Ever felt completely overwhelmed by the sheer amount of haircare and styling products out there? Not sure what’s right for your hair, or how and when to use certain products?

Understanding your hair type and what it needs is essential for healthy, vibrant looking locks, and will enable you to tailor your haircare routine and choose the right products for your hair. Our guide to identifying your hair type will help you care for your hair correctly, and guarantee a good hair day, everyday,

Dry hair

Dry hair lacks the natural oils that protect and moisturise the hair, leaving it feeling rough and sometimes brittle to the touch, and looking dull and lacking in shine. Due to low moisture levels, dry hair is also more prone to breakage and split ends. People with curls are more likely to have dry hair, as the natural oils from the scalp don’t travel as far down the hair shaft.

Your care & treat prescription for dry hair

Hydrating products are your go-to. Shine’s Saori recommends Aveda’s Nutriplenish range for boosting moisture levels and leaving thirsty locks softer, shinier and more manageable. Try applying Nutriplenish Replenishing Overnight Serum, £42, to your hair before bed. Containing Omega-5 rich pomegranate seed oil, mango butter and coconut oil, it infuses dry, brittle hair with moisture and nutrients as you sleep to leave you with healthier, smoother hair come morning.

Give dry hair a break from heat styling when you can. Frequent use of hot styling tools can leave hair parched and weak, and can also contribute to faster colour fade. If you really can’t stay away from your curling tongs, protect your hair with a heat protectant spray like Aveda’s Heat Relief Thermal Protector & Conditioning Mist, £27. Excessive shampooing can also further strip away the hair’s natural oils, so try to leave longer between washes when you can. And if you don’t already, introduce an intensive hair mask to your weekly haircare routine. Aveda’s Nutriplenish Masque Deep Moisture, £48, deeply nourishes and restores dry and dull hair with a much-needed hydration boost.

Oily hair

Oily hair is caused by the scalp producing excess natural oils, and is exacerbated by a build up of dirt, debris and styling products between washes. It can look and feel greasy, especially near the roots, sometimes even shortly after washing. This excess oil weighs down hair, especially if it’s naturally fine, which can leave it lank, limp and generally lacking a bit of va-va voom.

Your care & treat prescription for oily hair

If you have oily hair you may find you want to wash it more frequently to keep it looking fresh and full. A clarifying shampoo like Aveda’s Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo, £20, effectively removes impurities and product build up but is gentle enough to use frequently without stripping the hair of moisture, or accelerating colour fade.

Avoid using heavy, oil-based conditioners and styling products and instead opt for lightweight products that nourish your hair without weighing it down. Shine stylist Franco loves using Aveda’s Botanical Repair Strengthening Conditioner, £34. Light enough for everyday use, apply it to the mid lengths and ends for hair that feels soft, smooth and detangled. Using a scalp exfoliator like Aveda’s Scalp Solutions Exfoliating Scalp Treatment, £39, once or twice a week will help to tackle greasy roots, shifting excess oil, product build up and surface pollution to leave your hair and scalp looking and feeling instantly refreshed.

Damaged hair

Regular use of heated styling tools, chemical treatments like colouring and chemical straightening, over enthusiastic brushing or even tightly tying your hair up-all of these can damage hair, leaving it dry, dull, frizzy, brittle and prone to split ends.

Your care & treat prescription for damaged hair

When it comes to caring for damaged hair, the focus needs to be on repair and restoration. Reduce exposure to heat and chemicals, use a wide toothed comb or detangling brush when combing wet hair and try drying your hair with a microfibre towel- it causes less friction than a terry towel.

Choose nourishing products that will leave the hair stronger and healthier. Aveda’s Botanical Repair Strengthening Leave-in Treatment, £35.50, is one of Jonathan’s hero products for treating damaged hair. It’s formulated to reduce frizz, detangle, smooth, condition and build new bonds for stronger feeling hair, while also giving protection from heat styling.

As for split ends, while some products like Aveda’s Botanical Repair Strengthening Overnight Serum, £42, can help smooth the hair cuticle and reduce the appearance of split ends, the only real cure is a regular trip to the salon for a trim, ideally every 6-8 weeks. This will help prevent damage travelling any further up the hair shaft.

Your stylist will always be happy to advise you on the best haircare routines and products for your specific hair type and lifestyle, so please just ask.

What we’re loving this month…

Binging on Boiling Point (BBC iPlayer). Set in a highly-charged restaurant kitchen and starring the always excellent Stephen Graham, this series may not be the kind of TV that will help you unwind at the end of a long day, but don’t let that put you off- it’s just brilliant. Stephen Graham also stars in Netflix’s new time travelling whodunnit, Bodies. We’re a couple of episodes in, and while we’re not completely sure what’s going on, we’re already hooked.

And finally…

We can’t quite bring ourselves to mention the ‘C’ word yet, but even Jonathan has to admit the festive season is fast approaching. Appointments are booking up fast, so whether you want a colour refresh, a style switch-up or just fancy treating to yourself to a bouncy blow-dry, make sure you don’t miss out. Book your next appointment with us online, by email or over the phone.