The right hair dryer
When it comes to selecting a hair dryer, cost isn't everything. Rather than buying the most expensive dryer (or the cheapest!), consider the health and texture of your hair, says Victor. If your hair is fine and wispy or is damaged, you don't need a dryer that offers lots of volume or heat – in fact, such dryers will just cause knots and tangles. For fine hair, Victor recommends the Solis 401, $180, or other dryers with low wattage and heat.

On the other hand, if you have thick, coarse or curly hair, you'll want a high-performance dryer. "The Supersolano X ($200) is the Ferrari of blow-dryers," says Victor. You'll have your hair dry in no time with its 1,875 watts and multiple heat and speed settings!

Blow-dry tip: For the sleekest blow-dry, use heat on a section of hair to dry it, then use the cool setting to hold the style.

Tourmaline flat iron
Flat irons have destroyed many a healthy head of hair. "So many women have embraced that very straight look. The flat iron is used after almost every time these women wash their hair, and the end result is hair so damaged it's hard to get it healthy again," says Victor. For those of us who crave stick-straight locks, he recommends using tourmaline technology. "The [tourmaline] stone uses infrared heat that penetrates the hair much faster than your normal flat iron – it's 25 per cent more efficient," he says. This means your hair needs less time passing through the damage-causing heated clamp. Tip: Don't let any heated hair appliance be in contact with your hair for too long. "If you notice white steam coming off the hair, it's just burning water," says Victor. "But if it's dark smoke, you're burning your hair's protein, which means you're causing damage."

Two models to try are the 2 ISI Max, $200, which displays the temperature on a digital screen, and the Babyliss Pro TT (BTM3558C), $140, which allows you to adjust the temperature with a manual knob (known as a reostat dial). Both give you control over the amount of heat that comes into contact with your hair.

Natural-haired bristle brush
Firm, dark in colour and usually made out of boar bristles (don't worry: the boar isn't killed, just shaved), these brushes can often provide the much-needed slip, grip and polish that Victor is adamant about. Slip (based on bristle type) refers to the ease with which the brush moves through your hair; grip (staggering of bristles) is how the brush effortlessly holds the hair when you turn it; and polish is how the brush leaves your hair. You can get a good-quality brush for about $30 (try the Hercules Sagemann brush, $30).

One of Delineation's best sellers is the Mason Pearson Handy Bristle brush, $140. It's pricey since it's made by hand and uses Asian boar hair for the best brushing experience. Many different styles are available, so you'll be sure to find one that's right for your hair type. Softer bristles are best for fine hair, while a mix of strong boar and nylon bristles suits those with thick or curly hair. There's even a brush with flexible bristles for sensitive scalps! "For a brush to do its job, the bristles need to be stronger than the hair you're working on," says Victor.


Smooth, wide-tooth comb
These combs are ideal for detangling wet hair and evenly distributing conditioner. After a shower, the hair cuticle is fragile and can easily be torn as you battle knots. "Gently using a comb with a smooth finish and uneven teeth will help untangle your hair without causing damage," says Victor. Start detangling from the ends and work your way up – the knots will separate more easily.

Victor recommends the Tangle Tamer by Krest, $5. Its teeth are widely spaced for easy detangling and there are no ridges to catch or tear the hair. Wide-tooth combs can range from $5 to $21.


Vent style brush
For detangling curly hair, Victor recommends the Denman Hyflex Vent brush, $13. "The bristles are made with Hyflex, which allows them to be extremely resilient – the bristles will bend, but won't ever tear or break," says Victor. Also, avoid brushes with large round balls at the end of the bristles. "The hair will only have more to grab on to and is likely to catch and tear," he says.