How to take better care of your hair

Any woman who says they don’t put their hair through the wringer is lying, or at the very least, stretching the truth. Even if you’re not teasing and styling it daily, there’s a good chance you don’t spritz it with UV protection, or change your shampoo with the season. Hey, we’re not judging. In fact, we’re just as guilty, if not more so, of stressing out our strands.

RELATED: 7 unhealthly hair habits to avoid

But giving our locks some love isn’t too hard. Here’s how to take better care of your hair...

STYLE SMARTER

Let’s face facts: heat damages hair. It dries, breaks and fries tresses, and yet we keep coming back for more. If you’re adamant about not giving up the tools, switch to the tools that’ll stop you (and your hair) from getting burned.

The Remington Smart Styler has ceramic technology for a smoother glide and longer-lasting styles. Plus, its smart heat sensor adjusts the temperature of the plates to prevent excess heat.

VS Sassoon 3Q Hairdryer is a lightweight hair dryer with an innovative ‘SmartTech’ brushless motor. Its high ionic conditioning eliminates static and works to style faster while reducing frizz. With six control settings - three heat and three speed - you can customise your blow-dry to your hair type. How cool is that?

bh also love's the fast-drying Philips Pro Dryer. See it in action by clicking here!

WASH SAFER

It might be tempting to reach for any bottle of shampoo on the shelf, but that’s definitely not the way to get healthier hair. Consider your mane woes - are you prone to breakage? Suffering a lack of shine? Dealing with dryness or flaking? Whatever your issues, there’s a shampoo and conditioner to fix them - and that’s the duo you need to use. And just like your skin, your hair actually benefits from mixing up products, so change them with the season.

TIGI S-Factor Serious Conditioner is formulated to moisturise, nourish and repair hair while protecting it from future damage. The formula, which contains silk and sunflower seed oil, is great for rehydrating strands that have been scorched by over-eating and humid indoor environments.

Shu Uemura Art of Hair Cleansing Oil Conditioner works to detangle and smooth hair while creating shiny, soft-to-the-touch locks. It’s enriched with bergamot essential oil to moisturise and add radiance, leaving hair nourished and restored.

evo bride of gluttony volume conditioner is a weight-free, volumising conditioner that strengthens, moisturises, enhances shine and protects hair from solar damage. Summer heat can leave our scalps oilier than usual, so a volumising conditioner is key to lifting up those locks.

Aveda Dry Remedy Moisturizing Shampoo hydrates dry, brittle hair with a concentrated formula. With macadamia nut oil to detangle hair and Buriti oil, pomegranate and palm-derived conditioners to moisturise, this shampoo is ideal for rejuvenating dehydrated strands.

Redken Clear Moisture Conditioner helps fragile strands by rebalancing its moisture levels and soothing sensitively. The result? Shiny, soft and airy hair.

QV Gentle Shampoo is perfect for those who suffer from a sensitive scalp. The formula gently cleanses and purifys the hair while keep your scalp rehydrated and in tip top condition.

TAKE A MATURE APPROACH

Our skin and bodies are at the mercy of many forces as we age: sun, weather and bad habits. And while we’re accustomed to fussing over our faces, turning back the clock on sunspots and staying fit and healthy, we often ignore out locks. But all that wear and tear ages our hair, too! While there may not be a time machine for your tresses, you can start using treatments religiously to keep your mane looking young.

BedHead Urban Antidotes Resurrection is a treatment mask that intensely repairs heat- or chemically-damaged hair. The formula contains core repair technology, which penetrates the hair shaft to restructure proteins within the hair fibre for stronger, more resistant hair.

TONI&GUY Hair Care Reconstruction Mask deeply nurtures and conditions hair from the inside to give hair an intense, nourishing treatment that’ll leave it feeling soft and shiny.

Kérastase Discipline Maskertine is a deep conditioning mask that helps to restore moisturie and rejuvenate damaged hair. Formulated with nourishing lipid agents, the hair mask is ideal for very damaged and thicker hair types.

Schwarzkopf Extra Care Ultimate Repair Anti-Damage Mask features liquid keratin to repair damage and refill gaps in the hair cuticle. Cue stronger, healthier hair.

L’Oreal Paris Hair Expertise EverStrong Strengthening and Repairing Hair Mask strengthens and repairs damaged hair by deeply penetrating the hair fibre for softer, thicker hair.

SHINE BRIGHTER

After all that stress we put our strands through, it’s no wonder they look a little dull. If you don’t protect your hair before taking to it with a hot tool, you could end up with split ends, fried hair and a lack of shine. The best way to keep your hair in the best condition possible is - you guessed it - prevent the damage from happening in the first place.

VO5 Nourish My Shine Bedazzling Oil Heat Protection Spray will add shine, lightly condition your hair and protect against heat damage for easier, safer styling.

Moroccanoil Heat Styling Protection creates a thermal protective veil that shields your hair from breakage and split ends, as well as providing a soft hold for styling. Formulated with argan oil to restore elasticity, smoothness and manageability, this product offers protection from the sun, wind and humidity as well as heat tools.

L'Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Heat Spray is a three-in-one gem: it coats hair with a heat-protecting film, combats humidity and frizz, and prolongs styles for up to three days. Get spritzing!

Charles Worthington Strength & Repair Heat Defence Spray is a spray that protects your hair from the effects of heat styling by offering thermal protection and locking in moisture and shine.

How do you take care of your hair?