With so many products and tools to choose from, figuring out what works for you can be overwhelming. While it can be tempting to stick with the same routine you’ve been using for years, it might not be the best one for your hair or lifestyle. Hair changes over time, and so should your approach to looking after it.
That’s where this guide comes in – your one-stop shop packed full of expert tips for dealing with a range of hair health concerns, including frizz, dryness, and oily hair. With our easy-to-follow tips for all hair types and conditions, we hope you’ll gain the confidence to try something new that might just turn out to be the best thing you’ve ever done for your hair.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Start with the right water temperature. Always wash hair with lukewarm water to reduce dryness and frizz.
- Choose products wisely. Use hair-type specific shampoo and conditioner for better results.
- Don’t overdo it. Avoid over-washing to protect natural oils and scalp health.
- Be gentle when detangling. Detangle carefully with a wide-tooth comb to minimise breakage.
- Protect your strands from heat. Style at your optimum temperature and always use heat protection.
- Trim to maintain health. Get regular trims to prevent split ends and breakage.
- Nurture your scalp. Prioritise your scalp health with tools and techniques to support stronger hair growth.
TOP 10 HAIRCARE TIPS FOR HEALTHY, GLOSSY HAIR
Looking for a quick guide to keep your hair looking its best? Here are ten essential haircare tips that work for all hair types, helping you maintain healthy, beautiful hair every day:
- Wash your hair with lukewarm water: Hot water can strip your hair of its natural oils, so stick to lukewarm water to avoid dryness and damage. A quick rinse with cold water at the end of your shower can help seal the hair cuticles, locking in moisture and adding extra shine.
- Use shampoo and conditioner suited to your hair type: Whether your hair is fine, thick, or curly, using the right products makes a big difference to how it looks and feels. Head to our blog for more help on understanding your hair type.
- Apply a moisturising conditioner: Conditioning your hair is key to keeping it moisturised, soft, and manageable. Try our Magical Remedy – a deeply moisturising hair mask that can be used as a wash-out or leave-in conditioner, as well as a nourishing hair mask. Apply from mid-lengths to ends to nourish your shine while keeping your roots free of product buildup.
- Style at a low heat: Using straighteners, curling wands, and hair dryers at a temperature that’s too high for your hair type can damage your hair. Check out our Temperature Calculator to work out the perfect heat for your hair and adjust your styling tools before you use them. All Cloud Nine straighteners, curlers, and hair dryers come with Personalised Temperature Control, giving you the freedom to choose the kindest heat for your hair.
- Trim regularly: Get frequent trims from your hairdresser, even if you’re growing your hair out. This will help prevent split ends and keep your hair looking and feeling healthy.
- Brush your hair gently: Avoid harsh brushing, especially when your hair is wet. On wet hair, use a wide-tooth comb or our specially designed Wet Hairbrush to reduce breakage. For dry hair, the Cloud Nine Luxury Dressing Brush has nylon bristles set into a cushioned pad to gently detangle.
- Eat a balanced diet: Healthy hair starts from the inside. Make sure your diet includes plenty of vitamins, minerals, and proteins to support hair growth and strength. Learn more about nourishing your hair from the inside out.
- Wear loose hairstyles: Wearing tight ponytails or buns can cause tension and lead to breakage, so opt for looser styles to protect your hair. Read our top tips for avoiding hair breakage.
- Massage your scalp: A gentle scalp massage while shampooing increases blood circulation, which promotes hair growth and improves scalp health. For an elevated head massage, you can even add red and blue light therapy to your existing routine. Check out our 9 tips to improve your scalp health.
- Protect your hair while you sleep: Try resting your head on a silk pillowcase or tying your hair into a loose braid at night to prevent tangling and breakage while you sleep.
HAIRCARE TIPS TAILORED TO YOUR HAIR TYPE
CARING FOR STRAIGHT HAIR
- Use lightweight products: Lightweight shampoos, conditioners, and styling lotions hydrate straight hair without weighing it down, keeping it smooth and sleek.
- Turn down the heat: You might be tempted to dial up the heat when styling your straight hair, but this isn’t the answer to more volume or movement – in fact, it’s more detrimental. By taking the Temperature Calculator and using your ideal styling heat, your hair’s health and strength will soon shine through.
- Invest in a scalp massager: Massaging your scalp helps to revitalise the skin and support thicker looking hair when incorporated into your daily routine, supporting visibly stronger, fuller hair.
TIPS FOR MANAGING WAVY AND CURLY HAIR
If you have curly hair, you’ll know that no hair day is the same. These top tips will help you keep your curls bouncy, frizz-free, and well-defined:
- Hydrate and define: Use a deep conditioning treatment like our Magical Remedy to keep your curls soft and defined (especially for tighter curl patterns like 3c and 4c).
