Bad hair day?: How to keep your hair strong, silky and smooth

Despite the schismatic weather we have been subjected to over the past weeks, it is in fact spring. It is a relief that everything starts to lighten and brighten when spring comes around. Traditionally, something about the change in the air creates a desire to lighten and brighten the hair – more women will opt to go blonde or introduce some blonde to their hair during spring and summer than in the darker months.

Using bleach of any kind on the hair is not good for it. It should never be done at home, and should be given significant thought before making the final decision. Going fully blonde requires visits to your stylist every six to eight weeks if your hair is naturally dark, and every eight to 10 for naturally lighter roots. It is seriously expensive, involves hours at a time in the stylist’s chair and compromises hair quality, though some hair types cope better than others. There are also the addictive qualities of a good “blondening”. It is common to keep going blonder and blonder until hair looks more like rabbits’ bedding than something growing out of your head.

I went back to brunette after getting to the rabbits’ bedding stage over three years ago, but can feel that call to the blonde murmuring as the weather brightens.

Transformation

Since switching to visiting my stylist a maximum of three times a year for touches of highlights here and there, and ditching heat styling in favour of my Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer (€400 from dyson.ie), which was recently released in a limited edition red, my hair has been completely transformed. The Dyson Supersonic is legitimately excellent.

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I lack skill with hair, but can blow dry my hair silky smooth with a liberal spritzing of Color Wow Dream Coat (€38.50 from SpaceNK) and a paddle brush (I don’t have the dexterity for round brushes).

My hair has tripled in length when before it would break before growing past my shoulder. It shines again, thanks to the kindness I treat it with and a tiny bit of Moroccanoil (€39.42 from lookfantastic.com) post-blowdry to nourish and tame flyaways.

The Aveda Invati Haircare Range (from € 30.45 from Brown Thomas) impressively volumises the hair while exfoliating the scalp, though if hair feels dry I will opt for a rich shampoo as well as a conditioner, such as Kérastase Aura Botanica Shampoo (€26 from selected salons nationwide), which is oil-based and nourishing.

Still, however, I feel the call of the bleach. If you have already answered that call, or are struggling with brittle, dry hair, adopt the kindness method. Twice-weekly masks will help. Redken All Soft Mega Recovery Sheet Mask (€11.30) is the first sheet mask for hair and, consequently, rather fun.

Cut out heat styling, swapping in braiding or dry shampoo as stopgaps. And whatever you do, think carefully before heeding the call of the blondening.