Looking fantastic is great, but when you FEEL FANTASTIC? Even better! If there’s one way we know to increase our confidence levels, it’s learning to resolve all your personal hair concerns – whether that’s dry, dehydrated strands that are prone to breakage, or dull, lacklustre locks in need of a luminosity boost.
So, if you’d love to unleash your mane’s truest potential, look no further! You’ve just discovered our guide to the best pro haircare tips for silky, shiny, healthy-looking tresses – as told by the experts…
The best pro haircare tips
Best for glass hair
We’ve no doubt you’ve heard of the glass skin trend, but glass hair has risen to fame in early 2024, showing no signs of slowing as we head into the summer months. But how exactly can we achieve glass hair?
“In order to get that mirror shine, the outer surface of each hair strand (also known as the cuticle) needs to lie flat and uniform. This surface is then able to reflect light easily, resulting in a high-shine finish,” explains Chloe Swift, hair stylist and Kérastase expert. “Concerns like frizz, damage and dryness can cause the cuticle to become irregular, creating an uneven surface that is not able to reflect light as easily. To achieve true glass hair, we must focus on the nourishment of the hair.
Chloe’s favourite formula for replenishing, hydrating and illuminating your strands?
“Kérastase Elixir Ultime L'Original Hair Oil is a multi-use oil with benefits including nourishment, hydration, anti-frizz and anti-humidity – all of which support a uniform cuticle for maximum light reflection!” she beams. “[It is] infused with an exceptional blend of oils, including argan oil and camellia oil. It helps add shine and softness to the hair, which is the crux to perfecting the glass hair style.”
Elixir Ultime is great for all hair types, but Chloe recommends using just 2 pumps on the mid-lengths and ends for finer hair, and 2-4 pumps on medium to thicker textured hair.
Best for repairing and strengthening
Lengths looking a little worse for wear? For stronger, healthier-looking strands, Victoria Strain, Education manager for L'Oréal Professionnel, knows just the trick:
“Absolut Repair Molecular Leave-In Mask is for hair that has gone beyond surface damage and has started to break. It works on each level of the hair from the inside out,” he shares. “The hair is made of a protein called Keratin, this is made up of amino acids and peptides, every time hair is damaged we lose peptides and the hair becomes weaker and breaks, Absolut Repair Molecular replaces these peptides for immediate visible results for strength shine and suppleness.”
“[The mask] is a prescriptive treatment for damaged to extremely damaged hair that is either naturally weak or chemically damaged. Factors can include age, health, colour services, or damage from heated appliances. This product works well on all damaged textures such as colour treated, curly and coily hair, natural hair.”
For the best possible results, Mike recommends using after the Absolut Repair Molecular Shampoo & Rinse Off Serum, and dividing your towel-dried hair into two sections for even application.
Best for hydrating dry hair
Dry, dehydrated hair your cross to bear as we spring into sunny season? Thamina Hodder, education consultant at Pureology and Redken, explains:
“Hair can become dryer through the spring/summer months due to environmental factors. We can see more sunshine through these months, which can dry out the hair because of UV rays – just like with our skin. This can draw out moisture and colour pigment within our hair.”
“The Pureology Hydrate shampoo and Conditioner is the perfect pairing for dehydrated thirsty hair due to the jojoba oil that the range contains, which has incredible moisturising properties. Hydrate also contains an anti-fade complex that protect against UV filters which also help to protect and maintain hair colour.”
Not sure if this is hydrating shampoo and conditioner duo is for you? It is – as it’s suitable for all hair types and textures! Thamina suggests, “Shampoo the hair twice to ensure maximum benefits of the key ingredients. This will cleanse and treat the hair to make it feel its best.”
Best for silky, smoother tresses
If you’re known to experience coarse texture, brittle lengths and dry ends, Redken might just be your new point of call!
“All Soft Shampoo and Conditioner is the best pairing for silky, smooth hair due to its luxurious and rich argan oil formula. This range helps lock-in moisture to hydrate dry and brittle hair, making it feel soft and shiny, without weighing the hair down,” shares Thamina. “The range is formulated with argan oil – vitamin E and the omega fatty acids found in argan oil moisturise, add shine, protect hair, protect from breakage and increase elasticity!”
If you were worried the All Soft range might be too heavy for your hair, you needn’t stress! Thamina confirms its lightweight, moisture-boosting formula is perfect for all hair types in need of hydration.
Best for styling
It might be the newest styler on the scene, but when it comes to perfecting your mean, the ghd Chronos knows a thing or two!
“The key benefits of Chronos are that it leaves the hair with 85% more shine, 2x less frizz and gives me 3x more breakage protection, resulting in healthy, shiny hair,” explains Rosie Myles, lead educator at ghd. “With Chronos’ HD Motion Responsive technology, I can style my in a variety of techniques with just one stroke, leaving me with results that last up to 24 hours.”
Arguably the best thing about Chronos? “It’s suited to all hair types! The algorithm in the styler adapts its power based on your hair type by efficiently maintaining the optimum styling temperature of 185 degrees.”
