NOW CLOSED What are your top hair care tips? Share them with Aveda and you could win a personalised three step hair care system worth at least £50

[KatieBMumsnet]

The folks at Aveda would like to know Mumsnetters' top hair care tips for different types of hair. Here's what they say: "Here at Aveda research is key to developing the best products for our customers and talking to men and women across the world about how their hair looks feels and changes through life. We'd now like to know what Mumsnetters think about their hair - be it a crowning glory or something you'd rather hide under a hat."

What are your best hair care tips? What problems does your hair type cause? Do you wish you had a different type of hair or are you happy with what you have? What's the best piece of advice you've been given with regards to keeping your hair healthy?

Also, you may have seen recently on MN that some MNers are trying out the new Invati range from Aveda, specifically designed to help thinner hair look fuller. If you have thin hair, do you have any tips to make it look thicker? Maybe you have a special drying technique or a use weird and wonderful hair mask? Have you tried any old wives tales that have worked wonders or failed miserably?

Whatever type of hair you have, Aveda want to know your top hair care tips. Everyone who adds their comments to this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a personalised three step hair care system worth at least £50.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

[KatieBMumsnet]

Thanks everyone for your comments, the winner of the prize draw is Lavenderhoney, congratulations - I'll PM you to get your details.

[fionathepink]

I have been putting my hair through hell since a teenager; bleaching it white then adding various bright colours, often changing from blue to red within a couple of weeks. Or adding hair extensions using glue. Or general dying, cutting, figuring it will all just grow back.

I try to not wash it more than twice a week as it strips the natural hair defences, I use conditioner sparingly, brush only when almost dry, rarely have time for a hair dryer or straighteners but pin it up a lot.

I did see a hair dresser use an amazing organic non-aerosol hair spray on me once but never got the name. Great hold and not a crisp or grease hair in sight.

[Kveta]

I have very thick hair so have to dry it, as leaving it to dry takes more hours than I'm awake.

I think getting it cut more than once a year is probably a good tip, which reminds me, must book my annual clipping.

I tend to wash every other day with whatever shampoo in on special offer when I run out. Condition once a week when I remember.

scunci might be the no slip brand mentioned earlier, I love their clips.

[knitknack]

I have oily skin which = oily hair so I have to wash it every day. Despite that it's shiny and in good condition, and I'm a red head so I like my hair. I've learnt over the years however that if I put heat anywhere near my hair it immediately starts to break, so I never use heat any more. Because of this I've had to find other ways of having shiny, sleek hair rather than the more 'untamed' look I sport if I just let it dry and do nothing.

So now I wash/condition every evening when I get in, apply a small amount of oil or serum, let it air dry and then, when it's DRY (but only just) I put in velcro rollers (although I hold them in with claw clips that I found on amazon, it's too slipper to hold velcro rollers by themselves) and leave them for 1/2 hour - I get sleek shiny hair that looks as though it's been blow-dried, but no damage!

I'm so happy that I've finally found a routine that works for my hair at the age of 40! :)

[anothercuppaplease]

I put in coconut oil about an hour before I wash my hair, I put in a big dollop of the stuff, rub it in really well, and wash hair / condition with head and shoulders!

[BoffinMum]

For temperamental frizzy hair, put a load of conditioner onto clean, damp hair,comb through, wrap head in tin foil and watch telly for half am hour before rinsing hair and blow drying carefully.

[ArcticRoll]

I have thick curly ish hair which on a good hair day can look lovely but on a bad day resembles a messy frizz.
I used to yearn to have glossy poker straight hair but now like my hair.

Best tips- don't keep using the same shampoo- have a break from your favourite shampoo then when you use it again after a break it appears to more effective.
Only comb / brush hair when you wash it and never brush it when dry. ( this applies to thick curly hair only)

[VerySmallSqueak]

InMySpareTime there is a brand of hairclip that I use (which,of course,and very helpfully,I've forgotten the name of). They are by a well known brand if I remember rightly and they are quite ordinary looking just with extra 'comb' parts at the back.I got mine in a set of 6 with 2 x gold,2 x brown and 2 x black.
They do claim to stay put on the packaging,and they really do work!

