7 golden rules of younger looking hair

It's easy to get stuck in a hair rut. On the one hand, having the same style and colour for years works as a signature look, but equally, the quality of our hair changes as we age. Colouring, straightening, blow-drying and even brushing your hair all have a damaging effect. At the same time, hormonal changes and genetic ageing can lead to finer, weaker, thinning hair and colour changes.

While hair can't regenerate itself, it can alter its structure and strength for better or worse, depending on how it's treated. Hair that shines and looks healthy always appears more youthful than dry, lacklustre hair. Good habits can, therefore, go a long way to age-proofing your locks. Combine them with a little style evolution and you can have great hair, whatever your age.

Rule 1: Don't skip conditioner

Continually washing hair washing hair without using conditioner afterwards makes it more prone to damage and frizz - both of which add years to your locks.

According to award-winning celebrity hairdresser Andrew Collinge, ‘Some women avoid conditioner because they think it weighs hair down or makes it lank, but this isn't true when you find the right product. If you really can't find one to suit, a lightweight spray-on leave-in conditioner is a good compromise.'

‘If your hair is coloured, don't be afraid to apply conditioner all the way to the roots,' says Dr Frauke Neuser, P&G's hair care science expert. Conditioning to the roots will protect against future damage, while repairing (albeit temporarily) damage to the lengths and ends.

Conditioners I rate include the one in Andrew Collinge's own Purity range, £4.99, www.andrewcollinge.com, and L'Oréal Paris Professionnel Force Vector Masque, £12.95, which reinforces the hair's structure with cumulative strengthening benefits - great for brittle hair. Call 0800 072 6699 for salon stockists or visit the website at www.lorealprofessionnel.co.uk. A great spray-on, leave-in conditioner is Charles Worthington Results Frizz Smoothing Leave-In Spray, £4.49, www.charlesworthington.com.

Rule 2: Banish yellow tones

Grey hair is more susceptible to sun damage because it lacks natural pigment, which acts as UV protection, explains Dr Frauke Neuser. Not only can the sun dry out your hair, it can also create a yellow-ish off tone, as can pollution, which makes you look older and a little uncared for. To neutralise yellowness and pep up the white in grey hair, try a shampoo and conditioner for silver hair such as Wella Lifetex Silver Color Reflex Shampoo, £7.79, and Mask, £8.79, www.wellaprofessionals.co.uk.

Rule 3:  Eat a diet rich in protein

Eating enough protein is vital for strong, healthy hair, according to trichologist Philip Kingsley. He advises: ‘Make sure you eat high-quality protein such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs and nuts, especially at breakfast, when energy levels to hair follicles are at their lowest.' If you feel your diet lacks protein, try a supplement, such as the soy-derived PK4Hair, £19.50 for 120 capsules, www.philipkingsley.com.

Kingsley also warns against yo-yo diets as these can cause premature hair fall and thinning of the diameter of the hair follicles. Lack of protein intake and not eating enough iron-rich foods in your diet can have a similar effect.

Rule 4: Maximise your hair's beauty sleep

Night time provides respite from environmental aggressors such as pollution and UV, which age your hair. You can make the most of this by applying an overnight treatment.

I've found both Pantene Time Renewal Night Mist, £3.99, and Mark Hill Overnight Miracle Repair Treatment, £7.99, help you wake up to smooth, shiny hair... They don't come off on your pillow and there's no need to wash out - you can style as normal.

To reduce damage to your hair as you toss and turn in bed, tie it into a ponytail overnight. Using a silk pillowcase gives a similar benefit.

Rule 5: Throw away your dryer nozzle (and other hairtool advice)

Unless you have wavy hair that you want to dry dead straight, don't use the nozzle on your hairdryer, says award-winning hairdresser Michael van Clarke; visit his website at www.vanclarke.com. The nozzle concentrates heat and can lead to excessive damage.‘Always keep a one-inch gap between your hair and the end of the dryer,' he adds.

Before blow-drying, use a heat-protection spray on your hair. Tresemmé Heat Defence Styling Spray, £4.20, is a bestseller. I'm also impressed with Kevin Murphy Damage Manager Instant Heat Shielding Spray, £13.95 (01282 613413), which claims to protect hair from up to 220°C heat (that's how hot some straighteners are).

If you want to bulk your hair up, use body-building styling mousses and sprays in combination with thickening shampoos and conditioners. They work! Try Bumble And Bumble Thickening Shampoo £16.50, Conditioner, £17.50, Hairspray, £20, and the new Thickening Serum, £20.50, www.bumbleandbumble.com or phone 020 7247 5656 for stockists.

Don't use a brush on your hair when it's wet. Use a wide-toothed comb to ease out knots. Don't buy into the myth of brushing hair 100 times before bed, either. Excessive brushing just wears it out more quickly, causing avoidable damage.

Click here for more rules of younger-looking hair - plus 3 rules to break!

Women who get it right

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