5 Ways your Hair-Care Routine Should Change for Autumn

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE autumn. I adore bundling myself up in cosy knitwear, drinking far too many cups of tea and hot chocolate and indulging in comfort food (no surprises as to what exactly... *ahem macaroni cheese*) but the change in temperature can be seriously confusing on your hair. Not just the texture, a change in dryness or frizz-levels, but also the colour! So here are some of my top tips for keeping your hair looking and feeling fresh and healthy over the coming months!

Up the Moisture!

You know how your skin gets dry and kinda itchy when the temperature drops? It's not sexy, I know, and the same goes for your hair. The transition between Summer and Autumn is when it is so vital to add a hair mask and switch up your shampoo and conditioner to help your hair adjust to the change in temperature. The Ojon Moisture Therapy Conditioner does exactly that, and it's packed with 7 nourishing oils which leave even the driest of locks feeling soft and hydrated after just one use. I find that it really prevents my ends especially from drying out, and all of the seriously luxe ingredients such as African Shea, Mango Seed Butters and Jojoba Oil work wonders to my stressed out hair. Another range which uses oils to keep the moisture levels of your hair in tip top condition is the Oleo Radiance range from TRESemm� - I've been using this three times a week to keep my hair consistently conditioned.

Use Natural Ingredients

Products with natural ingredients will prevent your hair from drying out, as they don't strip your hair of oils like some synthetic and alcohol based ingredients do. I love to use the Aveda Thickening Tonic to amp up my hairs volume, and it's made from naturally-derived ingredients which my hair just loves! 

Go Darker

Summer is synonymous with sun-kissed hair, but colder weather means less time outside, and those highlights fade! You can beat nature's effects on your hair by taking your hair darker by a shade or two, which means the transition happens more evenly. I recently spoke to the colour experts at Paul Edmonds who advised that I added a mocha tone to my bright blonde locks, to tone it down a little but without loosing that vibrant blonde shade that I absolutely love. Coloured hair needs extra attention, and I always have a little pot of the Toni & Guy Serum Drops in my handbag - you only need the tiniest amount to prevent flyaway hairs, add shine and also condition and protect hair from dropping temperatures when you're out and about.

Look after the Ends!

By upping your shampoo and conditioner game in the ways I mentioned above, you'll already have a head start with the condition of the ends of your hair. Sometimes though, it is just too late!!! I've actually discovered a product which works to seal and repair split ends, not just prevent them, so if you've already let your hair get a little out of control, then I highly highly recommend the Loreal Expert Sealing Repair serum. I add a couple of pumps before I blow-dry and then again when my hair is dry, it seals the ends straight away so your hair looks and feels smooth and frizz free.

Amp up the Oil

I think we've just about tackled the stigma around using oils in your skincare routine if you've got oily or combination skin (oil reduces oil production and all that), and the same goes for your hair. Don't be afraid of using products with oil in, your hair needs the added moisture and nourishment provided by hair oils as the temperature changes and by adding oil to your routine, your hair follicles won't need to create so much - meaning your hair is conditioned but not greasy. Another product in the TRESemme Oleo Radiance range which I love is the Radiance Oil Elixir. It adds such a beautiful illumination to your hair that makes even the driest locks look as though they've had a pricey hair treatment, and it never, ever feels greasy. 

How do you Switch Up your haircare routine in Autumn?

xoxo

Blonde Hair SOS

You may have been born with blonde hair, or perhaps, like me, you've decided to lighten up your locks at the salon, but either way blonde hair requires pretty specific maintenance routines. From stopping the colour from turning brassy, making sure your ends don't totally dry out and also protecting your hair from UV rays, there are some really important things to take into consideration when you're a blonde.

To help you care for your hair and keep it as gorgeous as possible, I've pulled together a few of my favourite tips for caring for blonde tresses.

Sun Protection for your hair.

