Exactly how a beauty editor fixed her damaged hair.

This article originally appeared on Adore Beauty.

I'd like to think my hair is one of my best features.

My personality's up there too (along with humility, of course), but my hair is the one thing I receive the most compliments on.

From friends, strangers, and even men — which is kind of ironic given I spent most of my 20s trying to change my hair.

Watch: Five ways to lift your hair game. Post continues after video.

I used to struggle with hair loss, thinning and frizz. Going from my natural colour to bleach blonde and then red probably didn't help. I even had pink tips at one point.

But over the years, I've learnt how to take care of my hair and keep it healthy, while still being able to style it weekly.

Keep scrolling for the healthy hair tips I've learnt on my journey from fried bob to the hair of my dreams!

How to have healthy hair again.

1. Work with your hair type.

I've said this once and I'll say it again: Find out about your hair type and texture, and work with it! 

Eg. Shorter haircuts are easier to style if you have thinning or fine hair, and smoothing or straightening naturally curly and oily hair requires daily effort to maintain.

In my experience, I found bleaching my naturally frizzy hair exacerbated things.

Going lighter in general will alter your hair quality. It took bleaching my hair three times in six months and breaking two paddle brushes to realise I was not meant to be blonde.

Now, I have colour done every 12 months, and I've been having keratin treatments to manage frizz for around six years.

2. Look after your scalp.

Did you know your scalp has a rich microbiome of bacteria to keep hair healthy?

Using the wrong products or over-washing your hair (more on that in a bit) can disrupt your scalp's natural pH balance.

Scalp scrubs like VIRTUE Exfoliating Scalp Treatment ($75) helps to exfoliate dead skin cells and remove product buildup and grime.

VIRTUE Exfoliating Scalp Treatment. Image: Adore Beauty/Mamamia.

You can also use a scalp treatment like Aveda Invati™ Advanced Scalp Revitalizer 150ml ($105) at night before washing your hair the next day, or Virtue Flourish Density Booster 120ml ($71) as a post-wash pre-blow dry treatment.

Aveda Invati™ Advanced Scalp Revitalizer and Virtue Flourish Density Booster. Image: Adore Beauty/Mamamia.

Another thing I love doing is massaging my scalp using an Ayurvedic practice my mum did for me growing up.

Either use your hand to find your pressure points and apply pressure in circular motions to promote circulation.

If you've got thinner hair, investing in a scalp massager like Apotecari 5-in-1 Scalp & Shampoo Brush ($29.95) can really help stimulate the growth within the hair follicle.

Apotecari 5-in-1 Scalp & Shampoo Brush. Image: Adore Beauty/Mamamia.

3. Actually use heat protectant.

Personally, the prospect of never styling my hair again is pretty unrealistic. So much so, I've written an article and filmed a YouTube video about how I use my Dyson Airwrap every single week.

So rather than air dry forever, invest in a heat protectant. And then ACTUALLY USE IT.

Yes, I wrote it in caps because if I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if heat protectant really helps, I'd be retired in Dubai right now.

Heat protectants create a barrier over the hair cuticle, helping to minimise the damage created by your heat tools. It's also crucial to achieve shine and bounce.

ELEVEN Miracle Spray Hair Treatment 125ml ($28.95) and Davroe Thermaprotect 200ml ($24.95) are my favourites because they protect and infuse moisture back into the hair.

ELEVEN Miracle Spray Hair Treatment and DavroeThermaprotect. Image: Adore Beauty/Mamamia. 

My top tip? Be liberal with the application. I easily go through a bottle of heat protectant every month.

4. Wash your hair smarter.

Sorry, but investing in good-quality haircare makes a difference.

And what's the point of paying $300 for a cut and colour, only to traumatise your hair with a $3 shampoo at home?

Choose your shampoo and conditioner based on your hair type and concerns.

For my dry and damaged hair, the VIRTUE Recovery Shampoo 240ml ($60) and VIRTUE Recovery Conditioner 200ml ($63) work best.

VIRTUE Recovery Shampoo and VIRTUE Recovery Conditioner. Image: Adore Beauty/Mamamia.

I've also found replacing the conditioner with the VIRTUE Restorative Treatment Mask 150ml ($100) once a week helps my hair to recover from the styling.

VIRTUE Restorative Treatment Mask. Image: Adore Beauty/Mamamia.

Another little-known tip I got from my hairdresser is not to wash your hair more than twice a week.

Overwashing hair or shampooing daily can be counterintuitive as your scalp oil glands go into overdrive to compensate for the lack of natural oil.

5. Get frequent trims.

This one's a bit controversial, and it really depends on your budget and care factor.

Leaving frayed split ends will eventually cause your hair to break further up the strand, which makes your hair look thinner and keeps it from ever growing past a certain point.

I know it's a lot of back and forth to the hairdresser, but I get my ends trimmed every eight to 12 weeks.

6. Diet and hair supplements.

Our hair is made up of protein, but what happens if you don't consume enough protein in your diet?

As trichologist Anabel Kingsley explained on the Beauty IQ Uncensored podcast, your body will ration the protein and send it to the places that need it most — hair not being one of them.

I focus on eating foods high in biotin, vitamins A, C and E, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids. Things like eggs, berries, lean meats, fish, sweet potato, avocados, nuts, and seeds.

You can also try a hair supplement. Read expert info on hair supplements in this article.

Listen to You Beauty where hosts Kelly McCarren and Erin Docherty talk about the viral hair gloss treatment. Post continues after podcast.

7. Sleep on a silk pillowcase.

Finally, if you aren't already sleeping on a silk pillowcase... where have you been?

You can read about the benefits of silk for hair here article. I may or may not have five silk pillowcases. And a couple of silk scrunchies. And a Shhh Silk Eye Mask ($55) because once you go silk, you never go back.

Shhh Silk Eye Mask. Image: Adore Beauty/Mamamia.

Now I've shared my top tips, it’s time to level up your haircare and start putting the suggestions into practice.

And I promise, if you implement the steps listed above and regularly use a heat protectant (yes, I had to mention it again), you too can achieve the hair of your dreams.

If not, your next blow-dry is on me.

Want to learn more about hair care? Here are our top suggestions:

• 8 products that'll give you the best hair of your life, according to a professional hairdresser.
• If you're thinking of investing in a hair tool, this is your sign.
• LEIGH CAMPBELL: 'The $15 supermarket shampoo responsible for my soft, shiny bob.'

For more from Alisha Bhojwani, click here.

Feature image: Supplied/Adore Beauty.

Calling all Australians aged 18+ years! Take our survey now to go in the running to win a $50 gift voucher.