TREAT YOUR HAIR LIKE YOUR SKIN

Why should your skin benefit from all the great formulas to plump, smooth and hydrate? If you’re a wash-and-go girl, it’s time to upgrade. All the powerful ingredients that are good for your skin can also benefit your hair. And while we’re not suggesting you need every product for a complicated multistep regime, investing in the right formulas for your hair conundrum could be just what you need for beautiful, healthier, shiny hair.

Retinol for better hair growth

The scalp ages just like the skin on your face, so it makes sense to treat it with the same ingredients. Monpure Follicle Boost Hair Density Serum, £83, monpure.com, promotes thicker, fuller hair growth, thanks to a combination of retinol and lactic acid, which stimulate cell turnover on the scalp, removing a build-up of dead skin that can inhibit hair growth.

Collagen for thickening

Collagen occurs naturally in our bodies, and is vital for healthy hair growth and supple skin. But as we age, our natural collagen levels deplete, and our hair can thin and skin can slacken. Collagen supplements help boost our skin and our hair from the inside out, while creams enriched with collagen help to smooth and tighten the skin. But shampoos and conditioners enriched with collagen can also have benefits for our hair, especially if you find yours is thinner than it used to be. Absolute Collagen Collagen Complex Hair Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner Duo, £28, absolutecollagen.com, contains a potent collagen formula that wraps around each hair shaft to help thicken and nourish thin, flat hair, with a 20% improvement in volume and thickness in just eight weeks.

Vitamin C for brightening

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps even out your skin and protect it from pollution and environmental damage. It can work in a similar way for your hair, brightening up your colour for added radiance, as well as protecting your hair and scalp from free radicals. Philip Kingsley Vitamin C Jelly Detoxifying Hair & Scalp Treatment, £28, philipkingsley.co.uk, helps increase the shine and condition of your hair, and deep-cleanses the scalp to leave your hair feeling light and healthy.

Acids for exfoliating

Just like acids help to gently exfoliate your skin, they can do the same for your strands, removing a build-up of dirt, product and oil without stripping your hair of moisture. K18 Peptide Prep Detox Shampoo, £39, k18hair.co.uk, contains salicylic acid and citric acid to gently remove product built on the hair and excess sebum on the scalp without it fading your hair colour. If your hair is oily, it is ideal, leaving it feeling light and fresh, but avoid if it’s on the dry side.

Hyaluronic acid for hydration

Hyaluronic acid works amazingly on skin. It holds 1,000 times its weight in water, and is brilliant at plumping and smoothing parched complexions. The good news is it can do the same for your hair. L’oréal Paris Elvive Hydra 8 Second Wonder Water, £9.99, helps boost your hair’s hydration levels by 18 times for a glass-like shine!

SPF for protection

Just like SPF protects your skin from the sun, it does the same for your hair. UVB rays can weaken the structure of hair, while UVA fades colour, leaving your hair dry, brittle and washed-out-looking. Try Aveda Sun Care Protective Hair Veil, £24, lookfantastic.com, which is formulated with UVA/UVB filters to protect strands from the heat of the sun.