Nothing says va-va-voom like a head full of gorgeous, healthy hair. While one expects celebrities to be perfectly coiffed at all times, there are some whose distinct hair make them stand out above the crowd. Instep spoke to four such stars to get the lowdown on their locks and the care that goes into maintaining them.

Meesha Shafi

From a pixie cut to a long bob to hair that falls below her shoulders, Meesha’s hair transformations are a source of constant excitement in celebrity circles. While she’s lucky to have been blessed with good genes that gave her straight and silky hair, the actress-cum-musician-cum-model says that she has to be extra kind to her hair once the camera stops rolling. "With all the heat and product that my scalp is subjected to regularly, I don’t even own a hair dryer. I’ve always invested in low maintenance cuts that I can just wash and leave." Meesha swears by coconut oil, which she uses not only to oil her scalp but also to cleanse and moisturize her face.

The mother of two has recently made a decision to go green and give up all supermarket beauty products in favour of organic ones. "Having children made me want to be more responsible and more aware of what my family and I were consuming, not just as part of our diet but also through our skins, given the number of products one uses on a daily basis." Her current hair regimen consists of washing her hair with an organic shampoo from Body Shop and rinsing it with apple cider vinegar for extra shine. Her beauty tip: "Don’t wash your hair too often, it depletes your scalp of its natural nutrients and makes the hair unhealthy."

Shehla Chatoor

The gorgeous designer from Karachi is a head-turner and her luscious locks that flow down to her waist are part of the reason why people often mistake them for artificial extensions and her for a model and that too, one half her age! Shehla’s beauty mantra is "effortless style" and while she loves pampering herself with the occasional blow dry, she is of the opinion that too much perfection kills a thing of beauty. "Even when I’m getting my hair done, I like it to be a little bit messy, a little undone," says the designer whose sexy and feminine bed-head is the envy of many.

Karachi summers are notorious for being unkind to one’s hair and Shehla makes sure she protects her tresses from the sun when she goes out. "To control frizz, I keep my hair tied up during the day when I’m at work. While at the workshop or when dealing with clients, I can’t have hair all over the place. It’s unprofessional and distracting."

The designer believes in luxury and likes to invest in good beauty products such as shampoos and conditioners by OSIS and revitalizing hair masks by Kerastase. She uses almond oil at least once a week, which helps to keep her locks nourished and moisturized. When it comes to experimenting with styles, however, Shehla says she’s too boring to ever consider chopping off her hair. "My long hair has been my identifying feature since my school days. I can’t imagine being me without it. I don’t mind experimenting with colour though, and my hair always has some new shade of brownish gold in it."

Sarwat Gillani

Actress Sarwat Gillani, with her mop of curls, has always had a distinct sense of style. While most celebs seem to favour hair that is straight and long, Sarwat is more than happy to embrace her natural curls. "I love my hair," she says, "and I don’t understand why people gripe about curly hair. It’s so distinct, it gives you an individualistic style. Curly hair can be your best accessory."

Regular TLC is what keeps Sarwat’s hair looking healthy and voluminous at all times. She is a firm believer in home remedies and uses the ingredients in her pantry to whip up hair masks and concoctions at least once a week. She also likes to experiment with different oils for the scalp, from almond to olive to coconut. The most invaluable hair tip she ever received, and which she adheres to religiously, is to keep changing the products she applies to her hair. "I change my shampoo and conditioner every six months without fail. This ensures that my hair doesn’t get used to the same formula after a while and start misbehaving."

The main advantage with curls is that one doesn’t need to spend ages styling it. "Once dry, it takes me about 60 seconds to sculpt my hair in shape and I’m red-carpet ready!"

Abbas Jafri

Abbas Jafri is male model of the moment in Pakistan and it’s not difficult to understand why. With his unkempt beard and trailing locks, he’s a class apart from the other clean-cut, pretty boys who dominated the modeling scene till recently. When Abbas started growing his hair about five years ago while vacationing in USA, little did he realize it would become his most defining feature and the reason for his success, both locally and on international runways.

With a job that keeps him constantly on the go and living out of a suitcase, Abbas says he doesn’t have the time to spend on a proper hair care routine or invest in expensive products. "Extensive use of products damage your hair, so I swear by a minimal and basic regime. Shampoo and conditioner are a must; apart from that I avoid products unless I’m getting my hair styled professionally."

One wouldn’t have thought so given his raw and masculine look, but Abbas is quite the mama’s boy and turns to his mother for hair care advice. "Good old-fashioned home care is the best and my mother has a host of remedies for me to try. My idea of being pampered is having my mom massage my head with oil. What an irreplaceable feeling!"