Haircare essentials for great locks like the stars!

Celebrity hairstylist Sapna Bhavnani answers some common questions regarding hair health and provides expert advice so you can sport a super-stylish mane.

The basic mantra when it comes to maintaining healthy, shiny hair consists of a balanced diet, using a good shampoo, following it up with conditioner and a leave-in serum to maintain general health for all hair types. A clean scalp is a must.

In the following pages, we present the most popular queries regarding hair health answered.

What's the reason for dull hair?

Lack of nutrients and exposure to pollution and chemical treatments results in dull hair. A good diet and proper nutrition, combined with a good shampoo, are essential. You should consume enough protein, iron and vitamins to keep your hair healthy and looking beautiful.

Applying a good serum post a hairwash is a must to combat dry, frizzy hair. Take some serum on your palms and run through wet hair. Allow it to air-dry so you get smooth, well-behaved hair.

Environmental damage is caused by exposure to harsh sunlight, pollution and heat. Hair needs to be protected from such damage and the best way is to apply a hair serum post your regular shampoo and conditioner. Applying serum post a hairwash creates a protective shield around one's hair.

Damaged hair requires a lot of care. It needs special nutrients to be restored through a healthy diet and innovative haircare products. There are a few ingredients that are important for maintaining hair health, and a wide range of shampoos, conditioners and serums is available to help restore and protect hair from specific damage like environmental factors, chemical treatments and hairfall due to breakage.

A haircut, or rather a trim, is required every three to four months to maintain a healthy mane.

There are lots of misconceptions about the causes of split ends. The fact of the matter is that split ends occur when hair follicles become dry, brittle, and lose their naturally occuring layer of protection. Excessive washing, harsh combing and generally inadequate care are among the leading causes of split ends, but unfortunately, hair health can also be affected by conditions which can't easily be helped, ie dry climate and harsh winds.

We shed an average of 50-100 hair per day. Under normal conditions, new hair grows to replace each hair that has been shed, keeping the average number of growing hair about the same at all times. Hair loss may involve many unknown factors including stress; however, healthy hair is part of the overall good health of any person. A balanced diet and a proper haircare regimen will restore hair.

Coloured hair needs special care, as it has undergone chemical treatment. It is essential to use a proper colour care shampoo, conditioner and serum. For instance, Fiama Di Wills' colour damage repair system made by combining exotic almond nut oils and advanced restore technology offers a shampoo, conditioner and serum especially for colour-treated hair. It helps restore the coloured hair cuticle, combating damage caused by chemicals and harsh UV rays. Hair is in a delicate state once it is coloured and if the right at-home care is not given it can only lead to dull, dry, brittle locks.

Every individual has different kind of hair. There is a large variety of hair types, which have different requirements -- dry, oily, frizzy, dull, damaged, coloured and many more. Hence, a special haircare regimen is required to treat and address specific hair needs.

The first step is to identify the right shampoo for your hair type, use a proper conditioner which gives softness and shine and finally apply a little bit of serum that will protect the hair from external damage. This method is applicable for all kinds of hair, from curly to straight -- it's just that the right product should be picked up.

Hair that has been chemically treated needs specific products that can compensate for the lack of nutrition.

Chemically straightened hair demands special care. If you have such hair, you should reconstruct, hydrate and protect it with the right regimen and do as is advised by your haircare expert.

A dry, flaky scalp can have a number of causes, from cold weather to harsh hair products. Using the right anti-dandruff shampoo can go a long way toward restoring moisture to a dry scalp.

Good nutrition helps form healthier hair follicles and stronger, thicker, healthier hair. A well-balanced meal along with nutritional supplements, which we get through specialised haircare products, are important to ensure optimum hair growth and overall health.

A protein-rich diet is beneficial as hair is made up of the protein keratin. Fish, pulses, greens, fresh salads and fruits should be added to the diet. A few elements that are required for good hair are often left out of the daily diet. These are supplemented through good haircare products, which are innovative and address specific hair needs, types and treat specific damages.