While we’re busy slathering our faces to avoid drying up completely, let’s spare a thought for our poor old winter hair – perched on our beautifully moisturised heads, all parched and panting. Or is that just mine? 

I’m not sure it is. In fact everyone I’ve asked is finding the weather, and central heating, is playing havoc with their locks – and as I’ve got long, curly hair, I’m suffering more than most. So I’ve called on these five miracle workers to help me through this hair-unfriendly season.

It all starts with your shampoo: you can’t go leaving the moisture until the last product. I kick off with Klorane Shampoo with Mango Butter (£6). I love this brand: it looks all French pharmacy, is very purse-friendly and the products really deliver. This fruity, creamy shampoo is a great way to smooth down ruffled hair cuticles and start blitzing the frizz.

Now for a really hard-working conditioner. My new favourite is Burt’s Bees More Moisture Baobab Conditioner (£9.99). What I like about this, apart from the fact it smells like white chocolate, is that it has the richness of a mask, but rinses a lot more easily thanks, apparently, to an ‘amino acid-rich conditioning formula’. Ideal for those rushed mid-week hair washes as it doesn’t need to be left on for long.

When you do have time for something more indulgent, try Joico Revitaluxe Bio Advanced Restorative Treatment (£16.95). There are all sort of fancy reasons why this works, to do with things like the hair cortex. But what I like about it is that it seems to melt away tangles and replace your old hair with a new, silky mane.

Even with a serious conditioner, my hair also needs something I can leave in. And because I don’t want to overload, I really like TommyGuns Leave Me In Conditioner & Styling Crème (£7) as it conditions and separates my curls. It’s hard to believe this gorgeous, gingery scented game-changer is under a tenner. I slap on a bit between washes as well.

And finally, another between-wash pick-me-up I have discovered recently is Colour Wow One Minute Transformation Miracle Styling Cream (£16.50). This stuff is awesome – apply it any time on dry locks and because it doesn’t contain waxes it never leaves hair greasy, but rather smoothes and (as the name suggests) transforms winter hair. Keep one in your handbag until March.

Ensure your mane is ready for party season with our selection of party hair essentials aw13.