In between salon visits, sometimes it can be difficult to know what to do before your next appointment, so we’ve put together a list of some general hair care tips on how to take care of your hair. Proper maintenance on the in-between days when you’re not at the stylist is a great way that you can have a hand in making sure that your hair not only looks healthy but is healthy as well.
Here are some hair care tips for:
-
Supplements:
Take vitamins and supplements to give your hair the extra nutrients that it needs to stay healthy. Why not add that extra bit of oomph to your hair care regimen with just a once or twice daily?
-
Rubber Bands and Elastics:
When you use a rubber band or elastic, make sure that it is one that is coated to prevent breakage. Elastic bands that aren’t coated will cause breakage and damage to the hair.
-
Pre-Shampoo Detangling:
Before shampooing, make sure you detangle with a wide-toothed comb or brush. It becomes difficult to wash hair when it has tangles.
-
Special Occasion Hairstyles:
Practice before the big day! Try it a few times in advance to get the perfect look by the time the special occasion arrives.
-
How to Detangle Wet Hair:
Don’t brush hair when it’s wet. Because hair is more fragile, it can break more easily. Use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb, instead, to detangle. If you’re going to brush your hair, make sure that it is completely dry first.
-
Shampooing:
Make sure that you choose the best shampoo for your hair. If it’s dry, oily, or a combination, select a shampoo based on your hair’s needs. Speak with us, and we’ll be glad to share our suggestions. Also, this is a fun one: While you’re washing your hair, try massaging your scalp to stimulate blood flow.
-
Water Temperature:
Wash your hair with lukewarm water. If you use hot water, it will strip your hair of its natural oils.
-
Hair Dryers and Styling Tools:
Minimize the amount of heat that you use on your hair. That’s just a general rule to maintain healthy hair. So, if you have the time (and we think that you should make time as much as possible), let your hair air dry. Towel dry first by wrapping the towel around the hair to make the process quicker. Also, use a heat protectant such as a heat-protectant spray or argan oil before blow-drying or using any other hair tools like a curling iron or straightener.
-
Brushing:
Brush your hair before going to bed to not only detangle but to also keep your hair’s natural oils evenly distributed throughout. Make sure the bristles are soft, though. Also, as already mentioned, comb your hair out before you wash it.
-
Swimming:
Use a swim cap to avoid the chlorine in water, which is damaging to hair.
-
Sharing Brushes and Combs:
While it might seem harmless to share a hairbrush or comb, hair is something personal that contains a person’s natural oils, and it’s not sanitary to share something that runs through your hair. A person might accidentally spread lice, for example, in this way. Summer camps have been known to experience lice outbreaks simply because an unsuspecting kid thought that it was okay to share a hairbrush, so we suggest that you are the only person who ever uses your comb or brush.
-
Preventing Static:
To avoid static, toss the cotton pillowcase and instead opt for one made of satin.
-
Trims:
Trim your hair every 6 to 8 weeks. Trimming your hair regularly helps to get rid of split ends, which can continue to split up the hair shaft and cause damage to otherwise healthy hair.
-
For Oily Hair:
Keep leave-in conditioners and serums to a minimum. Shampoo less often. More frequent shampoos with the goal of reducing the oil will actually strip your hair of vital nutrients. Work with hair care products that are formulated for oily hair.
-
For Dry Hair:
Drink lots of water to keep your scalp (and yourself) hydrated. Use a shampoo with a low pH level. Avoid heat when possible, and if heat tools are used, use a heat protectant.