Have you ever looked at someone and wondered how they get their hair so shiny and healthy? Hair envy is more common than you think, and most people have wished they had someone else’s hair at one time or another. In fact, the person whose hair you are currently coveting is likely wishing they had hair like someone else.
Sadly, though, you cannot exchange your hair for that of someone else. Short of shaving it all off and starting again or wearing wigs, you are stuck with the hair you have regardless of how you cut or color it.
But healthy, luscious locks aren’t something only people on TV seem to have; they belong to other people. The trick to having healthy hair that looks and feels good is to learn as much about your hair as possible and then work through different products and care routines to find what works for you.
If you’re one of the 74% of women who say a bad hair day can ruin their whole day, then you need to adopt some of these tips to go from hair nope to hair wow.
Know Your Hair
Do you really know your hair? How often do you let your hair just exist without trying to do anything to it? How often do you let it relax without styling or products? Just paying attention to your hair in its natural form can allow you to see how it behaves, feels, or reacts to anything, everything, and nothing at all.
Is your hair pin-straight? Does it have neither a curl nor is straight but is thick and falls into a nice wave at times? Then you might have 1c type hair. Learning about the different hair types can allow you to uncover how best to care for them. The pattern of your hair, e.g. straight wavy curl, etc, is given a number from 1-4, and the density and width are given a letter from A to C. Each type of hair needs different care and treatments to get the best from them. This also helps you understand what kind of products to use and how to style them.
Drink More Water
Did you know that water makes up 25% of each hair strand? Water is vital for many functions in the body, and the hair is no exception. You need water for the proper absorption of vitamins and minerals, and your hair needs a variety of vitamins and minerals for it to be healthy. So, if you’re looking at adding hair-boosting supplements to your diet, you need to ensure you drink at least 8 glasses of water daily.
In addition, hair needs water for strength. Stronger hair means more growth, so if you’re not getting enough water in your day, try upping your consumption and see how it can impact hair health and growth.
Eat Nutrient Dense Foods
Again, like water, nutrient-dense foods are excellent choices for your body, not just your hair. However, your hair needs certain vitamins and minerals for healthy manes. The following are excellent dietary choices for amazing hair.
Protein
A well-rounded diet is important, but adding extra protein to your food choices is a great idea, as hair strands are made from protein as well as water. Get at least 45g per day of lean protein from sources such as chicken, lean beef, low-fat dairy products, eggs, and fish.
Zinc
A zinc deficiency can cause brittle hair, so if you want to avoid this or limit damage and get stronger hair, then you need to add foods rich in zinc to your diet. These foods can include vegetables, fruits, and leafy greens.
Omega-3
Omega-3 fatty acids are excellent for scalp health and can stimulate hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Yoghurt, cottage cheese, and flax seeds are all excellent sources of Omega-3, along with your oily fish choices.
Sun Protection
The sun can be a significant cause of damage to your hair. And much like you would protect your skin from the sun, you should be protecting your hair, too. Not only can the sun burn your scalp, but it can damage the strands, too. Use a hair-specific UV protection spray, wear a hat or head covering, and avoid prolonged sun exposure to avoid any adverse effects from the sun. Don’t forget you can also get SPF for your scalp too instead of using standard sun protection products on your head that might cause build-up on your hair.
Use Lower Temperatures
This goes for washing and styling your hair. While a scalding hot shower night feels good on your body, it can potentially damage your hair. When washing your hair, use warm water with a blast of cold water at the end of smooth follicles if you can bear it.
The same goes for styling, too. Try to avoid using maximum temperature on your styling products when drying or styling your hair. Use lower temperatures, allow your hair to partially air dry, and always use the cold shot function when styling to minimize damage if this is a feature. The less heat you use on your hair, the stronger and less brittle it will be, and the less breakage you will experience.
Get Hair Specific
This basically means that you need to use the right products for your hair type. If you have wavy hair, use products designed to help you manage the waves and avoid frizz. If you have oily hair, use products that eliminate build-up and are gentle on your scalp. Always pay attention to your hair type (as detailed above) and the type of products it responds to.
It might mean that you need to experiment with different products and ingredients to find what works for you, but it’s well worth the time if you’re investing in improving your hair to find the right products.
