Caring for hair starts with proper cleansing with a good shampoo and by using conditioners to coat and seal the cuticles after washing. Shampoos and conditioners are formulated and marketed to suit various skin types and hair textures.
Hair should be washed with warm, not hot, water to wash away build-up. Dedicate three minutes to thegentle massaging of the scalp. Shampoo should be smoothed into hair in one direction and then worked in by sliding the hands down the hair shaft. Then rinse, sliding the hands in the same direction as before. Focus on washing the roots of the hair, as the hair ends will be cleansed when you rinse the shampoo off. Shampooing should be followed by a cool rinse to close the cuticles and to add shine. If hair is rubbed, it will cause dryness and frizz.
Apply conditioner mid-shaft and downwards towards the hair ends. Leave conditioner in for five to seven minutes and use a wide-tooth comb to detangle while the conditioner is still in the hair. If you leave the conditioner in longer than that, residue will be left in the hair, weighing it down. Introducing products for curly hair in the shower, while the hair is still wet, is a great way of moisturizing hair and the reward is more shine.
When hair is wet, it’s at its most vulnerable to break. Avoid rubbing it dry. Instead, gently squeeze or pat hair with a soft towel and allow it to air dry as much as possible. Use wide tooth combs or brushes designed for the brushing of wet hair to reduce breakage.
Those who have dry or curly hair should wash their hair one to two times per week to prevent dryness. Choose hydrating and non-stripping shampoos and cream-based products that can reduce frizz without weighing the hair down. Pre-shampoo coconut oil treatments lessen cuticle swelling, prevent moisture loss, and help to reduce damage from grooming wet hair.
Those who dye their hair should use sulphate-free bond-rebuilding shampoos and conditioners to repair their hair and make the colour last longer. The damage caused by hair dyes can be minimized by using them no more than three times a year.
Heat protectant products can lessen the damage from hot styling tools. Hot styling tools should be set at low or medium temperatures (below 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 175 Celsius) and be used no more than twice a week. Allowing hair to dry naturally is ideal.
Hair spray products should be limited to special occasions only as these products are alcohol based and very drying to the hair.
Hair should be trimmed every two to four months to keep the ends healthy.
