A guide to shiny, healthy hair by Olaplex

We’re all on the quest for glossy, shiny hair. However hard you try, it can be tough to protect your hair from chemical damage with so many synthetic products on the market. To reduce hair breakage and repair damaged hair, you either need to adopt big lifestyle changes or introduce a miracle hair treatment into your beauty collection. We’re guessing the latter sounds quite appealing! Not many of us want to give up our straighteners, curlers or hairsprays… Or turn down the central heating in winter for that matter!

So what actions actually lead to stressed, dry hair? What can you do to prevent damaged hair? From tackling problems day-to-day to choosing a hair treatment product that will actually make a difference, sometimes you need a helping hand when it comes to hair care. Thanks to our friends at Olaplex, we’re here to offer our top tips to reduce hair breakage and maintain healthy, shiny hair! Sound good? Read on...

Know how to tackle split ends

Thought split ends were an inevitable fact of life? Sometimes yes, but there are a few things you can do to prevent them. The first thing to think about is what kind of hairbrush you’re using. Wide-toothed combs are better when it comes to tackling tangles without breaking the hair shaft in the process. For an even more effective solution, consider brushing conditioner through your hair whilst you’re in the shower and removing tangles at this early stage. It’s much kinder on your hair than brushing it when it’s already dry. Applying a thick coat of conditioner while brushing is a sure-fire way to protect your locks and repair damaged hair.

Look out for super ingredients

If you’re keen for healthy hair, you should consider incorporating some hair care superheroes into your daily routine. Ingredients including avocado, acai, seaweed, jojoba and aloe vera are known for their nourishing, moisturising properties that protect hair from chemical damage and keep the follicle soft, smooth and healthy. The Oplaex No.3 Hair Perfector is packed with aloe vera leaf juice, citric acid and jojoba seed oil. Clever proteolytic enzymes in aloe vera are known to repair damage while jojoba is equipped to impart moisture without leaving behind any visible residue.

Treat heat damage

Excessive heat is one of the leading causes of hair damage. There are a few ways you can combat dry, brittle locks - one is keeping a close eye on the temperature gauge of your styling devices. Hair dryers within the 1300 to 1875 watts range are ideal for removing moisture without overheating and burning the hair. When using hair straighteners and curlers, always use a heat protectant spray before bringing heated plates into contact with your locks. This will reduce hair breakage for the short and long term… Seriously don’t get caught without it!

In addition, you can use the No 3 Hair Perfector from Olaplex alongside your protectant spray to prevent hair damage. This concentrated formula uses unique bond-building patented technology to nourish every strand and reduce hair breakage. It works from within which is always the most effective method of treating hair.

Know your hair type

Personalisation is key when it comes to maintaining a happy, healthy barnet. Treating all hair the same would be like not taking your skin type into consideration. Using a cleanser for oily skin on dry skin could exacerbate your problems rather than resolving them… The same can be said for hair care. Look out for products designed for your hair type or alternatively, invest in the Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector cream. This innovative solution is one of a few on the market designed to adapt to all hair types. Bond-building technology is a match for even thick, dry and curly hair which other products may have difficulty taming.

Apply little and often

Remember that regular care is the key to shiny, healthy hair. Leaving it untreated for days or weeks at a time is easy - but detrimental! Whether you're using Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector or another product, you'll see better results if you use it regularly, even if just in small doses. Healthy hair absorbs product more effectively meaning if you treat it regularly, it'll have a better chance of battling breakages and benefiting from nourishing super ingredients.