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10 ways to winterproof your hair

Dull, lifeless, unmanageable locks? Here's how to turn your hair into your crowning glory this winter.

• Shampoo less
  Surprisingly, the air in winter is drier than in summer and, coupled with central heating, it can make hair drier, too - but at least it's less inclined to flop. If you switch to a moisturising shampoo that won't strip your hair and the right styling products, you'll probably be able to squeeze in an extra day between washes. That means you won't need to blast your hair with a dryer as often, which is good news for your hair.
• Extra conditioning is essential
  Stop hair drying out like straw with a richer conditioner. If the ends are really dry, rinse out your normal conditioner in the usual way and follow with a leave-in conditioning spray where you need it to help soften and seal the ends. Treat your hair to an intensive conditioning treatment once a week to increase elasticity, strength and shine. Some of the best work in under three minutes.
• Fight the frizz
  Top hairdresser, Richard Ward, advises using nourishing and smoothing shampoos and conditioners to help put moisture back into the hair. He says, 'Use a straightening balm on the mid-lengths to the ends and divide your hair into sections so that you can blow-dry or flat-iron one area at a time. Always point your hairdryer down the hairshaft to keep the cuticles lying flat and try to keep your hair out of the rain.
• Treat your scalp
  Freezing cold weather, warm homes and a generally drier atmosphere can take their toll on your scalp. It becomes drier, flakier and can feel tight and itchy. First give your scalp the gentle brush off to loosen flaky bits, before using a soothing moisturising shampoo, like Nizoral's. Stimulate the circulation by massaging your scalp daily before reaching for stronger, anti-dandruff alternatives.
• Tame flyaways
  When hair strands are dry and brushing has caused friction, the ions that are produced repel each other, causing static and annoying flyaways. The newest Ionic hairdryers - from Nicky Clarke Electric and Revlon - release streams of conditioning opposite ions that surround each hair, to help remove static build-up. Mia McCarthy, at top South Wales hairdressers, McCarthy's, says: 'Static is often a problem for fine hair and using a good hairspray after styling will help flatten those short strands that refuse to lie down.'

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