It should be easy enough to get beautiful hair, right? According to the adverts, there’s a product to solve any hair conundrum; shampoo that tames your frizz, serum to protect from heat. Dye to make your colouring reflect your confidence. However, if you have a skin problem or chemical sensitivity, many mainstream products just make it worse. You may be feeling gloomily resigned to hair that permanently looks as if it just crawled out of Woodstock – on its own. All very well if you’re Janis Joplin, but the modern hippy vibe requires a little more float & bounce. Luckily, more & more haircare manufacturers are realising that us sensitive types need lovely hair too, & our options are widening.

SLS-free haircare

Sodium laureth sulfate is added to products to make them foam – but foaminess doesn’t necessarily equal effectiveness. What’s more, SLS can really irritate skin conditions like eczema & dermatitis, so it’s worth looking for products that don’t contain it, especially ones you use regularly.

In fact, I don’t have to wash my hair so frequently since I’ve been using SLS-free shampoo. Before, my scalp would dry out, flare up with flaky dermatitis & then grow oily as it tried to fix the dryness; I ended up washing my hair almost daily, which perpetuated the vicious cycle. Now my scalp stays neutral for a few days and the dermatitis barely flares up at all. When I do need to use an SLS product, like at the salon, it doesn’t do anything like the damage it used to – providing it’s only occasional. Don’t forget to ask your shampooist if they have a sensitive scalp shampoo available.

Neem oil

This might not be for you if you’re always on the go & want perfectly coiffed hair every night, because it does require an evening spent with clean, product-free hair & a little time for the oil to be absorbed. Neem is an Indian plant, that has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat skin conditions. Its antiseptic & antifungal properties soothe your sore scalp without drying it further, & it gives a lovely sheen to your hair too – providing you don’t use too much. Just a few drops massaged gently into your scalp should do the trick.

Don’t use neem oil if you’re pregnant or trying to conceive.

Get the right haircut

The less you fiddle with your hair, the cleaner it stays, & the less you need to wash it. The fewer products you need to make it sit right, the better. £80 spent on two disappointing haircuts might as well be spent getting a really good, effortlessly manageable one from an expert.

Head massage

Massage stimulates blood-flow, which carries oxygen, nutrients & antibodies, so it makes sense to get your circulation going round your hair follicles. It’ll speed up your recovery from dermal problems, boost hair growth & hopefully make you feel all squishy & relaxed for a while. Massage is most relaxing when someone else does it for you, but don’t worry if you’re on a budget – just sweep your fingers through gentle, smooth circles when you’re washing your hair or applying neem oil.

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So, you want your hair to rival a celeb’s but without the hefty price tag? Look no further than Kerastase. The brand, which is now owned by L’Oreal, has a range of fantastic products available to suit all hair types. And if L’Oreal’s good enough for Cheryl Cole, then it’s almost certainly good enough for us.

And speaking of Ms Cole, if you’re after big, sexy volumised hair like the Girls Aloud star, you can’t go wrong with Kerastase’s Volumactive Expansion Spray. In a 125ml bottle, this handy little product will go a long way to creating body for fine hair. Softening and conditioning, the spray works by defining each hair fibre to promote natural volume. Combining ingredients such as Vita-Ciment contouring polymers as well as Ampli-Ciment complex, this essential hair care product creates hair that’s thick, light and bouncy.

An affordable and luxurious hair care brand, Kerastase has been changing the look of women across the globe for years. Maintaining high standards for hair nourishment, the Kerastase line includes shampoos, conditioners and deep treatments to suit all budgets. Avoid spending a small fortune for regular deep treatments at the hair salon. Instead, for around a third of the price, stock up on some deep conditioning Kerastase hair products. At less than £20, get your hands on a tub of Kerastase’s Masquintense Fins Conditioner for fine hair types. A 150ml container of this powerful little product will last you wash after wash, deeply nourishing your hair from root to tip. An intense conditioner that repairs dry, damaged hair, the product leaves hair feeling silky, soft and tangle-free.

