Invigorate your crowning glory

Hair, like skin, can show premature ageing, mainly because it has to battle the same enemies – sun exposure, pollution and cell renewal slowdown. Hormonal changes, lack of protein and even medications prescribed for high blood pressure and cholesterol can turn pettable hair into a stressed-out, over-dried mop. But the No. 1 culprit that causes flash-fried hair is the sun.

At least your skin has in-built defences against sun exposure – it produces melanin to protect itself, which is why we tan. Our hair has no back-up plan. If you don’t cover your hair when you’re in direct sunshine, the hair cuticle can break and crack. Once UV rays have done their worst, the hair strand dehydrates and colour fades.

Hair grows fastest in winter, so your haircare mantra should be moisturise, moisturise, moisturise. One of the best products on the market to revive even the most damaged hair is Sebastian Professional Potion 9, a creamy gel infused with nine essential extracts, including olive, jojoba, evening primrose and babassu oils. Also available in a “lite” version for fine hair: use it before blow-drying or comb a little through dry hair if it has become truly “desertised”. Weakened, stressed hair will also get a lift from the L’Oréal Elvive Total Repair range – Restoring Shampoo and Conditioner, Masque and Night Elixir.

The real breakthrough of the past few years, though, has been haircare products especially formulated to boost mature hair. The Kerastase Paris Age Premium range uses hyaluronic acid to address the major hair concerns of over-50s – fragility, loss of density and dry scalp. A bestseller in Australia and the US, the first step is Age Premium Re-Substance Ritual, a salon treatment containing ceramides, calcium and vitamins that makes hair look thicker. At home, Age Premium Bain Substantif and Masque Substantif– a revitalising shampoo and conditioner – keep up the bounce and fullness of much younger hair.