Wash Correctly
Did you know there is a right and a wrong way to wash your hair? Washing your hair more than once per day is a big no-no and can strip your hair of essential oils. Ideally, you’d only shampoo your hair every other day at minimum to preserve its health (you can use dry shampoo in between washes). But if you have oily hair, this is not always possible, so using a gentle shampoo designed to clean without stripping oils is vital to protect against damage.
When you shampoo, there are some rules you should follow.
Only use enough shampoo to cover your hair. You don’t need copious amounts.
Massage shampoo into the scalp and roots; generally, the ends don’t always need as much attention as the roots, and over-cleaning the hair length can result in flyaway strands.
Avoid using shampoo that contains harsh chemicals.
There are also some rules you can follow when conditioners come out too.
Condition after every shampoo.
Use conditioner sparingly.
Apply conditioner to the tips of the length of hair if you have long hair; this is because some conditioners can cause hair to become limp or roots to look oily after application.
Brush Correctly
Brushing your hair is one of the best ways to keep it looking smooth and healthy. However, if you brush it wrong, use the wrong brush, or brush at the wrong time, you might cause more damage.
Firstly, don’t brush your hair when wet. If you need to, brush before you wash it, then use a wide-toothed comb when it’s wet to remove any tangles. Don’t brush from the root down to the tip, as this can pull the hair and cause damage. Instead, start a few inches from the bottom of the hair and brush down, then go higher as you remove any tangles. Use short strokes and brush in small sections for improved care and attention.
The brush you use is just as important as how you use it. For example, if you have long, thick hair, you might want to try a nylon ceramic brush. A brush with boar bristles is ideal for soft or thinning hair as it’s super gentle. A paddle brush can be great for straight or wavy hair, and round brushes are perfect for adding volume when drying.
Be Gentle On Wet Hair
How you care for your hair when wet can impact its strength and health. Using a brush to detangle damp hair will cause damage and breakage, as will tying your hair up wet with tight elastic; this will cause hair to snap or fall out from the root, increasing hair loss. Gently pat your hair dry using a soft towel, and be careful when applying products and tools to your wet hair, or you won’t cause damage as hair is more susceptible to breakage when wet.
Get A Trim
Split ends, dead hair and frizzy ends are common for people whose hair needs a trimming. Typically, you should get your hair trimmed at least every 8 weeks. You don’t need to have a drastic cut or restyle each time you go. You can ask for the ends to be trimmed only to increase the length, or you can thin it out slightly if your hair grows thick but not long. But going for regular trims will help you preserve the health of your hair and ensure it looks its best at all times.
Have you ever looked at someone and wondered how they get their hair so shiny and healthy? Hair envy is more common than you think, and most people have wished they had someone else’s hair at one time or another. In fact, the person whose hair you are currently coveting is likely wishing they had hair like someone else.
Sadly, though, you cannot exchange your hair for that of someone else. Short of shaving it all off and starting again or wearing wigs, you are stuck with the hair you have regardless of how you cut or color it.
But healthy, luscious locks aren’t something only people on TV seem to have; they belong to other people. The trick to having healthy hair that looks and feels good is to learn as much about your hair as possible and then work through different products and care routines to find what works for you.
If you’re one of the 74% of women who say a bad hair day can ruin their whole day, then you need to adopt some of these tips to go from hair nope to hair wow.
Know Your Hair
Do you really know your hair? How often do you let your hair just exist without trying to do anything to it? How often do you let it relax without styling or products? Just paying attention to your hair in its natural form can allow you to see how it behaves, feels, or reacts to anything, everything, and nothing at all.
Is your hair pin-straight? Does it have neither a curl nor is straight but is thick and falls into a nice wave at times? Then you might have 1c type hair. Learning about the different hair types can allow you to uncover how best to care for them. The pattern of your hair, e.g. straight wavy curl, etc, is given a number from 1-4, and the density and width are given a letter from A to C. Each type of hair needs different care and treatments to get the best from them. This also helps you understand what kind of products to use and how to style them.
Drink More Water
Did you know that water makes up 25% of each hair strand? Water is vital for many functions in the body, and the hair is no exception. You need water for the proper absorption of vitamins and minerals, and your hair needs a variety of vitamins and minerals for it to be healthy. So, if you’re looking at adding hair-boosting supplements to your diet, you need to ensure you drink at least 8 glasses of water daily.
In addition, hair needs water for strength. Stronger hair means more growth, so if you’re not getting enough water in your day, try upping your consumption and see how it can impact hair health and growth.
