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How To Repair Dry Hair & Prevent Future Damage

13:09Alice Grace

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On a daily basis, my hair suffers a barrage of abuse - heat styling, brushing, colouring and even tying my hair up at the end of the day does my hair no favours. Fortunately, I have a solid routine in place to repair my locks when they're feeling dry, damaged and dead at the ends, protecting them from future breakage at the same time.

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When my hair isn't looking its best, I avoid harsh, clarifying shampoos and reach for nourishing duos, such as the Pureology Precious Oil Shampoo and Conditioner. The salon brand's Precious Oil range is made for rough, brittle hair that needs some TLC. Specially formulated to care for and retain the intensity of coloured hair, the shampoo is sulphate-free, allowing for a gentle cleanse that won't lead to colour fading or thirsty tresses. Even if you don't dye or bleach your hair, this is still a great duo to go for. Full of sunflower, coconut, jojoba and olive oils to hydrate and smooth, the highly-concentrated formula really works overtime to nourish and you only need the smallest drop of product per wash.

Every other wash, I'll use my beloved Ojon Rare Blend Moisture Rich Cleansing Conditioner. If you haven't tried something like this before, then it'll be a revelation. No lather, rinse and repeat rules to follow here. No suds, just an indulgent cream to slather on and rinse off after a few minutes. The result? Silky soft hair that feels refreshed and more controllable than usual. It's always so glossy, too. As I have a bad habit of washing my hair every day (I can't stand the feeling of it when it's not freshly washed, sorry), co-washing really helps to give me that clean feeling I crave, without totally stripping my strands of moisture.

Of course, the quickest way to give you hair a dose of intense hydration, is to use a hair mask or treatment. My favourite at the moment is the Charles Worthington Moisture Seal Masque. A total lifesaver for hair, it drenches every follicle in a rich creme and leaves my hair feeling so soft and sleek, with an incredible shine after rinsing. I don't rate many high-street hair masks, but Charles Worthington really do them well. If you fancy a bit more of a pamper, then I also adore their Intense Melting Rescue Mask, which I've done a full review on. In need of an affordable option? Just grab a jar of Coconut Oil. Whatever mask I use, I really like to give myself a head massage whilst it's on to stimulate the follicles and get the blood pumping to my scalp. A healthy scalp leads to healthy, strong hair.

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To help detangle the hair and add an extra dose of moisture when your conditioner isn't enough alone, leave-in conditioners are amazing. My all-time number one choice has to be the Joico K-Pak Liquid Reconstructor. Packed full of amino acids, this spray helps to replenish weak hair, by filling in patches of damage along the cuticle. Once fragile strands get a helping hand to be stronger, so they don't simply break off. A lighter option that isn't quite so intense and won't weigh your hair down, is the Ojon Revitalising Moisture Mist. The dual-phase formula combines Ojon's secret golden elixir with ingredients such as ginseng and lemongrass to revitalize the hair, to leave it hydrated, yet full and bouncy. I can't seem to find this product in-stock online, but it's definitely available at some Ojon counters in Boots!

One hair saviour that I'm obsessed with, to continually condition the hair after washing, is the Phyto 7 Hydrating Day Cream. Applied throughout the day whenever my hair is feeling a bit drab, it absorbs instantly to tame frizz, calm flyways and soften rough ends. The non-greasy texture is mess-free, so it's great for using on-the-go. For an extra boost, I'll use a pump of hair oil. Whilst many can be quite heavy and too greasy to use on dry hair, Redken's Diamond Oil has the perfect, lightweight consistency. Being silicone-free, it doesn't just artificially coat the hair to make it appear healthier, but actively penetrates each strand to seal moisture in. Blended with apricot and coriander oils, it smells divine and really provides that shatterproof shine that the brand promise.


Always make sure to protect your lengths when using heated tools to dry and style the hair. Frying your barnet with intense heats of 200 degrees and upwards (I'm looking at you, GHDs) is only going to leave it frazzled. My favourite heat protectants are part of the Loreal Elnett Satin Heat Protect Styling Spray range. They have a whole host of different versions to suit how you like to style your hair, but I'm currently loving the formula for waves. Not only do they create a barrier to fend off the excessive heat, but they also help to lock your style in place for longer. 


Never brush your hair in a rough manner. Dragging a standard brush through lots of tangles and forcing it to rip knots out only leads to breakage and split ends. Instead, opt for a Tangle Teezer*. These brushes are designed to gently glide through the hair, detangling as they go without painfully pulling at your delicate strands. They offer a comprehensive range of designs for different uses, whether you need one for brushing wet hair, blow-drying or styling once finished, and they're all amazing. As they're so compact, I have lots dotted around - one in my car, one in my bag, one at my desk and one on my bedside table. Even though brushes are never really a glamorous beauty tool, Tangle Teezers come in so many fun, quirky designs, too.

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Where possible, let nature do the work for you and allow your hair to dry naturally. I know it's not always convenient and it can take hours and hours when the weather is cold, but it's so much better for your locks. I know my hair ends up a lot less fluffy and I suffer with fewer static flyways when I don't reach for my hairdryer. A voluminous finish isn't always what I'm left with though, so I always spritz a volumising spray through my roots, before leaving it to dry. I also find that if I don't brush my hair as it's drying, then that helps to keep my hair less frizzy, too.


Popping to the hairdresser for regular trims will really make a difference to the health of your hair. My mum has always drummed the importance of regular salon visits in to me and swears by making an appointment every six weeks. I may not be quite that strict now that I make my own appointments, but I try to factor in one visit every two or three months. You don't have to go in for a major chop, but simply cutting off split ends and scissoring off half an inch will make hair less likely to break off. Hair looks so much fuller when straggly, wispy ends are gone.


Something you can do to help your hair in the long run, is to alter your diet and start taking supplements. You don't have to spend a fortune on fancy pills and potions, just simply taking a cod liver oil capsule can really help. If you do fancy splashing out, then I swear by the PhytoPhanere Dietry Supplement. Full of vitamins, essential fatty acids and antioxidants, they get to work quickly and results are visible after just four weeks of taking them. I've noticed a huge improvement in my hair and skin from taking these pills religiously and now they're part of my daily routine. Don't fully rely on supplementing your diet, though. Try to eat more healthy fats, which can be found in oily fish, avocado and flaxseed and you'll soon start noticing a difference. These good fats are essential for healthy hair, skin and nails, but the body doesn't produce them, so you need to get them in your diet. 

Do you have any tips for keeping hair healthy?


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  1. Really need to try the Pureology shampoo and conditioners! Sound amazing x

    1. They're amazing and so gentle, especially on processed/coloured hair. I've even got my Mum hooked on the Precious Oil range and she doesn't dye her hair, they just leave it so soft and silky! x



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