Haircare is well and truly having its fashion moment. After years of searching for the antidote for dry and damage prone hair, here are some of my best products and tips.

My hair care obsession started during the first lockdown when, due to a triple threat of no open salons, a blistering hairdryer and harsh products my hair became, as Gemma Collins once said, “THE FUCKING HAIR IS FRAZZLED”.

After I was forced to cut a considerable amount off my waist length hair, much to my horror, I became determined to ensure my hair never resembled Hagrid’s again. Here’s what I’ve discovered over four years.

Do's and Don’ts:

• DO NOT brush wet hair unless very carefully with a brush specifically designed for detangling wet hair, and only after you’ve liberally applied a product like leave in conditioner

• DO sleep on silk or ‘silky’ (we’re all on a budget here…) material pillow cases, as this minimises the friction that can make your hair frizzy and brittle

• DO check the ingredients in your products! Some of the worst culprits for damage are ingredients like sulfates, strong perfumes, parabens and silicones. The overuse of silicones in particular coats the hair in residue preventing moisture penetration

• DO be consistent with hair oiling and massaging

• DO swap bobbles in tight hairstyles for silk scrunchies - yes you can still have a secure bun without placing unnecessary tension on your strands!

“In simple terms, porosity is how your hair absorbs and retains moisture, based on the openness of the hair cuticle”

It is integral to figure out what type of hair you have as this determines which products and treatments are most beneficial. Equally important is understanding which hair porosity you have. In simple terms, porosity is how your hair absorbs and retains moisture, based on the openness of the hair cuticle.

High – Hair gains and loses moisture rapidly (your hair dries faster than usual)

Medium – The ideal: hair gains and retains moisture normally (your hair dries at a regular rate)

Low – Hair struggles to absorb moisture (your hair dries slower than normal)

High porosity hair is best suited to heavier products, think thicker cream-based leave-in conditioners, protein treatments like DIY rice water rinses and protein infused hair care products. Other ingredients, like shea butter, coconut oil and hyaluronic acid (yes the same as the skin care ingredient!) are also great for this hair type.

Low porosity hair prefers lighter, water based products that will allow moisture to penetrate without weighing it down. Water-based leave-in conditioners are your best bet for more hydrated hair. Look out for ingredients like almond oil, argan oil, glycerin, honey and aloe vera. ‘Steaming’ your hair when using a mask can improve moisture penetration, and is easily achieved with a hairdryer and shower cap.

The internet made me buy it/do it?

Regrettably, I’m a broke student writer and not a beauty influencer with a Sephora sponsorship, so I’ve been informed I can’t plug my favourite products. However, I recommend certain treatments, both DIY (yes really!) and store-bought.

Scalp scrubs are extremely underrated, but you can make your own cheaply and easily with sugar, honey, small amounts of oils and apple cider vinegar. They help to eradicate build up and again promote growth.

A viral haircare trend this year are hair glosses, which are great for promoting shine and reducing frizz because they seal hair cuticles. They can also serve as a non-permanent hair colour refresh if you get a tinted one.

For rosemary oil and scalp massagers, look for an oil that is mixed with other natural oils, rather than a pure essential rosemary oil as this will be too harsh for hair usage. When massaged into the scalp regularly as a pre-wash treatment, rosemary oil will promote hair growth and reduce hair loss.

“I’d much rather buy my own rather than potentially create a biohazard in my shower drain especially in shared accommodation…”

Other natural remedies are of course rice water (rinse this off though!!) and other home protein treatments. My best friend has the best hair I’ve ever seen and her secret is literally an egg mask. I’m not joking.

I’ve also seen numerous recipes for DIY masks with ingredients like mayo, olive oil, honey and avocado. But I’d much rather buy my own rather than potentially create a biohazard in my shower drain, especially in shared accommodation…

I could not write an advertisement article about haircare without mentioning the K18 Biometric Molecular Repair mask: yes, it is extortionate, but it truly works miracles. If you have curly hair it will actually improve curl definition as well by repairing and strengthening the hair, unlike some other treatments which can straighten curl patterns. #NotAnAd. But seriously, it works like OlaPlex.

While this may be a more unconventional subject for a Varsity article, having a good haircare game in Cambridge is actually worthwhile due to the hard water, which isn’t great for your hair or skin. Alternatively, if you can’t really be bothered to incorporate all these different tips and products, you could always just buy a shower filter.