- Control the frizz: After washing, ‘plop’ your curls with a microfibre towel or t-shirt, or scrunch gently with a normal towel. Before blow-drying or air-drying, apply a specially formulated curl product like a gel or cream to keep frizz at bay.
- Use a diffuser: Use the Cloud Nine Airshot Pro hair dryer to diffuse your hair evenly for bouncy, defined curls.
Check out our guide to styling and caring for curly hair.
HAIRCARE TIPS FOR COILY HAIR
Embrace the beauty of your natural textured hair with these expert haircare tips to keep it strong and healthy:
- Moisturise regularly: Use leave-in conditioners like our Magical Remedy (which can also be used as a wash-out conditioner or nourishing hair mask) and natural oils like coconut, jojoba or argan to keep your textured hair hydrated.
- Use protective styles: Choose styles like braids or twists to prevent breakage and embrace your natural texture. Check out our braiding style guide for more inspiration.
- Handle with care: Detangle your hair when it’s wet using a wide-tooth comb or the Cloud Nine Wet Hairbrush, and apply curl creams for defined healthy curls or coils.
See our 4c hair guide for more expert advice on how to care for and style your gorgeous coils.
HAIRCARE TIPS BASED ON YOUR HAIR CONDITION
HAIRCARE TIPS FOR DRY AND DAMAGED HAIR: RESTORING YOUR HAIR’S HEALTH
If your hair is dry or damaged, these tips will help restore moisture and bring it back to life.
- Use a deep conditioner: Cloud Nine’s Magical Remedy is the perfect deep conditioning treatment for dry or damaged hair. Its nourishing ingredients are designed to smooth the cuticles of each hair strand to leave your hair shiny and soft.
- Go for a trim: Visit your hairdresser for a fresh cut. By snipping off the split ends, your hair will immediately feel healthier and look in better shape.
- Turn down the heat: Use heated styling tools that come with Personalised Temperature Control like Cloud Nine straighteners, curlers, and hair dryers. To work out the ideal heat for your hair type, use our Temperature Calculator.
For more tips for caring for dry or damaged hair, head to our comprehensive guide to hair breakage.
FRIZZY HAIRCARE TIPS FOR SMOOTH AND SHINY RESULTS
Tired of battling frizz? These simple tips will help you achieve smooth, shiny hair in no time:
- Hydrate: Use a moisturising shampoo and conditioner which contains a natural oil like coconut, eucalyptus or argan to nourish frizzy hair.
- Use Revive Mode®: Most Cloud Nine hair straighteners come with our pressure-reducing Revive Mode® which offers friction-free styling. Vibrating technology moves the styling plates 8000 times a minute for even heat distribution, a frictionless glide, and maximum shine.
- Try a hydrating leave-in conditioner: Use our Magical Remedy as a leave-in conditioner or hair mask to tame frizz and add shine.
For more tips on managing your frizzy hair, visit our frizzy hair guide.
HAIRCARE TIPS FOR OILY HAIR
Dealing with oily hair can be frustrating, but with the right routine, you can keep excess oil under control and maintain a fresh look. Try these tips:
- Wash your hair less often: It may sound counterintuitive, but washing your hair too frequently can strip the scalp of its natural oils, causing it to produce even more oil. Try washing every two or three days instead.
- Use a clarifying shampoo: Once a week, use a clarifying shampoo to remove buildup and excess oil without over-drying your hair. Avoid heavy or overly moisturising shampoos, as they can weigh your hair down.
- Stop touching your hair: The more you touch your hair, the more oil you transfer from your hands to your scalp. So once styled, try to keep your hands off your hair during the day to avoid making it greasier.
By making small adjustments to your routine, you can help control oily hair and keep it looking fresh longer.
HOW TO LOOK AFTER THIN HAIR
While thin hair can pose a concern and challenge for a lot of people, especially if the result of a hormonal or lifestyle change, there’s a lot you can do to manage and care for your locks to boost your confidence and hair health.
- Use products sparingly: Try to avoid overloading your hair with heavy products or treatments – these can weigh it down and leave it looking limp, thin and greasy. Instead, try our Magical Remedy – perfect for hair that’s thick or thin.
- Style with your optimum styling temperature: Thin hair requires a lower heat, to avoid the damage and breakage it’s prone to. That’s why it’s important to check in with the Temperature Calculator to make sure you’re styling gently.
- Prioritise your scalp care: Use tools and techniques designed to stimulate hair growth. Scalp massages, using either your fingers or a dedicated exfoliating brush, are great starting points. For an additional layer or haircare, you could even introduce the benefits of red and blue light therapy, found in LED hairbrushes.
Check out our 9 volumising tips for thin hair for more guidance.