It's not just your skin that gets damaged by the sun, but your hair too. Blonde hair is particularly susceptible to sun damage so make sure yo use a UV protective spray. It's even more important in the summer but also all year round, as UV rays can change the colour of your hair as well as drying it out.

Protect in the Pool

Before you go for a dip in a pool, use bottled water or fresh water from a shower to wet your hair. If you're hair is already soaking wet before you get into a pool, it won't soak up the chlorine in the water, which is what can turn blonde hair green! Not a good look!

Trust in your hairdresser!

Bleach contains some of the worst chemicals known to mankind, and as the name suggests, it's a powerful stripping agent that pulls the colour out of your strands. But it's not the bleach that helps you achieve the luxurious blonde hair, but the toning. Your hairdresser will know that the toner is what your hair needs to prevent it turning yellow, or brassy, or even green. For a blonde top up, my salon of choice is Joes Salon - a plush white haven on Sloane Avenue where you can entrust the experienced stylists to create the blonde hair of your dreams. Often armed with Pinterest pictures of what I'm trying to achieve, the stylists talk through their recommendations about which colours and styles will be most flattering to my skin-tone and face shape. The boutique salon also offers pampering treatments such as manicures and even makeovers - I love multi tasking so getting my nails done while my hair is tended to is such a treat. Colour treatments vary in price from �80 to �250.

Get Regular Trims

The more your hair is bleached, the more prone it is to breakage so dead ends need to be snipped on a regular basis. I try to get a trim every four weeks, and Joes Salon offer consultations so that you can tell the stylist about exactly what you're trying to achieve and they will talk you through the best options to create a style that you love.

Tone at Home

Purple shampoo is your friend. Strange as it sounds, purple shampoo keeps your hair from turning brassy, which can happen if you only use shampoos that aren't specifically formulated for blonde hair.

You wouldn't want to invest in a fabulous colour just to see it fade or change just days after your trip to the hair dresser, so make sure you're armed with products to help maintain your blonde locks at home. I use John Frieda's Sheer Blonde range, alternating between their Colour Renew range and their Highlight Activating shampoo and conditioner. The Colour Renew products are bright purple in colour which helps your colour-treated blonde look even brighter. If you find that your blonde tones are looking a little yellowy after a few weeks then just a couple of uses of this stuff will re-balance your blonde giving you a salon-fresh shade.

Deep Condition Regularly

Bleached hair is often stripped of moisture as well as colour. If straw like hair is not what you were aiming for then use a deep conditioning treatment, and use it often. I'm currently using the Schwarzkopf Bonacure Barbary Fig Oil Restorative Mask twice a week; it's incredibly indulgent, and I cover my hair in the buttery product letting it soak in for at least 5 minutes after towel drying my hair, letting it nourish and moisturise my hair. Afterwards, my hair is left noticeably softer and less frizzy as the hair surface is perfectly sealed and smooth.

But Don't Wash Too Regularly

I try to leave it three days between washes because washing further strips the hair, and by leaving it longer between washes, you can preserve the colour and keep it looking more vibrant for longer. This means that you'll probably need to find a dry shampoo that works for you - and Batiste make one specifically made for blondes which I always find works a treat.

Use a hair oil.

I recently did an entire post about why you should use a hair oil, and for blondes this is even more important. From the mid lengths through to the ends, applying an oil will keep your strands moisturised and nourished. The Schwarzkopf Bonacure Barbary Fig Oil Treatment is a great option for dry damaged hair, as like the conditioner it works to nourish each strand leaving hair shiny, silky and healthy.

Ditch the Towel.

Towels can be a little coarse for fine blonde hair, so try using a plain T Shirt to squeeze the moisture out of your hair. Friction from the towel can cause frizz and unnecessary dryness but the softness of a t-shirt will keep the natural moisture in your hair.

& Protect from Heat!

Blonde hair is naturally more dry, so heat styling can really take a toll on blonde locks if you don't use a protective spray. It's wise to give the hair dryer a miss every now and then too, just to give your tresses a chance to recover.

Do you have any more tips for caring for Blonde locks?