If you’re anything like me, your bathroom is probably bursting at the seams with half-empty shampoo bottles, conditioners, and hair oils. Guilty of overspending on hair care? You’re not alone. Even with more UK shoppers tightening their belts, consumers spent more than £1.28 billion on hair care products in 2022. Eager to curb your spending and whittle things down to the bare essentials? Let’s take a look at what you actually need for a winning hair care routine.
The basics
A great hair care routine starts with the basics. A good shampoo and conditioner will go a long way in keeping your locks looking their best. However, with so many options in the supermarket aisle and never-ending deals and discounts, it’s easy to go overboard here. Constant switching between brands is never a good idea. When choosing shampoo and conditioner, you need to be picking something that’s formulated for your hair type.
Rather than trust what the labels say, make sure you’re studying the ingredients list before you buy. Do you suffer from thin hair? Products with phyto-caffeine are a good shout. Do you have thicker, coarser hair? Brands like Moroccanoil that are infused with argan oil are great choices. Along with argan oil, look out for formulas rich in fatty acids and vitamin E. These ingredients can enhance the elasticity of your hair, helping lifeless locks look their best.
What about scalp treatments?
Even if you’re using anti-dandruff shampoos and conditioners, you might find yourself dealing with a dry scalp. If you clean, condition and style your hair daily, your scalp could be suffering from a buildup of product. As well as irritating the scalp, this buildup can affect natural oil production. While you don’t need to be doing this too regularly, it’s definitely a good idea to cleanse and tone your scalp. A toner treatment will quickly get rid of any lingering residue, leaving your scalp feeling refreshed and nourished.
Hair repair products
If morning frizz is a fact of life, an overnight conditioning treatment can help. Even if your hair needs a lot of help, you shouldn’t need to use an overnight product more than once a week. As well as moisturising your hair, these products can help eliminate split ends and prevent damage when brushing and styling your hair in the morning.
Do you instantly reach for the brush after stepping out of the shower? Before you start pulling a brush head through those locks, remember that this is the time when your hair is most fragile. If your hair is particularly brittle, a leave-in treatment is a good idea. Failing that, think about adding a wet brush to your hair care arsenal. These handy tools are designed to be used on fresh out of the shower hair, but they can also be used to keep dry locks in check.
Pre-styling hair care products
Unless you favour the au naturel look, hairdryers and straighteners are probably a mainstay of your daily hair care routine. However, regular use of these styling appliances can easily damage delicate hair. Before a heated ceramic plate or curling iron goes anywhere near your hair, make sure you’re spritzing a heat protectant spray on those strands. As well as preventing unwanted damage, the best heat protectant products can add shine and lustre.
Does your hair care routine need a rethink?
If your hair care routine is long overdue for an overhaul, start with the basics. Simply swapping out your existing shampoo and conditioner for products that are specially formulated for your hair type can make a massive difference. Do you suffer from a dry scalp? Daily washing and styling can quickly lead to a buildup of product on your scalp. Using a toning treatment once a week will quickly cut through this residue. Overnight conditioning treatments are also worth looking into. Once again, you only need to be using these once every week or so.
Furthermore, don’t think about exposing your hair to a straightener or curling iron before reaching for a heat protectant spray. You can make life even easier by adding some hair-friendly styling equipment to your repertoire. Wet brushes are incredibly versatile, making quick work of tangled hair after a shower.