Love your locks

Give lacklustre the heave-ho and reaffirm your commitment to your crowning glory with some hair health boosters...

The winter months can bring a whole host of hair problems to a head. As hibernation is only for the likes of hedgehogs, and extended winter sun breaks the stuff of dreams for all but a privileged few, the long dark evenings provide the perfect opportunity for some hair health boosting home improvements.

Thirst quenchers
 Just as important as what you use on your hair is how you use it. Beginning with the basics, wash in and rinse off shampoo with hot water as this will swell the hair and open up the cuticle layer. Use cool water for the final rinse after conditioning as this will close the cuticle and lock in the benefits. Elasticizer (£20 www.philipkingsleyproducts.com) is a cult classic from leading Trichologist Philip Kingsley. A pre-shampoo treatment for mid-lengths and ends, it noticeably improves condition after just one application, by delivering a rush of moisture inside the cuticle. Take hair island hopping with the Polynesia inspired L'ANZA Healing Moisture range. Tamunu Cream Shampoo, Kukui Nut Conditioner, and Noni Fruit Detangler, each priced at £18.95, contain botanical ingredients to create lustre and manageability in dry and dehydrated hair. Call 01296 612062 www.lanza.com. Coloured hair can be particularly stroppy in a harsh environment. Aveda's Colour Conserve Strengthening Treatment, £13.50 (call 0870 034 2380 or www.aveda.co.uk) features three-fold technology to protect colour, strengthen hair and add brilliant shine.

Volume boosters
Light formulations that can be layered to create an invisible support system are the most effective for perking up fine or limp hair. Don't mix and match different brands, which could cancel out each other's benefits. Fudge Oomf Shampoo, £9.95 is a kick-ass, energy boosting wash and Oomf Conditioner, £9.95, a light as a feature heavyweight body builder (call 01282 683100 or www.fudge.com). TRESemmé Pro Vitamin B5 Healthy Volume Shampoo, £3.99 and Healthy Volume Conditioner, £3.99 combine to build body and fullness.

Frizz fighting
Winter is a time of extreme contrasts in temperatures - cold air outside, central heating indoors, which can affect hair in negative ways, one of which is an increase in static. Reduce the drying effects central heating has on hair, scalp and atmosphere by placing large bowls of water next to radiators. Redken Smooth Down Shampoo, £8.95 and Smooth Down Butter Treat (£15.50, call 0800 444 880) encourage a humidity-resistant, frizz-free finish. The Frédéric Fekkai Winter styling range features Anti-Static Weightless Mist, (£12, www.spacenk.com), its ultra-light formula combats static and flyaway ends whilst sealing the cuticle for lasting frizz defence.

Take note that over-brushing can strip hair of vital oils and encourage static build-up so suppress any obsessive-compulsive tendenciesColour injection
Revlon Professional Nutri Color Crème, £2.50 for a single application, £14 for multi-application size, call 0208 399 5624, revives colour treated hair that has faded or lost its vibrancy. A 3 in 1 formula delivers shade, shine and softness in just 3 minutes. The colour immediately takes effect by using ionic concentrated pigments resulting in dense, luminous tones. There are 14 shades to choose from including Venetian Blond, Cold Brown and Irish Red. In general going a shade darker or richer than your natural colour will make it appear shinier. Use a semi-permanent to do this; brands Clairol Nice 'n Easy, Garnier Movida and L'Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss cover an entire spectrum of choice.

Brush work
Brushing hair regularly encourages the production of sebum, a naturally occurring combination of waxes and fats that acts as both a lubricant and protector. The Kent LC4, £24, www.kentbrushes.com is a traditional bristle brush for reaching down through the hair to the scalp to wake up sebum production to create a healthy shine. Denman's Metal Pin Paddle Brush (£8.50 or www.denmanbrush.com) is bad news for static, good news for precision looks. For those on trend, the Vogueti 227 Mini Grooming Brush (£11.65, call 01296 390591) with shine intensifying pure boar bristles is a bob's best friend. Take note that over-brushing can strip hair of vital oils and encourage static build-up so suppress any obsessive-compulsive tendencies.

Shining example
Smooth hair cuticles are key to achieving a high level of shine. When blow-drying always hold the hairdryer angled from above and direct the heat downward from root to tip so as to encourage them to lie flat and provide a reflective surface. Using a nozzle will afford greater control. Ghd Thermodynamics Reflection Spray, £12.95 (call 0845 330 1133 or www.ghdhair.com) is an anti-static, anti-frizz spray with UVA protection for heat styled hair, VO5's new Perfect Lengths Shine Serum Mist, £2.99 tames and adds shine to shoulder length and longer locks and is handily handbag sized for polished looks to go.

Target thinning
By the time we hit 25 over 50% of our original hair follicles have been lost and an estimated 22% of the population experience thinning hair whether it's a temporary a long-term situation. Even the weather can have an impact with seasonal changes a catalyst for shedding on a grand scale. Revlon Professional Interactives INTRAGEN 5 Hair Loss Patch (£50 for 30 patches (a month's supply) call 020 8399 5624), works like a nicotine patch with a discreet one-a-day application to the upper back. The patch is a matrix impregnated with the Intragen 5 combination of active ingredients: extracts of hops, rosemary, semburi and a silicon compound, that combine to block the enzyme responsible for hair loss. They also neutralise free radicals, activate peripheral circulation and promote hair growth and regeneration.