Win the Hair Battle

AllYou.com: Banish Bad Hair Days Forever!

In an ideal world, your hair would always be shiny, healthy and full of bounce and would require zero maintenance. But who are we kidding? Presenting your hair in its best light not only means getting a good cut and deft styling but also confronting not-so-sexy underlying issues-including dandruff, hairline breakouts and dull or thinning strands-all of which can detract from your do's overall attractiveness.

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Win the Hair Bat...

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Problem: Dandruf...

Blame it on: An overabundance of oil from pityrosporum ovale, a fungus present on everyone's scalp. Overactive oil glands, stress, excessive perspiration, certain foods such as dairy and white wine and hormonal changes can trigger it.

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Dandruff Hair Ti...

Control flakes. Treat mild dandruff with anti-flake cleansers and conditioners that contain the antimicrobials selenium sulphide (try Selsun Blue dandruff shampoo plus conditioner, $9; drugstore.com) or zinc pyrithione (try Head and Shoulders Smooth and Silky shampoo and conditioner, $5; at mass retailers).

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Exfoliate Your S...

Scrub it off. To manage oil production levels, re-energize your scalp by sloughing off dead skin cells and removing product buildup. Before you shampoo, try a gentle sugar scrub like Bain de Terre Sugar and Fig scalp massage scrub ($18; at Sally's Beauty Supply).

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Prevent Dandruff...

Fight it naturally. Copper, a natural fungicide, kills some 88 percent of fungus linked to dandruff. Prevent itching and flaking by using a brush with copper-infused bristles. Try Goody Reduce and Dandruff copper-infused brush ($12; amazon.com).

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Keep It Clean

Strip oils. Dandruff problems tend to occur more frequently in individuals with oily or acne-prone skin. To prevent a flurry of white flakes from appearing on your shoulders, wash your hair every day and deep-clean your scalp with a clarifying shampoo (which does not contain added moisturizing ingredients) three or four times a week.

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Problem: Hairlin...

Blame it on: Dense styling products, such as wax and pomade, which often induce acne. "Frequent usage of hair color can also bring on breakouts since the dyes cause severe irritation and inflammation," explains Zein Obagi, MD, a dermatologist and founder of ZO Skin Health. Plus, if you have an oily complexion, your scalp is oilier and more prone to breakouts.

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Hairline Breakou...

Avoid oil-based hair products. "They suppress natural skin exfoliation, causing bacterial growth on the scalp," says Dr. Obagi. Use a water-based styler such as Garnier Fructis Style Curl Scrunch gel ($4; at mass retailers).

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Wash with Dandru...

These formulas contain ingredients that reduce growth of bacteria. Herbal Essences No Flakin' Way anti-dandruff shampoo ($3; at mass retailers) doesn't have that medicine-y odor. Infused with a blend of cucumber and lemongrass, it leaves locks smelling fresh.

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Treat Breakouts

Unclog pores with salicylic or glycolic acids, but not benzoyl peroxide, which can bleach hair. To keep breakouts at bay, cleanse with gentle, pre-moistened and self-foaming textured pads, like Aveeno Clear Complexion daily cleansing pads ($7; at mass retailers).

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Prevent Hairline...

Bust shine. For midday touch-ups, pat away excess oil and freshen up on the go with oil-blotting sheets, like Clean and Clear Morning Burst oil-absorbing sheets ($5; at mass retailers).

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Don't Over-Condi...

Heavy conditioning agents such as silicones leave residue behind. Try a lightweight formula that gently treats and untangles, like Charles Worthington London Well Balance conditioner ($6; ulta.com). Avoid the roots, and rinse out your conditioner before cleansing your face, Dr. Obagi advises.

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Change Your Pill...

Since hairstyling products can saturate your pillowcases and leave a messy residue, causing breakouts all over your face, change them at least once a week. And opt for cotton covers, not silk ones. Better yet, don't leave gunk in overnight. Dr. Obagi recommends washing your hair nightly before bed.

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Problem: Dull Ha...

Blame it on: Styling and general wear and tear, which cause the hair's outer layers, the cuticles, to peel off and reflect light unevenly. "If your hair is curly, you'll never get a really high shine; it's just not physically possible," says Mario Russo, owner of the Mario Russo Salon in Boston. "Because it bends and twists, curly hair can't reflect as much light as straight hair."

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Dull Hair Tips

Add polish. Apply glossing sprays, serums and drops that contain shine-enhancing silicone, which won't weigh down strands. If your hair is fine, mist dry locks with a weightless spray such as Smooth 'N Shine Instant Repair Spray-On Polisher ($5; at mass retailers). If you have issues with flyaways and frizz, tame them with a small pump of Göt2b Cosmic Shimmering Serum ($6; at mass retailers).

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Use Heated Styli...

Since dull hair has uneven cuticles, the trick is to smooth the cuticles so they lie flat. For a quick fix, pick up a curling iron if you're going for waves. For straight locks, a flat iron. Why? Heat temporarily helps the cuticles lie flat, so they can reflect more light. Shield tresses with a heat protector before clamping down.

