The Problem: Dry brittle hair that's breaking
Dehydrated and brittle strands are generally a result of both environmental and physical factors (the overuse of colour and bleach, or heated styling), which weaken your hair’s cuticle, causing split ends and snapping. Care for your hair at home with the right cleansing regimen: shampoo, conditioner and a weekly treatment. And choose your tools wisely—use a wide-tooth comb when detangling wet strands, and style dry ones with boar-bristled brushes.
Tool kit:
MONDAY Haircare 'Repair' Shampoo, Evo Natural Boar Bristle Brush, Dove Nutritive Solutions Conditioner Intensive Repair
MONDAY Haircare 'Repair' Shampoo 354ml, $20 at Coles.
Evo Natural Boar Bristle Brush 38mm, $50 at Adore Beauty.
Dove Nutritive Solutions Conditioner Intensive Repair, $8.30 at Woolworths.
The Problem: Lack of volume
There is a solution for hair hair that lacks volume and looks limp. “To get the volume you want, it’s important to conquer your strands while they’re wet,” says Harry Josh, John Frieda’s international creative consultant. He suggests starting with a lightweight, yet volume-building shampoo and conditioner. “Fine hair tends to hold more moisture,” he explains, so go easy with styling products, steering clear of heavy serums (which rob your strands of body), and choosing light-hold mousses and mists instead. For weightless volume on the go, dry shampoo is essential for adding texture, grip and bulk to slippery fine hair.
Tool kit:
Goldwell DualSenses Ultra Volume Boost Shampoo, Moroccanoil Extra Volume Conditioner, Redken Pillow Proof Blow Dry Two Day Extender Oil Absorbing Dry Shampoo
Goldwell DualSenses Ultra Volume Boost Shampoo, $41.50 at Oz Hair & Beauty.
Redken Pillow Proof Blow Dry Two Day Extender Oil Absorbing Dry Shampoo, $38 at Adore Beauty.
The Problem: Dull strands
“To restore luminosity to dull strands, adopt a long-term care ritual to build-up your hair’s resistance to cope with daily stresses. Conditioning (both after you wash and with a weekly mask) is essential, sealing moisture into your strands and filling in any cracks in the cuticles, leaving your hair soft and glossy.
Remember, anything left on your strands has longer to soak in, so leave-in conditioners and oils are a great shine-boosting option. Try directing the nozzle of your hairdryer down the hair shaft, to help flatten the hair’s cuticle and create a silky, smooth surface for the light to bounce off. But to impart instant gloss, Josh and Wild both rely on shine sprays to keep hair in place while also adding lustre.
Tool kit:
ghd Final Shine Spray, ELEVEN Australia Frizz Control Shaping Cream, Philip Kingsley Preen Cream Anti-Frizz Treatment
ghd Final Shine Spray, $28 at MECCA.
ELEVEN Australia Frizz Control Shaping Cream, $26.95 at Adore Beauty.
Philip Kingsley Preen Cream Anti-Frizz Treatment, $46.50 at Adore Beauty.
The Problem: Crazy curls
The outdoor elements are making your curls crazier than usual. “The curlier the hair, the longer it takes for natural oils to travel from the scalp to the ends, causing the lower half to appear dry and frazzled. Start by adding moisture in the shower, then protect and hydrate every inch with a styling product that doubles as a leave-in conditioner. Don’t forget the more you manhandle curly hair, the more you ruffle the cuticle which equals more frizz. The key is to cut down on friction, so stop rubbing damp hair with a towel after showering. Instead, Wild tells clients “to keep a roll of paper towels in the bathroom and when they get out of the shower take a square of it in each hand and squeeze the water out of the hair”. Applying curl-controlling products after this should keep the fuzz at bay.
Tool kit:
Eleven Australia Keep My Curl Defining Cream, Bumble and Bumble Defining Curl Creme, Pantene Pro-V Intensive Treatment Program 3 Minute Miracle
We've all had those days. You know the ones, where no amount of styling, spray or GHD can save your strands. Lucky for us, we have access to the people that can fix bad hair, and here top hairdressers solve your niggling hair issues to make achieving a salon-worthy style a cinch. Oh, you’re welcome.
Eleven Australia Keep My Curl Defining Cream, $24.95 at Adore Beauty.
Bumble and Bumble Curl Defining Cream, $50 at MECCA.
Pantene Pro-V Intensive Treatment Program 3 Mintue Miracle, $6 at Chemist Warehouse.
The Problem: Growing out your pixies
You’re trying to grow out your pixie cut, but it looks thin and stringy rather than long and luscious. While cutting isn’t going to change the actual condition of your hair, regular snips will perk up the overall look and shape of your grown-out style. Hairdressers unanimously agree on visiting the salon approximately every six to eight weeks for medium to long hair, and every four weeks for shorter styles to prevent fraying ends. ghd ambassador Jayne Wild agrees, adding that “it’s a good idea to combine frequent cuts with a weekly treatment or a daily leave-in conditioner to seal dry ends”.
Tool kit:
Kevin Murphy Re-Store Treatment, Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Hair Mask, Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3
Kevin Murphy Re-Store Treatment 200ml, $54.95 at Adore Beauty.
Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Hair Mask, $58 at MECCA.
Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3 100ml, $49.95 at Hairhouse Warehouse.
