From dry to damaged, take our quiz to get locks you will love based on hair type

DRY, damaged, oily and hard-to-style hair could be caused by a range of things – including your hair colour and how stressed you are.

But depending on your hair type, trichologist Anabel Kingsley says you can solve all these evils just by washing it at the right time of the week.

And she adds: “Just like with your skin, everyone’s hair is completely different.

“As a rule of thumb, try not to choose a shampoo that is for normal, oily or dry hair, as your idea of normal may be totally different to someone else’s normal.”

Try Sophie Bronstein’s quiz to figure out how to transform your locks . . . one wash at a time.

1. 1. What is your natural hair colour?
      a. Redhead
      b. Brunette
      c. Blonde
   2.  Describe your hair texture.
      a. Wavy/Curly
      b. Afro
      c. Straight
   3. What length is your hair?
      a. Long
      b. Shoulder-length
      c. Short
   4. How do you most often wear your hair?
      a. In an “up” do, such as a
      ponytail or bun
      b. Down and natural
      c. Change throughout
      the day
   5. How often do you brush your hair?
      a. Only when I wash it
      b. Every other day
      c. Every day, multiple times
   6. Do you colour your hair?
      a. I always get a full head
      of colour
      b. I often have highlights
      or balayage
      c. My hair colour is
      completely natural
   7. Do you chemically straighten/perm  your hair?
      a. I currently do so
      b.  I have done in
      the past
      c. I’ve never tried
      chemical treatments
   8. How oily is your skin?
      a. I have dry skin
      b. My skin is normal/
      combination
      c. My skin is oily
   9. How stressed are you?
      a. I feel relaxed
      b. I’m stressed
      but coping
      c. I’m very stressed
   10. How often do you exercise? a. Rarely or once a week
       at most
       b. Two or three times a week
       c. I exercise daily
   11. Do you use styling products?
       a. Never b. Sometimes c. Daily
   12. How often are you in polluted environments?
       a. Never or rarely
       b. Occasionally
       c. Most of the time
   13. Do you use heat styling tools, including hair dryers?
       a. After every wash
       b. Occasionally
       c. Never

How did you do?

MOSTLY As: Wash hair every five-to-seven days

Often find that you can go a week between washes? Do not worry, you are not dirty.

As your scalp’s skin type is the same as your face’s, if you have got drier skin, the follicles on your scalp will produce less oil, so it will not get greasy as quickly.

Also, if you use lots of chemical treatments or colouring, it will be more prone to damage, so it is best to wait longer between washes to avoid over-processing or drying it out further.

But do be vigilant about your scalp and, if you notice any irritation or itchiness, use a scalp tonic such as Superdrug Trichology Re-balancing Scalp Tonic, £3.99 (superdrug.com).

If your ends get a bit dry, use a conditioning hair mask when washing. Try Kerastase Resistance Therapiste Masque, £24.70 (feelunique.com).

MOSTLY Bs: Wash every three-to-four days

If you do a fair bit of exercise and expose your hair to pollution, oil and sweat build-up can happen quickly.

Also, you are most likely to have combination skin, which means that though you may get dry patches, you will also have oily bits.

The build-up is most drastic on our scalp because although we can easily rid our face of sebum-inducing elements every day, to do the same to our scalp, we need to do a full-on hair cleansing session.

But when you do get round to it, try OUAI Clean Shampoo, £22 (theouai.co.uk), which contains a smart technology complex to get rid of any oil build-up, plus keratin, tamarind seed extract and sunflower to keep it looking clean for as long as possible.

MOSTLY Cs: Wash daily or every other day

You will be no stranger to a daily hair wash.

You are constantly surrounded by pollution, perhaps exercise daily and, most of the time, your stress levels are through the roof – all of which contributes to sebum production and irritation on your scalp.

Plus, using styling products can build up and worsen the condition of your hair.

Sick of doing the honours every day? Use a wash-refreshing product such as Aveda Rinseless Refresh Micellar Hair And Scalp Refresher, £24 (aveda.co.uk).

It acts as a magnet for oil particles to banish them between washes, meaning you may be able to leave it an extra day.

Spritz on to roots and ends and blow-dry it in.

Your ultimate guide to preventing that greasy look

TRICHOLOGIST Anabel Kingsley reveals how to keep your hair in better nick for longer.

ALWAYS USE A SCALP TONER: To combat excess oiliness, apply an antimicrobial scalp toner containing an astringent such as witch hazel to your scalp in one-inch partings after every shampoo.

If you do not wash your hair daily, you can apply this to dry hair in the morning and evening to help keep your scalp soothed. Try Philip Kingsley Scalp Toner, £10 (philipkingsley.co.uk).

DON’T TOUCH HAIR EXCESSIVELY: Constantly playing with or touching your hair can transfer oils and dirt on your hands on to your strands. This can make hair appear greasy and dull, as well as weighing down the roots.

ONLY APPLY CONDITIONER TO MID-LENGTHS/ENDS: Applying it too near the roots is one of the most common causes of lank and dull hair. The mid-lengths and ends are where hair is older and needs moisture most.

THOROUGHLY RINSE OUT YOUR SHAMPOO: Insufficient rinsing-out of shampoo can make your hair look dull and feel heavy. Rinse until the water runs clear.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT SHAMPOO FOR YOUR HAIR TEXTURE: If your hair is dry and fine or dry and medium-textured, do not swap your regular shampoo and conditioner for overly heavy ones.

This is likely to make your strands look oily and flat. Treat dryness and brittleness with an intensive pre-shampoo conditioner. We love Living Proof Timeless Pre-shampoo Treatment, £26 (spacenk.com).

USE A DRY SHAMPOO WITH SCALP BENEFITS: If you find your roots are greasy by the end of the day, use a lightweight dry shampoo containing scalp benefits to refresh your style.

Look for an ingredient called zinc PCA, which helps to prevent flakes and regulate the scalp’s sebum production. Try Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo, £21.50 (cultbeauty.co.uk).

EXFOLIATE WEEKLY: Use an exfoliating scalp mask once a week to remove dead skin cells and to help keep your scalp in optimal condition. Get your mitts on IGK Low Key Cleansing Walnut Scalp Scrub, £31 (spacenk.com).

FRINGE WASH: If you have a fringe and need to touch it up between washes, tie the rest of your hair up and lean forward over the sink. Using a minimal amount of shampoo, give it a quick rinse.

This will give your hair a total refresh and mean you can restyle it easily.