The secret to shiny and healthy hair

Running your fingers through your hair inadvertently while talking seems to be an involuntary habit most of us seem to have. Likewise, you must have heard the expression let your hair down, indicating an uninhibited expression of enjoying the moment. Hence, it would be accurate to assume that hair has an integral significance in our lives because it signifies much more than just vanity.

However, we often tend to over-style our hair; for instance, following the latest hairstyles by coloring the hair frequently, using too much heat, etc., eventually impacting the overall hair health. On the other hand, some people fail to take proper care of their hair due to their busy schedules; hence, they often have frizzy, unsorted, and rough hair. Also, it isn’t easy to choose the right hair products when there are so many of them available in the market; nevertheless, we still want to have a head full of shiny and healthy hair.

Therefore, we have come up with a few fundamental clinically approved dos and don’ts that would help you maintain your hair and prevent hair damage accordingly.

Wash your hair at regular intervals

When you have a morning meeting or a prior appointment, you hardly get the time to get in the shower and spend a considerable amount of time washing your hair. Besides, the problem is usually severe for girls/women or men with longer hair, so what should they do? Is it okay to avoid washing your hair for several days due to a lack of sufficient time?

Although it is not necessary to wash your hair every day, you must consider washing it at regular intervals; for example, if you have really dry hair, you may wash it twice or thrice a week. Whereas, if you have an oily scalp, you can wash your hair on alternate days; washing hair helps eliminate dirt and excess oil that accumulates on your scalp.

Should you use hot or cold water to wash your hair? During winter or rainy seasons, we love jumping into hot showers and immersing ourselves in a warm bath; however, it might make you feel relaxed, but bathing in high-temperature water reduces your body’s essential oils. Also, it turns your hair dry and rough and makes your hair prone to breakage.

Choose your hair cleansers carefully.

Your hair already goes through a lot of harmful matters due to pollution, so using shampoos with various chemicals in them can damage your hair adversely. Hence, it is safe to say that you might not be able to control the environmental factors, but you can control what you apply to your hair. Besides, you might see several commercials on television or online promoting high-end different shampoos; however, do not let the popularity of such branded shampoos fool you.

It will help if you read the ingredient list of the shampoos and conditioners which contain harmful chemicals that can damage your hair in the long run. Hence, make sure to choose gentle shampoos that suit your hair type; for example, avoid shampoos with sulfates and parabens that strips the hair of its essential oils and make them brittle and dry. In addition, mixing three to four drops of shampoo in a mug of water and apply gently to wet hair is a good way of applying shampoo.

Conditioning the hair

We all are aware of how essential conditioning the hair after shampooing is a critical step for the hair wash regime. But do you know the ideal method of applying it? The ideal method of applying the product is on the hair tips and not the scalp; rinsing it thoroughly after two to three minutes is a mandatory step.

Besides, a lot of people comb their hair while applying conditioner, which often causes them to lose a few hair strands. So should you avoid combing wet hair altogether? On the contrary, you can comb hair gently after conditioning with wide-toothed combs, thereby preventing any chances of detangling the hair.

Reduce blow-drying

Models or actors appearing onscreen with a perfect blowout or beach waves is a common image we have of good hair. But did you know that blow-drying your hair continuously for an extended period of time can cause damage to your hair and scalp? However, it does not mean that you should entirely give up blow drying; you can reduce the practice by doing it at important events or when you have limited time.

Meanwhile, you can dry your hair naturally by dabbing it with a towel or letting it air dry; simultaneously, you must avoid sleeping with wet or combed set damp hair. In addition, do not harshly rub your hair with a towel, as it can cause hair fall.

Oiling the hair

Calling oils hair elixirs would not be inaccurate because it provides scalp nourishment and essential pre-shampoo treatment. One of the best ways to apply hair oil is by heating it, gently massaging it on your hair, and covering it with a towel. Besides, you can choose from a variety of oils, including coconut, almond, olive, and castor oils.

Hair trims

Although some people prefer to let, their hair grow to attain a particular length, trimming your hair every six to eight weeks is essential. The main advantage of hair trimming is that it helps to get rid of split ends that occur due to heat styling, pollution, smoking, stress, etc. Also, there is a misconception that hair trimming helps to grow hair faster, but the truth is hair growth happens at the scalp level, and trimming enables good hair growth.

What should you eat for healthy hair?

To ensure proper cleansing and conditioning of hair, use a good shampoo and conditioner, but to encourage healthy hair, you must maintain other habits. Furthermore, hair is made of proteins and amino acids, so you need to eat proper nutritional food to have a good hair head.

For instance, deficiencies in riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 cause hair loss, so one should eat a high-protein diet, including fish, meat, and eggs. In addition, Vitamin C is an effective antioxidant that promotes healthy skin and hair; so you can have citrus fruits (orange, kiwi, grapefruit, lemon), cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower).

Furthermore, it is essential to point out that plenty of nutrition supplements are available in the market, but nothing can compare to the original nutrient source. Therefore, ensure to eat a healthy diet of vegetables and proteins; if you are vegetarian, you can rely on dairy products and leafy greens.

Simultaneously, cover your hair with a hat or cap to prevent the sun’s harsh heat from removing the hair’s moisture when you are going out. Also, if you must use rolling or curling irons, use heat-protective sprays as they reduce the thermal damage significantly.