8 Hair tips to prevent your precious locks from aging

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Protect your ends with heat-protection
No doubt, air-drying is the healthiest way to dry your hair and prevent the onset of dreaded split ends and breakages from excessive heat exposure. Unfortunately, the reality is that a blowout is often essential for luscious, polished-looking tresses. To protect your hair from the damage that comes from using your heating tools, make it a habit to spritz your hair with heat protection spray prior to styling.

We recommend the Sachajuan Straight and Shine Spray (SGD34), a lightweight styling and finishing spray infused with its Ocean Silk Technology that also protects the hair from heat damage from straightening irons and the like.

Photo: Sephora (Singapore)
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Embrace scalp-loving ingredients
The golden rule: healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp. Remember, your scalp is very much a part of your skin; much like your skin needs anti-aging care, so does your scalp. Pick out shampoos, conditioners and hair masks that contain ingredients like vitamin E, panthenol and coconut oil. These hair-loving ingredients boost hair strength, shine and smoothness.

Our favourite? The Verb Shampoo (SGD24), a gentle, colour-protecting shampoo infused with vegetable keratin protein, moisturising pro-vitamin b5, sunflower seed extract (a natural UV protection) formulated without parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and gluten.

Photo: Sephora (Singapore)
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Use hair tool kits with protective benefits instead
By now, we're all familiar with the hair damaging effects of hot tools. However, ditching them altogether is not realistic - especially not when you want to look groomed and polished at work, for one. Instead, opt for hair tools innovated with protective, conditioning options - like the Remington T Studio Protect Straightener. Simply pour your favourite organic hair oil into its side compartment and treat your hair to a weekly, deep-conditioning TLC session.

Photo: Remington
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Use a moisturising hair mask weekly
Dry, dull hair can age you and make you look older than you actually are. Get in the habit of using a moisturising, shine-boosting hair mask once a week to give your hair an added boost of moisture. You'll love the Organix Repairing Awapuhi Ginger Instant Recovery Mask (SGD16.60), described as a "whipped creamy deep conditioning treatment" formulated with moisturizing oils extracted from the Hawaiian awapuhi ginger plant and hydrolyzed keratin proteins.

Photo: Watson's
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Consider taking hair supplements
Some research suggest that taking biotin supplements can go a long way in making your hair thicker and healthier - and people who take take them regularly swear by its benefits. Alternatively, there also are great options for hair supplements available in stores, like the ELLIPS Hair Vitamins (SGD16.60), which is infused with Pro Vitamin B-5, Vitamins A & E, Jojoba Oil and more.

Photo: Watson's
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Experiment with youth-boosting highlights
According to celebrity hair stylist Tippi Shorter (who styles the locks of A-listers like Jada Pinkett Smith - no biggie), your hair colour can make you look older or younger. You'll notice that 'youthful-looking hair' naturally has a range of colours.

"As we age, we lose definition in our face, and hair colour can add that back in", Shorter says. For Asian complexions, experimenting with a rich, deep caramel lowlight is a flattering way to lend contrast to your tresses. Or if you prefer covering your grays with a jet-black colouring, soften the look with lighter highlights. The idea is all about creating contrast!

Photo: Getty Images
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Touch up your roots regularly
Covering your gray roots is a quick way to look instantly more youthful. If you find yourself hard-pressed for time to schedule an appointment at the salon, fret not. From root concealers, hair mascara and hair powders, there are numerous at-home hair products you can easily use for a quick colour fix in between your hair appointments.

Photo: Getty Images
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Opt for the right haircut for you
Above everything else, the right hair cut is truly what can make you looking your age - even younger. Work with your stylist to create a softly-layered style that frames your face in a flattering way, and is also a great, manageable length for your lifestyle. Forget the trends at this point - find what works for you and stick to it!

Photo: Getty Images

If you’ve been finding more hair strands in your brush lately, or battling with hair that feels coarse and dry, here’s a hard truth: you could be facing signs of aging hair.

In the beauty realm, you hear a lot about anti-ageing solutions for skin – but not as much for hair. The truth is, your hair does age. Telling signs include a thinning scalp or hairline, hair loss, coarser texture, and of course, graying hair. Thankfully, these changes can be addressed – even prevented – if you adopt healthy, hair-loving anti-aging hair care tips now.

We’ve shared 8 tips every woman in her 30s should swear by for youthful-looking hair – browse them in the gallery above!

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