Eat Nutrient Dense Foods
Again, like water, nutrient-dense foods are excellent choices for your body, not just your hair. However, your hair needs certain vitamins and minerals for healthy manes. The following are excellent dietary choices for amazing hair.
Protein
A well-rounded diet is important, but adding extra protein to your food choices is a great idea, as hair strands are made from protein as well as water. Get at least 45g per day of lean protein from sources such as chicken, lean beef, low-fat dairy products, eggs, and fish.
Zinc
A zinc deficiency can cause brittle hair, so if you want to avoid this or limit damage and get stronger hair, then you need to add foods rich in zinc to your diet. These foods can include vegetables, fruits, and leafy greens.
Omega-3
Omega-3 fatty acids are excellent for scalp health and can stimulate hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Yoghurt, cottage cheese, and flax seeds are all excellent sources of Omega-3, along with your oily fish choices.
Sun Protection
The sun can be a significant cause of damage to your hair. And much like you would protect your skin from the sun, you should be protecting your hair, too. Not only can the sun burn your scalp, but it can damage the strands, too. Use a hair-specific UV protection spray, wear a hat or head covering, and avoid prolonged sun exposure to avoid any adverse effects from the sun. Don’t forget you can also get SPF for your scalp too instead of using standard sun protection products on your head that might cause build-up on your hair.
Use Lower Temperatures
This goes for washing and styling your hair. While a scalding hot shower night feels good on your body, it can potentially damage your hair. When washing your hair, use warm water with a blast of cold water at the end of smooth follicles if you can bear it.
The same goes for styling, too. Try to avoid using maximum temperature on your styling products when drying or styling your hair. Use lower temperatures, allow your hair to partially air dry, and always use the cold shot function when styling to minimize damage if this is a feature. The less heat you use on your hair, the stronger and less brittle it will be, and the less breakage you will experience.
Get Hair Specific
This basically means that you need to use the right products for your hair type. If you have wavy hair, use products designed to help you manage the waves and avoid frizz. If you have oily hair, use products that eliminate build-up and are gentle on your scalp. Always pay attention to your hair type (as detailed above) and the type of products it responds to.
It might mean that you need to experiment with different products and ingredients to find what works for you, but it’s well worth the time if you’re investing in improving your hair to find the right products.
Wash Correctly
Did you know there is a right and a wrong way to wash your hair? Washing your hair more than once per day is a big no-no and can strip your hair of essential oils. Ideally, you’d only shampoo your hair every other day at minimum to preserve its health (you can use dry shampoo in between washes). But if you have oily hair, this is not always possible, so using a gentle shampoo designed to clean without stripping oils is vital to protect against damage.
When you shampoo, there are some rules you should follow.
There are also some rules you can follow when conditioners come out too.
Brush Correctly
Brushing your hair is one of the best ways to keep it looking smooth and healthy. However, if you brush it wrong, use the wrong brush, or brush at the wrong time, you might cause more damage.
Firstly, don’t brush your hair when wet. If you need to, brush before you wash it, then use a wide-toothed comb when it’s wet to remove any tangles. Don’t brush from the root down to the tip, as this can pull the hair and cause damage. Instead, start a few inches from the bottom of the hair and brush down, then go higher as you remove any tangles. Use short strokes and brush in small sections for improved care and attention.
The brush you use is just as important as how you use it. For example, if you have long, thick hair, you might want to try a nylon ceramic brush. A brush with boar bristles is ideal for soft or thinning hair as it’s super gentle. A paddle brush can be great for straight or wavy hair, and round brushes are perfect for adding volume when drying.
Be Gentle On Wet Hair
How you care for your hair when wet can impact its strength and health. Using a brush to detangle damp hair will cause damage and breakage, as will tying your hair up wet with tight elastic; this will cause hair to snap or fall out from the root, increasing hair loss. Gently pat your hair dry using a soft towel, and be careful when applying products and tools to your wet hair, or you won’t cause damage as hair is more susceptible to breakage when wet.
Get A Trim
Split ends, dead hair and frizzy ends are common for people whose hair needs a trimming. Typically, you should get your hair trimmed at least every 8 weeks. You don’t need to have a drastic cut or restyle each time you go. You can ask for the ends to be trimmed only to increase the length, or you can thin it out slightly if your hair grows thick but not long. But going for regular trims will help you preserve the health of your hair and ensure it looks its best at all times.
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