Hand up if you’ve been tempted to do something drastic to your hair during lockdown. Maybe you thought that you’d look really good with bangs or have been thinking of bleaching your hair (guilty). But professional hairstylist, Kelly Red, says that you really shouldn’t.

“Many people may feel the temptation to grab some scissors or a box dye and have a go themselves,” says Kelly, “but this is definitely not the answer. In addition to causing you a world of regret, it will end up costing you more money post lockdown, with your stylist having to try and rectify it.”

Instead, she suggests that now is a great time to give your hair a break from styling. But that doesn’t mean falling behind on regular washes but to be more mindful about how you’re treating it.

If you have bleached hair

If your hair is currently bleached-whether by a professional or your own doing — you’ll find that its drier than usual and perhaps has a bit of a brassy tone to it. To help counteract those effects, Kelly suggests using a brighten shampoo like Label.m’s Brightening Shampoo and Conditioner. It’s specially designed for blond hair, the shampoo works to brighten, whilst enhancing tonal reflection and neutralising unwanted brassy tones. With a moisturising and nourishing formula that prevents dryness, tangling and breakage, the multi-tasking shampoo has an Enviroshield Complex to extend the life of your colour and provide protection against frizz, humidity and UV rays.

Dry hair? Mask it

Is your hair looking dull and lifeless? Then a mask might just be what it needs. Kelly recommends using a mask once a week to help restore moisture and repair heat damage. If you’re after a lightweight mask, try label.m’s Honey & Oat Treatment Mask which will leave hair sleek, soft and radiant. It’s specially formulated with an exclusive Hydra-5 complex to rehydrate parched hair, restoring vitality and revealing healthy-looking locks, whilst protecting fibres from damage caused by heat styling and chemical processes.

label.m Honey & Oat Mask

READ MORE: 7 Best Anti-Frizz Products That’ll Help Your Hair Fight Humidity

If your hair is thicker and requires more moisture, then give The Great Skin Co Intense Repair and Protect a try. It’s formulated for hair that is very dry and damaged by restoring moisture with vitamin and mineral-rich ingredients like avocado butter, coconut and argan oil.

The Great Skin Co – Intense Repair & Strengthen Hair Mask

If you have product build-up

Believe it or not but not all shampoos are created equally. Some shampoos can actually weigh your hair down with sulphates, propylene, glycol, parabens, and phthalates. By going organic, you can help prevent product build-up and leave your hair clean and luxurious, minus all the icky stuff.

Made from 100% natural ingredients like marula seed oil, and peppermint, African Organics Marula shampoo and conditioner remove silicone build-up from you hair, leaving it smooth and more manageable.

Africa Organics Marula Hair Care

READ MORE: 8 DIY Hair Masks For Every Hair Type

Kelly recommendation is the label.m Organic Lemongrass Shampoo and Conditioner. Enriched with high levels of certified organic ingredients, like quince, oats, rice milk powder and jojoba oil, it cleanses and it cleanses and nourishes hair naturally without the build-up.

label.m Organic Lemongrass Shampoo