The Best Hair Care Routine for You

Finding the best routine is the key to unlocking great hair. Here's how to choose the right products for you

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Woman with straight hair beside a woman with curly hair

What is a good hair care routine?

The best hair care routine hugely depends on your hair type, however there are a few fundamentals that stay the same.

Keeping your hair clean is a must for everyone. How frequently you need to wash it will vary based on density and oiliness.

Conditioning

It’s vital to condition your hair to replenish moisture, detangle any knots and keep it looking glossy. Shampoo can strip the natural oils from your hair, making it dry, so conditioner is important for providing a protective layer.

Treating

Incorporating regular treatment into your routine ensures your hair maintains its health and moisture. Plus, it tackles problems like breakage and dullness.

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Build your dream routine

A simple hair routine for curly hair

The best curly hair routines start with co-washing. Simply put, co-washing is swapping out your usual shampoo for a conditioner. This will gently cleanse your hair and scalp without adding sulphates or stripping it of its natural oils. Our favourite is this super-hydrating conditioner from Bouclème's hair care range which has a unique formulation that penetrates deep into the hair follicle.

Next, try the plopping technique. This involves applying a styling product after the shower in a scrunching motion. We recommend Bouclème's curl defining gel which will strengthen your curls. Then, wrap a microfibre towel around your hair by laying the towel on a flat surface, bending forward and lowering your curls onto the centre of the towel. Make sure it's secure and leave it for 15 minutes.

To define your curls, we recommend using a product like Colour Wow’s Dream Coat for Curly Hair. Simply spray it on wet hair and apply heat (don’t forget to use a diffuser for the best results) and it will give your curls lasting hold without that sticky, crunchy feeling.

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Your curl-care favourites

Create your hair routine for wavy hair

Not straight, but not curly either? Wavy hair has an in-between texture that can go either one of two ways: flat or frizzy. So, to avoid both, we recommend trying smoothing shampoo, such as Living Proof's No Frizz shampoo that will eliminate any unwanted kinks. Then, follow with lightweight products that will add welcome bounce to your natural waves, like this Turn Up The Volume treatment foam from Percy & Reed.

If you're looking for simple tips for a wavy hair routine for beginners, we recommend just taming your hair with a volumising spray. Try Living Proof's No Frizz Smooth Styling Cream: A silicone-free cream that controls frizz, conditions from root to tip and leaves hair with long-lasting shine.

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Top picks for wavy hair

Get your hair routine for straight hair

If you have straight hair, the chances are you’ll want to amp up the volume. So, we recommend root-lifting products. Our current favourite is Color WOW's root-lifting spray. Created to bring all-day volume and overall fullness, it’s ideal for oil-prone or flat hair.

Alternatively, to add texture and interest to your hair, try Living Proof’s styling and finishing spray which delivers instant and long-lasting bounce. The best bit? It offers heat protection, so you can use styling appliances without worrying about damage.

If you’re concerned about depleting your hair of moisture, but you also don’t want to weigh it down, we recommend Percy & Reed’s volumising treatment foam, which is specially formulated with powerful ingredients to improve hair condition, support scalp health and leave locks looking fuller.

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Straight hair must-haves

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Best hair care routine for hair growth

Promoting hair growth is ultimately down to creating a healthy routine that incorporates scalp care, targeted treatments and reducing breakage.

Start with the base. Make sure your scalp is clean from any product build up with the Hydrating Hair Cleanser from Bouclème. The sulphate free, foaming cleanser is perfect for fine hair, loose waves and those with oily scalps. Next, try Hair by Sam McKnight's natural scalp oil which is made from supernatural ingredients including Crinipan, Vitamin E, Omega-3 and Omega-6 to lock in moisture and reduce irritation.

Build on this with damage control. Try Aveda’s Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair to restore the integrity of your hair and to keep it protected from heat.

Finally, give your hair that extra bit of TLC with a restoring hair oil. Percy and Reed’s I Need a Hero! Wonder Recovery Mask will penetrate hair using natural protein, helping it to retain moisture. Simply apply to dry hair before you sleep and leave it to do its thing while you snooze – just be sure to wash it out come morning.

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Our hair-growth heroes