Want stunning beach waves like Kate Hudson, Britney Spears or Jessica Simpson? Keep your hair covered while it’s at risk of harsh sun exposure by throwing on a large sun hat. Alternatively, if you’re not a hat person, prepare your hair for the sun’s harsh UV rays by using the right hair products.

If you’ve spent a day sunbathing, make sure you look after your hair once you get back home, applying Kerastase Bain Chroma Riche Shampoo liberally over your locks. The perfect repairing shampoo for dry, highlighted or colour treated hair, this Kerastase product helps keep your hair moisturised and supple to the touch. Simply apply a small amount to wet hair, massage throughout and rinse thoroughly.

There’s also a fantastic selection of Tigi hair products online to introduce you to the world of great hair care. Is your bathroom cabinet looking bare? Stock up on some Tigi products and you may never go back to your usual brand again. For shiny hair that you can run your fingers through, look no further than Tigi’s Catwalk Fashionista Smooth and Shine. Shine like a star after using this essential hair care product, which also helps protect against UV rays and gives you beautifully smooth locks in an instant. Just use on wet or dry hair before blow drying or flattening and you’ll be out of the door in no time.

Also by Tigi hair products is the Bed Head Spoil Me. Because it’s also an anti-static de-frizzer, you get two great products for the price of one. At less than £8 for a 300ml bottle, this is one product girls with out of control curls shouldn’t be without. Promoting super lightweight, bouncy and smooth hair, the product is perfect for taming unruly locks and defrizzing in no time at all. Simply apply the product to damp or dry hair and style as normal. Next, finish your look with a spray or two of Tigi’s Bed Head Hard Head Hair Spray. With strong, flexible hold for busy girls about town, this is a product no-one should be without. It dries instantly and doesn’t leave a residue – just hold and spray 12 inches from your hair for the best results.

Lucky enough to have shiny, silky hair like jet black haired beauties Dannii Minogue, Kim Kardashian and Katy Perry? Enhance your natural shine for show stopping star style by using Tigi’s popular Catwalk Fashionista Spritz and Shine spray. Lock in that shine with a firm and flexible hold without frizz with this handy product. Helping to prevent colour treated hair from fading, Catwalk Fashionista Spritz and Shine also stops any damage caused by blow dryers and hair straighterners.

To help repair dull, partied-out hair, why not take a quick look at Tigi’s Bed Head Smoothing Cream? A hair cream for silky, smooth, shiny, healthy-looking hair, simply work the product between the palms of your hands and smooth onto dry hair. Style as desired and you’re good to go! Kerastase’s Reflection range is also great for achieving maximum shine thanks to its ability to transform individual fibres. Achieve beautifully soft, shiny hair by teaming the product with Kerastase’s Masque Chroma Riche Conditioner. Available in a 200ml container, the product is perfect for daily use and for all hair types.

For luminous shine for dry, highlighted or coloured hair, this Kerastase product gives stunningly shimmery hair after just one use. Hair is left softer, brighter and bouncier, while the hair fibre is protected via its UV filter and Vitamin E. To use, apply the desired amount of product to clean towel-dried hair and massage from roots to tips. Then leave on for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing out. And there you have it – beautifully shiny hair in very little time.

For boyish, cutesy crops a la Victoria Beckham, try Tigi’s Bed Head Creative Genius Sculpting Liquid. Create the perfect hair style that will take you from beach to bar in an instant with this handy product. Just smooth onto damp hair and blow dry for a light and natural hold. Alternatively, scrunch into dry hair for firm and intense hair texture. The lightweight gel formula provides strong hold without being sticky or heavy, while conditioning at the same time.

Whatever kind of hair you’re dreaming of, whether it’s Siena Miller’s long beach waves or Rihanna’s short punky-inspired do, Kerastase and Tigi have it covered. You’ll never have to suffer a dreaded bad day again!

