Let's face it, we all want shinier, brighter, and healthier-looking hair.
And to do that, we need to understand the ingredients we put onto our hair, just as we typically do with skincare.
Understanding what your follicles need will not only provide you with guidance you can follow for the rest of your life, but it will also set you on the path to having brilliant, healthy, non-dull hair in no time.
However, it can be quite challenging to sift through the ingredients to determine what's best for your unique hair type.
Watch: 5 ways to lift up your hair game. Post continues after video.
So, we've curated a list of just eight ingredients that you should look for in your favourite hair products because your dull hair will LOVE them.
Yerba mate.
Yerba mate has long been a favourite ingredient used by the curly hair girlies, and it's actually an incredible to use on all hair types.
Aside from strengthening hair, the caffeine in yerba mate acts as an agent to enhance the hair's natural shine and tame dry, frizzy hair without weighing down your locks.
This is a major win in my book, and I can personally vouch for yerba mate because I have been incorporating it into my personal hair routine for the last few weeks through the A'kin Daily Shine haircare range.
As someone who is about saving money and cutting costs where I can, sacrificing on incredible hair products is not something I'm willing to do. Thankfully, A'kin offers a really affordable range of lines that cater to specific hair types.
Founded by botanical chemists, Australian-made A'kin is all about combining hero skincare ingredients with functional levels of botanicals to achieve healthy hair and skin. What makes supporting this Aussie-owned biz that much more worth it is knowing the range is 100 per cent vegan.
So, for a month, I have been using the A'kin Daily Shine Shampoo, Conditioner, and Hair Mask, which all boast the use of yerba mate, niacinamide and Australian jojoba oil to deeply nourish and strengthen hair.
Using the shampoo and conditioner, I was obsessed with the smell (it has a warm fragrance of geranium, cedarwood, and patchouli). It's proven to increase shine by 28 per cent after one use and instantly delivers smooth hair after one wash.
I can already say my hair feels more vibrant, glossy, and soft. The real star of the show for me personally is the A'kin Daily Shine Hair Mask. I mostly use it as an overnight treatment for that extra dose of nourishment. However, you can also use it after shampooing in place of a conditioner to smooth and hydrate.
Guys, the possibilities are endless, and it smells heavenly.
Niacinamide.
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B that is super-duper beneficial to the health of your hair (BTW, it's also used in A'kin's Daily Shine Range!). It increases blood flow to hair follicles to promote growth, improves the health of follicular cells, and keeps the hair looking lustrous and soft by maintaining sheen, body, and strength.
While using A'kin, I found that it helped give my hair back a lot of its luster without weighing down my locks. My hair, which is best known for being frizzy, was absolutely frizz-free.
I'm a girl who has long accepted poor treatment from her hair, so to know that in this life, it's possible for my locks to look healthy, manageable, and silky without divine intervention is a more important discovery than the dinosaurs, IMO.
Hyaluronic acid.
Undoubtedly a powerhouse ingredient, hyaluronic acid is mostly known for its incredible abilities in skincare routines, but its benefits extend to haircare as well.
Hyaluronic acid has exceptional moisturising properties because it attracts and retains moisture in the hair shaft. I won't go on and on, but it seriously works wonders for dry hair, making it softer, smoother, and more manageable.
Vitamin E.
Vitamin E helps support a healthy scalp and hair because it possesses natural antioxidant effects that can assist in maintaining hair growth.
It's one of those special ingredients with antioxidant properties that can help prevent the breakdown of hair follicle cells in a person's scalp.
Panthenol.
Panthenol, or pro-vitamin B5, is a haircare ingredient that strengthens and moisturises dry, brittle hair.
It provides nourishment by penetrating the hair shaft, adding volume and shine, and improving moisture retention. Panthenol also acts as a detangler, making it easier to manage and style dry hair.
Shea.
Shea gives a lush experience to haircare as it helps to protect the scalp while also boosting moisture and shine in the hair.
The best part is it helps with hair growth!
Sunflower seed oil.
Sunflower seed oil has been cherished for its hydrating and hair thickening, and it's a trusted ingredient for dry hair.
It feels divine and is packed with vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that deeply moisturise the hair, leaving it soft and supple.
If you have irritation or an itchy scalp, sunflower oil is GREAT at calming it.
Jojoba oil.
Jojoba oil is an incredible moisturiser for dry hair, and it helps regulate the production of sebum.
Basically, it's a miracle worker for the scalp because it prevents your locks from becoming not only dry but also greasy. Jojoba oil provides the hair follicles with much-needed nourishment, promoting healthy growth and reducing breakage.
Shop A'kin's Daily Shine range, a natural, affordable, Australian-made haircare brand, founded by botanical chemists.
Feature Image: Supplied/@emilyvernem