From The Straits Times    |

Calling it right now: A perfect pouf of super sleek hair should be your resolution for this month. Here’s why: A poreless porcelain face counts for naught if it’s offset by lousy locks – sort of like a Rembrandt mounted in a mouldy frame, if you will.

Which is why all of us beauty junkies – you, you and you – should sit up and get cracking on upping our hair game. Thin on top and frizzy of fringe? We’re here to help. Check to see if you’re inadvertently incurring hair damage in your daily dallying, as well as the embarrassingly easy and effective remedies to these beauty boo-boos:

1. ARE YOU SHAMPOOING EVERY NIGHT?

More isn’t more for your mane. Shampooing too frequently wicks away water and lipids which are crucial for cushioning our coiffure – not a good thing, as the lack of hydration will put a deadly dulling dampener on the sheen of your strands. To maximise moisture in your mane, always reach for the mildest baby-friendly formulas, and lather up once every two to three days instead.

2. ARE YOU DRYING YOUR HAIR WITH A TOWEL?

No bueno, babe. Your post-shower mop is at its most vulnerable, which means you should never ride roughshod by rubbing it dry with a bath towel – the friction created by the fuzzy fibres can result in frizz and split ends.

The solution to your towel trouble? Pat gently with a clean cotton tee instead, and follow up with a follicle-fortifying serum for a buoyant bounce with none of the unwieldy weight. Simply spritz on damp hair, starting mid-length and paying extra care to the ends for easy breezy styling.

3. ARE YOU WASHING YOUR DYED LOCKS AS IF THEY WERE STILL “VIRGIN” HAIR?

To fend off premature fading of your hair’s hue, simply pop on a chlorine-screening filter on your showerhead. This ingenious invention works by sieving out the desiccating chemicals lurking in your tap water.

Oh, and if you’re sick of seeing your salon-grade dye job go down the drain, bring your tinted locks to life by investing in a so-called purple shampoo. It’s the best beauty bet for maximum shine and minimum spend!

4. IS YOUR DEFAULT HAIRDO A PONYTAIL?

Penchant for tightly pulled ponytails? Tough truth alert: Ariana Grande will go bald at the rate she’s tugging at her tresses – the perpetual tension on the scalp is going to lead to root breakage and quite possibly a receding hairline. Pretty ponytail or spots of sparse hair? You decide.

5. DO YOU USE ‘DISPOSABLE’ ELASTIC BANDS TO TIE YOUR HAIR?

A trendy textured top-knot is such an easy, breezy solution to bad hair days: Twist the tail into a loose chignon, secure the ends with a slim clip, stick in a bobby pin or two behind your ear and you’re done for the day, right? Wrong.

Here’s the kicker: Your elastic band could be the reason why you’re becoming bald as a baby’s backside: The metallic coil will snag in the strands when you’re pulling out your band. The quick fix? Try metal-free bands instead. I’m a fan of the fabulously flexible offerings from CyndiBands and Goody Ouchless, which are infinitely milder on your mane. And remember: The looser the knot, the better. I don’t know about you, but a big blowout with tons of texture is so much more youthful, really.

Right, then. Trust you’re now aware of the follicular faux pas you may be making, as well as the steps you can take to keep your head of hair super sleek and gorgeously glossy. Good luck with your locks, and I swear I won’t judge if your newly rejuvenated crop compels you to perform a slow-mo shampoo commercial hair flip!

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