Long luscious locks can be yours with just a few changes to your daily hair care routine. By using the correct products and preventing damage, you can ensure that your hair stays healthy. Split ends, environmental damage, over-washing, and using harsh chemicals on your hair can all contribute to your strands looking dull and can keep them from growing.
By taking the time to select the right products and protecting your hair from harmful environmental factors and harsh chemicals, you can keep your hair looking thick and shiny. Nourishing your body will go a long way towards keeping your locks healthy. Proper hair care will allow you to grow your hair to new lengths.
Follow these seven tips every day if you want long, strong, and shiny locks.
Select the right products
Every salon and drugstore have a seemingly endless supply of shampoos and conditioners to choose from. It can be overwhelming to decide which one is right for your hair. When selecting hair care products, look for high-quality ones and avoid those with harmful ingredients such as sulfates, parabens, and polyethylene glycols (PEG). These chemicals can dry out your hair and scalp and damage your locks.
You can also look for additives that will provide your hair with extra nutrients, encouraging it to grow and remain strong. Vitamin E, aloe, Argan oil, and coconut oil can help nourish your hair and scalp, providing it with extra vitamins and minerals. Consult with a hair salon to find and identify the recommended products for your hair.
Wash your hair properly
When you wash your hair, you want to ensure that you are doing it correctly. Apply shampoo to the scalp only and gently massage the roots of your hair. Shampoo on the ends of your tresses can cause breakage and remove too much of the natural oils your hair needs to stay strong and healthy.
When you apply conditioner, only use it to the ends of your hair. Too much conditioner close to your roots can cause your hair to become greasy and may require more frequent washings.
Don’t wash your hair every day
You should only wash your hair when it needs it. Some people produce more oil than others, meaning they need to wash their hair more frequently. Washing your hair too often can cause it to become dry and brittle and may lead to split ends and breakage. Try to wash your hair every other day at most and go even longer if you can.
Protect your hair from heat damage
The heat from styling tools like blow dryers, flat irons, and curling irons can be highly damaging to your strands. It can cause them to dry out and can lead to split ends. Let your hair air dry whenever possible. Set your blow dryer to a low-heat setting.
When you use other heated styling tools, first prep your hair with a heat-protectant spray. This will coat your locks in a protective barrier, helping to minimize the damage that straightening and curling can cause.
Brush your hair before you shower
Your hair is much more fragile when it is wet. Trying to detangle it while it is damp can cause the ends to break, leaving your hair frayed and in desperate need of repair. To avoid this, gently brush out any knots before you shower. This will keep your hair safe and make styling it afterward much easier.
Protect your hair while you sleep
Tossing and turning in bed can wreak havoc on your hair. To prevent this, tie your hair into a top-knot before going to bed or use a silk pillowcase to protect your strands. When sleeping on silk, there is less friction than with other materials. This helps protect the cuticle of your hair and reduces frizz, tangles, and breakage while you sleep.
Eat a healthy diet
Just like with your skin, your hair and scalp require a wide variety of vitamins and minerals to remain healthy. Eating a healthy diet filled with fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, and protein will keep your hair strong and help it stay healthy and grow to new lengths.
Fill up on berries, greens, almonds, eggs, and fish to get a variety of healthful ingredients. If you don’t always have time to eat healthily, make sure that you supplement with a multivitamin to get all of the nutrition that your hair needs.