5 Tips for Healthy Hair

How you care for your hair says a lot about you. The way you style your hair reveals mood or intentions. The color gives away your age. Whether it’s messy or well-brushed, styled or not, it shows how much you care about your appearance. Taking care of your hair is a necessity.

One of the first things we notice about a person’s appearance is their hair. It is an element that you can easily control and change, given the right tools and advice.

Learn to help your hair with these five tips:

1. Create a routine for your hair

   Treat your hair like any other part of your hygiene. By creating a hair care routine, you can easily keep your hair looking and feeling healthy.

   Use shampoo and conditioner as often as you need, but you don’t need a large amount. Some will say that washing too often, or too little, will result in oily or dry hair but everyone is different. You should measure how often you wash your hair by how dirty it gets throughout the day. Just like skin, hair needs to be cleaned of dirt, too!

   If you use a mask, plan to use it once a week. If you put oil in your hair before using heat, make sure you use it every time. Keep up with your routine if you expect to see results. Hair only grows about half an inch every month!

2. Choose and use the right products correctly

   Generally, we wash our hair with shampoo and then treat it with a conditioner. For healthy hair, you want to keep your strands clean, strong, and shiny. Choose a shampoo that contains proteins/amino acids to strengthen your hair while you get rid of dirt and oil. Massage the shampoo into your scalp gently; don’t scrub because your scalp is sensitive like your skin.

   Choosing the right conditioner is less difficult. Your conditioner should moisturize and you really only need it if your hair is six inches or longer. Massage a nickel-size amount onto the middle of your hair and work down to the ends, then work your way up to your scalp.

   Other important products to keep your hair healthy include coconut oil, argan oil, and aloe. These pure ingredients will help strengthen your hair. Leave it in overnight and wash it out in the morning. You’ll see a noticeable shine.

3. Handle your hair with care

   One of the reasons hair looks unhealthy is due to breakage. It’s caused by constant heat exposure, too many products, brushing aggressively, or tying scrunchies too tight.

   When you brush your hair, start at the ends and work your way up and only brush it when it’s dry. You can also use a wide-toothed comb when it’s wet.

   Take out your hair ties by unwrapping them instead of pulling it out in one pull so you don’t rip out strands. Don’t tie it too tight, either!

   When using a towel to dry your hair, don’t smother it and scrub it dry. Wrap it loosely or pat it down by parts. It takes longer, but it will prevent unnecessary damage.

   Use heat protection products if you treat or style with heat and leave it to air dry as often as you can.

4. Eat a more protein-rich diet

   What you eat affects your hair. Each strand is made from a protein in our bodies called keratin, which gives it strength as it leaves the follicles in your scalp.

   A protein-rich diet will give your body the right fuel to make healthy, strong hair. Incorporate more meat, fish, eggs, beans and spinach. Vitamin C and E are also helpful, so be sure to add berries and avocados, or simply take supplements.

5. Don’t worry about what people think

   Your hair may make a statement but don’t let the opinions of others weigh you down. Your hair is an opportunity to bring out your creativity. Whether you’re going to a job interview, or planning your wedding hair and makeup, express your unique self. Above all, take care of your hair. Healthy hair means a healthy body.