Is there a part of you that’s kinky and wayward?  Is it sometimes just totally, impossibly out of control??   Do you sometimes like to just go wild and unleash it, letting it all hang out - either in private or even in public - and not give a hoot about what anybody else may think about it???   

If you answered yes to any or all of the above questions then you have a problem!  But (calm down!) we’re talking about your hair here and with some tender love and care, and the right haircare products, you can definitely keep it under control when you need to! 

If you have wavy, curly, frizzy and or downright kinky hair then you probably find that, at least some of the time, it can be hard to control and seemingly in possession of a mind of its own!  

Being blessed with natural curls is a good thing, but if you do have naturally curly locks then it’s very likely that your hair may also sometimes have a tendency to be frizzy.  Hair that is naturally coarse also tends to be frizzy and dry. There are other factors though that can cause hair major problems.  Chemical hair treatments such as bleaching, colouring and perming, the use of the wrong type of haircare products, overuse of heated hair styling equipment, humidity and chlorine can all create significant damage, making hair dehydrated, brittle and frizzy.

‘Virgin’ hair (hair that is not chemically treated!) can be kept in great condition with the use of good frizzy hair products which will keep it healthy, shiny and soft.  However, if your hair has suffered all kinds of abuse over the years, from bleaching, perming, being blasted with scorching heat from hair dryers, etc, or if you have naturally curly hair then you’ll need to step up your haircare regime and put in the extra effort to make it healthy, strong and sleek!   

We’ll be back in a couple of days with part 2 of this post where we’ll be explaining what can be done to help make the most of your curly frizzy hair problems.

In the meantime, have a look at our recommended curly hair products.

Does your hair tend to be frizzy and dry?  Does it break easily when it’s brushed or combed, especially if your hair is wet?  If so, then you almost certainly have what is classed as brittle hair, which can be a very worrying problem as a substantial amount of hair can be lost as it breaks.  Brittle hair is an indication that your body is not as healthy as it should be.

Brittle hair can be caused by many things, including:-

• Poor diet
• Illness or disease
• Side effects from medication
• The use of too many hair products
• Excessive chemical hair treatments
• Too much exposure to the sun
• The effects of too much chlorine from swimming pools

To have hair that is healthy and strong it needs to be nurtured.  In this way it will not only be in a healthy condition but it’ll also be able to grow to its normal length without breaking off before it gets there!

There are several ways to treat brittle hair but first you need to find out what is at the root of the problem.  

If you have a poor diet that is deficient in vitamins, minerals and healthy oils (such as Omega 3) then you need to turn your diet around and start eating healthily.  Making sure you are getting enough protein is essential and regularly eating oily fish will provide the healthy fatty acids that are essential for healthy hair and a healthy body.  By increasing your protein levels you’ll also be elevating your keratin levels.  This is also very important because keratin helps make hair grow!

Not getting enough water into your system will cause dehydration, leading to dry skin and hair. By drinking plenty of water not only will your skin and hair be re-hydrated but your hair follicles will then receive the vital nutrients they need for your hair to be healthy.  

If you’re taking medication then one of the side effects could be brittle hair.  Some medical conditions themselves, such as an under-active or over-active thyroid, can result in dry, thinning hair.  Again, making sure you have a healthy diet that is full of essential nutrients will go a long way to helping prevent, or minimise, this.

Hair that is exposed to chlorinated water can become very brittle so it’s essential to rinse hair thoroughly when you’ve been in a swimming pool and wearing a swimming cap (yes, really - swallow your pride!) will help protect your hair as well.

Chemical hair treatments such as colouring, bleaching and perming can cause a great amount of damage to hair if they’re used too frequently.  Limiting the use of chemical hair treatments will help keep your hair in good condition.

As with any other hair type, using the correct type of haircare products for your hair is essential.  With dry, brittle hair you need to take extra care when washing it and not wash your hair too frequently.  Shampooing once a week, or at the most a couple of times a week, is more than enough.  Use a mild shampoo that is specifically formulated for dry / brittle hair, such as Davines Momo / Shampoo from their Essential Haircare range.  This gentle shampoo moisturises, deeply hydrates and provides protection against environmental damage.  It’s loaded with healthy ingredients such as Vitamins B & C, Sweet Almond Proteins and Olive Ampho-Acetate, which is a derivative of Olive Oil and which gently yet thoroughly cleanses hair, leaving it smooth, soft and silky.  Follow up with a nourishing conditioner.  

After shampooing and conditioning your hair, gently towel dry it as much as possible and when combing damp hair make sure to use a wide tooth comb which will prevent damaging and breaking hair.  Also, limit your use of heated styling equipment, such as a hairdryer. If you do use heated styling tools make sure the heat level is kept low as having them on too high a setting will damage hair. 

However, avoiding using hair straighteners or curling tongs, and even a hairdryer, as much as possible is the best option to prevent damage to hair.

By establishing a good haircare system using the right hair products for your hair type, and making sure you nourish and hydrate your body inside and out, you’ll find that your hair will look and feel strong, healthy and vibrant!