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

[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!!!!

[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.

[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!

[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.

[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?

[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.

[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)

[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.

[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!

[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! :)

[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.

[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.

[KatieBMumsnet]

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