You know that feeling when you’ve finally got the hang of your hairstyle (and the gruelling regime you go through to get it) and then someone comes over and tells you you’re doing it all wrong? Yeah? Well here we are to do just that!

Fingers crossed you’ll forgive us, though – when you realise that in the long run these expert tips will keep your hair in even better condition, and better styled, than it ever was before.

You Use Too Much Product

Less is more here – remember, you can always add more product, but use too much initially and you’ll have to wash and start over.

If your hair’s short, and you’re using a quality product, a little goes a long way. “Generally you just need to use the end of your fingernail and flick a bit out of the pot,” says Tommy Cunliffe, manager at Ruffians Shoreditch.

The secret to knowing when enough’s enough? The product should be completely dispersed once you’ve rubbed it between your palms. “If there’s still visible residue on your hands, you’ve probably taken too much product out of the pot [and as a result] the hair will clump together and you’ll notice it feels way too thick,” says Cunliffe.

Did we mention this is also a sure-fire way to make your products last longer?

You’re Not Making The Most Of Your Products

Just because there’s a marketing strategist somewhere that gets paid bank to convince you that you need enough hair products to collapse a bathroom shelf, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to believe them.

Quality hair products – from hair pastes to oils – can be used in plenty of other ways than what’s detailed on their packaging. Cunliffe suggests using a paste “not only as a finishing product, but also as a pre-styler when mixed with water,” which, for the uninitiated, is something you put into wet hair before blow-drying to achieve added hold and structure.