How to rescue dry and damaged hair

Take your hair from straw-like to silky in minutes

Hair
(Image credit: Rex Features)

Take your hair from straw-like to silky in minutes

You might think it’s just the hot, humid summer weather that wreaks havoc with your hair, but it turns out the winter months can cause some serious problems, too. Cold and dry air can actually prevent moisture from being locked into your hair, so you might notice that your hair feels a bit drier and more prone to breakage at the moment. Or, if you like to heat style or colour your hair regularly, you might be wanting to reverse some of the damage.

Enter some of the best repair products that money can buy. Armed with these, you'll be able to restore your hair to its natural glory in no time at all.

First things first, you need a shampoo and conditioner that'll start the repairing process while you wash your hair – start with Living Proof's Restore Shampoo, £24, fabled.com. Containing OFPMA, a patented 'healthy hair molecule' that provides weightless protection for each hair strand, this one also repels dirt and excess oil meaning your wash lasts for longer.

We're pretty obsessed with eating quinoa, but had you ever considered it as a beauty ingredient? Allow us to introduce you to Aveda's Damage Remedy Restructuring Conditioner, £24.50, fabled.com. Here, the secret to repairing your hair is in quinoa protein, which infuses silkiness and strengthens your hair against future damage. Meanwhile sandalwood, barley and phellodendron work together to smooth your hair cuticle, giving your hair the kind of healthy, swishy movement the A-list would envy. And for more conditioners perfect for your specific hair type, take this quiz.

Blake Lively

(Image credit: Rex Features (Shutterstock))

If you've got some time on your hands to leave a deep treatment on your hair, reach for a hair mask. We love Percy & Reed's Totally TLC Hydrating Mask, £20, fabled.com. Complete with a 'treatment bonnet' for you to wear while the mask works its magic. It also gives you an excuse to put your feet up and do nothing for a few minutes, so what more convincing do you need?

Once your hair is washed and ready to style, it's time to apply a serum or blow drying cream. If you struggle to fight the frizz, look to eSalon's Feelin' Smoothie Anti-Frizz Hair Serum, £13, esalon.com. A non-greasy serum containing provitamin B5 and silk protein, this will moisturise and smooth each strand of hair to keep your style controlled and prevent fly-aways.

To avoid damage from blow drying, straightening, curling and all of the other wonderful heat treatments we use in our hair regime, it's a no-brainer to invest in a good heat protection product. As well as defending your hair against heat and UV damage, Bumble and Bumble Repair Blow Dry, £23, fabled.com also works to nourish the hair and seal split ends and keep your style looking fly for up to three days. Equally importantly, it won't leave your hair feeling or looking greasy. Alternatively, reach for a trusty heat protection such as ghd's Heat Protect Spray, £12.95, fabled.com. which will shield your hair from excessively high temperatures brilliantly.

With these hero beauty buys at your disposal, you'll be able to keep dry hair at bay come rain or shine.

Shop the full range of hair care over on our Fabled store, now

Lucy Abbersteen
Beauty Contributor

Lucy is a freelance beauty editor and contributor at Marie Claire, and has written for titles including Glamour, Refinery29, Popsugar, woman&home and more. She was previously Marie Claire’s junior beauty editor. During her career, she’s covered everything from backstage beauty at fashion week to interviews with famous faces like Drag Race royalty and Little Mix. As for her beauty ethos, she’s a big advocate for not having to spend a fortune on beauty products to get good results, and when she’s not got beauty on the brain you’ll find her reading or hanging out with dogs.