I've never found a shampoo that addresses the slippiness,but I find not using conditioner helps. My latest shampoo is an aloe vera one from Holland and Barratt.
Someone mentioned up thread that she had stopped using shampoos with silicones and that really seems a sensible thing to try next.

[InMySpareTime]

verysmallsqueak my hair eschews accessories too, I've found a low ponytail stays in longest, a high ponytail sinks rapidly, clips generally end up in my pocket after the eleventy-fifth time they fall out.
Washing hair less frequently works for me, my hair goes slightly greasy after 5 days then improves again as the oil evens out through my hair. Every few months I give my hair a ten day wash amnesty and it looks so much better for it.
I don't use fancy shampoo either, I have a lush shampoo bar but it gets slippery in the bath. What do you use?

[angell74]

I try to limit using heat on my hair. If at all possible I leave it to air dry and then use straighteners to take away the frizz making sure I use some heat protection product.

I was recently given some good quality hair straighteners and despite the hair raising price they really work so much quicker than my old ones and as a result seem to be doing less damage.

[Funnylittleturkishdelight]

Don't mess with your hair- I try not to straighten, blow dry or curl it too much.

Condition-wash-condition keeps it soft, shiny and healthy.

I have long thick hair- this keeps it long and in good nick!

[KentuckyFriedChildren]

I have very long natural blonde curly/wavy hair that is very thick. I wash twice a week with a blonde shampoo and condition. I then blow dry straight and then use argan oil, particularly on the ends. Apart from that I just keep it well brushed and it always looks sleek and shiny. I don't use any heat stylers (bar the hairdryer but I keep that on low heat) and I think that is partly why my hair is in such good condition. I have no split ends and only need a trim once a year or so. I get comments on how nice it looks so I must be doing something right! I think my top tip would be that hair does not need washing as much as you think. If you have greasy hair its more likely that you wash it too much and strip the oils out so your hair overcompensates by making extra oil and then you're in a vicious cycle.

[Jins]

Another view that the sponsors won't like I'm afraid.

About five years ago I stopped using any shampoo which contained silicones. My hair took 6 months to recover but it's never been better.

Aveda list dimethicone as an ingredient. This coats your hair, making it feel smooth and healthy but actually drying it out. It's not just aveda - most manufacturers load hair products with silicones. Over time it wrecks your hair.

No amount of advertising about how natural the products are or claiming miraculous properties from the minuscule amount of plant extract will overcome the damage you'll cause by loading your hair up with furniture polish

Top tip? Buy Lush!!!!

[VerySmallSqueak]

I have slippy shiny thick hair that won't hold a style.
I would love wavy hair.
I wash about once a week but sometimes don't condition and I cut it myself.
My top tip is to take your time finding hair clips that don't slip out instantly.

[racingheart]

I have very fine, thin, straight fair hair and am constantly on the lookout for ways to thicken it. It won't hold a curl for anything, so I've given up trying, and if I let it grow too long it hangs down very flat and lank.

Tips:
1.) Cut every 2-3 months.
2.) Wash at least every other day.
3.) Condition the ends but never the roots.
4.) Always blow dry. This gives it body and far more shape. Takes seconds, as the hair is so fine, but doubles its thickness appearance.
5.) Wear it up in a scrunchie at home so when going out it has been lifted all day and doesn't hang so flat.

Instead of expensive highlighting, I always use a blonde shampoo. Love Aveda's camomile, but can't always afford it or find it. Timotei is good, but only available in Poundland these days, it seems. John Frieda leaves it looking a bit brassy and feeling tacky but at least it stops that mousy winter look, and blonde shampooing means you never need to touch up the roots.

[slug]

I have masses and masses (hairdressers always comment on it) of very thick straitish hair that no amount of styling product/device/tool can tame. It has fallen out of every style within 20 minutes. It's now about 40% grey but was auburn in it's prime.

I wash it using a hypoallergenic shampoo (Boots own brand currently) not because I have a sensitive scalp but because I'm prone to excema between my shoulders and I've found this helps immeasurably.

My best advice is to find a hairdresser you can trust. Failing that, wear a hat in the sun, scalps can sunburn too, and Moroccan Oil is fantastic for slightly damaged hair.

The best thing I've ever done with my hair is cut it completely off. I'm currently sporting the kind of crop that has people asking me how the chemo is going. It's dyed bright red and I love it because it quite literally is wash and go. My hair is nearly dry by the time I leave the bathroom. The extreme shortness also gives me the opportunity to indulge in my slight hat fetish now that the chillier weather is here.

