Taking care of your hair every day seems easy. But many people make mistakes that can hurt their hair. Here are ten simple tips to help you take better care of your hair and keep it healthy.
Don’t Fear Heat
Many people think heat is bad for hair. But it’s all about using heat correctly. If you use a flat iron every day, you should take a break. For everyone else, heat is okay as long as you follow two rules:
- Always use heat protectant.
- Give your hair three days of rest before using heat again.
How to Use Heat Protectant
There are two types of heat:
- Heat from a blow dryer: This is around 170°. Use a blow-dry cream with heat protection built in. Good options include:
- Redken Big Blowout: Great for fine or medium hair to add volume.
- Redken Frizz Dismiss Rebel Tame: Best for coarse hair to fight frizz and get a smooth look.
- Heat from an iron: This is much hotter. Use a thermal heat protectant like Thermal Spray 22. It adds extra hold and shine.
Protect Your Hair Overnight
Your hair needs protection while you sleep. If you don’t take care of it, you could wake up with a mess and damage your hair.
Instead, try these options:
- Loose Bun: Tie your hair up in a loose bun. Use hair ties that don’t damage your hair. Avoid hair ties with metal. Better options include:
- Invisibobbles: These look like old phone cords and don’t leave creases in your hair. Don’t wrap them too tight.
- Scrunchies: These are gentle and work well.
- Silk Bonnet: If you move a lot in your sleep, use a silk bonnet. It’s easy and works for everyone.
Match Products to Your Hair Type
Have you ever used a product that a friend loved, but it didn’t work for you? This is because everyone has different hair types. What works for one person might not work for another.
It’s hard to know if a product is right for you just by looking at it in a store. The only way to know is to test it on different hair types.
Hair type is about how your hair reacts to products. It’s about how heavy or light your products need to be to get the best results. Don’t confuse hair type with hair pattern (straight, wavy, curly).
Don’t Cheap Out on the Basics
The basics are the building blocks of healthy hair. If you don’t get these right, you will have problems. Don’t buy cheap shampoo and conditioner. It will cost you more in the long run.
You might think you’re saving money, but you’ll end up buying more products to fix problems caused by the cheap shampoo and conditioner. In the end, it’s cheaper to buy high-quality products from the start.
Stick to Proven Products
Some products have been around for years because they work. These include:
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Leave-in Conditioner
- Hair Oil
- Heat Protectant
Avoid new products that sound good but might not work. These include scalp scrubs, hair growth shampoos, and strengthening products. It’s better to stick with what you know works.
There are only three reasons why proven products might not work for you:
- You buy cheap products.
- You don’t match the product to your hair type.
- You don’t know how to use the product correctly.
Shampoo the Right Way
Most people don’t know how to use shampoo correctly. Here are some tips:
- Wash twice. The first wash removes dirt, oil, and buildup. The second wash gets your hair fully clean.
- Apply to the scalp only. Oil comes from your scalp, so focus on cleaning your scalp.
- Don’t put shampoo on the ends of your hair. This can dry them out.
Use Less Product
It might sound strange for a hair professional to tell you to use less product. But it’s better for your hair.
Too much product can weigh your hair down and make it look greasy. You’ll have to wash it more often. Try cutting the amount of product you use in half. You might be surprised at the results.
Find Your Shampoo Soulmate
A shampoo that’s perfect for your hair type can change your life. It will keep your hair clean for days. It’s the first step to healthy hair.
When you find the right shampoo, it will remove buildup that other shampoos couldn’t. Your hair will stay fresh and bouncy. You’ll use less product overall. And your hair will look great!
Conclusion
Taking care of your hair does not have to be hard. Start by using heat correctly, protecting your hair overnight, and matching products to your hair type. Don’t cheap out on the basics, stick to proven products, and shampoo the right way. Finally, use less product.