The secret of healthy hair

Prevention is better than cure
Treat your hair like you would treat your skin, and make sure you don't expose it to too much direct sunlight.
'Harmful UV light can dry out the hair shafts and make them brittle and lifeless,' he says.
Invest in a good hair sunscreen that contains UV filters.
'I like Kerastase Soleil sunblock, but there are lots of others that come as oils or mousses.
'You can wear long hair pulled back and go for the gorgeous 'wet look' with a sunscreen gel,' he says.
Chlorine in swimming pools can discolour and damage hair too.
'If you want to put your head under the water, think about wearing a chic swimming cap. Otherwise, there are waterproof hair products that will stop most of the damage.
'This is especially important if you have bleached blonde hair or highlights because chlorine can turn your hair green,' says Noël de Casanove.
'Sea water is drying too because it's so salty and should be rinsed off as soon as you leave the beach. The same goes for sand, which is highly abrasive and can roughen the hair shafts.'

Wash and condition every day

A good leave in conditioner can do wonders for hair.

'It's a myth that a daily shampoo will make your hair lacklustre. The key is to make sure you rinse thoroughly and remove the entire product after the wash,' explains Noël de Casanove.
A good leave in conditioner can do wonders for hair that's stressing in the heat.
Work the conditioner into the ends of the hair, which are the oldest, most damaged areas.
Don't be too anxious about using shampoos with long ingredients lists.
Marilyn Sherlock, chairman of the Institute of Trichologists says that chemicals found in shampoos have been rigorously tested and are widely used.
'They are absolutely safe, and you'll find them in products endorsed by top trichologists,' she says.

Choose your style carefully
Certain styles that involve a lot of back combing and teasing are not a good idea in the summer sun – since the styling damages the hair.
Blow drying should be on a low-heat setting, or keep the blow dryer at least 12 inches from your head.
'If it feels hot on your scalp, it's too hot. And leave the hair straighteners at home.
'They literally iron your hair straight and can leave you with permanent frizz,' says Noël de Casanove.
Simple natural chignons or classic bobs are great in hot weather and easy to look after.

What are you feeding your hair?

Eating the right fats can ensure you get glossy rather than greasy hair.

No matter how many products you use on your hair, you won't see lasting improvements if you continue to feast on carbs and alcoholic sundowners.
What you eat does make a big difference to the quality of your hair. Increase your intake of fresh fruit.
Hair friendly fruits include papaya, pear and avocado.
Eating the right fats can ensure you get glossy rather than greasy hair.
'The essential fatty acids found in mackerel, pumpkin seeds and flax oil will improve the lustre of your hair,' says dietitian Nigel Denby.
Try and drink at least eight glasses of water each day – more in hot weather – to make sure your hair stays hydrated.

Massage your scalp
Get your partner (or a friend) to massage your scalp at the end of every day – and take your turn too!
'A vigorous head massage will help to improve the circulation.
'The extra flow of blood to the hair root will help to encourage healthy hair growth,' says Noël de Casanove.

Avoid the hair brush
For detangling, start at the ends and slowly work your way up the hair shaft.
Never start at the roots and stick to a wide-toothed comb for wet hair – brushing it will stretch and damage it, affecting its shine.

Hair care myths and facts
Problem: fine, dull, flat hair
Solution
Volumising products really work, but make sure you go for a quality product.
Cheaper products often contain manmade plastic polymers that coat the hairs and leave them looking dull.
A high-end product will tend to contain plant proteins such as keratin and soy protein that build up the hair more naturally, maintaining shine.

Problem: split ends and breaking hair
Solution
No hair product is going to solve this problem.
Once the hairs have reached the stage where they split or break, the only thing to do is get a hairdresser to trim them.
People who use too many chemical products on their hair tend to suffer more than others.
Replenishing moisture in your hair with a quality conditioner will help prevent this problem.
People who are prone to split ends should get their hair trimmed at least every six weeks.

Problem: greasy or dry hair
Solution
Choose a shampoo and conditioner suited to your hair type.

1. If your hair shows sign of greasiness within 24 hours, go for a product for greasy hair.
2. If your hair isn't greasy after two days, pick a normal shampoo.
3. If your hair isn't greasy after three or more days, choose a product for dry hair.

Problem: frizz
People get frizzy hair because of the way the hair follicle is arranged, and this depends on your genetic makeup.
Humid atmospheres tend to make matters worse.
Solution
Using hair serum products will even out the hair texture and give hair a glossier, smoother looking appearance.

Problem: static
This usually affects people with dry and fine hair that's more prone to breaking and split ends.
Solution
Gloss sprays can help replenish moisture and get rid of the static. These products are usually applied to hair after styling, when hair is dry.

Problem: grey hair
Solution
Try not to use colorants more than once every six weeks, particularly if they contain bleaching agents.
You should be able to maintain the lustre of the hair if you use good quality conditioners and hair masks.
Shampoos designed for dyed hair often contain tiny bits of pigment that attach to the cuticle layer and improve the colour and radiance of hair.
For the best results it's a good idea to get your hair professionally dyed. Always test a small area first for any allergic reaction.

Problem: dandruff skin flakes
The main cause of dandruff is a microscopic yeast that occurs naturally on everyone's scalp.
Normally, as dead skin cells are shed they are washed or brushed away without trace.
But if these skin yeasts start to increase, they irritate the scalp and trigger an inflammatory immune response.
The turnover of scalp skin cells increases, which causes them to die more quickly and clumps of dead skin cells are formed.
The skin starts to itch, peel and visible flakes develop. This is known as dandruff.
Solution
Using a good dandruff shampoo generally clears up the problem.
If you are prone to dandruff, you will have to continue to use the medicated shampoo to keep the condition at bay.
If you find the problem is not cleared up by conventional shampoos, you should visit a trichologist for further investigation.

When is it worth changing products?
Below are five signs you need to change your hair care routine.

1. Dry, lifeless dull hair.
2. Split ends and breaking hair.
3. Itchy or sore, flaky scalp.
4. Lank and greasy hair.
5. Frizzy, unmanageable hair.

Are expensive hair products better than cheaper brands?
Cheaper brands use poorer ingredients and can leave the hair dull and lifeless.
No product is intrinsically going to change the structure of your hair, but good quality products can leave it looking shiny and healthy.
You want to go for a salon brand if you can, but if you are counting your pennies opt for high-end products from the chemist or supermarket.
More expensive products often go further because they are more concentrated, so you can use less.

Fact or Fiction?

Fiction: washing your hair every day strips out the nutrients.
Fact: washing your hair every day with a quality shampoo invigorates the scalp and leaves the hair healthy and shiny.
Fiction: your hair gets used to one shampoo so you should change it regularly.
Fact: as long as it's a good shampoo suited to your scalp and hair type, you should get fine results every time.
Fiction: if you never wash your hair, it will clean itself.
Fact: it will just get dirtier and could result in an irritated, itchy scalp and greasy, lank hair.
Fiction: you shouldn't use conditioner if your hair is greasy.
Fact: only people with very short hair don't need conditioner. The key is not to massage the conditioner into the scalp, but only apply it to the body and tips of your hair.
Fiction: rinsing with cold water makes your hair shinier.
Fact: this one is true. Cold water helps to close the cuticle layer on the hair strand and helps conditioner work better, leaving the hair more lustrous.