senscience Revive Silk Styling Crème, will ensure hair continues to look glossy and never dry or parches.

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