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The colour is so gentle that it’s recommended by nurses at St Thomas and Guy’s hospitals as well as Trevor Sorbie’s My New Hair initiative for patients recovering from cancer and wanting to colour their hair as it re-grows, yet it’s as effective as any other colour on the market across the full spectrum of colours, from blondes and and hi-lights to darks, reds, and even blues!

Currently EU legislation allows PPD to comprise up to six per cent of the constituents of hair dyes on the consumer market – Organic Colour Systems contains an average across the range of just 0.6%. Researchers writing in the British Medical Journal last year called for more research on the safety and composition of hair dyes after seeing a doubling of allergic reactions in testing in the last few years. The reactions trigger skin rashes on the face and in severe cases can cause facial swelling – something that Organic Colour Systems was set up to avoid. Their strict guidelines also include ALWAYS recommending skin testing before a colour application.

The colour is available nationwide; London Hairdresser of the Year 2007 Karine Jackson is the company’s Creative Director. As a holder of the prestigious L’Oreal Colour Specialist Degree, putting her in the top 1% of L’Oreal colourists in the UK, Karine knows good colour inside out, and was keen to offer an organic alternative to the usual big-brand ranges at her stunning Covent Garden salon. “I tried a number of organic ranges that weren’t quite right, but I love the colours from Organic Colour Systems,” she says. “The natural and organic movement, fuelled by health concerns in the UK, is gaining increased momentum in the field of beauty and hair care and we should be looking at the greener alternatives to chemical ranges.”

Developed over 5 years, Organic Colour Systems features natural extracts, and doesn’t contain ammonia, allowing the hair to retain its natural moisture and protein balance. Because of its natural base, it closes the cuticle down when shampooing and applying conditioner giving it a natural feel and shine. Where natural ingredients cannot match the effectiveness of chemical alternatives, manufacturer Herb UK utilises precise minimum quantities of only the finest grade chemical additives.

Pharmaceutical grade peroxide, meanwhile, further reduces any chance of skin irritation or burning on the hair. Says Karine: “Client happiness is of paramount importance to our business. Having trialled the range, we’ve found that clients love the non-drip gel and the fact that the treatment nourishes their hair. Organic Colour Systems does not cost any more than conventional hair colour and the feedback we’ve received has been fantastic – people are raving about how glossy and soft their hair is after colouring.”

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Profol Scalp Clear Treatment Shampoo by Julian Jay

Your scalp is made up of normal skin cells that are continually replaced but if the cells are replenished at a faster rate, or if the scalp is excessively dry, greasy or inflamed the dead cells may clump together to make larger flakes that are visible and itchy.

Psoriasis, Seborrhoea, Eczema and Dandruff are all scalp conditions that are relatively common and can affect people at different stages in their lifetime. The Julian Jay Hair & Scalp Clinic has developed Profol® Scalp Clear Treatment Shampoo to provide the most effective relief for dandruff and dry itchy, sore and flaky scalp conditions.

Profol® Scalp Clear Treatment Shampoo is free from harmful chemicals and is carefully formulated to ensure that it will not strip away essential oils or damage delicate new skin and can be used daily. It contains an extremely mild surfactant, TEA Lauryl Sulfate and a low dose of the active ingredient, Piroctone Olamine. These ingredients have been chosen because they will not cause damage, burn or dry out the delicate skin beneath the scalp surface which is common with stronger surfactants and high dose active ingredients. Long term use is highly beneficial as the hair and scalp conditioning properties help to relieve even the most sore, flaky scalp conditions.

PROFOL® Scalp Clear Treatment Shampoo costs £39.95 (200mls) from www.julianjay.com.

Julian Jay’s PROFOL® hair care range is free from harmful chemicals and contains natural ingredients. They include shampoos, spray lotions and a daily food supplement all designed to improve and maintain a healthy scalp and hair. Further information and advice is available from www.julianjay.com or by calling 0800 191 0477.

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