'I'm a beauty writer. Here are my 11 go-to tips for dry and damaged hair.'

I'll never forget the absolute horror on the hairdresser's face, as she took my hair out of a bun and inspected what she had to work with. 

It was one of those moments where she obviously forgot we were sitting in front of a mirror, and I could see every iota of repulsion as she picked around the dry and frizzy nest that was my hair. 

My hair really hasn't had much hope when it comes to hydration. Back then, things were even more grim for those of us, who weren't blessed with silky locks, as our options for haircare were limited. Now we've got so many gorgeous products available to help us take care of our hair, like the brand new Biolage Hydrasource range, that brings more moisture to our manky manes than anything on the market all those years ago.

These days, I'm proud to say that my hairdresser often tells me the condition of my hair "is not bad" or "could be worse", which, when you've been bleaching it for so long, is the highest compliment. 

So here are the tips I've learnt along the way for dry and damaged hair.

1. Use good products.

I know, duh. But make sure you're using a shampoo and conditioner formulated to moisturise and hydrate your hair. 

The Biolage Hydrasource Shampoo and Conditioning Balm do EXACTLY that; the 100 per cent vegan formula with no animal derived ingredients is like a drink for parched hair! The formula is paraben free, so it's suitable for all of you ladies with natural and/or coloured hair. 😉

Image: Supplied. 

2. If you're blonde, don't DIY your roots.

I know, I know, the cost-of-living crisis is real, and you maybe thought a lil' bit of box bleach surely couldn't be THAT bad! Incorrect. 

Getting a professional to mix the colour and carefully apply it to just the roots is a skill. It's impossible at home to only apply the mixture to the roots, and you can't see the area close enough to inspect the condition of the hair.  

3. If you have darker or a red-based shade, use wash-out colours. 

There's no real reason to use a darker dye unless you've got a lot of greys you're trying to hide. Wash-out colours are more than enough to lift and brighten your colour, so avoid any dye where you have to mix chemicals. The wash-out colour should be a conditioner with deep pigments. 

4. Avoid hot water.

I know it feels delightful when it's brisk outside, but hot water can further dry out your hair. When washing or rinsing your hair, use lukewarm or cool water instead.

5. Use a treatment once a week.

I generally aim for a Sunday, so I can pop a treatment in and then wrap my hair up and potter for a few hours to really let my hair get a deep conditioning treatment. 

Even though treatment products generally work within a few minutes, I find my hair is beyond soft after doing this and feels nicer for ages. 

According to the research, the Biolage Hydrasource Deep Treatment actually gives you up to 15x more moisturised hair after one application when using the professional products system of Hydrasource Shampoo, Conditioner and the Leave-In Tonic vs. a non-conditioning shampoo. 15 times! How wild is that! 

Image: Supplied.

6. Use a heat protectant before styling. 

I used to think this was a made-up step. 

I then asked a leading celeb hairstylist what his thoughts were, and he said it would be like cooking something without oil or baking paper. Try to limit heat styling because hot tools are so damaging, but make sure you prep your hair first, no matter what. 

7. Try heatless curls.

If you love a tousled do and feel like you can't put down the curling stick, try heatless curls instead. If you sleep on your side, they're horribly uncomfortable, but for any back sleeping queens out there, you must introduce this method!

Image: Supplied. 

8. Use a hair mask before swimming. 

Before you go swimming, apply a mask from the supermarket through your hair, it stops your hair from absorbing the chlorine or salt as much, which can really dry it out. Trust me with this one; you'll thank me when you exit the water, and your hair is silky like a hair ad.

9. Get silk involved. 

I try and use silk pillowcases, and I generally wear a silk bonnet to bed to protect my hair from getting all messed up and knotty. It just saves battling the brush in the morning, which is better long-term for your hair.

Image: Supplied.

10. Be gentle. 

On that note, remember to treat your hair nicely! Vigorous towel drying and brushing can cause breakage and damage to already-dry hair. 

Pat your hair dry with a soft towel (I use one of those soft towel turbans), use a detangler (like the Biolage Hydrasource Leave-In Tonic), and then use a wide-toothed comb or a brush with flexible bristles to gently get out your tangles. 

11. Please get a trim.

Plenty of you are probably cringing at this because you're the type to watch your hairdresser like a hawk in fear of them hacking off a good few inches instead of centimetre. 

But there is nothing cute about fried and dried ends. 

Generally, your ends are the unhealthiest part of your hair, so lobbing them off instantly makes your hair look healthier and more hydrated. So, let your hairdresser snip snip! 

So there you have it, my 11 tips for keeping my hair less grim in its dryness. If you have any golden nuggets of advice, please pop them below so I can try them!

Shop the Biolage Hydrasource range to treat dry to very dry hair. Made with a 100 per cent recycled bottle (excluding cap), the range has a vegan formula with no animal derived ingredients and is certified cruelty free under the Leaping Bunny program.  

Feature Image: Supplied/Biolage/The Iconic/Amazon/Ullu/Mamamia.