On many an occasion over the years, I’ve received messages from people on Instagram sharing with me what they’ve purchased to bring their hair back from the dead post-holiday: treatments, masks, bond builders, oils and more. The question that usually follows is the same – are these the right products to use?Ultimately, the answer to that question is another question: what is actually wrong with your hair? Or, more simply, how does your hair feel? Does it feel dull, flat or heavy? Even after washing, does it still feel a bit weighed down? Or does it feel rough, tangled and dry, almost straw-like? Maybe it’s more visual – has your colour flattened or become dull? Or does the hair itself just feel a bit more fragile?Each of these things requires a different approach. You don’t necessarily need lots of products, just the right ones for the problem you’re trying to solve. While we generally have a lovely time on holidays, basking in higher temperatures and enjoying pool and beach days, our hair is truly in hell, with higher UV exposure, chlorinated water, salty seawater, potentially harder water in your accommodation, perhaps more styling than usual and more heat tools. Sometimes it’s the opposite – very little styling at all and a heavy reliance on dry shampoo and other styling products. All of these can play havoc with our hair and result in any of the aforementioned hair meltdowns. Dull, flat, heavyRemi Bye Bye Build Up Scalp Exfoliator (€32 from remiscalp.com) If your hair feels dull, flat and heavy, and despite shampooing you feel like it’s just not properly clean, then there’s a good chance you’re dealing with build-up.Chlorine, minerals, styling products, dry shampoo or a combination of all of the above can lead to build-up on the hair and scalp. In this case, my first port of call is always a really good clarifying shampoo.Remi Bye Bye Build Up Scalp Exfoliator (€32 from remiscalp.com) is one of the best. I use it year-round, not just on holidays. It’s easy to use, too. Shake the bottle and then apply directly to your scalp. Massage in and leave to work for up to 10 minutes (less if you have a sensitive scalp) before shampooing and conditioning as normal. Use once a week to maintain results. Rough, dry, tangledEyra Awaken Shampoo and Restore Conditioner (€34 and €38 from eyrahair.com) and The Baby Belle Mini Detangler Brush (€22.50 from thebellebrush.com) On the other hand, if your hair feels rough, dry and tangled, or has developed a straw-like quality, then focus on conditioning. A good repairing, balancing shampoo and conditioner can work wonders. I’m a big fan of Eyra Awaken Shampoo and Restore Conditioner (€34 and €38 from eyrahair.com), concentrating the product on the mid-lengths and ends and leaving it on for a little longer than usual. Hair like this also needs careful detangling, and there is nothing quite like The Baby Belle Detangling Brush (€22.50 from thebellebrush.com). The flexible bristles glide through even the driest, knottiest hair with no excessive pulling, leaving it smooth and shiny.Kérastase Soleil Masque UV Defense Active (€52 from millies.ie) and K18 HeatBounce Conditioning Heat Protectant (€26 from spacenk.ie) I’d also introduce a repairing mask once a week until your hair starts to feel like itself again. Kérastase Soleil Masque UV Defense Active is an excellent option (€52 from millies.ie). Finally, consider parking heat-related styling tools for a little while. When you do need to use them, always use heat protection first. One of my favourites is K18 HeatBounce Conditioning Heat Protectant (€26 from spacenk.ie).Colour change or general fragilityLiving Proof Perfect Hair Day High-Shine Gloss (€37 from cultbeauty.ie) and Ouai Hair Gloss (€34 from spacenk.ie) If the issue is more visual and your blonde has suddenly gone brassy or your browns look dull, and your colour in general has lost its shine, that’s a different problem again. A glossing treatment can make a big difference, and there are some very good ones you can use at home. Try Living Proof Perfect Hair Day High-Shine Gloss (€37 from cultbeauty.ie) or Ouai Hair Gloss (€34 from spacenk.ie). But, it’s important to distinguish between colour that looks a little bit flat and hair that has become genuinely fragile. If your coloured or bleached hair suddenly feels more brittle or prone to breakage, I’d be more cautious. This may be where a bond-building treatment earns its place, but you might be better off paying a visit to the salon in this instance.A mixture of everything Of course, we can also experience a mixture of these things, which is where people tend to get confused. If your hair feels flat and weighed down but the ends are also dry, for example, I’d go for a clarifying shampoo followed by a good mask. If your hair feels dry and your colour has gone a little bit flat, then focus on conditioning and add in a gloss or toning treatment. It really is about figuring out what the issue is first and then pairing it with the right products. And if all that doesn’t work, it might be time to bring in the professionals. While treatments and careful handling of post-holiday hair can be really beneficial, they cannot perform a resurrection. If your hair has snapped, if it’s exceptionally brittle or damaged, or if the ends are split, sometimes the best thing you can do is make an appointment with your hairdresser and let them do what they do best.