Spring is upon us. It's time to get your hair sorted.

By JACQUI PORTER

Well ladies, the spring racing calendar is almost upon us which only means one thing (well, It kinda means a few things to horses, jockeys and racing enthusiasts, but I digress). To most women, it means parties and lookin’ pretty. Yes Ma’am.

With so many events coming up in the spring racing calendar, it’s important to be “match ready” way ahead of the actual event. There is no point planning a sleek shiny pony (ha geddit?!) if what you’re dealing with is a fried birdsnest. It’s going to take some time to get things in order so the earlier you start, the better off you will be, come race day.

So, in order to get your hair ready for the big event, consider this your timeline to fab hair.

1. Choose the right prodz.

To begin with, let’s take it wayyyyy back to the start. Before you even think about race day styles, you need to look at your hair routine and the kind of products you are using.

First and foremost, you need to make sure you’re using the right shampoo and conditioner on your hair. These days, there is a formulation to suit any number of hair concerns from flat fly aways to greasy tresses and stressed out coloured hair. If, like me, you’re still pretending your hair is “naturally” sun kissed, you may want to look for something with keratin in it. Keratin acts to strengthen the bonds in your hair and effectively repair any damage good old bleach can do to your tresses.

2. Treat yo’ self.

Treatments are a great way to provide your hair with a little extra TLC and really get it into tip top shape. Again, like your shampoo and conditioner, treatments can address a range of concerns, so choose one especially suited to your hair type. Once a week, treat yourself to a hair masque, or even just use your normal (but carefully selected) conditioner. Work it through the hair focusing on mid lengths and ends and wrap in a hot towel. Grab yourself a cuppa (or wine/Tim Tams/wheel of cheese- who am I to judge?) and relax for 20 minutes before washing it out and going “ooooohhhhh” over your gorgeous, soft locks.

Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is sponsored by Dove. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100 per cent authentic and written in their own words.

3. Turn down the heat.

If you can skip a few days between blow dry’s or hot irons, your hair will thank you. Heat can really damage hair follicles and leave it dry and frizzy so blow-drying it every day is, frankly, a little torturous. So, rather than punishing it every day, try and wear your hair up or embrace some natural texture.

4. Stylin’.

Race day is finally here and hopefully you’ve decided on what sort of style you’re wanting to go with. If not, a quick cruise around Pinterest will leave you feeling very inspired. You can also find some great tutorials online, so maybe even try something new.

It’s nice to have a range of accessories at home to dress up your do. So, if you’re thinking a classic chignon, why not try some blinged out pins? Or, if you’re going with the horsey theme, try a high ponytail using metallic or detailed hair elastics.

It’s also nice to go with some styles with a bit of height to show off those fascinators and hats, so GENTLY backcombing the crown of your hair may be the way to go. Back combing can be really damaging to hair if done incorrectly so familiarise yourself with a good technique and relax by knowing your hair is in the best pre-game condition it could be thanks to your efforts in the lead up to the day.

Another option is to treat yourself and book in for a professional blow dry or up do. It’s a great way to pamper yourself and given your hair preparation, you won’t experience that awkwardness when your hairdresser runs their hands over your hair and gives the no holds barred assessment of its condition- or is that just me? Just relax, immerse yourself in some trashy mags and leave the salon looking and feeling like a million dollars.

How do you get your hair event-ready?

To fuel your inspiration here is some celebrity hair to crush on..

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peaking of choosing the right prodz and perfecting your hair routine Dove Hair Therapy Intensive Repair Shampoo and Conditioner is perfect for women looking to inject life into tired, damaged hair. Created with NEW MicroSheet Technology, Dove’s unique formulation works to repair dry, fatigued and damaged hair, leaving your locks well nourished and healthy. The MicroSheet technology means that  the conditioner is more evenly deposited on the hair fibre and as a result during the rinse, when water flows down the hair fibres, the hair bundle swells (when the hair feels slippery), this process forces fibres apart and detangles the hair, leaving it healthy, soft and smooth. The perfect base for any party hairstyle!