What You Should Do And Shouldn’t Do While Taking Care of Your Hair

Do you long for soft, shiny and healthy hair? According to hair care experts, we can enjoy healthy and bouncy hair with correct hair care. The quality of your hair depends solely on your hair care routine, hair products and tools you are using.

Moreover, if you don’t take good care of your hair, it can stop growing after a certain point. With this, the problems of dryness, hair loss and dandruff can develop slowly. Using the wrong hair care products can cause hair loss and itching.

So, it becomes crucial to know what you should do and shouldn’t do while taking care of your hair if you want to improve your hair health. Here is a list of dos and don’ts that will help you maintain your hair health:^(1,2,8)

Look at 26 dos and don’ts to keep your hair healthy:

You can keep your hair and scalp free of oil and dirt by taking a head wash on regular basis. However, the correct frequency of the wash relies on your preferences and hair type. In case you have an oily scalp, washing your hair thrice a week can help. Whereas if you have dry scalp and hair, limit your hair wash twice a week.

Failure to wash your hair for a long time can cause ingrown hairs as this problem can also appear on the scalp. Also, leaving your hair unwashed for a long time will attract more dust and can cause infection.^(1,7)

Massaging your scalp using an oil increases blood flow to the scalp, treats hair, increases shine and relaxes muscles. This habit also treats split ends, allows hair growth and restores moisture level. You can choose from olive oil, almond oil, coconut oil, castor oil etc. Do not use mineral oil for your hair.

Apply warm oil and wrap your head in a towel so the oil can work. Use a hair mask to soothe hair cuticles before washing them. It will help reduce friction among hair strands while washing your hair.⁽⁷⁾

You really can’t control all the environmental factors that spoil your hair. But the good thing you can do is to choose an organic shampoo as the fewer chemicals in your shampoo, the healthier your hair will be.

Chemicals like parabens and sulfates in most of the shampoos available in the market are used as preservatives or to lather, but over time they can cause issues like skin irritation. So it’s better to choose a gentle organic shampoo that suits your hair type the best way.^(1,5)

It is really important to keep your hair hydrated. Hair care products like oils, masks and conditioners help retain the moisture you need to make your hair healthy.^(1,5)

The conditioner contains ingredients that make our hair easy to manage and smooth. It also protects the hair from heat and environmental factors. It should only be applied to the ends of the hair and not on the scalp. Make sure to rinse it off thoroughly from your hair after you use it.^(1,5)

After you shampoo your hair, don’t treat them too much. Make sure you don’t handle your wet hair roughly. Don’t touch the hair too much after this. Putting your hands in your wet hair can cause frizz because of the friction you create. Wet hair is brittle, try not to cause unnecessary damage. Never comb or sleep with wet hair.^(1,5)

It is important to wash your hair when you have enough time to dry your hair. Let your hair dry naturally as much as possible.

Rubbing your hair with a towel can damage your hair making the hair cuticles rough over time. Your cotton t-shirt can be used to dry your wet hair without damaging your hair. After you wash your hair, just squeeze out the excess water gently with the t-shirt, just enough to stop the excess dripping. So, don’t throw your old t-shirt from now on and save it to save your hair!^(5,7)

As already discussed, wet hair is brittle and breaks easily. Let your hair dry, and then comb with a wide-tooth comb. This type of comb prevents damage to your hair.⁽¹⁾

A haircut helps you get rid of rough hair and split ends. These problems occur when your hair is damaged by pollution, smoking, stress or heat etc. If you decide to change your looks, then a haircut helps you a lot. The basic rule of a haircut is that you cut your hair every 3-4 months. It will ensure healthy growth and reduce the chances of damaged hair.

A haircut does not magically make your hair grow faster. The hair growth occurs at the scalp level, but a haircut will keep your hair healthy.^(1,5,7)

To maintain your hair health, make sure you use the right products for your hair that will give you the desired moisture, shine and style. Find the products that suit your hair type in the best way.

You can also go for DIYs to get the exact ingredients you are looking for without the harmful chemicals that you don’t want.⁽⁵⁾

If you want to blow-dry your hair, you will need to dry it in several sections. You should dry your hair in sections rather than drying your whole head. You can do 5-7 sections depending on the length of your hair. By doing this, you won’t use too much heat for a long time on the same area.

