The best healthy hair habits aren't just about what you do with your hair in the shower. They're also about how you treat and style it after, too. That means choosing products that make it easy to keep your locks looking gorgeous without weighing them down or causing damage.
So whether you're recovering from a bad haircut or just want to prevent future problems, here are 13 helpful ways to upgrade your habits:
Scalp Care
Scalp care is essential for healthy hair growth. Here are some tips:
- Exfoliate your scalp by using a gentle exfoliator once or twice a week, like a sugar scrub or natural oil-based scrub. This will help stimulate the skin cells on your scalp, which leads to healthier hair growth.
- Massage your scalp with warm oil (such as olive oil) and massage gently for 2 minutes.
- Use products that contain ingredients that nourish the scalp without weighing down your hair, such as aloe vera gel or coconut milk protein serum.
Proper Hair Washing Techniques
Washing your hair can be pretty stressful. It's a chore that takes time, money, and energy. Plus, improper washing techniques can lead to dryness, damage and hair loss.
But don't worry: There are plenty of healthy habits you can pick up that will make your next shower much easier on your locks. It's all about not making these common mistakes:
- Using hot water: Most experts agree that lukewarm water is best for wetting down a clean scalp before shampooing or conditioning. Hot water can strip away natural oils from the scalp and cause breakage if used too frequently (or even accidentally).
- Using harsh shampoos: If you're using a sulfate-free shampoo or one with fewer harsh chemicals than what's recommended for your hair type (for example: dry/damaged), do yourself one favor by skipping out on any anti-dandruff conditioners or treatments that may contain ketoconazole or zinc pyrithione—these ingredients are very effective at fighting fungus but they also strip away essential oils from the scalp over time!
Regular Trims
A trim is defined as a haircut that involves cutting your hair to a shorter length. You may have heard the term “trim” used to describe getting your hair cut by an inch or two, but when it comes to healthy hair, a trim can be more than just a quick snip—it can be an important habit you need to adopt. In fact, doing regular trims will help prevent split ends and breakage while promoting healthy growth at the same time.
Trimming is also crucial if you have naturally curly or wavy hair (or unruly curls). Regular trims will keep your ends looking sleek and tidy so they don't look dry or frizzy when styled. Here are some tips for maintaining healthy ends between trims:
- Avoid heat styling tools like flat irons and curling irons often — once every three months should suffice.
- Avoid wearing tight ponytails or buns — this will cause stress on the strands of your mane.
- Use protective hairstyles instead of heat styling tools like flat irons and curling irons often — once every three months should suffice.
Use Protective Hairstyles
Protective hairstyles are a great way to protect your hair from heat damage and breakage. They can also be an excellent way to maintain your natural curls, as well as give you a break from daily styling.
Protective hairstyles include braids, twists, buns, and many other styles that allow you to wear your hair up without worrying about damaging it with heat tools or other products.
Here are some tips for keeping hair healthy while wearing protective styles:
- Use moisturizing products before bedtime to prevent dryness while sleeping on a satin pillowcase; try DIY mix of coconut oil with raw honey or aloe vera juice
- Wash gently once per week using only water if possible (or one tablespoon white vinegar mixed in warm water). If needed use shampoo sparingly (no more than once per month) instead of conditioner daily; when washing don't rub too hard because it may cause tangles which would lead to breakage later on down the road! It's best not too use any kind of product when washing unless otherwise necessary such as detangling spray near ends only where there might be some buildup due all day wear/sweat etc."
Eat a Balanced Diet
A healthy diet can promote hair growth and prevent hair loss, so it’s important to make sure you’re getting all the nutrients your body needs. You should eat a balanced diet that includes lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables (especially dark leafy greens), vitamins, and minerals such as iron, zinc and biotin.
You may not realize it but nutrient deficiencies can affect your hair health, so it’s important to try to include these foods in your daily meals:
- Lean proteins like chicken breast or fish are great sources of protein for strong hair growth. Proteins are essential building blocks for tissue repair including skin cells which line the scalp. They also help keep blood sugar levels steady so there’s no fluctuation in hormone levels; this keeps dandruff away!
- Dark leafy greens (spinach) contain lots of fiber which contains vitamin C – an antioxidant that helps prevent free radical damage caused by pollutants in our environment or smoke from cigarettes/cigars etcetera . This vitamin can also be found naturally in potatoes as well as oranges or grapefruits but since they don't contain much fiber at all you're better off just having spinach salad instead of potato chips if you want more bang for buck when it comes down too it."
Proper Hair Product Usage
It is important to use the right hair products for your hair type and needs. For example, if you have dry hair, using a shampoo that contains moisturizers will help keep your scalp hydrated. If you have oily hair, then consider using an anti-dandruff shampoo to balance out the oil production in your scalp.
Here are some tips for the proper application and usage of hair products:
- Shampooing should be done once or twice a week at most, especially if you have colored or chemically treated hair since too much shampooing can strip away natural oils from the scalp.
