Hair is considered a sign of beauty for a lot of people, but healthy and gorgeous hair doesn’t come easily for everyone. If your hair is dry, unhealthy, or thin, you may wonder how you can improve how it looks and feels.
Everyone is different, but there are some tips that can help you get the most out of your hair and look after it properly.
Learn Your Hair Type
First things first, you have to know what you’re dealing with. People have different hair types and these hair types play a large role in determining how best to look after your hair. Someone with 4c hair, which is very wiry with tight coils, will need a completely different haircare regime than someone with 1A hair, which is soft, thin, and straight.
Those are considered the two extremes in hair types, but there are a lot of options in between. Generally, hair types are determined by how straight or curly your hair is, as well as how thick it is. Simply looking at your hair in its natural state will give you a clue, especially if you let it dry naturally after washing it. Compare it to this guideline hereF and find the closest description of your hair.
Washing Your Hair
Washing your hair keeps it clean and healthy, but how often you wash your hair does depend on your hair type. Some people need to wash their hair several times a week, while others can and should leave it for longer.
Washing your hair too often can dry it out, causing breakages and thin, limp hair. This is because it strips it of its natural oils, so if your hair is already prone to breakages, you will only exacerbate the problem. You should use the appropriate shampoo for your hair needs. If your hair is dry or oily, look for a shampoo that caters to that. The same applies to damaged hair or dyed hair, specialised shampoo will keep it healthier.
Some shampoo can damage your hair, especially if you have certain hair types. Sulfates and silicone products, for example, can be terrible for curlier hair. You should also consider your scalp health. Dry skin on your scalp can translate to dry hair, and it can even interfere with how it grows and leave you with dandruff issues. Some shampoos are designed to combat this as well. Some hair needs conditioning even more regularly than washing, especially very curly or wiry hair. This will allow it to have a healthy and beautiful shine and luster.
Changing the Color
Dying your hair can be a major change, and it can massively affect how healthy your hair is. Bleach is infamously bad for hair, and unhealthy or already dry hair can suffer. If you want to make a major change, always consult a hairstylist. They can treat your hair and color it in a steady, safe way, so you don’t risk major damage to your hair. If you want to know how to go back to natural hair color, often using the right shampoo will keep your hair as healthy as possible during the process. Again, a stylist can bring you back to your natural shade if you want to get back to your roots more quickly.
Styling Your Hair
How you style your hair can impact not just how it looks, but how healthy it is. Ideally, style your hair in a way that emphasizes its natural beauty, especially for your everyday look. Regularly using harsh products and high heat to style your hair can damage it in the long run. You can use products to protect your hair from heat treatments, but it’s still beneficial to give it a break now and then. Gels, mousse, and other gentle and natural products can style your hair without causing any damage. Some even condition your hair, which strengthens it and helps it look and feel fantastic.
Food and Supplements
Finally, what you eat can have an impact on your hair. Applying certain oils and supplements directly to your hair can add some natural oils and keep it looking healthy and bouncy, especially products like almond oil, but eating might also affect how it grows. If you’re nutritionally deficient, your hair might not grow as thickly or healthily as it should. But some foods, like eggs, spinach, fatty fish, and other nutrient-dense vegetables, may boost your hair growth. If you’re healthy, your hair will be healthier.
