Good Foundations: 5 Essentials to Prep and Prime Your Hair

Bouncy, luscious locks that sway and swish as though you've just left the hair salon, getting the definition and hold you've always longed for in your natural curls — whatever your goal, achieving that kind of hair care prowess isn't quite as easy as your hairdresser makes it look.

Or so you thought. In fact, great hair relies on having the right foundations to set you up for success. No blow dry is going to hold or texture be perfected without the right products and tools to help you get there. Read on to discover the 5 essentials to prep and prime your hair for success...

1. Remove product build up

No amount of volumising powder or root lifting spray will ever be enough if you don't get rid of excess oil and product build up first. Not only will this guarantee a flat head of hair, but it can lead to damage further down the line. Thankfully, the minds over at {OLAPLEX} have carefully formulated the newly-launched {No.4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo}. With a 'Broad Spectrum Clarifying System' (sounds fancy!), this formula promises to remove oil and product that's built up at the scalp and roots, along with heavy metals and pollutants. While harsh clarifying products can leave your strands feeling much like a bale of hay, OLAPLEX's sulphate-free and pH-balanced creation promises hydrated and perfectly cleansed tresses only.

With properly cleansed hair comes even better results, so the patented 'Bond Building Technology' we all know and love can really get to work, repairing hair and creating the perfect groundwork for your routine. Replace your shampoo with this clarifying holy grail once a week and follow with a conditioner that's right for your needs to create a hair wash ritual that'll be the envy of all.

2. Protect from heat

As much as we are joined at the hip to our plethora of styling tools (we can't be without our {ghd's} or {Bio:Ionic} heroes), our tresses would be in tatters were it not for hair-saving heat protectors. These shielding essentials keep frizz at bay and damage a distant memory, and the latest hero to make its way into our hair care arsenal is the Drybar {Prep Rally Prime & Prep Detangler}. This multi-tasker protects your strands from heat styling up to 232°C plus it makes the post-wash brush a cinch thanks to its detangling powers. Sea berry oil keeps moisture levels topped up for a perfectly conditioned mane, and with a protective dose of biotin working to boost elasticity right at your hair fibres, you'll see a dramatic improvement in the result of your blow-dry.

3. Curly Hair — This One's For You

Curly, coily and wavy tresses may need a helping hand to style define strands without weighing them down. With weather-proofing and curl-defining properties, Briogeo's {Curl Charisma Rice Amino And Avocado Leave-In Defining Crème} is sure to be the star of your hair care show. You'll be left with touchable movement, flexible hold and perfectly hydrated curls with just a tiny bit of this humidity-blocking cream. Our breakfast staple, avocado, is infused into this lightweight formula to help strands retain moisture and protect against damage... All you have to do is diffuse or air-dry your hair to unveil curls that command attention.

4. Ready, Set, Volumise

Take it back to your roots (literally) with {Larry King}'s latest nostalgic creation, {My Nanna's Mousse}. If you're anything like us, you might remember tip-toeing into your mum or nanna's bedroom to squirt their tempting hair mousse into your hands and brush it through your hair... and were no doubt also left with the same crunchy, helmet-hair finish. Quelle disaster!

Famed for his industry accolades and countless cover shoots for the likes of VOGUE, Vanity Fair and GQ, Larry King has reinvented the classic hair styler and turned it into a lightweight, plumping and thickening formula that grants a soft hold with all the volume and shine you could possibly desire. Even better? All hair textures can reap the rewards of this humble mousse!

5. Hydrate For Healthy Hair

We have lost count of the number of times that unwanted frizz has ruined our 'do, but thanks to Living Proof's {No Frizz Vanishing Oil}, those days are gone. Lightweight, quickly absorbed and bringing you endless (silicone-free!) hydration, this five oil blend mimics the oils found in naturally healthy hair, so you can make every day a good hair day. Powered by Living Proof's patented 'Healthy Hair Molecule', this is sure to leave your strands looking and feeling smooth, free from frizz and humidity-proofed (no Monica Geller mishaps here), and without looking like you need to skip ahead to hair wash day...

Now it's time to pick your tool(s) of choice to achieve and maintain the blowout, curl or smoothed-out style you've always longed for... you can thank us later.

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