BEST HAIRCARE TIPS FOR NATURALLY THICK HAIR
Your thick hair needs a bit of extra attention to keep it looking great. These tips will help you to celebrate your thick hair while managing its bulk:
- Use lightweight products: Choose lightweight conditioners and styling products to avoid weighing down thick hair. Our Magical Quick Dry Potion will help you dry your thick hair faster – its special blend of nourishing ingredients, such as keratin and collagen, helps reduce drying time by 50%.
- Layer for movement: Try asking your stylist to add layers to your haircut to reduce bulk while still celebrating your thick, voluminous hair. They will be able to advise on the best haircut to make the most of your thick hair.
- Use a straightener with wide plates: Our Wide Iron is perfect for thicker hair, especially if it’s on the longer side. Its 1½ inch plates are wider than average, meaning you can straighten larger sections at a time, saving overall styling time.
TOP HAIRCARE TIPS FOR LONG HAIR
Long hair is beautiful when it’s healthy and shiny but needs lots of TLC to fight against split ends, damage and breakage. These tips will help your long hair stay glossy and healthy:
- Trim regularly: Even if you’re growing out your hair, pop to the hairdresser for trims every 8-12 weeks to prevent split ends.
- Deep condition: Use a nourishing mask like our Magical Remedy to hydrate the ends and protect your hair against breakage.
- Use the Wide Iron for styling: The Cloud Nine Wide Iron has 1½ inch ceramic plates which make it the perfect straightener for straightening more hair at a time – cutting down styling time for those with long locks. The Wide Iron also comes with our pressure-reducing Revive Mode®which vibrates to reduce friction on hair and minimise unnecessary damage.
HAIRCARE TIPS BASED ON YOUR HAIR COLOUR
HAIRCARE TIPS FOR COLOUR-TREATED OR BLEACHED HAIR
If your hair is bleached or dyed (either semi-permanent or permanent), you’ll want to keep your colour as long as possible. Here’s how to protect and nourish your dyed or bleached hair:
- Use colour-safe products and technologies: Stick to shampoos and conditioners designed for colour-treated hair to prevent fading and always switch on Revive Mode® when you style to prevent your colour from stripping.
- Protect from heat and UV: Always use a heat protectant like our Magical Quick Dry Potion before heat styling and keep your hair under a hat (or the shade) in sunny weather to keep your colour vibrant.
- Deep condition regularly: Moisturise your hair with a nourishing conditioning product like our Magical Remedy, which can be used as a wash-out or leave-in conditioner as well as a hair mask.
Check out our best heat styling practices for a long-lasting hair colour.
HOW TO ENHANCE AND LOOK AFTER GREY HAIR
Whether you’ve had grey hair for a while or are just starting to embrace your greys, silver strands require a little extra TLC to keep them vibrant. Follow our top tips to care for and style your gorgeous greys:
- Use purple shampoo: Neutralise yellow tones with purple shampoo to keep grey hair vibrant.
- Moisturise regularly: Grey hair is naturally drier, so be sure to regularly use a hydrating treatment like our Magical Remedy. Magical Remedy is packed full of nourishing ingredients, such as keratin and collagen, to help keep your grey hair strong and shiny.
- Style at low temperatures: Grey hair is more delicate than other hair colours, so be sure to dial down the heat on your straighteners or curler. The Contouring Original Iron is the perfect styling tool for grey hair as it uses our vibrating Revive Mode® to glide gently through your hair. Its curved, Sericite®-infused plates also give you the option to style straight or wavy – perfect for experimenting with different looks as your hair changes.
Take a look at our grey hair guide for more expert tips for getting the best out of your grey hair.
HOW TO CARE FOR NATURAL, UNCOLOURED HAIR
If your hair is ‘au naturale’ – no dyes or chemical treatments – it needs a preventative routine that focuses on moisture and protection. Here are three essential tips to keep it healthy:
- Hydrate your hair: Use a nourishing leave-in conditioner or hair mask like our Magical Remedy to lock moisture into your hair.
- Use protective styling: Choose styles like braids or twists to minimise breakage but wear your hair loose when you can to avoid pulling too much on the roots.
- Use gentle products: Wash with moisturising shampoos containing natural ingredients like coconut, avocado or honey. Use a gentle detangling brush like our Wet Hairbrush to avoid damaging your natural hair.
HAIRCARE TIPS BASED ON YOUR LIFESTYLE
LOW-MAINTENANCE HAIRCARE TIPS FOR WHEN LIFE GETS BUSY
Pressed for time? These quick and simple tips will help you keep your hair healthy and looking fabulous without spending hours on it:
- Extend time between washes: Use dry shampoo to keep your hair fresh without needing to wash it frequently.
- Speed up your blow dry: Use Cloud Nine’s Magical Quick Dry Potion before blow drying. This specially designed product not only cuts your blow-drying time by 50%, but it doubles up as a heat protectant too, keeping your hair looking luscious for longer.
