Ever wonder why your hair is not growing, breaking easily, becomes greasy in one day, and doesn’t feel like your natural locks? In this article, we share our top tips for maintaining your mane, shopping for the right hair care products, and transforming your hair from dull and brittle to resilient and shiny!
KNOW YOUR HAIR TYPE
When first starting to revamp your hair journey, it is important to know what type of hair you have. Curly, straight, wavy, prone to dryness or grease? Knowing your hair type is essential when shopping for hair care products because a head of hair that is often very flaky does not need products formulated to prevent oil production on your scalp. If your hair is super curly, maybe you need products with an anti-frizz formula to tame your curls.
LOOK AT THE INGREDIENTS
Parabens – (often disguised as “fragrances”) cause dry, irritated scalp, loss of color/vibrance, even hair loss (in some cases)
Sulfates – (commonly used as surface-acting agents) cause frizzy hair and some allergic reactions
Alcohol – (added as a thickening agent) very drying to your scalp
Phthalates – used to increase “spreadability”, dangerous to the environment and your hair
TURN DOWN THE SHOWER TEMP
While steamy showers are very soothing, the hotter temperatures can cause irritation to your scalp and affect the way your hair grows out. It is recommended that you take a warm temperature shower and then right before getting out, take the temp down to cool to boost shine, maintain a healthy scalp, thus contributing to healthier hair.
BRUSH FIRST, WASH SECOND
An expert says, “Your hair is more prone to breakage when wet”. Therefore, it is important to detangle your hair BEFORE stepping into the shower for a wash. Your hair is less likely to have weak strands and breakage if it is brushed out before getting wet. In terms of brushing technique, it is always important to start brushing from the bottom half of your hair to prevent increased knots, and therefore increased broken hair.
WASH YOUR HAIR REGULARLY
Washing your hair on a regular basis is important for maintaining a clean head of hair, rid of dirt and excess oil that can cause greasy, stiff hair. The frequency of washes totally depends on your hair type. If you have dry hair, twice a week is often preferred. For hair on the greasier side, it is suggested that you are washing your hair everyday to avoid too much oil on your scalp.
AVOID STYLING TOOLS
While curling your hair or giving a quick run through the straightener can make it look camera-ready, overtime, these hot tools can cause major damage to your hair. As an alternative, air dry your hair, look into heatless curl techniques and overnight styling with a t-shirt! These heatless styling techniques are all over the internet, try something new and save your hair in the process!
TRIM YOUR HAIR REGULARLY
It is most commonly recommended that you trim your hair every 6-8 weeks to keep off split ends that can cause further damage to your hair. While your hair may not grow faster, it can improve healthier hair and prevent major breakage overtime.
EAT HEALTHY
Although it may not seem like what you’re eating affects your mane, it really DOES! Proteins and amino acids are essential to healthy hair as they are part of what your hair is made of, so fueling your body with more of these nutrients is key. Eggs, nuts, berries, sweet potatoes and green, leafy vegetables are all great sources of protein that can contribute to your healthy and strong hair.
CONDITION CORRECTLY
Conditioner is a major protectant against heat styling, overly frizzy hair and other major factors that contribute to hair breakage. That is why it is very important to condition after you shampoo and to use your conditioner the right way. Conditioning your hair, especially on your scalp can lead to extra greasy hair, especially if you are prone to oily hair. Instead, it should only be applied to the ends of your hair and a common technique taught by hair experts is to tip your head over for this shower step as well.
SUMMARY
Taking care of your hair early can prove wise as you get older and age changes your hair drastically. You can control the health of your hair by sticking to these recommendations and finding some of your own. Do what works for your hair type, invest in quality hair care products and take the daily steps to transform your hair!
