Salt, sun and chlorine has no doubt ravaged your hair this summer. Making a few changes to your hair care routine now will help keep your locks healthy through winter.
You need to start being gentler to your hair. This means you need to stop using heat, harsh chemicals and damaging tools on your mane.
Heat
causes the cuticle to swell, and if too hot, will damage it. Always, always use a heat protection spray before you heat style your hair. There are so many on the market, ranging from R50 to R500, so there is definitely one for your budget. You can also reduce the amount of heat you expose your hair to by looking for styling tools with heat controls. Trust us, you don’t need 220 degrees to dry or straighten your hair! Clicks has a great range of heat styling tools – go and have a browse.
Mechanical damage
is caused by rough brushing, combing hair when wet and using damaging accessories. You can minimize this damage by using products designed to treat your hair gently. Tangle Teezers, from R230, are literally the best things since sliced bread. The clever configuration of the bristles means that it won’t tug or pull the hair, reducing breakage. You can even use them on wet hair – they’re that good.
Invisibobbles, R80 for 3, are our latest find. They look like old telephone cord, but are actually our new BFFs. The all-plastic spiral design allows the bobble to grip your hair without damaging it. The best bit is that you can wear it all day without getting the dreaded ‘ponytail line’ when you take it out. You’ll find both Tangle Teezers and Invisibobbles in selected salons and online here.
Chemicals
strip the hair of moisture, creating a perfect environment for damage. Prevent this by switching to a more natural cleansing routine. We love Africa Organics Baobab Shampoo and Conditioner, R43 each from Green Goods. They are 100% natural in origin, 98% of which are certified organic. Baobab has long been known for its moisturising properties. With continuous use, Baobab’s high levels of antioxidants will help repair the hair too!
If natural products don’t do it for you, then make sure you use a rich moisturising mask once or twice a week to give your hair a nourishing treat. We adore Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask, R350.
