For women of every race, and every style of hair from high-maintenance to wash-and-go, keeping your locks fresh and healthy is an important part of putting your best foot forward in life. It can seem like a full-time job maintaining healthy and vibrant hair, and we all know it can cost a fortune as well.
Here are some tips for hair care to help you preserve your hair’s health and shine.
- Shampoo your hair only two or three times a week, max – especially if you have wavy or curly hair. If you’re black, then shampoo even less frequently – one every week at the most. Shampooing too frequently can strip your hair of some of the vital oils it needs in order to stay healthy. For wavy or curly-haired women of any race, your hair is more fragile than others and must have its natural oil in order to not frizz and split.
- If you’re someone who works out everyday, a good hair care tip for you to consider would be to buy a high-quality, gentle shampoo to use. If you swim, wear a shower cap.
- On the days you aren’t shampooing, lightly condition your ends. This is the most fragile part of your hair and receives the least amount of nutrition. Conditioning will help to keep it stronger, longer.
- For black women with thick curly hair, oiling once a day may be necessary. Those with medium or thin curly hair should oil every few days, or once a week. For women of any race, adding a little hair-oil to the ends of your curls after shampooing will help replenish what was stripped away.
- Hair care tips for dry and overly processed hair: pick up a salon-quality deep conditioner infused with lots of protein. Coloring, bleaching, permanently curling your hair, and so on, will strip a lot of protein from the shaft that needs to be replaced. Be careful not to over-use the protein shampoos and conditioners though. Too much protein can cause your hair to start breaking.
- Try not to blow-dry or use an iron too often. Blow-drying too often can cause heat damage and breakage to the hair, as can curling or flat ironing your hair. If you can’t live without either accessory, a good hair care tip is to then pick up a serum or hair lotion that will protect your hair from heat damage. Also, when drying, blot the hair before you begin, and flip your head upside down so that the top isn’t always the first target of hot air. Dry until hair is still a little damp and then stop.
- Or better yet, try air-drying your hair. Be sure that when you do this, you don’t rub the hair with a towel. This can cause breakage as well. Rather, blot lightly and gently fluff with the fingers as it dries.
- For black women, protect your hairstyles by picking up a wrap cap. A wrap cap will help you avoid having to damage your hair through daily styling.
- Have your hair trimmed regularly to keep split ends from traveling up the shaft and causing more damage than necessary.
As in all things, moderation is key. Too much of one thing, even a good thing, can damage your hair. By following these basic hair care tips, you can keep your hair shiny and healthy.
