All hair is beautiful, no matter what kind, texture, and colour. But a bad hair day can make you feel less confident. Don’t worry! All your hair needs is consistent tender love and care — the right kind of care to bring it back to its healthiest state.
Your hair is constantly exposed to stressors, such as heat, pollution, friction, chemicals and more. These are the causes of our hair problems, including dryness, dullness, frizz, breakage, thinning, and more. And while it may take time and a little effort to keep it healthy, the reward of beautiful lush hair exceeds the sacrifice.
Understand Your Hair Type
You may hear conflicting views on how to care for your hair. And you might have tried them all but have only gotten nothing but varying unsatisfying results. The truth is the proper care starts with knowing your hair type and texture. This is where you’ll be basing the type of products and routine your hair needs. For instance, curly hair types with dry textures will benefit from sulphate-free products to keep their locks healthy and well-moisturised. On the other hand, straight hair types with oily scalps should regularly wash their hair with an everyday-use formula that targets oil build-up.
Let Conditioner Sit
Applying conditioner after shampooing is an essential step to keep your hair soft, shiny and healthy! Conditioning allows your hair to absorb the various nutrients it needs to recover from all its endured stress. To get maximum results, use a comb to distribute the conditioner evenly throughout your hair. Then, leave it in for about 2–3 minutes before rinsing to give time for the conditioner to work into your hair.
Lay Off the Heat
Exposure to constant heat can dry out your hair, making it stiffer to work with and often leading to split ends. So as good as a hot shower may feel, it’s safer to keep the temperature just warm. Using a cold shower for the last rinse also helps seal the cuticles and boost shine to maintain healthier, beautiful hair. The hot air from your hairdryer can also be damaging. So instead, we recommend air drying to keep a little moisture and avoid dull hair. Lastly, you can protect your hair against UV rays by applying a leave-in styler with SPF.
Choose a Hair-Friendly Diet
A healthy diet will positively impact the condition of your hair and scalp, so make sure to include these foods high in hair-friendly nutrients, such as protein, zinc, omega, and other vitamins. Our hair is principally made up of protein. So, a low-protein diet can lead to weak, brittle hair, and, worse, hair loss. Zinc, which is found in vegetables, fruits, and nuts prevents hair loss. Omega-3 fatty acids, typically found in cold-water fishes, stimulate hair follicles and sebaceous glands to boost scalp health. Foods that are rich in vitamins C and E, like berries, avocados, and spinach, promote collagen production for stronger, healthier strands.
Sleep With a Silk Pillowcase
Sleeping on silk pillowcases is a wonder. Not only do they feel soft and heavenly on the skin, but they also prevent tangled and static hair. This is because silk tends to have less friction when rubbed against our hair compared to other cloth materials. To reduce the stress on your hair even more, you can put your hair in a silk hair wrap, a loose topknot with a silk scrunchie, or a loose braid so your hair won’t go all over the place during your sleep.
Visit Your Hairdresser
A routine trip to the hairdresser will do your hair a lot of good. For starters, regular trims maintain healthy strands that don’t break or split at the end. Letting a professional do it will give you many options for hairstyles too. Plus, it assures you of a quality, nice-looking haircut. If you love your current hair length, ask for a “dusting”. This means only the tips are cut off, getting rid of the damaged ends while maintaining the length.
Additionally, visiting your hairdresser often means access to helpful expert advice for reviving and maintaining your hair. Having your hair checked by professionals allows them to personally assess and give you recommendations specific for your hair type, texture, and state.
Love Your Hair
Beautiful hair isn’t just achieved by styling, colouring and chemical treatments that can damage your hair. Besides, healthy hair is not only beautiful; it’s stronger, more durable, and can look great for a long time. So give your hair a lot of love. After all, it is your crowning glory.