Who doesn't want healthy hair? Whether you are looking to keep your hair shiny or reverse years of damage, there are many practices that you can incorporate into your hair care routine to keep your cut fresh.
First off, (and perhaps most importantly, because the benefits of this practice extend far beyond hair care) take time to de–stress! While it is a well–established fact that high levels of stress are harmful to your mental and physical health, they can also wreak havoc on your hair. If you have found yourself struggling to combat seemingly inexplicable hair loss, take a moment to consider if stress might be a factor. Make it a priority to implement stress–reducing strategies into your daily life; clearly the impacts range far and wide.
It may sound counterintuitive, but another effective strategy in maintaining healthy hair is washing your hair less often. The sulfate in your shampoo can actually dry out your hair, meaning that using it every day can cause damage in the long run. You can also choose to invest in sulfate–free shampoo or finish off your shower with a cold rinse in order to lock in moisture and color.
While excess shampoo use is inadvisable, anyone in search of a healthier mane should make sure to condition your hair more often. Leave conditioner in your hair for at least two minutes before washing it out, ensuring that it can adhere to your hair. Conditioner serves a protective function, promotes hair growth without breakage, and improves hair shine, texture, and frizz. Deep conditioning, where you allow conditioner to soak into your hair for longer periods of time, about once a week your hair for long periods is recommended to help revive damaged hair.
Trim your hair frequently; doing so will actually facilitate healthy hair growth. Experts recommended getting small trims every three months, to help you eradicate pesky split ends.
One of the most important steps in keeping your hair healthy is avoiding styling products that use heat. While it might be hard to resist a smooth blow out or bouncy curling–iron produced waves, heated styling tools can do significant damage your hair, and in some cases, even lead to hair loss. And while breaking out your blow dryer every once in a while is hardly a crime, be mindful of how often you style your hair with heat. Instead, you can try out a number of heatless alternatives.
Lastly, biotin and collagen products can serve to strengthen even the most damaged of hair. Many shampoos and conditioners incorporate these compounds in their products, touting promises of thicker and shinier hair. However, you can also take in these vitamins through but supplements as well. Make sure to do your research before adding these vitamins to your diet, which have been shown to promote healthy skin, nails, and hair.
From avoiding heat, to shampooing less, to reducing your stress, there are many strategies that you can employ to ensure your hair stays healthy and keeps looking luscious.
