Regular trips to the hair salon are essential for great hair, but you cannot rely on professional help alone.
For a beautiful barnet, at-home care is non-negotiable - think a careful selection of ingredients and a stellar diet.
GB News spoke exclusively to two hair gurus about how women can improve their 'dos.
Celebrity hairstylist and creative education director for Scruples, William Whatley, stressed the importance of using only the best products. Indeed, he claimed that when it comes to healthy hair, ingredient-savviness is essential.
The expert stated: "For those who have a goal of healthy hair, it's important to learn some of the important ingredients in hair products.
"Scruples uses ingredients like panthenol, aloe, and lotus flower. These are ingredients that soothe the scalp and add shine and strength to the hair."
Hair product warning: 'If you see formaldehyde, please put it back on the shelf'
GETTY IMAGESIngredients to avoid in your hair products
According to the hair guru, the three "main" ingredients to avoid for a healthy scalp and strands are sulfates, parrafins, and formaldehyde.
"I always lean towards clean, natural ingredients that are going to make sure that the scalp's acid mantle stays at a neutral pH level," he added.
Sulfates
Other ingredients should be avoided at all costs, however. William advised: "When selecting shampoos, be sure to avoid products with sulfates of any kind."
He explained that sulfates "create a false sense of cleanliness" and are "very harsh".
"They can strip your hair of all the natural oils and lead to dryness," he warned, "as well as skin irritation, excess dryness, inflammation, and increased skin sensitivity".
"It can worsen skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis," the hair guru added.
Parrafins
"The second ingredient in my 'avoid' list is paraffins," the expert warned. "Paraffins are a chemical preservative used in beauty products to extend their shelf life.
"They have antibacterial and antifungal chemical properties, but can be rapidly absorbed into the skin and into the body, where they may cause allergic reactions, redness, and hives.
"Paraffins also tend to build up on the hair and the scalp, which can clog the scalp pores."
Formaldehyde
Offering the ultimate warning, William said: "Formaldehyde is the main ingredient that I absolutely do not want anywhere near any of my clients' scalp or hair.
"Any product that is going on your skin or your hair, if you see formaldehyde, please put it back on the shelf. This is considered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be a human carcinogen."
Indeed, the FDA warned: "Most hair smoothing or straightening products release formaldehyde gas - a known human carcinogen as classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer - into the air during the hair straightening or smoothing process. Formaldehyde exposure can cause both short and long-term effects that may impact your health.
"When formaldehyde is released into the air and is present in the air at levels exceeding 0.1 ppm, it can cause serious irritation of your eyes, nose, and lungs. It can also cause skin sensitivity or allergic dermatitis."
Diet tips for better hair
Taking a holistic approach to achieving sensational strands, William advised hair enthusiasts to watch what they eat.
We all know that a balanced diet is important for your health and waistline. But the celebrity hairstylist also believes nutritious foods form a "huge component" of great hair health.
He explained that it provides a catalyst; by promoting "complete body health", it "helps create a healthier scalp".
"What you put in your body is what you're going to get out of your body," he said.
"A clean diet promotes better skin and better hair growth opportunities. Your diet is one of the best ways to keep your hair healthy - think clean ingredients, less junk food, and green vegetables.
"I always recommend fish because of the essential fatty acids, but clean poultry and free-range fed beef are also good options. Just keep your diet clean."
A second expert confirmed that diet choices can affect hair health, naming "Mother Nature's perfect food" for shiny strands.
The experts at Philip Kingsley: "Never underestimate the affect that diet can have on your hair. Nutritional deficiencies usually first show up in your hair and can cause excessive hair shedding and also stunted hair growth."
They advised prioritising protein, veggies, complex carbohydrates, zinc, vitamin C and vitamin B12.
GB News also spoke exclusively to celebrity hairstylist Dean Banowetz about how women can elevate their 'dos.
Dean, who founded Hollywood Hair Guy Academy, agreed that stellar scalp health and using the best ingredients should be hair enthusiasts' top concerns.
He said: "A healthy scalp equals healthy hair. Regular exfoliation, scalp massages, and products with ingredients like salicylic acid or tea tree oil help clear build-up and stimulate circulation.
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'Your diet is one of the best ways to keep your hair healthy'
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"Use sulfate-free, hydrating shampoos and conditioners with ingredients like biotin, collagen, or peptides. Tailor your routine to your current hair type - not what it used to be."
To restore the "elasticity and strength" that depletes with age, Dean recommended treatments that balance protein (for strength) and moisture (for softness), such as keratin masks or bond builders.
The hair guru also stressed the importance of regular trims and heat protection.
Encouraging ladies to book a trip to the salon, the expert said: "Split ends travel upward and thin the hair. A trim every eight to 12 weeks keeps ends blunt and the hair looking fuller."
Dean concluded: "Ageing hair is more prone to breakage. Use heat protectants, reduce hot tool frequency, and wear hats or use UV-protection sprays when outside."
