Time for a head start

Forecaster promise an early spring, air conditioning blasts the moisture from our locks and hot showers wreak havoc on our scalps, so now's a good time to think about the health of your hair.
A dedication to haircare over the next few weeks will ensure spring dresses and tanned shoulders are topped with shiny and soft strands as the warm weather rolls in.
Here are eight tips for achieving a perfect crop:
Work out what your hair needs
Jessica McDermott of Mphosis in Hawke's Bay recommends asking your hairdresser if you need protein or moisture.
"These are the main two ingredients that help those winter hair blues," says Jess. "Conditioners and treatments are either more protein based for strength; great for fine or lightened hair and maintaining body, or moisture based, which helps to smooth and rehydrate thicker or more coarse hair types."
Ask your hairdresser for a complimentary hair consultation while you're there. The experts will be able to tell you what is best for your hair and scalp.

Book in for a ritual
If you have a spare hour in your day find your nearest Kerastase salon and book in for a Kerastase Ritual and blow-dry - you'll thank yourself for it. Your hairdresser will combine high performance formulations from the Kerastase collection with an incredible scalp massage.
I had mine at The Salon on Tauranga's waterfront this week and can testify that this luxury treatment leaves hair soft, silky and shiny.

Grow it out

The spring/summer L'Oreal Professionnel colour collection, called Travel Journal, won't be available in salons until October but shows a trend for long, healthy hair. The collection is made up of six looks that reflect the trends on the catwalk for the upcoming sunny seasons.
The Casablanca look was inspired by Farah Fawcett's do with a new twist on the golden flip. Girls with dark hair will find inspiration in the Darjeeling look, defined by long sultry locks just like Kelly Garret in the original Charlie's Angels. If long hair isn't for you though, the collection also has the Sahara look, a blonde take on a short 80s cut.
Fake it
Hair can take a while to respond to even the most intensive haircare so while you're waiting, fake it with styling products. Jess from Mphosis recommends a serum. "It smooths the outer layer and reflects light to give you instantly more beautiful shiny locks."

Use a scalp treatment
Donna Chomchuem from The Salon says this is the time of year to think about the health of your scalp.
"We see lots of dry scalps at this time of year," says Donna.
She recommends a treatment like Kerastase's Bain Gommage - a weekly treatment that puts the moisture back into dehydrated scalps and does away with dandruff. A healthy scalp equals healthy hair so the result is softer and shinier locks.
Protect hair from the sun
It doesn't take a lot of sun to damage hair. Even at this time of year it's important to think about how you are protecting your locks from the sun's rays. Find a protectant that will save your hair from UVA as well as the heat of curling and straightening irons.
Discover oil
Christine Brewster from Wairarapa salon Magie Bs is using nTrance Argan Oil in her salon. Oil isn't something you would usually think of your hair as needing, but nTrance is packed with vitamin E and antioxidants to restore winter hair. It's miracle stuff that doesn't leave hair looking greasy as you may expect.

Use a semi-permanent colour
Semi-permanents give more shine than permanent hair colour. "These days companies like Wella have an in-salon semi that has no tone but gives you the shine," says Jess from Mphosis. "This is great for people who love their colour already, great for those natural redheads."