Keep your locks looking shiny and spectacular with our top tips
1. Wake up ready
We’d all love to have perfect hair the moment we open our eyes but, in reality, a night spent tossing and turning can leave our locks unruly and in need of TLC. Try out a silk pillowcase and avoid having to deal with the mess of morning-hair, this will keep it glossy by maintaining moisture levels overnight and does wonders for your skin too!
Beauty Silk Pillowcase, £69, silkskin.co.uk
2. Wash up
We all know it’s important to keep our hair looking fresh and clean, and Lidia Zullo from the The Beauty & Blow Dry Studio (thebeautyandblowdrystudio. co.uk) believes organic and natural shampoos are the way forward. “To achieve sleek and glossy locks, opting for silicone or paraben-free is the best way as these will not coat the hair cuticle with fake shine or weigh hair down, like those with silicone can – so you know any glossiness in your hair is due to the natural ingredients within the shampoo.” This deliciously-smelling Dr Organic scent is richly moisturising and nourishes roots and your scalp adding a healthy lustre to hair – a great addition to your routine.
Dr Organic Manuka Honey Shampoo, £6.29, hollandandbarrett.com
3. Go the extra mile
Lidia recommends adding a hair cleanse to your routine every other time you wash your hair. “A hair cleanse regains moisture and prevents both your hair and scalp from drying out. If you suffer from a skin or scalp condition like eczema or psoriasis I would actually recommend swapping the shampoo altogether for a hair cleanser. These will gently clean your tresses and make them feel extra fresh without feeling dried out.” Definitely one to add to the routine for that extra-special squeaky clean look!
Tropic Nourishing Hair Cleanser, £18, tropicskincare.com
4. Don’t skip the conditioner
Using conditioner regularly is essential to keeping hair shiny, and will really help to nourish hair after the shampoo process. Choose one with ingredients that are hydrating and reviving for hair, such as Shea butter or coconut milk. This gorgeous blend will nourish and soften strands, keeping them looking healthy and prepped to perfection.
Maui Moisture Revive & Hydrate Shea Butter Conditioner, £8.99, boots.com
5. Look after your knots
If you’re in a rush or feel like you need an extra conditioning boost (particularly if you have naturally curly or wavy hair), we recommend trying a leave-in detangling conditioner. Rose Ovenshi, founder of Flora & Curl (floraandcurl.com) believes this is a dressing table must-have to keep hair in good condition: “It can help to soften curls, deeply nourish parched strands, combat breakage as well as taming knots. A lightweight leave-in conditioner works wonders, and choosing one with pro-vitamin B is perfect as it will enhance the natural sheen in the cuticles whilst reducing frizz and stopping knots in their tracks.”
Flora & Curl Rose & Honey Milk Leave-In Detangler, £19, floracurl.com
6. Stay smooth
We all style our hair more than we are supposed to, so it is essential to prep hair appropriately beforehand to keep it looking healthy and to fight frizz. Rose believes these are essential for your locks to feel smoother and shinier: “These will also help your hair to have an overall healthier look. Be sure to pick up serums or oils that are free from silicone, as these will do great things for your mane.”
Noughty Rise & Shine Hydrate & Shine Serum, £8.99, feelunique.com
7. Blitz with care
Although heated styling can be bad for hair, sometimes it is essential in order to have the locks that you desire. Margaux Cras, founder of new natural and organic salon, Margaux Salon (margauxsalon.co.uk), believes ionic hair dryers are the way to go. “These are less damaging than normal hair dryers as they don’t heat the keratin in the hair as much, but still dry hair quickly, particularly if you have longer, thick hair. They break down the water particles in your locks, causing water to evaporate faster. The negative ions ionic hair dryers emit seal the cuticle to cut down on hair frizz and flyaways for smoother hair – especially good if your hair is prone to static!”
BaByliss Pro GT Ionic Dryer, £27.99, hairtrade.com
8. Seal the deal
Keep hair in place and looking fantastically glossy with this brand new organic hair spray. All-natural with plant-based ingredients, this offers excellent hold without flaky residue. The citrus scent is divine, and the core organic ingredients give hair added beneficial nutrients too, keeping it moisturised as well as in place, all day or all night.
John Masters Organics Hair Spray, from £10, johnmasters.co.uk
9. Avoid the oily look
If you like to utilise your hair’s natural oils and not wash hair too much, a good shampoo is a saviour. Margaux says, “You shouldn’t wash your hair more than three times a week, and dry shampoo means this is possible for all of us – whatever our hair type. Mechanically slowing down colour fade, I’d recommend using it two days after washing your hair, so locks will still look clean and dry but also glossy. Dry shampoos are also useful for building body in your hair, so you’ll have added volume too.” Excellent!
Tabitha James Kraan Dry Shampoo, £29, tabithajameskraan.com
10. Mask your doubts
A hair mask is a great way to give your hair an extra treat. Margeux agrees, “A hair mask will deeply moisturise the hair but you shouldn’t use one more than once a week unless hair is very damaged, as masks are heavy and can put extra weight in your hair, giving it a different kind of damage. When used appropriately, masks have lots of benefits – adding shine and extra vitamins to hair. When applying a mask remember to focus on the ends of your locks, as they are most likely to need attention.”
Natural Spa Factory Jasmine & Green Tea Hair Therapy, £24, naturalspafactory.com
