Mr Eugene Ong, 54, who owns the Urbanhair salon at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, shows you how to care for your tresses to keep them strong and healthy.
The 28-year industry veteran, who holds an advanced diploma in hairdressing from the famous Jingles Hair Academy in London, also teaches hairdressing at the Institute of Technical Education in Simei.
1. Determine your hair type
Run your fingers from the tips of your hair to the roots, against the cuticles.
If the cuticles feel smooth, you have normal hair; if they feel rough, then you probably have dry and damaged hair.
Another way to determine your hair type is to gently stretch a strand of wet hair. Healthy hair is elastic and will spring back to its original length; dry and damaged hair will either break or not snap back to its original length.
You know you have oily hair (and an oily scalp) if the hair shaft two or three inches away from the scalp is very glossy and constantly flat.
2. Shampoo the right way
Instead of slathering the shampoo on your head immediately, first lather it between your palms as foam grips dirt more effectively.
A dollop of shampoo the size of a 50-cent coin would suffice; add a little more if you have very long hair. This step also ensures that residue from the shampoo will not be left on your hair and scalp as foam washes away more easily.
3. Rinse thoroughly
At least once a week, use a clarifying or exfoliating shampoo to get rid of dead skin and residue build-up from hair products. This will boost the efficacy of any nourishing haircare products that you use later on.
Try: Aveda Invati Exfoliating Shampoo, $45, from Aveda counters, including Urbanhair salon at #B1-02 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands; or Kerastase Bain Exfoliant shampoo, $39 (call 6738-3113 for salon listings).
4. Apply a mask
If you have dry or normal hair, use a hair mask to strengthen hair and smoothen the cuticles for shine and volume.
Apply the mask down the hair shaft - from about three inches away from the scalp - and along the hair cuticles to the ends to seal in moisture. Put on a shower cap for 10minutes as a warm environment will help the products to better penetrate your hair. Rinse thoroughly. Skip the hair mask if you have oily hair as it will weigh your hair down.
For a dry hair mask, try: Kerastase Masquintense hair mask, $65, call 6738-3113 for salon listings; or Marc Anthony Damage Repair Intensive Healing Treatment, $18.90, from Watsons stores.
For a normal hair mask, try: Sunsilk Smooth & Manageable Intensive Treatment Mask, $9.90, from Watsons and Guardian stores; or L'Oreal Ever Sleek Smoothing Deep Conditioner, $17.90, from Watsons stores.
5. Use a hair tonic
To maintain or get a head of healthy hair, use a hair tonic after every wash.
Always use it after you blow-dry your hair. This is because water will dilute the tonic or prevent it from penetrating your scalp.
The heat from the hairdryer will also open up the pores so they can better absorb the tonic.
Apply hair tonic only on the crown area as it will flow down to other areas naturally. Then massage the tonic into the scalp with your fingertips. There is no need to rinse it off.
Try: Aveda Invati Scalp Revitalizer, $106; or Shiseido Professional The Hair Care Adenovital Scalp Essence, $108, from Hair Atelier by Shunji Matsuo, #04-04 Ion Orchard.
This story was first published on Oct 12, 2012 on StraitsTimes.com. To read more: http://sph.straitstimes.com/archive/wednesday/supplements/urban/story/step-step-20121012.