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Prevent Dull Hai...

Remove residue. Overusing styling products can cause dullness. Once a week, rinse out product buildup with a clarifying shampoo. Suave Basics daily clarifying shampoo ($4; at mass retailers) locks in shine and leaves your hair bouncy and full.

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Look for Dimethi...

Clean and moisturize with a shampoo and conditioner that have shine-enhancing silicone, which is often referred to as dimethicone on the label. Sunsilk Thermashine shampoo ($4; at mass retailers) and L'Oréal Paris Vive Pro Glossy Volume conditioner ($5; at mass retailers) are our favorites. The shampoo makes hair gleam like a new car with subtle sparkle and shimmer, and the conditioner injects weightless shine and volume to flat, dull strands.

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Boost Your Color...

Add 3-D depth to your hair color and liven up dull locks with an at-home glaze, which contains mild dyes and shine enhancers.

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Problem: Dry, Da...

Blame it on: Environmental factors, such as chlorine, seawater, sun and wind exposure, that cause breakage. Harsh shampoos, brushing, thermal styling tools, perming and coloring are other factors. Brittle hair is also age-related. Your hair, like your skin, degenerates with age. By your 40s, oil production decreases, setting in dryness.

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Dry, Damaged Hai...

Repair with protein. "When hair becomes parched, the solution is not simply to add water," Russo says. Use shampoos that are fueled with moisturizing lipids, such as olive oil, and other proteins that replenish lost moisture and strengthen damaged areas. Try Organix Healing Mandarin Olive Oil shampoo ($7; at mass retailers).

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Condition, Condi...

Repair stressed locks with weekly constructive treatments such as John Frieda Collection Frizz-Ease Crème Serum Overnight Repair Formula ($10; at mass retailers). These contain silicone-type ingredients to restore moisture and build strength from the inside out.

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Combat Frayed En...

Once ends split, nothing can glue them back together. For a temporary fix, work in two or three drops of a silicone serum such as Citré Shine Shine Miracle split-end mender ($4; at mass retailers).

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Prevent Dry, Dam...

Protect from heat. Electric appliances such as flatirons and electric curlers can cause breakage. To practice safer styling, use a thermal protector, like Dove Intense Damage Therapy Heat Shield spray ($4; at mass retailers) before applying heat. Also, towel-dry locks before blow-drying, and straighten or curl strands when completely dry.

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Restore Elastici...

The telltale sign of healthy hair: It stretches 30 percent of its length before it snaps. If your hair breaks off easily, it is weak and prone to damage. Make your strands stronger with a weekly pre-shampoo hot-oil treatment, like VO5 Moisturizing Hot Oil Shower Works, $6; at mass retailers.

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Problem: Thin Ha...

Blame it on: Your family tree. "For most of the population, thinning is genetically determined and has largely to do with the effect of the hormone DHT [dihydrotestosterone] on the follicles," says Rushi Tasker, vice president of research and development at Joico. Plus, hair gets finer with age. Stress, low levels of iron and zinc, thyroid problems and medication can play large roles too.

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Thin Hair Tips

Opt for body builders. Shampoos and conditioners that are specifically formulated for fine or thinning hair can produce the illusion of thicker locks. For optimal hair growth, remove DHT buildup with a cleanser such as Nexxus Vita Tress biotin shampoo ($9; at salons).

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Lift Roots

Create fullness when you apply a body-building mousse, gel or aerosol hair spray such as Aussie Aussome Volume hair spray ($3; at mass retailers). But be careful not to overdo it. Too much product could weigh down your strands.

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Tweak Your Do

To create the illusion of thicker hair, opt for blunt, one-length cuts, not wispy styles, and keep it short. Long, heavy strands pull down and reveal a widening part and crown.

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Dye It

Coloring your mane also helps since it expands the hair shafts, resulting in thicker, fuller locks.

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Prevent Thin Hai...

Treat the scalp. Improve the health of your scalp with a gentle exfoliating treatment that contains healing herbs. After you wash your hair, soothe the surface with a tingly tonic, like the Philip Kingsley scalp-toning tonic ($22; philipkingsley.com), to grow healthier locks. The bottle's long neck makes for easier application.

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Target Problem S...

Treat slow-growing areas with Dr. Miracle's Hair Meds Intensive Spot Serum hair and scalp treatment ($9; at mass retailers). Apply it directly to the spot.

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Bulk Up With Pro...

"Since hair is all protein, eat meat, fish, poultry, eggs and cottage cheese, particularly for breakfast and lunch," says scalp expert Philip Kingsley, who adds that supplements can beef up thin strands. To promote healthy growth, take all-natural multi-vitamins such as Nioxin Intensive Therapy Recharging Complex ($20 for 30 caplets; nioxin.com).

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Conceal Imperfec... Physical imperfections are a part of what makes you beautiful, but there are some things—gray roots, undereye circles—you’d rather hide than flaunt. Whatever the issue, these quick fixes to common beauty challenges can have you looking your best in no time.