Lots of women dye their hair, and they’ll get it re-touched every 6-8 weeks or so, and doing it yourself may be a tempting, cheap option when compared to the price of getting it done professionally. However, the products used at salons are much kinder to your hair than the shop bought, do-it-yourself kits and they also take care to protect your scalp during the dyeing process. So it’s probably worth spending the extra money to save the condition of your hair.

2.    Suitable Products

When using styling products make sure you’re aware of what ingredients/chemicals you’re actually putting on your hair, and how much of your products you should be using. Search out the products that work best for your hair type (just as much effort is needed here as you’d put into hunting down the right moisturizer for your skin type) and stick to them because using the wrong ones can damage your hair, leaving it dry and unhealthy. It probably won’t look too great either, piling heavy styling cream onto fine hair can make it look very flat and limp whilst using light sprays to control thick and curly hair doesn’t have a chance of calming down the frizz or holding a style all day.

3.    Overheating

It may be a bit of an obvious statement but turning the temperature of your straighteners up too high can dry your hair out, but you need to watch out for those cheap straighteners too. Investing in a decent set will be a lot better for your hair in the long run because those cut-price straighteners can dry your hair out as well.

4.    Playing With Your Hair

Fiddling with and twirling your hair round your fingers may seem like a harmless pass-time but beware, it will cause damage to your scalp because of the pressure you’re putting on the hair follicles and can even lead to bald patches. Now no one wants that do they, so leave your hair alone.

5.    Get Rid Of Split Ends

The scientific name for split ends is Trichoptilosis, and it’s a very common form of hair damage. Cutting split ends off is really the only way to get rid of them, and it is advisable to do this because if they are left more damage will occur and your hairdresser will just have to cut a much more sizeable amount of hair off on your next visit to the salon.

6.    Keep Out of the Sun

We all know that too much sun is bad for your skin, but we seem to forget that it can have the same effect on your hair and scalp, giving you dry, frizzy hair that’s prone to split ends. The best ways to protect it is too cover up with a hat, or use some of the protective products available and the same sun cream that you’d use for your skin can go on your scalp. Also watch out for the complete opposite in the winter months, you don’t want your hair to get too cold as this will cause damage too.

7.    Good Diet = Good Hair

Just like a bad diet that’s high in fat and sugar can have a detrimental effect on your skin and nails, your hair will also suffer. Change to a diet full of fruits, vegetables, ‘good’ fats found in things like oily fish and drink lots of water, and the benefits will be passed onto your hair.

8.    Washing Too Often

Daily shampooing, for everyone but those with the oiliest heads, can strip away a lot of the natural oil in your hair making it brittle and much more prone to damage, and for those that colour their hair this excessive washing can make your colour fade. Washing your hair every other day instead is much better and if you are worried about greasy looking roots then some dry shampoo or hair powder can give it a fresher appearance.

9.    Regular Cuts

If you want to change styles it can be tempting to just avoid the hairdressers for weeks, or even months while it grows out but this is a bad idea. You’ll obviously look like your growing out your hair and will probably end up with so many split ends that all those precious inches you’ve been growing will have to be cut back anyway. Continuing with regular cuts your hair will look healthier and more ‘full of life’, whilst ensuring that your hair looks good at every stage of your hair growth.

10.    Too Much Conditioner

It’s advisable to use the lightest conditioning formula your hair can handle, using too strong a conditioner or even applying too much can give your hair a dull and lifeless appearance because of the residue it will leave on your hair. Also concentrate on applying more of the product to the ends of your hair, rather than the scalp, as this is where it is needed most.

11.    Too Much Hot Air

Most of you out there will be blowing drying your hair every single day, followed by even more hot stuff to style it, meaning that you’ll end up with a bit of a fried and frazzled look. Making sure you always use a heat protection product can help to seal the cuticle and prevent damage, using brushes that have metal parts are a no-no as well because they will heat up quickly as you blow dry and further singing your hair.

12.    The Natural Look

Whilst straightening or curling your hair to make a change from your hair’s natural texture isn’t the worst thing you can do. But it can be a serious waste of time and energy on a humid day, the second you step outside it will start to revert back to your hair’s natural texture anyway. So don’t put all that effort in for nothing.

13.    More Is Not Better For Your Hair

Once you’ve found the perfect styling products for you don’t go ruining that great look by not using the right amount of it. Not using enough just won’t have a big enough effect on your hair, and won’t be strong enough to hold your style in place all day. While too much product can cause a series of problems, surplus serums can leave you hair limp and looking a bit greasy, your hair can end up being harder to style when the excess product dries and goes stiff, and can also start to flake making you look as though you’ve got dandruff. The best advice would be to experiment with your products, start off using small amounts and add more, a little at a time, if needed.

14.    Any Old Elastic

Uncovered elastics like rubber bands and hair elastics with metal sections can snag your hair and even pull it out at the root. So stick to covered elastics, specifically made to go in your hair, and you’ll help to protect it from harm.

15.    Stuck In a Time Warp

If your style is still exactly the same as it was 10 years ago then you’re definitely due for an update, an outdated style will probably no longer be flattering and make you look older. This doesn’t mean you have to go in for a complete style overhaul; just a few tweaks can modernize your look and stop you looking as though you’re stuck in a time warp.

16.    Brushing Too Much

‘One hundred strokes a night’ is the well-known old advice but this is certainly not a recipe for keeping your hair healthy. A short brush once or twice a day will help to stimulate growth and distribute all those natural oils through your hair. Too much brushing will leave your hair vulnerable to breakage, and it’s advisable to only use a wide tooth comb on wet hair because it is a lot more fragile after washing.

17.    Take Care of Your Scalp

Taking care of you scalp is a good way of maintaining healthy hair, being the birthplace of every single strand if it’s not clean and healthy then you’ll end up with thin, weak and unhealthy hair. There are a wide range of products out there that will help look after your scalp but there are simpler things you can do to make a start, such as giving your scalp a little massage when washing your hair to help stimulate it. Also, making sure all products are washed off your scalp when in the shower because residue will clog up your hair follicles.

18.    Pulling Out Greys

It may get rid of them in the short term, but they will always grow back, and when it does it may appear wiry and stick straight up from your scalp because it will be shorter. If you’ve only got one or two and it makes you feel better it’s not going to cause any actual harm, but if you’ve got to the point where you’re pulling a few out everyday it may be a better solution for you to just get your hair coloured. This will cover up all the greys for you and will give you a richer, glossier shade at the same time, making you look younger.

Leila Goodman