- Conditioner is key when it comes to making sure that your tresses stay healthy and shiny; however, overdoing it with conditioner could actually cause more harm than good by weighing down strands and leaving them greasy looking (which isn't exactly what we're going for).
To avoid this problem altogether (and to increase softness), try using less product than usual during each wash session—we promise it's not as bad as it sounds! And don't forget about rinsing properly either; this step helps ensure even distribution throughout all layers so nothing gets left behind on its own accord later down the line.
Minimal Heat Styling
The good news is you can still achieve the look you want with minimal heat styling. Here are a few great techniques to try on your hair:
- Air-drying your hair will give it more volume and bounce, especially if you use a diffuser attachment on the end of your blow dryer.
- Alternatives to flat irons or curling wands include homemade flaxseed gel and scrunching styles with a braid or bun holder for curls.
- Don't exceed recommended temperatures on your hot tools—the higher they get, the more damage and breakage they'll cause!
Avoiding Harsh Chemicals
It's time to banish those harsh chemicals from your life. You know, the ones that make your hair look shiny and beautiful—but at what cost? Harsh chemicals can cause serious damage to the delicate structure of your hair, leading to breakage and thinning over time.
If you've been using relaxers or chemical dyes for years, switch to a natural alternative like henna (for color) or coconut oil (for conditioning). The good news is that there are so many excellent natural products out there now: It's not hard at all to find one that works well with your specific type of hair!
Regular Conditioning
One of the most important things you can do for your hair is to make sure it's properly conditioned. Conditioners help to keep your hair soft, shiny, and smooth—and they also help to prevent damage from heat styling tools or environmental factors like pollution.
When using a conditioner on dry hair, apply it after shampooing but before rinsing out with water. Massage the product into your strands from root to tip and leave it in for at least three minutes (up to five minutes if possible). This is when deep conditioning happens! Afterward, rinse thoroughly and follow up with another rinse of cool water to close off the cuticle layer of each strand.
Use products specifically designed for your type of hair—this will ensure that you're getting exactly what you need based on its specific needs: whether that be moisture, strength or shine-boosting properties among others. And remember: everyone has different levels of oil production so don't be afraid to experiment with different types until finding one that suits both your pocketbook and scalp!
Avoiding Over-Styling
One of the most common hair mistakes people make is over-styling. Over-styling can lead to damage and breakage, so it's important to limit how much you style your hair. If you're looking for an updated look, try going to the salon instead of trying something new at home.
If you love experimenting with different hairstyles on your own, there are some things you can do to maintain healthy hair in between styles. Make sure that you use good quality products when styling and be gentle while handling them. Be especially careful when using hot tools like flat irons or curling wands because they can damage strands if used incorrectly or too often.
After each styling session (and after washing), treat yourself by massaging a little bit of coconut oil into your scalp before bedtime as this will help keep moisture levels up throughout the day when applied daily before bedtime."
Getting Enough Sleep
Sleep is important for everyone, but especially for your hair. How so? Here are the best reasons:
- Your hair and skin cells grow faster at night. They need rest to replenish themselves after you’re awake all day, which means they can repair damage and strengthen their structure while you sleep.
- The body releases growth hormones during deep sleep cycles, so getting enough of it is essential if you want your hair to grow long and strong as fast as possible!
It's also important to note that a good night's sleep will help improve the quality of your day-to-day life—that includes all aspects including moods, memory function (memory storage), immune system function (defense against disease), and even weight management!
Managing Stress
Stress is a big player in the health of your hair. It can lead to dandruff, breakage, and even thinning hair, leaving you with fewer options when it comes to styling.
To manage stress and maintain healthy hair:
- Try meditation or yoga if you have time for it during your busy schedule. You don’t need to spend hours meditating each day – just 10 minutes here and there can do wonders for your mental health!
- Write down your worries before bedtime so that they aren’t on your mind while trying to fall asleep (or waking up). This will also help prevent nightmares from keeping you awake at night!
Staying Hydrated
Another great way to keep your hair healthy is by staying hydrated. Drinking enough water will keep your hair from drying out and flaking, which can lead to breakage. Aim for consuming at least half of your body weight in ounces per day (if you weigh 150 pounds, this would be 75 ounces), but shoot for even more if possible.
It's also helpful to drink extra water when exercising or eating salty foods because these practices cause you to lose some of the fluids you've already swallowed.
While it's important not to overdo it with the H2O intake—too much fluid can actually put stress on the kidneys and electrolyte balance—it's equally important not to miss out on optimal hydration if you want great hair health.
If you're sick or under a lot of stress, make sure that your first priority is getting enough fluids at regular intervals throughout the day so that they don't become necessary after an emergency situation has already occurred!
Conclusion
You don’t have to spend every minute of your day trying to make your hair look perfect. But, there are some habits that are important to adopt if you want a healthy head of hair. The best thing about these habits is that they don’t take up much time, yet they can make a big difference in how healthy your locks look and feel.