Whether your hair is long or short, curly or straight, you need to know how to take care of it properly so it can look at its best. To take care of your hair, you really need information more than you need expensive products. Read on to learn the basics of hair care.
While you should wash your hair often, don’t overdo it. Washing your hair too often, strips it of its natural oils, which gives it shine and volume. For most people, washing their hair a few times a week is enough, unless their hair is especially oily. Washing too often will turn hair dry and brittle.
Make sure to clean out your brushes and combs, and wash them periodically. A good rule of thumb is to clean them with soap and water around once a week. This will minimize the amount of build up that you will incur on your hair follicles and you will have healthier hair.
For minimizing breakage, be sure that your hair is completely wet prior to applying shampoo. Don’t use any more than about a quarter-size dollop. Then proceed to rub the shampoo in between your palms to start with. Be sure to lather up for no more than 30 seconds or so.
Your lifestyle influences the way your hair looks. Being stressed, not getting enough sleep or smoking tobacco means your hair will not look good. You also need to maintain a balanced diet so that your hair gets all the vitamins and nutrients it needs. Get rid of your bad habits and you should see a difference!
To get the best looking hair possible, consider using a leave-in conditioner. These conditioners give you the amazing effects that you typically associate with normal conditioner, but the effects last all day long! You’ll find leave-in conditioners at your local drug store or salon, in either, lotion or spray-on form.
If you happen to suffer from a flaky scalp, try using this treatment bi-weekly: Start sectioning your hair and do a gentle rubbing on your scalp using a rubbing alcohol-saturated cotton pad. Once the alcohol dries, start brushing your hair. Finish with a thorough rinse using warm water, and be sure not to shampoo.
Focus on hair color products that contain conditioners and cause little damage. Though you may find inexpensive solutions for coloring your hair, the lack of conditioners could leave your hair strained and lifeless. The recuperation efforts that you will put into your hair after coloring will be reduced when conditioners are incorporated.
Use a towel to dry your hair, as much as possible, before blow drying. When blow drying your hair, use the coolest possible setting to avoid damage. Do not leave the blow dryer in the same spot for more than a few seconds and keep it several inches away from your head.
Limit the number of chemical services you have done on your hair at any given time. If you opt to go with coloring, avoid processes like perms. When your hair is subjected to this kind of chemical over-treatment, you can have a long road ahead to get your hair back to a healthy state.
Use your heat-styling implements, such as curling irons or flattening irons, on the lowest effective heat setting. Heated metal can cause your hair serious damage, especially if you have curly or dry hair. Use conditioners to lock in moisture and add strength to your hair before using these types of styling tools.
Hair care principles help you take care of your hair regardless of what type of hair you have. Now that you’ve read this article, you should understand what you need to do in order to keep your hair looking at its best. Good luck, and enjoy your new, healthier hair.