Tips For A Healthy Hair Routine At Home

Hair is the most important accessory we wear every day and your hair care habits can be the difference between good and not-so-good-looking hair.

As with skin, everyone's hair is and behaves differently, and multiple factors such as genetics, diet, hair products, etc, affect the way your hair feels and looks. While some of these factors we can't control, you can achieve healthy hair by learning and following a routine that works well for your type of hair. 

Here are 5 tips you can follow to optimize the health of your hair.

1. Use the right products for your type of hair

It might sound obvious but you should first understand your type of hair. Curly hair tends to get dryer, so the curlier your hair is, the more need for moisture-packed products. On the other hand, if you have fine hair, rich products with a lot of moisture can weigh your hair down and make it feel dull and lifeless. Start by evaluating the products you use regularly, even something as simple as switching your shampoo and conditioner can make a world of a difference within the first few uses.

 Also, trying to fix your hair problems with the most expensive product out there doesn't make a difference if you don't know what you need. Your hair might be lacking moisture but you are trying to fix it by adding protein. It's like taking cough syrup to alleviate your stomach pain...see what I'm saying? Not because a product offers a solution it means that it is the right solution for you.

A general rule amongst professionals is to go back to the basics. If you are using all sorts of different products that promise magical solutions but still no change, your best bet is to switch to a basic shampoo and conditioner and give your hair a little break from using too many products.

If you're not sure where to begin, talk to a professional or connect with a friend that has a similar hair type to yours. They probably understand your struggle and can save you the hassle of trying out thousands of different products that you'll only end up using a couple of times.

2. Style your hair on a regular basis

No one's hair looks perfect when they first roll out of bed, although I'm sure we've all experienced the perfect hair day when you planned to lay down as a couch potato all day; but it's good to get in the habit of styling your hair with a blow dryer and avoid hitting the pillow with your wet hair. The biggest issue when you do this is that in order to fix that weird kink, you now have to resort to higher heat tools like a flat iron or curling iron, causing a lot more damage.

In fact, blow-drying your hair (when done correctly) actually helps to close down the cuticle, brings out the shine, and smooths out the surface of your hair strands. Of course, not everyone has the time to blow dry their hair every day, or the patience to do it. A good trick is letting your hair air-dry up to 80% and then going in with the blow dryer and a brush that feels comfortable to you. By doing this you'll avoid spending too much time styling your hair and it'll still look as good as if you blow-dried from completely wet hair.

Apply some product to support the style you are looking for and start with the lowest temperature setting, slowly working towards a higher temperature if needed. A good blow dry can leave your hair styled for two to three days, which also helps avoid the overuse of hot tools.

Finish off with a high blast of cold air on your roots to make sure your hair is completely dry and avoid frizziness.

3. Give your hair a break from hot tools

I know, this solution kind of contradicts the paragraph above, but the use of hot tools on a regular basis can leave your hair feeling brittle, dull, and dry and when that happens there is no magical product to help you fix it. If you must use hot tools every day make sure to avoid using high temperatures and going over the same section multiple times. 

A product that's often missed in conversation but is a MUST if you use hot tools regularly, is a heat protectant. Seriously it makes a world of a difference. You can find them in different varieties such as a styling cream you use before your blow-dry or in a dry spray version which you spray before you go in with your flat or curling iron. 

4. Avoid shampooing your hair too much

The shampoo is meant to clean up excess oils and product build-up in your hair, but washing your hair every day can actually do more harm than good, as it strips out the natural oils in your hair and scalp. Removing those natural oils can make your hair feel dry and brittle. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule; some people produce enough oil to need to wash their hair daily, but they are not the majority.

If you still can't get in with the idea of not washing your hair every day, I recommend using a gentler shampoo or even trying out a dry shampoo to push you from everyday washing to an on and off routine. 

5. Don't wear your hair up with really tight elastics

Using a really tight elastic can actually be super harmful to your hair and you can end up with tons of what you thought was "baby hair", but it's actually your strands of hair that have been split because of the tension you put on every day. I'd recommend switching your everyday elastic to a scrunchie or an invisibobble, which are a lot gentler on the hair, and get the job done, plus they are such a cute accessory for your hair!

Remember, it's called a journey for a reason

There isn't a product or service that will magically make your hair look amazing, but changing your bad hair habits will get you there eventually. After some experimentation, you'll get to learn what works best for you and how to keep your hair as healthy as you can.