Whether you’re the type who must style their hair daily, or one that doesn’t require brushing your hair at all, we round up our must-do’s and favourite tips on maintaining sexy, shiny hair.
1. Suncare for Hair
Just like the body and face, our hair needs just as much protection from UV rays. Especially those who have coloured hair, it’s important to protect it from the sun as the continuous exposure to sun strips away the dye and completely dries it out. UV rays essentially cause the hair cuticle to open, which allows moisture and melanin to be removed. But those with uncoloured hair don’t get away scot-free either. Hair still breaks down from not only the sun but, chlorine, salt and the cuticle becomes damaged, creating a rough and dull texture which then doesn’t reflect light and results in loss of shine.
HOT TIP:
Protect your hair from UV rays and all sorts of outdoor aggressors with a few spritz of protectant spray before stepping out of the house or when you know you’re going to be spending a majority of the time outdoors. Our favourites are Sisley’s Hair Rituel By Sisley Protective Hair Fluid and Aveda’s Sun Care Protective Hair Veil.
2. Fight The Humidity
Malaysia is tropical and hot, and this can be bad news for the gals with hair sensitive to humidity. Hair can take on a mind of its own once in a humid environment, and unfortunately, that’s all the time in our climate. Founder of Percy & Reed, Paul Percival recommends their Perfectly Perfecting Wonder Balm to combat our pesky humidity. “It works to protect every hair strand by shutting the shaft to reduce frizz. And also protects hair from humidity for up to 72 hours, so by adding this to your routine you are already winning!”
Try This:
Keep away frizz and improve manageability of hair with IGK Crybaby Anti-Frizz Smoothing Serum. Be sure to apply whilst hair is still wet to allow the product to penetrate into the hair cuticle for additional hydration.
3. Indulge in Treatments
Going to the salon and getting a treatment done every now and then is something you should never feel guilty of doing – you and your hair have definitely deserved it! Trust in your stylist to recommend exactly what your hair is lacking, whether it’s a deep cleansing scalp treatment or one for protecting your coloured hair. We recommend Number 76’s OWAY Head Spa as it is not only organic, but offers a wide range of treatments for different types of hair types and concerns. However, if you can’t make the commitment of sitting in a salon chair for an average of two hours, don’t fret, as thankfully there are countless at-home options and remedies that can be done from the comforts of your bedroom too.
Try This:
Frank Body’s Caffeinated Hair Mask is made with natural, nourishing ingredients to help restore the hair shaft and hydrate the scalp.
Briogeo’s Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask works in minutes to restore essential hydration and strengthens hair to protect against future damage.
4. Wash Often But Not Excessively
Keeping your hair feeling clean and healthy is always a must, but once you start over-shampooing and stripping the hair of its natural oils, your hard work in the shower for better hair is quite literally going down the drain. If you find yourself needing extra serum to tame fly-aways and frizz, regularly reaching for dry shampoo, or even just pulling hair back to avoid a continuous week of lackluster hair, you might be over-washing. Avoid this by strictly monitoring how your hair behaves and responds to each wash and make sure the shampoo you’re using is specifically for your type of hair and scalp condition!
5. Splurge On The Right Tools For You
The magic of hair technology has definitely saved the day when it comes to fixing a bad hair day quickly and effectively. With plenty of options available, here are our new favourites!
Dyson Corrale
The kings of hair innovation, the new Dyson Corrale is not your average straightener. Featuring flexing plates that shape to gather hair, it enhances the styling experience with less heat – and it’s cordless too!
GHD Helios
Featuring GHD’s innovative Aeroprecis drying technology, the new Helios hairdryer is lighter and faster for powerful drying and ultimate style control!
6. The Art of Scalp Massage
One of our favourite highlights of visiting a salon is definitely the scalp massage. All of our worries seem to slowly slip away with each rub against the scalp. An instant stress reliever, recreate the sensation at home, as a quick ten minute massage can do absolute wonders for the hair and mind. The pressure works to relieve tension and increase blood flow for thicker and healthier hair! Here are some of our favourite scalp treatments that’ll compliment your massage for added hair benefits!
Kristin Ess Scalp Detoxifying Bubble Mask
This bubbling scalp mask is a great pre-shampoo scalp treatment that instantly removes oil, dead surface skin cells and unwanted build-up. We also love that it provides UV and heat protection once washed off the hair.
Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt
For the scalp that is in need of some serious detox, this scrub promises to cleanse, purify and hydrate the scalp. Formulated with sea salt, a natural exfoliant, it works to remove impurities from your scalp and stimulate blood circulation.
7. Don’t Overbrush
Too much of anything is never good, and that can be applied to brushing your hair too. Overbrushing the hair can lead to breakages of the hair follicle which definitely causes more harm than good. Instead of focusing on the quantity of strokes, centre on the quality. The usual motion is to start at the root and brush down to the tip, but this pulls the hair out of the follicle and causes it to snap. Instead, work from the bottom up and get all the tangles out, then slowly move up towards the root. Also, try avoid brushing hair when wet, the dampness causes the strands to be weaker which makes them more susceptible to breakage.
8. Keep The Volume Up
Some say bigger is better, and if you’re one to agree, here are some of our favourite volumising sprays that we can’t live without! These vegan options are definitely worth every penny and will keep hair looking voluminous all day!
Sachajuan Volume Powder
This powder-based spray instantly creates volume and structure with just a few spritz. Suitable for any hair length, feel fresh and give hair an added matte boost in-between showers.
Herbivore Botanicals Sea Mist
Promising to mimic the texture of beach waves, this hair mist is formulated with the same salinity as the Pacific Ocean saltwater to add beachy texture and waves to hair naturally.
