younger-looking HAIR tricks

GLEAMING, SHINY HAIR IS 'YOUTH-FULL', 

so it's no surprise that dull, drab hair can age you! 

Pollution, harsh chemicals, and heat styling can all turn hair ho-hum, but a few extra steps will ensure your hair shines...

• Start in the shower. Look for shine-enhancing shampoo and conditioner with ingredients like olive oil, jojoba, and rice proteins. Alternate these with your regular formulas to prevent buildup. Be wary of clarifying shampoos; they can deprive hair of much-needed moisture and even strip the dye off color-treated hair. After you shampoo, apply a conditioner evenly through the ends and rinse thoroughly. If your hair is colour-treated, use a hair mask weekly to replenish moisture.

• Prep work. After towel-drying, apply either a glossing cream or shine serum with high levels of panthenol (provitamin B5). Glossing creams are lighter and have less silicone, so they're more appropriate for women with fine to medium hair. Use a shine serum if you have frizzy or coarse hair or unruly curls. (Avoid saltwater sprays; they tend to leave a matte finish.)

• Dry the right way. Place a round, natural-bristle brush under a section of hair. Start at the roots, and hold the dryer so the nozzle aims downward—never up against the shaft. Slide the brush down without twisting it, to seal the cuticle.

• Add a spritz. While your hair is still warm from the dryer, flip it upside down and mist the ends with a shine spray. This ensures you won't get too much product near the roots. If you need a touch-up during the day, spritz some shine spray on your hands and run them lightly through your hair.

holiday away HAIR

BEFORE YOU PACK TO GO AWAY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON...
here's what you need to know to keep your hair looking hot when the weather heats up:

TAKE TO THE BOTTLE: Before leaving home, pack an empty plastic water spray bottle, then when you get to your tropical destination mix 1 part light conditioner and 4 parts water to create your own leave in moisturiser for your hair.

Once you have settled into your deck chair and before you start sipping on those refreshing ice cool beverages, spritz your leave in conditioner from ends to roots and work through with a wide tooth comb, (don't use a brush as it will only create a tangle).This will not only look sleek and chic but will ensure your hair is left soft, even after swimming and it will protect and add moisturiser at the same time.

LEAVE IT SALTY: Salt water is very effective and natural way of adding texture to the hair, so don't rush to rinse it out. That beachy texture it gives has been re-created by many a product! After you get out of the ocean, rake your hair into a low centre ponytail on the nape and twist it from roots to ends loosely (even if you have fine or seemingly straggly hair) then wrap the tail around it's self and put a bobby pin in to secure a messy bun until dry.

You will love the end result! When you have taken your hair out and its bone dry, you’ll have masses of big tumbling waves from the midlengths to the ends.

BLOCK THE CHLORINE: If you love to spend a bit of time in the hotel pool (who doesn’t!) and you’re concerned about the chlorine (especially for blondes) there are two important rules:

Rinse thoroughly after each dip in fresh water and spritz in your spray on conditioner to reduce that straw feel.

A FANCY PONY TAIL: Want to get the look of just like you have just stepped out of the salon, after swimming all day? On damp, towel blotted hair, place in a deep sexy side part, comb through to the nape and secure with snag free elastic (a little bit off centre)

Now braid the pony and secure the ends, wrap the plait around the base creating a beautiful elegant chignon and pin to secure.

Add some huge sunnies for a chic style, great for poolside cocktails after a day at the beach.

{Pic: Sea Of Gold}

conditioner RULES

A COMMON BEAUTY MISTAKE IS APPLYING CONDITIONER ALL OVER YOUR HAIR... 

 Most people apply conditioner as they do shampoo: starting at the top of the head and working it all through the hair - which is a common mistake. 

Apart from wasting product, conditioning the roots can weigh your hair down and make it look greasy. {The hair closest to the roots is healthy new growth; it's the ends that are older, more likely to be damaged and that are in need of conditioning.}

 

 A better way to do it: Start at your ears and apply conditioner all the way to the ends. You will gain volume and won't have to wash your hair as often.

top CONDITION

CONDITIONING TIPS FOR ALL HAIR TYPES... 

For fine or limp hair: Nourish hair with a weekly hot-oil treatment. It's lighter than a mask and won't weigh down fine hair. Pick one with proteins, which fatten strands. 

If you have curly or coarse hair: Once a week, apply a deep conditioner that contains keratin to just-shampooed hair. Leave it on for ten minutes. The conditioners seal the cuticle to keep out moisture (which helps prevent frizz), while the keratin strengthens hair to resist damage.