Your Guide to Better Hair

We love the great outdoors, but let’s face it, your hair doesn’t feel the same way. And since you can’t load up on SPF for your tresses, you’ve got to rely on other methods of care to keep things in check. Whether it’s reversing the effects of sun damage, styling or salon colouring, here’s the lowdown on looking after your locks.

There are generally two approaches to shampooing: those who have struggled through the transition to sulfate-free shampoo, and those who can’t kick the squeaky clean feeling that comes from a foamy rinse. Whichever camp you find yourself in, make sure you deep clean your hair regularly to help nourishing products take effect—product build-up also makes hair look dull. Foam lovers will enjoy the refresh from Malin+Goetz’s purifying Peppermint shampoo (use at least once a week), while those who shun sulfates might prefer Aveda’s plant-based Botanical Repair™ Strengthening shampoo or Oribe’s famed Signature shampoo.

One of our favourite nourishers in the game is the Precious Hair Care Oil from Hair Rituel by Sisley, which coats strands in enough product without weighing everything down. Ingredients like shea, moringa, passion fruit and cottonseed oils add shine and smooth the cuticle (the cellular layer of a hair), creating a softening effect that is both healthy and manageable. We recommend using just a couple of drops on palms and the backs of hands, and combing fingers through hair by concentrating on the bottom rather than the crown. For those with more damage, the Amazon-sourced oil in Rahua’s Elixir has the power to push colour pigment deeper into the hair shaft, extending performance while encouraging growth.

Even with a host of reparative treatments lining your shower cabinets, minimising styling damage can make a world of difference to your hair. Opt for a boar bristle brush like one by Balmain Paris Hair Couture which helps to distribute natural oils from top to bottom so you don’t end up with oily roots and dry tips. This will assist in eliminating dreaded frizzing and tangling, while the act of brushing can stimulate circulation and hair growth. When it comes to heat styling, go for the most advanced technology —the science behind irons is improving every year. Our current pick is The Dyson Corralle™ which uses flexing manganese copper alloy plates to straighten or curl hair with half the typical heat damage. Or, skip the heat styling altogether and achieve perfectly imperfect beachy waves with Sachajuan’s award-winning Ocean Mist.

Now for handy pointers. The first: if you’re a fan of scent and want to leave behind an alluring trail, try a hair perfume instead of a regular eau de toilette—high alcohol content in an EDP or EDT will dry it out, and many fragrance houses such as Byredo offer low-alcohol alternatives specially for your locks. Secondly, dry your hair with an Aquis Hair Turban instead of using your towel manually—you’ll lose fewer strands and eliminate split ends, which are often created when hair is wet and over-handled. Finally, swap in a SILKE London Hair Wrap or a Slipsilk™ pillowcase to minimise hair breakage while you snooze.