If waking up to glossy tresses that are silky smooth to the touch and look great in any hairstyle sounds like a worthy hair goal, the good news is that this goal is relatively easy to attain. Noted dermatologist Dr Prerna Sikka believes that investing time in caring for your tresses through the day with some small but doable measures will help give your hair the hydration, nourishment, and protection it needs. Read on for her tried and tested hair care tips to adopt through the course of your day.
Your AM hair care routine lineup
A good skincare routine starts with cleansing and the same applies to your hair. Given our daily exposure to hairstyling products, dust, dirt, pollution and other environmental aggressors, the scalp is often playing host to a generous amount of build-up that needs a thorough cleansing to dislodge the grease. Cleanse hair with water—ensuring it isn’t too warm—with a hydrating, mild shampoo twice or thrice a week. Hot water, while it may feel relaxing, tends to strip your scalp, and hair, of their natural oils. Follow it up with a conditioner along the length of the hair to detangle your strands and seal the moisture into the hair cuticle. While different hair types require different hair care products, you will want to keep an eye out for possible irritants—phthalates, parabens, alcohol, formaldehyde, benzene and mineral oils —when choosing your shampoo and conditioner. If you are looking to style your hair, ensure that you aren’t subjecting it to heated styling tools while it is wet. As a last step in your hair care routine, you will find that two to three drops of a nourishing, non-greasy hair oil work as a handy leave-in conditioner to keep both flyaway strands and frizz at bay.
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During the day
If your lifestyle involves frequent sun exposure, you will want to ensure that the penetrative glare of UV rays isn’t making your strands dry and brittle. Sweat and humidity can also catalyse hair concerns, such as dandruff and frizziness, necessitating adequate protective measures during the course of the day. Leave-in hair treatments, like UV-protect sprays and milky sprays that nourish and protect your hair from environmental stressors is an absolute must.
As a rule of thumb, avoid tying your hair tightly to avoid undue stress on your scalp and strands. To touch up your hairstyle during the day, gently comb through the length of your hair and secure it with a silk hair tie. Adding greens to your plate during lunchtime will also help your hair get the nutrients it needs to reduce hair fall and breakage.
In the PM
If the morning is about cleansing and the day is about protection, the night is for treating specific hair concerns. If you have washed your hair in the evening, ensure you’re not sleeping with wet hair, which can make it vulnerable to breakage. Pop culture might have romanticised the notion of sleeping with long, flowing tresses, but waking up in the morning to a maze of tangles is no picnic. Gently work through your tangles with a wide-toothed comb or a paddle brush before going to bed, and apply a strengthening serum to allow your strands to fortify their reserves as you sleep. While a regular champi can do wonders for your hair, it is advisable to avoid leaving hair oil on your scalp overnight, especially if you have acne-prone skin, as it can trickle onto the forehead and clog the pores. To minimise breakage, secure your dry hair loosely with a top knot with a silk scrunchie. You can also wear a silk bonnet to sleep if you’re in the mood to fully commit to the drill. If you’re not one to do either, a satin or silk pillowcase is also a great option.
