Your hair reflects the general state of your health, and this means you should aim to keep it in good shape, just as you do with your fitness regime and your personal fashion wardrobe. Models and celebrities know the value of fabulous-looking hair, and their stylists work hard to instill basic hair care knowhow so that they always look their best. Here are a few top tips for tiptop hair.
Shampooing
Over washing your hair is strictly a no-no, as this strips away essential oils and leaves you with duller, frizzier locks that are prone to becoming fragile and breaking, resulting in highly unattractive split ends. Shampooing your hair no more than two or three times per week is recommended by hair specialists. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t use other methods to refresh your hair in between washes. For example, rinsing will refresh your scalp and rejuvenate your hair without the drying effects of using too much shampoo too frequently.
Similarly, using a dry shampoo occasionally will improve the texture and help you to reduce any oil build up. Leaving dry shampoo in will add texture and volume, refreshing both the roots and tips. Other leave-in treatments include quality conditioners – best applied from the mid-lengths to the tips rather than at the hair roots – and hair masks.
Stay healthy
Remember that your lifestyle will have an impact on your hair – the correct mix of iron, vitamins, minerals, protein and other nutrients is essential. If your hair is thinning, consider supplements that can regrow hair naturally with the added advantage of keeping it looking glossy and healthy . Particular foods, such as those rich in Vitamin C, are helpful, while herbal and ayurvedic supplements are increasingly popular with those who want to avoid too many chemicals or are seeking gluten-free and vegan alternatives.
Drying
Gently towel drying your hair before you apply conditioner is a good way to minimize the damage that blow-drying can cause. Also, carefully and softly combing wet hair with a wide-tooth comb is much better than overdoing vigorous brushing – top stylists say that when you do brush, you should work from the tips of the hair towards the roots. When it comes to wielding your hairdryer, opt for a low heat setting and try to work on your style from above, rather than from the side.
Heated styling tools, such as tongs and straighteners, are not recommended for everyday use. Instead, some celebrity stylists often go to bed with damp hair, having applied a little texturizing spray, and wake up with crimps and curls. They also wait a while after shampooing if they have to blow dry hair, and then they tip their hair upside down to start drying underneath – this increases volume and texture.
Hair oil
Finally, many stylists advise that, just as you use facial oil on your skin, so you should use hair oil from time to time to regulate the oiliness of your scalp. In particular, this will help colored hair to retain color and ensure it stays healthy and shiny for longer.
While we often fixate on the physical state of our bodies and try to improve our health via exercise regimens, we may sometimes forget to tend to the health of our hair. Remember that your hair needs maintaining as well – whether it’s through treatments or diet or simply getting a new haircut, your locks will thank you!