Nighttime steps that will repair your hair by morning
Wake up with great hair every day
Wake up with great hair every day
Keeping a healthy scalp is essential for a healthy head of hair, especially as we age and hair follicles become weaker and smaller. International hairstylist Kevin Murphy shares his insider advice for the steps it takes before bed to maintain a youthful mane.
1
Detangle with a wide-tooth comb
When hair is wet, it’s more susceptible to breakage. It’s better to pat dry with a towel and leave to air dry as often as possible. Never brush your hair when wet – always use a wide-tooth comb to detangle, starting gently at the ends and making your way up to the roots. Use Models Prefer Wet & Dry Detangling Shower Comb.
2
Treat with a mask
“I would definitely recommend hydrating masks to keep hair nourished and strengthening masks to maintain your hair’s elasticity and prevent breakage,” Murphy notes. At-home treatments are easy to apply, affordable and offer a quick fix to hydrate hair and rebuild strength from the scalp to the strands. “Hair masks deliver an intense dose of proteins and moisture to your hair, which you need to maintain strength and lustre,” says Murphy. Our strengthening mask pick: Redken Extreme Strength Builder Plus.
3
Nourish with the right ingredients
“We always talk about hair types in terms of texture, as in curly or straight, and density, as in thick or thin, rather than the hair strand itself,” says Murphy. Firstly, look at the texture and density of your hair to determine your type, and ensure you’re using the right products. Murphy’s top ingredients are lipids. “These are tiny and flexible fats and proteins that hair just drinks up. They’re essential for intensely treating hair and restoring any problems such as breakage and dehydration,” he says. We like Kérastase Initialiste.
4
Brush before bed
Don’t forget to brush your hair. Brushing your hair helps to stimulate the scalp, get the blood to the surface and promotes the production of natural oils. It also invigorates your scalp and wakes up the follicle so hair grows stronger and healthier. Try Rock & Ruddle Large Gold Metallic Brush.
5
Apply an overnight treatment
A treatment oil once a week is also beneficial. Simply apply to the scalp and allow it to absorb into your skin overnight. Treatments help to replenish essential oils that heat and chemicals strip from hair on a daily basis. We love Kevin.Murphy Young.Again.
6
Sleep on silk
Invest in a little luxury. A silk pillowcase is much kinder to hair and skin. Cotton can cause friction, leading to hair breakage and frizz, and also leave skin with unwanted creases. Avoid tying hair in elastics before bed. Instead, pin a topknot loosely with three or four bobby pins and wake up with crease-free hair that you can shake out with your hands to create volume.
To wake up with better skin, try these overnight skin fixes.
For more hair tips from New Idea, check out newidea.com.au
What's your pre-bed beauty routine? Share with us below.
Main image: Getty
Previously from an advertising background, Toni has been working in editorial and beauty at Pacific Magazines for the past five years, and is currently working across Who and New Idea, two of the top five best-selling weeklies in the country. Toni loves being able to make the beauty world seem accessible to the working woman, particularly for those who are time-restricted. As a working Mum, she’s constantly searching for easy beauty and skincare routines on a budget.