[swallowedAfly]

i have curly/wavy hair. used to think it was a curse as a kid now see it as a blessing. i can have curly hair or, thanks to modern hair straighteners can relatively easily have totally straight hair. i think it's easier to straighten curly hair than curl straight hair.

my hair is not greasy or dry so... normal??

most of my adult life i've had long hair which is really handy - nice down when first washed, when on the turn/a touch greasy you can put it up. currently i have shorter hair and find it hard work as the put it up option is gone which means it has to be washed and 'done'. hence i've become quite a fan of hairscarves and hats on the school run this term but that get out is about to become useless as i go back to work so will have to 'do' my hair every day.

top tip/thing i've learned about curly hair is either have it long or have it very short. anything in between is an exercise in wrestling against nature. also be realistic about how much effort you want to have to put in on a daily basis. also try to pick hairdressers who have curly hair or who have children with curly hair - it amazes me how inept many hairdressers are at cutting and styling curly hair.

in terms of haircare i think you just have to find the products that work for your hair - there's no set rules, guides imo. all hairdressers have told me pantene is crap for your hair and just strips it yet it is the thing that works best on my hair. pantene perfect curls range (now disappeared with the fad for straight and sleek having returned) was fantastic with my hair - i'd just wash and let it dry naturally and it would be lovely. i haven't found a replacement sadly. so another top tip is if you find the product that is right for you buy up big and fill a cupboard because you'll miss it when it's gone.

[MiniTheMinx]

Thick coarse hair, bit like a brillo pad, I could scour pans with it and I love it. I can bend it in any direction and it just stays put! Tis weird but I wouldn't have it any other way. What could aveda do for my hair? I never use the hair dryer and only use natural products, I'm probably not a good advert for natural is best but I have had old ladies fly at my in the street petting my hair.

[MichelleObarmy]

I have thick, straight hair that I colour regularly. The colouring had started to dry it out and conditioners weren't helping. I now massage through raw, virgin coconut oil once a week on damp hair then tie up and leave overnight. It doesn't make hair (or pillows!) greasy and rinses out completely in the shower the next morning. Leaves my hair very soft.

[insprognito]

I think less is more with anything to do with hair,maybe because I am lazy have 4 children and not much time. Mine is pretty long (elbow length) and very straight. I wash it about 5 times a week but only twice if I'm not in gym so much.I'll use whatever mid range shampoo +conditioner is on offer,but only condition from the ears down. I use a silver blue shampoo once a week to keep my blonde colour looking bright and shiny.
I have my roots tinted every 6 weeks and have it trimmed around every 12. I like to leave it until its 80% dry(about 30mins as its not thick) before finishing it off with the hair dryer. If I'm in a rush and have to dry it from wet it goes fluffy and frizzes more. I use a pea sized blob of frizz ease and dry it upside down which only takes 5 minutes.I don't own straightners and find my hair looks exactly the same when I've had it done at the hairdressers.
I've tried lots of treatments over the years for shine but find nothing works better for me than a cold rinse after conditioning and using the cool shot button at the end of blow drying. It closes the cuticles apparently so the surface reflects more light.

[mynameis]

Oh and dry shampoo is a god send for going an extra day without washing

[mynameis]

Henna to colour, hair dyes have really ballsed up my hair in the past

Don't really use anything other than mousse for styling and get a trim every six weeks

[johnworf]

As I get older I seem to lose more and more hair in the hairbrush. I've stopped combing my hair when I get out of the shower and instead, leave it until it's damp. It doesn't seem to break as much.

I use argon oil as my hair is dry. My hair is also coloured and I make sure I use the correct shampoo and conditioner. It really does help keep the colour for longer.

[3bunnies]

I have long, thick, slightly curly brown hair which is prone to tangles. I have it cut about twice a year! My routine is to use the same products as my dc, they are 3, 5 and 7. We use baby shampoo, but then slap on lots of reconstruction 3 minute conditioner, followed by 'fairy spray' so all the fairies can detangle their hair! We then use a tangle teaser to brush it.

My moto is 'easy and no tangles'. I don't use hair driers or colouring just pull out the odd grey one!