United Salon Supplies: Official Blog

ADVERTISING.

You might not expect an ad for  hair dye to be especially romantic, but hair cosmetics company Schwarzkopf Professional may have pulled it off. The spot, developed by the ad agency BBDO Germany, features a man enumerating the charming idiosyncrasies of his girlfriend—the way she laughs at bad jokes, her weakness for junk food, her love of a sunlit bedroom. The two-minute ad takes a surprising twist at the end that makes it all the more charming.

Ever wondered why Eleanor has luscious, silky-looking and shiny hair, whereas yours is brittle, limp, flat, and basically doesn’t even look like hair?! It all depends on how you care for it. In this guide, you’ll find out all about looking after your hair.

First of all, make sure you’ve got a system/routine to care for your hair, like you do for skincare.

1. Washing and conditioning your hair It’s best to wash and condition your hair every other day or every two days. As basic as these steps seem, many people actually don’t use shampoo and conditioner correctly and in the best way possible for your hair. Start off with shampoo, lathering it up and massaging from roots to ends, and then rinse off thoroughly with lukewarm water. This is where most people go wrong - they use water that’s too hot for their hair, making it weak and fall out easily. Then, apply conditioner all over your hair, and leave it on for 2-4 minutes. Many people simply wash off the conditioner straight after applying it, which makes it useless. Rinse off the conditioner with cold water. This is also something many people don’t do. Rinsing off with cold water will add shine and decrease frizz. If you’re looking for a good shampoo and conditioner, this shampoo and this conditioner by Bumble & Bumble are amazing. In between washes, it’s good to use dry shampoo to refresh and add volume and texture. This dry shampoo by Batiste and this dry shampoo by VO5 are both great.

2. After washing your hair If you’re in a hurry in the mornings, then you probably end up jumping in and out of the shower, carelessly combing through your hair with your fingers and blow-drying random pieces of your hair before running out the door and pulling at your hair with a tiny comb on the way. Well, this is definitely not the way to go. If you’re short on time in the morning, wash your hair in the evening, a few hours before going to bed. It’s a good idea to treat the ends with argan oil (such as this one by Lee Stafford). Argan oil will nourish and repair your hair, make it softer, and prevent moisture loss. Then, leave your hair to air-dry naturally instead of making blow-drying an everyday routine. Washing your hair a few hours before bed means you won’t have to sleep with completely wet hair. Sleeping with slightly damp or sea salt spray (such as this Bumble & Bumble one) sprayed hair in a braid will give you wavy hair in the morning.

3. Hair treatments and hair masks Invest in a hair mask to use once a week, such as this one by Toni & Guy, this one by Lee Stafford, or this one by TIGI S Factor. Hair masks will deep-condition your hair, making it more healthy, and adding strength, shine, and softness to your hair.

4. Protecting your hair When you do use heat to style your hair, make sure you always apply a heat protection spray, like this TRESemmé one. This will protect your hair from the heat and minimise the damage, as well as also making your hair nice and soft.