Taking good care of your hair is as easy as turning on the tv. Considered to be the crowning glory for women and is just as important for men, the hair is a significant part of one’s appearance.
Get informed about the basics in hair care as well as the common hair mistakes. Here are some hair care do’s and don’ts:
Hair care do’s
- Wash your hair properly. Good hair care starts with washing it sparingly. It is a common misconception that our hair, like our bodies, needs to be cleansed every day. Washing hair too often can leave it dried out and damaged. It is best to use shampoo on an alternating basis or twice a week.
- Select shampoo and conditioner wisely. Know what works best for your hair type so that your hair will look its best anytime, even under harsh conditions. Opt for sulfate-free shampoo and silicone-free conditioner; sulfates are the chemicals that make shampoos lather up while parabens are preservatives that cause irritation and eye problems after prolonged use.
Both of these chemicals aren’t healthy for you and are hard on hair, contributing to it looking dry and dull over time. It is best if you try using a shampoo with natural cleansers. For conditioners, use one that matches your hair type, length and treatment damage. A good rule of thumb is to condition every time you shampoo your hair, although very processed or dyed hair probably needs a little more love than natural hair. Deep condition once a week in order to keep hair soft, healthy and moisturized.
- Go for cool/warm water instead of hot. Hot water is too much for your hair to take. In washing your hair, use warm or cool water. If you happen to have a steaming hot shower, try finishing with a warm or cool rinse so your hair will look healthy and shiny rather than frizzy and dull when it dries.
- Moisturize your hair. Use five oils: almond, castor, olive, coconut and lavender oils. Mix together equal proportions of each. Apply to the hair and leave in for four hours prior to showering out. Doing this helps your hair appear shinier and cleaner.
- Dry naturally. After taking a bath, you have to be aware on how you choose to dry your hair. First, wrap your hair in a cotton T-Shirt. Towels are made of fabric that is very rough and damaging to your hair, causing frizziness and split ends. Avoid brushing hair while wet, as it makes the hair brittle and weak. Only use a wide tooth comb to brush out tangles while hair is wet. Also, if you shower before you sleep overnight, put your hair up in a bun and let it air-dry overnight, your hair should be dry in the morning.
Hair care don’ts
- Too hot is too much. You should know by know that hair does not respond well to heat. This is a common mistake especially in hair styling, Don’t make your hair go through hell by styling it at a high temperature. Try using your styling appliances not more than 130°C on fine hair and 200°C only on thick coarse hair. In fact, styling over 200°C decreases the strength of your hair by up to 50 percent and makes colored hair lose its vibrancy much faster.
- Don’t sleep with your hair wet. Your parents used to warn you about this, sleeping with hair that is soaking wet is a big mistake for it will cause a lot of friction. The problem is when you go to bed with your hair wet the cuticle is not quite sealed and with all the friction from moving around at night, it can cause frizz. To be specific, when you sleep and move your hair it can cause a lot of frizz at the back of the head. It is best if you dry your hair before you sleep.
- Be mindful with what you eat.Following a balanced diet is essential in maintaining your luscious locks for the reason that the food you put into your body are reflected in your hair, skin and nails. Focus on consuming food that carries B6 and B12 vitamins like rice, peppers and strawberries which help create red blood cells. This will make your hair healthier and shinier.
- Lose the ponytail. Do you love throwing your hair up in a ponytail? well you have to find another way. Hair ties are not your hair’s friend, in fact they can cause serious breakage which causes flyaways and frizz. If at all possible, cut way back on the hair tie usage and look into clips. Plus, this is a chance for you to be creative and ponytails aren’t meant to last forever.
- Wait till you brush it out. After taking a bath or washing your hair, it is best that you wait until your hair is 70 percent to 80 percent dry before you begin to brush through it. Any time before that could mean you’re brushing out the conditioning treatments and good oils and nutrients. Allow your hair to breathe for a little bit if you have the time, this is an effective way to keep your gorgeous locks.
Often underrated, hair is just as important and plays a major role in maintaining an appealing appearance. Some take it for granted and only realize its importance long after it is gone. Start taking good care of your hair today so that you still have some to style for tomorrow.
By maintaining your luscious locks you can improve your overall appearance.
Sources:
https://beautyhigh.com/biggest-hair-mistakes-youre-making/
https://www.wikihow.com/Take-Care-of-Your-Hair