1. Start with the Scalp
In order to attain the luscious locks you so badly desire, you need to start by tending to your scalp. Signs of an unhealthy scalp can include flakes, dandruff, and excessive oil, which can cause a plethora of issues such as inhibited hair growth and even hair loss. To maintain a healthy scalp and encourage healthy hair growth, you should exfoliate your scalp once a week, incorporate tea tree oil into your hair routine, and massage your scalp regularly to stimulate blood flow.
I have recently started using this Detox Scalp System ($69) from Curlsmith once a week, and it has already made such a difference on my itchy, flaky scalp. Plus, it’s free of sulfates – so it’s safe for color-treated hair!
2. Dry with Caution
Hair breakage can occur at many different points during the drying process, and just because you skip the hair-dryer does not mean that you get off scot-free. Since hair is most vulnerable when it’s wet, it’s important to be especially gentle during this time. Drying your hair with t-shirts instead of towels, using a good leave-in conditioner, and utilizing a high-quality, gentle, detangling brush are all small routine changes that can have a massive impact on your hair health.
Here’s the method I’ve been using to dry my hair with cotton t-shirts, which has greatly reduced my frizz and helped to keep my waves defined and manageable.
3. Hydration is Key
One of the best things that you can do for your hair is keep it hydrated. Using a good conditioner (and even using it on your scalp sometimes!) can do wonders for keeping your hair radiant, soft, and frizz-free. I recommend supplementing your conditioner with a hydrating hair mask once a week, such as the Intense Hydrating Mask ($38) from Moroccanoil.
4. Get Regular Trims
No matter how gentle you are with your hair, split ends are inevitable, and they can make your hair look and feel dry, brittle, and lifeless. The mere presence of split ends can cause further damage and breakage to your hair – giving you more reason to avoid them at all costs. Although there are many ways you can try to prevent split ends, there’s only one fool-proof way to get rid of them when they do occur – and that’s to cut them off! Frequent trims eliminate the damaged portions of your hair, so you can achieve your softest, strongest hair yet.
5. Be Wary of Gimmicks
I know, I know – that hot tool claiming to dry, volumize, and curl your hair in one fell-swoop does sound enticing. However, you should always proceed with caution when you’re looking for hair care products, especially ones that involve heat. And for a general rule of thumb – if a tool sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
But if you are hell-bent on experimenting with different heat tools, make sure to also pick up a good heat protectant, such as the Heat Primer ($4.99) from Pantene.
6. Listen to Your Hair Needs
For years, I was disheartened by the fact that I wasn’t getting the results that I wanted from my haircare products. That was until I realized that my wavy, dry, thick hair was not getting the hydration it needed from the shampoos and conditioners in my shower. Even if a hair product has great reviews and accolades, it might not be formulated for your hair type, and it might not be able to cater to your hair needs and desires. When shopping for a product, you should make sure that its ingredients are formulated for your specific hair type, and its hair goals align with yours. This will ensure that you get the best results from every product you use.
If you’re unsure about what your hair type is, Shea Moisture has a great hair type chart that covers it all!
Feature Image from Bustle