Tame all types of difficult hair with these gravity defying products

It wasn’t ever a problem before – I wore it down on day one and pulled it back on day two.

But recently I went for the chop and what’s left of my ponytail is now stumpy to say the least, so ever since I’ve been looking for ways of extending the life of my style.

The secret to longevity, it seems, is laying the right groundwork. “The reason a salon blow dry lasts longer is because the stylist has taken more time and has the right techniques,” explains celebrity hairdresser Mark Hill.

“Dealing with small sections and building in volume at the roots is essential.”

Product, as always, is key. And they are getting cleverer by the season.

“We all know the benefits of using a primer before we put foundation on our skin, but not many people use them on their hair,” says Hill.

“Styling primer is applied to towel-dried hair before your regular styling products. It’s perfect if your hair is too soft and silky to hold a style, as it adds texture and grip with a light hold. It also protects hair in preparation for heat styling and eliminates frizz and flyaways.” 

Kérastase L’Incroyable Blowdry Crème (£21.90; 

0800 085 4958, kerastase.co.uk) contains a wax that forms a microscopic layer of active ingredients on damp hair, locking in your style.

This wax can then be reactivated up to four times between washes if you want to reinvigorate it. 

Similarly, Ouai Memory Mist (£23; 020 8740 2085, spacenk.com) is applied to damp hair and uses co-polymers that “memorise” your shape and lock it in until the next time you shampoo. 

Humidity is another enemy when it comes to going the distance, adding curls, waves and kinks where they weren’t wanted. Redken has labelled the issue “puffy” hair and tackles it with its All Soft Mega Recovery Tissue Mask Cap (£10; 0161 813 1481, lookfantastic.com). 

The first sheet mask for hair, it smooths the cuticles and keeps hair manageable thanks to a nutria-complex of prickly pear cacti, aloe vera gel and sacha inchi to nourish, revive and control. 

Alternatively, left on for up to 10 minutes before you wash, John Frieda Frizz Ease 10 Day Tamer (£12.99; 0345 070 8090, boots.com) acts as a barrier against airborne moisture, preventing water molecules from disrupting protein bonds and altering their shape. 

For something more speedy, Mark Hill Taming Anti Humidity Spray (£5.99; 0345 070 8090, boots.co.uk) is misted on once you’ve finished styling and promises to kick kinks into touch. 

If your hair doesn’t make it through the night, it’s usually due to body heat, which means oils from the scalp are more easily distributed through the lengths. As a natural fibre, a silk Slip Pillowcase (£79; slipsilkpillowcase.com) can help regulate your temperature while cutting down on friction to prevent damage.

“If you can put your hair up into a top knot as you sleep, try using a snag-free band or bobble that won’t leave marks on your hair,” says Mark Hill. 

Alternatively, tuck it up in a Silke London Hair Wrap (£45; silkelondon.com) – though you may get some odd looks from your other half… 

The lazy (or busy) girl’s alternative to a full hair wash has long been a dry shampoo, to absorb oils and leave hair looking less in need of some H20.

The new generation, such as Living Proof Full Dry Volume Blast (£25; 0333 014 8000, marksandspencer.com), will also deliver volume to second-day locks, giving texture, a fuller finish and lift without leaving your parting looking chalky. 

Meanwhile, Percy & Reed A Walk in the Rain Shine & Fragrance Mist (£15; 0333 014 8000, marksandspencer.com) will give a just washed aroma and reinvigorate the shine. 

Even if you do everything right, there’s good chance your ’do won’t make it out of the bathroom unscathed due, once again, to humidity and the potential for a soggy hairline.

The answer? All Caps (£34.99; 0844 800 7661, allcapshair.co.uk) are so enormous that even Rapunzel wouldn’t have trouble fitting her locks inside.