For many of us have bad habits in our hair, which can contribute to damaged hair. Take my advice below if you want strong, healthy hair that looks and feels amazing!
I'm going to be showing you how to take care of your hair daily to keep it looking and feeling healthy. I'm also be sharing some natural hair care tips to give it an extra boost from time-to-time a home.
1. Balanced diet
I cannot stress enough the significance of a healthy, balanced diet enough when it comes to beauty.
From our nails, ourskin, and hair, it benefits from the nutrients found in the food we eat. It is why our diet is so vital for hair health.
I always recommend eating a varied diet of natural foods, like:
Eggs - Zinc and selenium
Berries - Vitamin C
Fatty fish and avocados - Omega-3
Nuts and seeds - Vitamin E
Sweet potatoes - Vitamin A
Whole grains – Biotin
2. Avoid tight styles
Are you always caught wearing a high, tight ponytail before leaving the house?
Tight hairstyles can put stress on hair follicles, and over time, it leads to hair loss.
Besides varying your hairstyle with braids, try using bobby pins, an invisible band, or ribbon elastic hair ties instead of regular hair ties wherever possible as these are gentler on your strands.
3. Patting not rubbing
Another hair care mistake many of you are making at home is when it comes to drying your hair.
It's important to remember always to pat your hair dry and never to rub it with a towel. The texture of the towel causes split ends and frizz. Instead, use a microfiber towel.
4. Don't sleep with wet hair.
Sleeping with wet hair can delete your hair in the long run. It can also cause bacteria growth, acne, and hair loss patches.
5. Avoid over-styling with hot tools
Styling with hot tools can dry hair out and cause breakage,making it dull and brittle over time.
To prevent your hair from looking dull, stay away from styling tools as much as possible. Instead, Irecommend air drying your hair before using the flat iron or curling iron as opposed to using a hairdryer to prep it. I also recommend braids to create waves or, best of all or go au naturel! And for us that need heat to control hair and freeze, try the Dyson Supersonic or the Airwrap Styler. The engineering on these tools is meant to keep your hair from overheating using smart temperature. ( link to articles)
6. Use heat protection spray
I recommend investing in a good quality heat protectant spray to create a barrier between your hair and the heat tool.
While this isn't as good as avoiding heat, it will go a long way to protect your hair from damage.Whether you're drying, straightening, or curling, never be without your heat protectant spray - you'll be amazed at what a difference it makes. One of my favorite products is the Wella Thermal Image Heat Protection Spray (link)
7. Coldwater rinse
You might not particularly enjoy showering in cold water, but your hair and skin sure will!
Give your hair a rinse with cold water before jumping out of the shower. It will help seal the hair cuticle, so hair lies flat, giving it a sleek, shinier appearance.
8. Appropriate brushing technique
It turns out you could be brushing your hair incorrectly.
There are a surprising number of mistakes to make when brushing your hair, for example:
Using the wrong tool- round brushes are for styling purposes only. A boar bristle brush or a comb with wide teeth is best for brushing.
Starting from the scalp - This can create more knots and damage hair! Start a few inches from the end and brush downwards, slowly work your way upwards as the hair becomes loose.
9. Shampoo less
Another common mistake is washing your hair too often. Although this may seem like a good idea at the time, every time we clean your hair, itstrips some of the natural oils out of.
Not only this, butt he more you wash your hair, the more you need to wash it. It is because they lack oil makes the scalp dry, prompting the production of more oil, which results in greasy hair.
Try using baby powder or my favorite dry shampoos are Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo and Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo(links)
10. Minimize dye*
Dying your hair isn't as simple as coloring a piece of paper in with a pen. For the hair dye to take, the cuticle must be broken. Ammonia is used to lift it, and then, usually, peroxide is used to strip the hair color.The lighter your cuticle is lifted, the weaker the strands become.
This is what I recommend my clients at the salon to do when they want to color or highlight their hair but don't want too much damage (you will get some form of dryness or roughness every time you color your hair)
-gloss, they are Demi-permanent and only coat the hair cuticle. It washes out from 8-20 washes depending on the shade or brand.
-Don't get too light, stay in the Neutral tones and natural shades
-Try a few Babylights around the hairline and part of the hair to brighten your natural color.
Natural hair care tips:
They'll help give you hair a boost to improve overall health and appearance at home.
Coconut oil it's a good alternative to other fats not only for cooking but for our appearance too. Coconut oil moisturizes dry hair, helps the scalp to fight bacteria, prevents breakages and splitting, and also add shine and softness to hair. (you can also use it on damp skin after showering instead of lotion.
Try it: massage the oil in your hands until it melts, then apply to dry hair from root to tip.Leave for at least 10-1 hour before washing out with warm water.
Apple cider vinegar contains anti-fungal properties that keep the scalp bacteria-free and prevents dandruff from forming. It also closes the cuticle of the hair, making the hair shiny.
Try it: Make a solution of equal parts water and apple cider vinegar and slowly pour it over wet hair, massaging it in as you go. Leave it to sit for 10-20 minutes then wash it out.
Aloe vera has antiviral and antibacterial properties and proteolytic enzymes. They work to repair dry scalp. An aloe vera treatment will leave your head healthy, and your hair will be looking and feeling fabulous.
Tryit: Cut an aloe vera leave open and use the crystals inside of it. Apply it to hair after shampooing, leaving it for a 10 minutes for it to work its magic before rinsing.
Avocado is full of all the right kinds of fat. Avocado is another superfood that can also be used for hair. The fatty acids are particularly useful for calming dry, frizzy hair, and the antioxidants can help prevent it from becoming damaged.
Tryit: Mash one ripe avocado. Mix with 1 tbsp or 2 of coconut oil until a thick paste is formed. Lather the paste onto your hair, starting down to the tips and working your way up the roots. Pop on a shower cap. Wait 10-20 minutes before rinsing off.
Pro Tip: Pop on a shower cap and do your regular chores at home is what I tell my clients at the salon.That way, you don't feel like you are waiting for hours or wasting your time.
I hope you find these 10 useful tips for your locks at home.
