Tender Loving Locks - How To Look After Your Hair

Are you Lather, Rinse, Repeating without thinking? Glossing over your mane maintenance could be doing your strands a disservice.
It’s time to rediscover the beauty of the basics, as we seek out your ideal hair care combo.

It’s important to adopt a regular hair care routine that both treats and prevents your areas of concern. Whether it’s dry hair, an oily scalp, lack of volume or keeping your colour fresh, there’s a shampoo and conditioner combo out there to suit you. We chat to three-time Australian Hairdresser of the Year and ELEVEN Australia Co-Creative Director, Joey Scandizzo about hair types, what to look for and how often you should be scrubbing your strands.

What’s Your Hair Type?

“You should be able to tell if your hair is fine, normal or thick by simply looking at an individual strand of hair,” says Scandizzo. “If you have a lot of hair when you hold it in your hands, but each strand is thin, then you have fine hair, but a lot of it. To work out the elasticity of the hair, tug at a single strand. If it snaps easily, then your hair is weak.” For every hair type, there’s a perfect product parallel somewhere.

For Fine Hair…

A volumising shampoo and conditioner combo will add body and bounce. Look for ingredients like panthenol, glycerine and collagen, as they’ll help your strands look thicker and assist in maintaining the moisture balance. Products with protein are ideal for fine or limp hair, as they will coat the hair shaft with protein giving a fuller, glossier look.

For coarse or curly hair…

“Thick, coarse hair gets frizzy easily,” explains Scandizzo. “Rather than trying to tame the hair by weighing it down with styling products, start by prepping the hair in the shower with an anti-frizz shampoo and conditioner.

For dry hair…

“Dry hair is one of the most common hair types in Australia,” he reveals. “Start with a good quality shampoo and conditioner packed with hydrating ingredients like avocado oil. A couple of times a week substitute a rinse out treatment for your regular conditioner.”

For oily hair…

For oily hair, a good quality shampoo is important,” says Scandizzo. “You should also stimulate your scalp by giving it a vigorous scrub while shampooing. If you find you have an oily scalp, but dry ends, brush your hair with a paddle brush to distribute the oil where hydration is needed.” Steer clear of shampoos that are moisturising or conditioning, as they’ll only add to your oiliness issue.

For colour treated hair…

“Blondes (natural or not) can become brassy, especially in summer,” notes Scandizzo. “Using a shampoo or treatment with a blue base will keep your cool tones in between salon visits while also adding strength and hydration.” Seek out a colour-saving shampoo to help maintain your salon-fresh shade