5 of the most common haircare fails and how to fix them

Beauty


5 of the most common haircare fails and how to fix them

By George Wales

5 years ago

In partnership with Nature's Bounty

If you’re struggling with haircare strife, here are five common errors you might be making and how to put them right…

No matter what kind of style you’re sporting, the occasional bad hair day is pretty much inevitable.

However, if your locks are proving consistently tricky, it might be time to give your routine an MOT.

Whether it’s bad blow-dry technique or a devotion to a product that just doesn’t work for you, there’s probably at least one bad habit scuppering your hair game.

So with that in mind, here are five of the most common, and how you can stop them from stressing out your tresses…

1. Shampooing your ends

Far be it from us to tell you, a grown woman, how to wash your hair, but are you washing your hair properly?

There are myriad factors behind split ends, but dehydrating them with shampoo is one of the big ones.

“The longer your hair is, the less chance the ends will maintain their natural oils, as they’re further away from the scalp,” says Antonio Hector, senior stylist at Neville Hair & Beauty.

“Shampooing the ends can remove any residual, naturally occurring oils in the hair.”

“Instead, focus on shampooing the scalp and make use of the descending foam suds to cleanse the mid lengths and ends with a patting motion.”


2. Neglecting your nutrients

No matter how much work you do on your hair’s appearance, if you’re not feeding your hair with enough nutrients, you’ll never see the results you’re hoping for.

To save you digging out your science textbooks, one of the key ingredients to look out for is biotin, a B vitamin that helps convert carbs, fats and proteins into the energy your hair needs to look its best.

You’ll get a certain amount in foods like eggs, milk and nuts, but you can top up your levels through supplementation.

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3. Failing to use a proper primer

Chances are you already know the basics of blow-drying.

Don’t do it too often, don’t do it when your hair’s too wet, don’t hold your dryer too close… the pitfalls are manifold and well-documented.

But that doesn’t mean you should shy away from a blow-dry – you just need to make sure your hair is properly prepped.

Hyaluronic acid is a well-known skincare saviour, but its moisturising properties are hugely beneficial to hair-care too, particularly when it comes to counterbalancing heat damage.

“Hyaluronic acid is great for repairing your hair,” says stylist Jonathan Andrew.

“My go-to for every style is the Blow Dry Aqua Primer from Fudge Professional – as well as the hyaluronic acid, it protects against heat to 230 degrees and also has anti-humidity properties to keep frizz at bay.”


4. Ignoring your scalp

Struggling with greasy-looking hair? Your problem might not actually be the hair itself…

“The problem is more likely down to an oily scalp than oily hair,” says Mark Woolley, Creative Director and Founder of Electric.

“Consider using a purifying shampoo as this is a deep cleanser and will help remove any excess oil build-up.”

Not got time for an actual wash? Avoid leave-in products (which can weigh your hair down if it’s prone to greasiness) and opt for a more old-school technique.

“A great session stylist tip is to apply talcum powder to your dry, greasy roots,” says Woolley.

“The talc will absorb the grease and is the perfect solution if you don’t have time to wash your hair.”


5. Using a cotton towel

If you’re looking to reduce frizz, it’s worth looking at how you’re drying your locks.

Your hair is at its most vulnerable when wet, so you want to make sure you’re being as gentle as possible.

Cotton towels create a lot of friction, which contributes to frizz, so go for a microfibre option instead.

As well as drying carefully, you’ll also want to make sure your hair has access to plenty of moisture.

“Treat yourself to a weekly intensive hair mask,” says Woolley.

“Frizzy hair is literally crying out for more moisture, and a mask will help to rehydrate and restore its natural balance.” 


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Want to ensure your hair stays in peak condition? Nature’s Bounty Hair Skin & Nails Gummies contain all the biotin you need to keep your locks looking their best, along with a whole host of additional nutrients, including collagen, zinc and vitamin C. Add them to your routine by clicking here.

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