5 hair experts share their golden rules of great hair
Okay fine, from a technical standpoint, ‘the golden rule’ does refer to the principle of treating others how you wish to be treated’. And look, we wholeheartedly agree with that - it’s highly important to remember!
What’s also important to remember, however, is that good hair doesn’t come easy. And genuinely great hair is even harder to secure. But with all the advice circulating social media, sorting the noise from the gold-standard of intel can be a real mission.
That’s why we quizzed five hair experts (who have turned the quest for majestic manes into their literal careers) on their golden rules of great hair. Team these (golden) nuggets of wisdom together and no other endgame will even be possible…
1
The expert: Ruby Cotton, BEAUTYcrew’s Content Producer
The golden rule: Always dry your hair before bed
“Don’t go to bed angry and certainly don’t go to bed with wet hair. In saying that, if you’ve only got the time and energy to prioritise one of the two, I suggest raging through the night, as long as your hair is dry. We’ve all done it: checked our calendar too late in the evening only to realise we have a 7am next-day engagement and a seriously greasy head of hair. Naturally the temptation to shampoo, condition and head straight to bed is overwhelmingly strong. But if you can, resist. If not for the benefit of avoiding breakage and dandruff, do it for the fact that your scalp can become a breeding ground for bacteria when it’s left dark, damp and warm. Gross, right? Plus, with the assistance of a frizz-taming treatment like the OGX Keratin Smoothing Oil ($27 at Woolworths), you won’t even need to get out your straightener. Just spritz, blow-dry and go….straight to sleep.”
2
The expert: Amiee Hershan, Hair Stylist & Colourist
The golden rule: Take risks because they’re only temporary
“My golden hair rule would be ‘enjoy your hair’. It’s another accessory, so if you want to do something, do it. I’ve had so many conversations with people who admire my coloured hair and say ‘I wish I was brave enough’, or ‘I wish I was younger’. I always say ‘do it, colour it, enjoy it’. It grows back and it washes out. Have fun. Try something you want to; it’s not permanent.”
3
The expert: Georgia Nelson, BEAUTYcrew’s Social Editor
The golden rule: Cycle your haircare products
“I’ve been blessed with long, thick hair — but the frizz is kind of a curse. Recently I realised I’ve been (unintentionally) perfecting my hair cycling routine for years. This is the easiest and most hassle-free way to make sure my hair stays shiny and healthy, and tame as much frizz as possible. My wash day starts with a scalp care routine, using a clarifying shampoo and scalp brush before double-cleansing with a strengthening, volumising shampoo like the OGX Coconut Caffeine Shampoo ($23 at Woolworths). Sometimes I’ll even add in a pre-wash detox serum when my scalp is in need of some serious TLC. Next I go in with a nourishing conditioner and I switch this out with a deep conditioning mask every 1-2 weeks. I never let my hair air-dry (unless I want to look like Hagrid), so it goes straight up into a microfiber hair towel and the drying and styling process begins. I always apply a leave-in treatment and never ever use heat tools without a good heat protectant spray or serum. Oh, and I always finish styling with a lightweight hair oil — the shine is unparalleled.”
4
The expert: Amanda Tua, Hair Stylist
The golden rule: Get to know your own head of hair
“The best thing you can do for your hair is find out your specific hair texture and porosity level. This will determine the best products suited to maintain optimal hair health. Same goes for choosing haircut styles and colours – block out the trends and what everyone else is doing and really focus on what styles work best for your hair type, face shape and what colours suit your complexion best. It’s all about tailoring to you and what makes you look your best!”
5
The expert: Delaney Loane, BEAUTYcrew’s Editor
The golden rule: Mask whenever humanly possible
“I’m a ‘beach-waved blowout even while sat watching Vanderpump Rules’ kind of girl at heart. Like, bear with my delusion, but what if Dylan O’Brien is doing research for a role as an Aussie Uber Eats driver and somehow shows up at my door to drop off my lazily-ordered 7-11 slushie?! I long thought my hair had to be prepared. But about six months back, after an ill-fated extensions experience (and a realisation said fantasy probably wasn’t likely; tear) I made the commitment to never, ever miss a masking opportunity. Home from a brunch outing with a window before the next blow-dry is needed? Hair mask. Got eight hours of sleep ahead? Hair mask. Boarding a flight to Hawaii? Hair mask. If I’m not working or socialising, I’m masking. I won’t lie to you, my personal ‘sleek’ look is more ‘Miss Trunchbull’ than ‘Hailey Bieber’, but hey, I’ll now take absolutely any chance to nourish to the nines. Let’s just say I go through the OGX Extra Strength Hydrate + Revive Argan Oil of Morocco Hair Mask ($25 at Woolworths) as rapidly as I do blue raspberry slurpees. Read: scarily rapidly.”
Main image credit: Getty
Want more great features like this? Read the rest of our digital issue.
Delaney began her career in the Australian beauty media industry in 2015, landing amidst the glossy world of women’s lifestyle magazines (or more literally, in their beauty cupboards). Since then, she has gone on to write across a multitude of beloved Australian media brands, including OK!, NW, InStyle, and Harper’s BAZAAR. She’s covered every side of beauty content, from directing beauty editorial shoots to rounding up the best glossy serums for golden hour skin. Having spent nearly a decade immersed in the beauty realm, Delaney’s knowledge of beauty is as extensive as her collection of tinted lip oils (read: extremely extensive). Delaney is currently the Digital Managing Editor of BEAUTYcrew, and her beauty wisdom also appears across beautyheaven, ELLE and Marie Claire. She enjoys channelling her personal hobby (testing beauty products) into her professional work (talking about testing beauty products), and considers perfecting the art of a cat eye in a moving car her life’s greatest accomplishment.
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