Being nice to yourself will ultimately affect how your hair looks. Self-care is a very important notion; the healthier food you eat, the more sleep you get, the more you exercise, and the better you are at drinking water on a daily basis, the more your hair will shine and radiate your general effort. In that respect, the following hair care tips will work almost magically when you pair them with the power of healthy living and self-care.
Washing and Drying Your Hair
The biggest mistake people make with their hair is that they tend to wash it almost every day. But, thanks to the practicality of dry shampoos, you can make sure that your hair looks presentable even when you skip washing it. The best practice would be to wash your hair just twice a week. This will keep it stronger and healthier.
When drying is concerned, you probably won’t be surprised to hear that air drying is the best possible solution for maintaining great hair quality. If you need to blow dry your hair, do it for just a couple of minutes and focus on roots only.
Choose Sulfate-Free Shampoos
Photo by Spencer Davis on Unsplash
If you minimize your hair washing to twice a week, you’ll have to shampoo it twice in the shower to get rid of accumulated dirt and oils. In general, you should pick two different shampoos, one with detoxifying and the other with moisturizing properties. Both of these shampoos should be free of sulfates. For a mask/conditioner, pick something that will regenerate and rejuvenate your hair without making it heavy.
When you’re shampooing your hair, focus on the roots, and only let the shampoo drip to the ends as you’re rinsing. Avoid really hot water as this can dry out your hair and scalp.
Apply Additional Treatment
Even after conditioning your hair, you can always benefit from added treatments. You can use store-bought leave-in treatments, but natural ingredients have the best effect. As such, using aloe powder for hair can promote hair growth, soothe an irritated scalp, and reduce the dandruff problem. All you have to do is mix the powder with water, apply it to your hair and scalp, let it sit for around 45 minutes, and rinse it. In case you want to use a leave-in treatment afterward, apply it straight on damp hair – don’t wait for it to dry completely.
Brush Your Hair Gently
Another huge mistake that damages hair considerably is brushing it roughly, with strong and robust movements. This breaks the hair follicle and even rips it straight from the scalp. The key is to take the time (a minute or two) to comb it slowly and gently. What’s more, make it a point to brush your hair twice a day as this will prevent tangles from forming and reduce hair loss. Detangling brushes work rather well but you can use whatever suits your hair type the best.
Styling Your Hair the Right Way
If you can’t do without hair stylers that use heat, which, honestly, are the worst enemies of your hair, keep in mind that you should only style your entire head of hair after the wash. So, if you want to keep your hair curled, for example, curl it once it’s washed and dry and then don’t touch the styler until your hair is washed again. You don’t need to press your hair tightly to the styler for too long; keep it loose and let go after a couple of seconds. To maintain your hairstyle, you can then utilize other tools that don’t need heat, make braids, use texturizing sprays and dry shampoo, and so on. Of course, don’t forget to apply a heat protection spray before you start exposing your hair to the heat.
How you treat your hair while you sleep also affects its health, strength, and quality. Before you go to bed, make sure to comb your hair gently, and then tie it at the top of your head in a loose bun. Use a scrunchy to avoid breakage and tangles. You can also spray some dry shampoo if you won’t be washing your hair the next day. An interesting tip is to use a silk pillow cover to avoid pulling on your hair during the night.
Taylor Parker is an American based writer and blogger. She is very passionate about family, fashion, health and lifestyle. Taylor writes mostly lifestyle articles, but also you’ll find her in home improvement and other niches.