- Go for simple hairstyles: Choose easy styles like buns or braids that are quick to do and easy to maintain throughout the week.
Head to our quick and easy hairstyles blog for more style inspiration, whatever your hair type.
HAIRCARE TIPS FOR SWIMMERS: PROTECTING YOUR HAIR FROM CHLORINE DAMAGE
Swimming regularly can take a toll on your hair as chlorine can strip your scalp and strands of their natural oils, leaving hair dry and brittle. Here’s how to protect your hair from chlorine damage before and after a swim:
- Rinse your hair before and after your swim: Give your hair a thorough rinse with clean water before your pool dip so your hair absorbs the chlorinated water less quickly. As soon as you’re out of the pool, rinse your hair again with clean water.
- Wear a swim cap: While it won’t keep your hair entirely dry, a swim cap provides a protective barrier that helps prevent chlorine damage and reduces the risk of that greenish tint often seen in dyed blonde hair.
- Use deep conditioner post swim: Rehydrate your hair with a deep conditioner, like our Magical Remedy, after swimming to prevent dryness.
SEASONAL HAIRCARE TIPS
TIPS FOR HAIRCARE IN SUMMER
Summer can be tough on your hair, with sun, chlorine, and saltwater all contributing to dryness and breakage. Here are some simple tips to keep your hair healthy and protected during the warmer months or while you’re holidaying in the sun:
- Protect from the sun: Just like your skin, your hair needs protection from UV rays. Use a leave-in conditioner with UV protection or wear a hat to shield your hair from the sun’s harsh rays.
- Rinse after swimming: After a dip in the pool or sea, rinse your hair with fresh water to wash away chlorine or salt to help prevent dryness and damage.
- Hydrate regularly: Keep your hair moisturised by using a hydrating mask or leave-in conditioner like our Magical Remedy throughout the summer. It’s a 3-in-1 product that can be used as a wash-out conditioner, leave-in conditioner or hydrating hair mask to help prevent breakage and maintain softness.
Check out our advice for dealing with humidity.
WINTER HAIRCARE TIPS
Cold weather can leave your hair feeling dry and brittle. It’s important to take extra care during the winter months to maintain moisture and prevent damage from harsh weather conditions. Here are a few quick tips to get you through the colder months.
- Moisturise deeply: Use a deep conditioning treatment like our Magical Remedy once a week to combat dryness and keep your hair nourished.
- Cover up: Wearing a hat or scarf can protect your hair from cold winds and prevent it from becoming brittle. Just make sure to choose a breathable material, like silk or satin, that won’t cause friction and breakage.
- Turn down the heat on your styling tools: Whether it’s a straightening iron, curler or hair dryer, make sure you style at the lowest possible temperature for your hair type. If you’re not sure which temperature to use for your hair, head to our Temperature Calculator to find out. If you do use heated styling tools, always use a heat protectant like our Magical Quick Dry Potion to nourish your hair during styling.
For more winter-specific haircare tips, check out our cold weather hair guide.
TIPS FOR WIGS AND EXTENSIONS
Whether you wear human or synthetic hair wigs or use extensions, they need proper care to look their best and last longer. Here are three simple tips to help maintain them:
- Wash with care: Wash wigs and extensions with a sulphate-free shampoo and avoid over-washing as this can weaken the hair. For synthetic wigs, make sure to use products designed specifically for artificial hair.
- Store correctly: When not in use, store your wig on a wig stand and your extensions in a breathable bag to keep them tangle-free and in good condition.
- Use low heat: To style synthetic wigs and extensions, use a very low temperature if using heated styling tools. Check the manufacturer’s instructions first, as applying heat to some artificial hair can cause it to melt or lose its shape. If using human hair extensions or wigs, always use a heat protectant like our Magical Quick Dry Potion and style at a low temperature with a tool like the Original Iron which has Personalised Temperature Control.
Discover our ultimate guide on how to care for and style wigs and extensions.
HAIRCARE TIPS FOR MEN
Men’s haircare is often overlooked, but keeping your hair healthy is just as important as styling. Whether you’ve got short or long hair, here are some easy tips to help you maintain a sharp, confident look:
- Find the right shampoo: Use a shampoo suited to your hair type – whether that’s dry, oily, or thinning hair. If you have a sensitive scalp, choose a shampoo with a mild formula full of natural ingredients that won’t cause irritation.
- Condition regularly: Many men skip conditioner, but it’s key to keeping hair soft, healthy and manageable. Use a light conditioner that won’t weigh your hair down, especially if you have fine hair.
- Choose the right haircut for your hair type: Work with your barber to find a style that suits your hair texture and lifestyle, whether it's thick, fine, curly, or straight.
