Whether your hair is long or short, curly or straight, you need to know how to take care of it properly so it can look at its best. To take care of your hair, you really need information more than you need expensive products. Read on to learn the basics of hair care.
When shampooing your hair, make sure that your hair is completely wet before applying a quarter-sized amount. This minimizes breakage due to tugging and tangling, and it helps the shampoo to effectively cleanse each strand. Do not lather for more than 30 seconds, and rinse with a blast of cool water to seal in moisture.
If you notice your hair looking dry, there is a home conditioning treatment you can try. After you wash your hair and get rid of a bit of its wetness, use your conditioner and put a shower cap on for a couple of minutes. The heat that is created will force the conditioner to go down deep into your hair.
Those with curly hair should avoid styling with heat regularly. Irons that reach over four hundred degrees can actually permanently alter the helices of your curls. This creates curls that are not uniform, and continues a dependence on the hair iron or blow dryer. Learn to love your curls and they will reward you with confidence!
Your lifestyle influences the way your hair looks. Being stressed, not getting enough sleep or smoking tobacco means your hair will not look good. You also need to maintain a balanced diet so that your hair gets all the vitamins and nutrients it needs. Get rid of your bad habits and you should see a difference!
Living a healthy lifestyle has everything to do with the healthiness of your hair. Eat a balanced diet, and make sure you get plenty of exercise. Excessive smoking, not getting enough sleep, and other unhealthy habits are detrimental to the health of your hair. Take good care of yourself, and your hair will follow suit.
Hair should not be washed daily. If you have not had a day where your hair has gotten excessively dirty, then do not wash it. A schedule of washing every 2-3 days will prevent your hair from drying out. You will spend less time trying to rejuvenate your hair, and more time focusing on enjoying it.
Avoid using a blow dryer. Blow dryers use heat that can be very damaging to your hair. Instead, let your hair air dry whenever possible. If you have to use your blow dryer, make sure it stays on the coolest setting, and avoid holding it over one section of hair for too long. In order to dry hair faster, use a towel to dry it before you use a blow dryer.
It’s important to make sure your hair and scalp get enough natural oil. For even distribution of your hair’s natural oil, try bending over and brushing your scalp and hair back to front. Keep doing this until your scalp begins to tingle. Follow up with a gentle massage using your fingertips.
Avoid blow-drying your hair after your shampoo. Extreme heat can damage your hair shaft and cause your hair to dry out. Brittle hair will break easily. Instead, after you shampoo, dry your hair gently with a soft towel, and allow your hair to air dry naturally. This will help your hair to retain its natural oils.
Use leave in conditioner on your hair on a regular basis. This is particularly useful for those who have dry and brittle hair. Using a leave in conditioner is equivalent to using a daily moisturizer on the face. It will help keep your hair healthy and replenished and prevent damage.
Try switching to satin pillowcases to protect curls in the evening. Cotton pillowcases are known to dry out hair and take the moisture and oils out of it. Satin pillowcases allow you to get up in the morning with beautiful, protected hair. You could also use a scarf or a satin bonnet as well.
Take care of your hair when you are out under the hot summer sun. Sunshine can dry out your hair, and chlorine and salt from the ocean are even more harsh. Wear a hat when outdoors, and rinse your hair with clear water after going in a chlorinated pool or the ocean.
Sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase instead of a cotton. Cotton retains oil and can cause your hair to get tangled and to break during your sleep. You will find that your hair looks much better in the morning if you use a satin or a silk pillowcase and that is is easier to keep clean.
While there are products available on the market that promise to repair split ends, there is nothing you can do that will really restore your hair back to its original state. You can apply some beeswax to it, in order to make it look better until it grows out, then the split ends should be cut off.
Try using gel for controlling hair when you desire that “wet” effect. Apply a little gel to your hair after it’s styled. When braiding, use it on all of the hair prior to braiding, or when you need your hair off your face. You may even use it on the perimeter of your hairline, where the hair is shorter.
Hair care principles help you take care of your hair regardless of what type of hair you have. Now that you’ve read this article, you should understand what you need to do in order to keep your hair looking at its best. Good luck, and enjoy your new, healthier hair.
