Your hair is your crowning beauty, so it's important to keep it in great condition; just as you'd give your home a revamp every now and then, think about giving time and care to your hair as well.

These days, with so many products to choose from there’s no reason to be anything other than happy with your hair. Whether you want more shine, more bounce or better curls, go out and find the most suitable products for you.

Ask your hairdresser for advice on what to buy, and you could find a solution to the following problems:

Mechanical damage is caused when you comb or brush your hair too vigorously, especially while it’s wet. Metal combs break your hair, so steer clear of them at all times.

Photochemical damage is caused by ultraviolet light from the sun. It affects the cuticle of your hair much like bleach. Sun is also very drying, so use a product that contains a sunscreen.

Chemical damage is the result of too much lightening, colouring, perming or other chemical processes. Your hair can tolerate a certain amount of chemicals, but it needs extra care in the way of fortnightly treatments to prevent its condition from suffering or deteriorating.

Thermal damage is from over-drying or using excessive heat when styling your hair. Heat reduces the hair’s moisture content and causes breakage. Always apply a styling or protective product before straightening or drying your hair.

Systemic damage is caused by medical or genetic predispositions. Poor diet and vitamin deficiencies can also play a big part in your hair’s health, as can fluctuating hormones. If your poor hair condition persists, seek medical help.

Sensitive issues

Dandruff is a very common scalp problem. Often misdiagnosed as a dry scalp, dandruff is in fact an  infection and can be characterised by large flakes of dead skin that are greasy. Also, the scalp is often itchy. It’s important to realise dandruff is contagious and must be treated with a special shampoo.

A dry scalp, on the other hand, may result in small flakes of skin. It’s very common in the colder months or when you’re in and out of heated rooms. Look for conditioning treatments to hydrate your skin, and massage your scalp to increase superficial circulation.

An oily scalp is often coupled with dry ends, and the more you wash your hair the drier your ends become. Look for oily scalp products and condition the ends only. Give your hair a cool final rinse to help reduce the oil flow.

A final brush with advice ...

Water-only wash

Did you know you don’t have to use shampoo to clean your hair? Yes, you’ll have a few not-so-great hair days, but eventually your scalp will re-establish its natural balance of oils and your hair will regain a healthy shine.

So, if you find washing your hair a bit of a chore or you simply like the idea of not having to shampoo, put up with a few bad hair days and give it a try – you may never look back.

Or, if you wash your hair every day, try using water every second day and gradually you’ll find you need to wash it less. Just think of all the product and time you’ll be saving.