According to an expert, here’s how to pick the right haircare ingredients for your hair…

Have you ever stood staring at the wall of haircare options and just felt overwhelmed? Us too. How do you know which bottles to buy; do you let the aesthetically pleasing packaging choose you or do you go in with a plan for what’s best for your hair?   

Look, we’re not going to lie, for the longest time we did the former: no thoughts, just vibes. And sure, our hair was fine, but we always knew it could be so much better. So, to get to the bottom of how to actually care for our hair, we spoke to HASK ambassador and trichologist Chelcey Salinger, even putting her through a myth-busting game of haircare true and false.   

Get ready for incredible hair with all this expert knowledge.   

How do you know what your hair type is?   

Trying to figure out your hair type can be tricky, but with a good long hard stare into the mirror, you’ll be able to identify all the facets. Salinger gave us some crucial insights on what to look for: structure (fine, medium, or coarse), porosity (how well it absorbs and retains moisture), and curl pattern (straight, wavy, curly, or coily). Those three things will help you determine — along with being mindful of your scalp health — how to treat your strands.  

Thankfully haircare brands are making it easier for us with their customisable ranges, designed specifically for different hair types. Because your haircare range should cater to your individual needs, ‘personalised’ haircare is key. Salinger recommends starting with a “solid foundation”. Think: a suitable-for-your-strands shampoo and conditioner. Then you’ll want to add in “targeted treatments”, read: conditioning masks or serums.   

Ideal products for each hair type:   

Salinger says, for fine hair, it’s best to opt for lightweight volumising products, such as the HASK Biotin Boost Thickening Shampoo ($17 at HASK), while coarser or curly hair “requires richer, more moisturising formulations”. And of course, scalp health is key, so anyone experiencing any scalp issues should be looking for clarifying products, ideally with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich ingredients.   

How to nourish and support your strands  

Before you’re able to nourish and support your strands, you first need to understand that your scalp microbiome plays a huge part in the health of your hair. But what is the scalp microbiome? Well, much like your skin, the scalp’s microbiome “consists of microorganisms that help maintain a balanced and healthy environment”. To keep your scalp healthy, Salinger suggests that we “avoid overloading the scalp with heavy oils, use pH-balanced shampoos and wash hair regularly to prevent dirt and oil build-up”.   

Her five key tips for healthy, shiny strands are:  

Regular washing: Frequent cleansing is beneficial, ideally every one to three days, to remove buildup and maintain scalp health.  

Balanced diet: Nutritional deficiencies can impact hair health, so a well-rounded diet rich in vitamins and minerals is essential.  

Scalp care: Keep the scalp clean and hydrated. With the scalp-balancing HASK Tea Tree Oil and Rosemary Collection. Also, avoid using overly harsh products that can disrupt the microbiome.  

Protective styling: Avoid tight hairstyles that can lead to hair fall and always use heat protectants when styling, such as the HASK Keratin Smooth 5-in-1 Leave-In Spray ($17 at HASK).  

Minimise stress: Stress can contribute to hair loss, so managing it effectively is key.  

What’s doing our hair ‘dirty’?  

You might not have realised it, but some haircare ingredients actually are doing your strands dirty. Salinger tells us to avoid harmful chemicals — which can disrupt the endocrine system — certain fragrances, overly exfoliating products and some sulphates. Thankfully, if you find sulphates irritate your scalp, the extensive HASK range is completely sulphate-free.   

Busting the hair myths wide open:  

To get to the bottom of all the long-running hair myths, we just knew that we had to ask Salinger to join us in a game of true and false. Here are her expert opinions on the matter.  

Split ends can be repaired  

FALSE. Once the hair is split, it cannot be repaired — only trimmed. Once the strong disulphide bonds in the hair have been broken, they can never be reformed.   

You need to ‘switch up’ your haircare routine regularly  

FALSE. If your products are working for you, there’s no need to constantly change them. The scalp doesn’t ‘get used’ to products; however, adjusting based on seasonal changes can be beneficial.  

Dandruff equals a dry scalp  

FALSE. Dandruff is often caused by an overgrowth of yeast and can surprisingly be linked to an oily scalp. A proper cleansing routine with anti-dandruff shampoos is the best way to address it.  

You should ‘hair train’ your hair by not washing it   

FALSE. Frequent washing is beneficial. Not washing your hair for extended periods can lead to buildup, scalp irritation, and even hair loss.  

Damaged hair can’t be repaired  

PARTIALLY TRUE. Hair damage can’t be reversed, but treatments that are protein-based can strengthen and temporarily improve the appearance of damaged strands. The key is to prevent damage in the first place.   

You have to buy expensive products to see results   

FALSE. Price doesn’t always dictate quality. The key is selecting products with beneficial ingredients suited to your hair type. 

Main Image Credit: @hoskelsa

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