When it comes to self-care, skin care is not the only important thing you should consider essential. A good hair care routine ensures that your hair stays nourished, healthy, strong, and frizz-free. And maintaining a good hair care routine is as important as doing your skin care regimen every night. For you busy heads, giving some attention to your hair is probably something that doesn't make it to your priority list. Or, perhaps, you're just extremely confused about the right hair care routine and where to start.
Before choosing any hair care regimen, it's important to know your hair type and identify the causes of hair issues. For example, the frequency of washing your hair depends on your scalp type and hair texture. On the other hand, your lifestyle also contributes to determining the right hair care regimen for you. Say, you work outdoors which makes your hair often exposed to pollution and cause it to be sweaty/greasy, then it is better if you wash your hair regularly. Other than that, washing your hair every day is not recommended because shampoos can remove the essential oils and moisture that your hair needs to stay hydrated.
Sounds complicated already? Don't worry we'll make it simple for you. Here are some basic tips that you can follow to carry out the simple hair care routine-applicable for any hair type; straight, wavy, curly, bleached, often styled, you name it!
Choose chemical-free shampoos
Since you can't control the environmental factors that damage your hair (pollution, lifestyle, etc), you can solve this problem by choosing the right shampoo, which is a gentler one that suits your hair type. Gentle here means the shampoo that has less chemicals contained in their compositions. Avoid sulfates and parabens in shampoos because due to their purpose as a preservative chemical, they strip the natural oils in our scrap hence causing skin irritation over time and increasing the risk of hormonal disruptions.
Condition correctly
We can't argue that conditioner is a great friend when being used right, thanks to its ingredients that make the hair become soft and manageable. It also protects your hair from heat styling and environmental aggressors. However, not many are aware of the right way to use conditioners. Always remember to not apply conditioner to your scalp! Why? Instead of working the way they should, it could cause your hair to be greasy and oily-yikes! Hence, you should only use conditioner on the tips of your hair and rinse it thoroughly.
Avoid excessive heat styling
Everybody knows this by heart, but it's pretty hard to stick to this tip especially if you have limited time in getting ready and want to cut some by drying your hair with heat, then processing it to style it with a hair iron or curler. We know. However, exposure to high heat changes the shape of your hair's keratin strands, meaning that it eventually makes your hair lose its elasticity and become more prone to damage. The best way to dry your hair is by air drying or towel drying after shampooing. But of course, be gentle. Harsh rubbing with a towel can damage the cuticle of your hair. In terms of heat styling, always use heat protection.
Trim your hair regularly
It doesn't make your hair grow faster, but trimming your hair results in healthier and softer hair as it makes your hair become free of split ends! Since breakage usually starts in the form of splinters as a result of damage, you want to prevent those split ends from happening in the first place, or at least, trim them as soon as you notice them. Trust me, it really helps in restoring the health of your hair. We know how hard it is to grow your hair, but nevertheless, it is highly recommended to trim your hair once every 2 or 3 months.
Say yes to oil massage
Pre-shampoo treatments like oiling and massaging have the power to improve blood circulation on your scalp, relax the muscles, boost shine and nourish the hair. Not only does it feel good, but it also restores moisture content, enables hair growth, and repairs split ends. Sounds like a dream, right? You can oil massage your hair once a week with a choice of your hair oil; coconut oil, almond oil, castor oil, and more; suiting your needs and its function. Don't forget to rinse it thoroughly!
It's safe to say that everyone should at least have a simple and basic hair care routine. If you don't take care of your hair, it may stop growing after a point, or you'll experience dandruff, hair fall, dryness, or worse, hair loss.
