A woman modeling healthy hair.
Hair and makeup may as well be synonymous. The two together make the perfect combination to enhance a look. Just as keeping up a good skin care routine is essential to providing a clear canvas for makeup, healthy hair is imperative for styling. This may sound paradoxical because styling usually means putting heat on the hair (the opposite of healthy). Although, styling can also be rocking the natural look. If heat seems necessary or not, here are a few recommendations for keeping your hair silky smooth.
If you are already dealing with damage, the best thing to do is treat the hair. There is no reversing the excessive heat styling or bad product build up, but it is possible to get the hair back to a healthy state in order for it to grow in beautifully. There is no denying that the best change would be to put away the straightener and curling iron for awhile. It’s important to let the hair dry naturally; it is also common to brush through tangles right after a shower. Hair is at its weakest point when wet, so try waiting until it is damp to brush it in order to avoid losing more hair than you need to. The Wet Brush is a specially designed brush to get through knotty hair as gently as possible. As previously stated, hair is sensitive to heat, so start with a small change: wash with colder water. In addition, people tend to have to rinse out more shampoo and conditioner than needed; we only really need a dime size amount to get the job done without stripping the hair of its nutrients (or color for color-treated hair)! It may feel different, but once the hair dries, it becomes apparent how much shampoo and conditioner can weigh hair down.
Break up with split ends and bad ingredients. The absolute simplest way to start fresh is with a hair cut. If you truly want your hair to grow, trim it every few months. Split ends may start at the end of the hair shaft, but they continue to split up the hair shaft, increasing more breakage and less growth. After the cut, use a shampoo and conditioner free of sulfates. Sodium Laureth Sulfate is the most popular harmful ingredient, usually listed as the first ingredient with the most concentration is most shampoos and conditioners. Sulfates are used to make the shampoo lather, but they can also irritate the scalp. Start out with L’Oreal EverCreme Sulfate-Free Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner; these are a cheap drugstore alternative to luscious locks.
Weigh your hair in moisture and nutrients, and load up on the protein. Hair is built up mainly of protein, so it is important to make sure your diet includes a sufficient amount of protein daily. Especially for vegans and vegetarians, it is important to find substitutes to prevent your hair from thinning. In addition to eating healthy, there are specific protein treatments to keep your locks loaded. One of my favorites is Frederic Fekkai Protein Rx Anti-Breakage Treatment Mask. Filled with wheat, oat, milk and soy proteins, this mask leaves the hair feeling super soft; allow the treatment to soak in for about 10 minutes until rinsing out. For a quick nightly hair treatment, Nioxin makes a few different variations of a Scalp Treatment for different hair types. It claims to stimulate the hair follicle, clean the scalp and promote healthy hair growth over time; most importantly, it keeps the hair from thinning any further.
Moisture and protection is just as important as protein and treatments. Dry hair causes the hair to become more limp and weak, and thus, increases split ends and breakage. Invest in a good hair oil such as Kerastase Elixir Ultime–which will make your hair as soft as baby skin–or Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment to hydrate those ends. For sun protection–because our skin is not the only thing susceptible to the sun’s heat–try Alterna Bamboo UV+ Color Protection Fade-Proof Fluide, which works best to help colored hair last longer and look better.
It may sound complicated, but make a few of these changes to your daily hair routine, and you will see a striking difference. Healthy hair can be complicated, especially because heat styling is so much fun, but the trick is to keep it simple. Give your hair some protein-packed love, and let it breathe for awhile. Whether it’s clearing up damage or for preventative reasons, give your hair a few of these treats, and it will treat you back.