Comb before washing
If you comb your hair before washing, the shampoo can really get into your scalp and do what it is meant to do. This means your hair will be cleaner and should last a bit longer between washes.

Don’t over-condition
You should use as much conditioner as you do shampoo. If you use too much, it takes ages to wash out and will build up in your hair, making it look and feel less clean.

Make sure you’re using the correct shampoo/conditioner
If you have oily hair, use shampoo for oily hair. These contain drying elements to make your hair look cleaner and last longer, and vice versa for dry hair.

Easy with the products
If you use so much mousse that your hair literally crunches, or so much finishing polish that your ‘shine’ starts to look like grease, you are using too much product. It is trial and error where products are concerned, generally thick hair can take more product than thin hair, and you should not apply product to your roots.

Hands off!
Once you have done your hair, try not to touch it too much. Touching it or twirling it just makes it dirty because of the dirt and grease on your fingers.

Occasionally…
No matter how well you take care of your hair, you will get a build-up of product. You should use an anti-residue shampoo about once a month to ensure that your hair is sparkling clean and you’re getting the most out of the products that you use.

For a bit of a pamper…
If you use heat stylers, such as blow dryers, straighteners and curlers, chances are you will have a few split ends. If you don’t want to go for a haircut, here is a conditioning treatment that you can do at home.

Simply wash your hair as normal, then put loads of normal conditioner (or conditioning hair mask or intensive conditioner) through the lengths and the ends. I realise my previous point was not to put too much conditioner on, but this is a treatment rather than an every day hair wash, so you can use more than normal. Once you have applied the conditioner, either clip or roll it up, then put cling film around your hair, like a shower cap, and then put a towel around. The plastic forces the heat from your head to heat the conditioner on your hair, making it soak in much better than on its own.

Stay like this for about 20 or 30 minutes, and then rinse all of the conditioner out really, really well. When you dry your hair it will be shiny, soft and smooth, and your ends will be hydrated. You don’t have to do this often, every 4-6 weeks is fine, and the shine will last throughout your washes.