Today, there’s a plethora of information available online about taking care of your hair the right way. From shampoo hacks and deep oiling rituals to curly girl routines, our social media pages are flooded with tutorials on how to get the hair of our dreams. Despite all this information, developing a hair care routine that fits your scalp type, hair type and your lifestyle can get a little confusing. We have distilled some simple yet effective tips for hair care to help you achieve happy, healthy hair.
1. Chop, chop!
If mermaid lengths are your goal, you may be wary of trimming your hair too often. However, trimming your ends regularly is a surefire way to maintain the health of your strands, avoid breakage and split-ends and promote hair growth. Go in for a trim, if not a full-blown haircut, every three months.
2. Timing is everything
The frequency with which you shampoo is an important factor in determining your hair and scalp texture, impacting your hair quality to a large extent. This is where a shampoo schedule can come in handy: those with normal hair and scalps can shampoo once every three to four days, or twice weekly. Over-washing your hair, every day or every alternate day, can strip your scalp of its natural oils and cause dryness. However, if you have a greasy scalp, or if you spend time in the gym or outdoors every day, you may benefit from washing your hair daily. Remember, a clean scalp keeps scalp issues at bay and promotes hair growth.
Tira tip: Washing your hair right before bed and sleeping with wet hair is highly damaging to your tresses, causing them to get frizzy and brittle. Ensure that your hair is completely dry before you proceed to style it or go to bed.
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3. Deep oiling FTW!
While we’re all familiar with the age-old champi, the latest iteration of this simple hair ritual that has taken the internet by storm is called deep oiling. All you need to do is pick a hair oil of your choice (consider hydrating, nourishing options like coconut and almond) and add a few drops of essential oils depending on your concern. Tea tree is known to combats greasiness while rosemary works on reducing hair fall. Slightly heat this oil blend and massage it onto your scalp and hair an hour or two before your hair wash.
Overnight oiling can also do wonders for your hair health, but make sure you wrap your hair in cling wrap or a bandana to avoid attracting dust that can clog the pores on your scalp. Also, if you struggle with dandruff, it’s best to skip oiling and opt for a rich mask instead.
4. Shampoo the right way
Choosing the correct shampoo based on your hair and lifestyle is crucial — pick protein-rich, resurfacing shampoos if you have bleached, damaged ends, or a colour protecting variant to maintain the vibrancy of your coloured hair. If your hair feels extra dry or damaged, you may benefit from using a gentle, sulphate-free shampoo. However, if your scalp is regularly exposed to dust, pollution, sweat and grease, sulphate-based shampoos are just what you need to get that squeaky-clean feeling.
Once you have chosen your shampoo, it’s also imperative that you wash your hair the right way. Do not apply shampoo directly to your hair, instead take some in your palm and emulsify it with water before applying the lather onto your wet scalp. Rinse with lukewarm or cold water to boost the shine of your hair and reduce frizz. While hot showers can do wonders to relax you, avoid them for your hair since hot water can strip your hair of its natural oils and cause dryness.
5. Never skip conditioner from your hair care routine
While the shampoo’s job is to cleanse the scalp and hair, conditioner works on softening the hair and making it more manageable. It refortifies the cuticles, covers the hair strands with a smooth, protective layer that increases shine, and reduces frizz and breakage. Post your shampoo, apply conditioner only to the lengths of your damp hair while avoiding the scalp and keep it on for five to ten minutes before rinsing it off. Make sure you rinse well to avoid any residue that causes your hair to feel heavy and greasy. For hair that is extra tough to manage, opt for a leave-in conditioner or serum that you apply onto towel-dried hair after your shower.
6. Style with care
Once washed, use a microfibre towel or an old t-shirt to dry your hair. This is a gentler alternative to regular towels to minimise damage and breakage. Avoid styling your hair while wet, since it’s more prone to breakage in this state. Detangle wet hair with your fingers first, and then use a wide-toothed wooden comb when it’s dry. Start detangling near your ends first while gripping the upper areas of your strand for support and then move towards the roots for best results. For those with curly hair, detangle with a wooden comb immediately after rinsing your conditioner out.
7. Your hair is what you eat
A large part of your hair quality is closely linked to your diet and lifestyle. Make sure you’re eating a balanced diet loaded with protein, leafy greens, and healthy fats to keep your hair nourished. Supplements rich in biotin, omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin E can boost your hair health from the inside out. Taken consistently, these can also aid in resolving and reversing long-standing hair concerns caused by nutritional deficiencies.