You will also need to part your hair when you detangle it. When parting, make sure your hair is wet and conditioned so that it is easier to part. This can take some time, but it is always better to take your time to do it in sections than to make your hair subject to potentially irreparable and serious damage.^(2,6)

Everyone love to show off open hair, but using hair bands and ties often is important to limit the hair’s exposure to environmental elements. Use cloth hair ties, and not plastic ties.

When you make ponytail, braid or any other hairstyle, be careful not to style them too tightly. When you make tight hairstyles, chances are you start losing the hair around your hairline.⁽¹⁾

While you sleep at night, be sure to wear a silk or satin hairband or scarf to tie your hair before hitting the bed. You can also buy silk pillows if you don’t want to tie your hair. This ensures your hair retains moisture.^(5,7)

Many people take good care of their scalp but end up neglecting the hair ends. This is not the right thing to do. This can cause breakage and dryness, which must be filled with moisture. Remember, your hair ends need attention too!

Make sure you take care of hair ends also by hydrating them well. You can apply hot oil to avoid split ends. To take good care of the ends, use conditioners, serums and hair masks to hydrate them well.^(2,5)

Having the right food helps provide the much-needed nutrients to your hair. When you go to the grocery store again, bring avocado, almonds and oranges with you. You can opt for fruits, vegetables, and low-fat protein and whole grains. Pumpkin and spinach help produce keratin, a protein that strengthens your hair. You can also eat foods rich in omega-3, which are believed to promote hair growth. ^{(1, 3)}

If you are aware that the foods you eat aren’t getting you the nutrients you need for making your hair healthy, include vitamin tablets in your diet. Take advice from your dietician before doing it. You will get nutrients from these vitamins and it will help grow your hair and make them shiny and healthy. Keeping this in mind, having a healthy diet is still the best way to keep your hair healthy.^(1,3)

Internal and external hydration is the key to shiny and healthy hair. You can use oils and conditioners for hair care, but drinking at least 8-10 glasses of water a day of water every day will keep your hair healthy.

Drinking enough water provides the moisture your hair needs. It helps nourish your body from within. It hydrates your body and hair well. It is the cheapest thing you can do for your hair and is super beneficial.

Make sure you use purified and filtered water. Take a note that tap water may consist of metals and other chemicals that can be harmful to your hair and body.^(1,3)

It takes time and trials to find the product combination that suits your hair the best way. All the hair products that suit you may not come from the same brand. You can find a brand that makes an excellent shampoo while another makes the best conditioner for your hair.

Even if you can find the right mix of products, something better can always replace the present products. So, always be open to try new products that will give better results than the ones you are already using.^(5,7)

When you are looking for a new hair product, be sure to have a look at the ingredient list. You should look for ingredients that are good for your hair, such as jojoba oil, olive oil, almonds, aloe vera, honey etc.

Go for the products with a lesser number of ingredients. Good are the ingredients that we can pronounce easily. A difficult scientific term can mean a substance that is harmful to our hair. Choose not to buy them.^(5,7)

If not taken care well, your hair can become dull, frizzy, dry and lifeless. Also, one can face issues like hair loss, white hair, dandruff etc. But, if you follow a good hair care regime and stay focused, you will be satisfied with the results. You will get perfect hair within 1-2 months.^(1,5,7)

Here are Few Don’ts for Your Hair:

People love to experiment with their hair, so do you, right? But the harsh chemicals in the hair products, conditioners, dyes, texturizers and relaxers can strip moisture from the hair making it look frizzy. The chemicals used in hair treatments cause hair loss, interfere with hair growth and affect the hair follicles.

So, while you do shopping, always look for the ingredient list. In case the hair products contain harmful chemicals like parabens, lye or certain alcohols, don’t buy them.^(2,6)

Just as sun rays damage your skin, they affect your hair too. The hot sun rays can rip off the moisture from your hair, leaving it damaged, brittle and dry in long run. So, it is best to use a hat when going out to protect your hair from this damage.

Also, a hot shower removes the natural oil from your scalp and hair, leaving it flaky and dry. Washing your hair with normal or cold water is the best option.^(2,6)

Oiling is a great way to add shine to your hair, lock in moisture and hydrate. But using thick oils can weigh down your hair. It also becomes tough to rinse it off from hair completely. Unlike water-based products, your hair may not absorb it. So, your hair doesn’t get the moisture it needs. Thick oils may not provide equal moisturization to the whole scalp and hair. So, you should always use light oils. Olive or avocado oil are great options for you.^(2,6)

Stress can lead to unhealthy hair and hair loss. So it’s better to avoid taking stress to improve your hair health.⁽⁴⁾

Chlorinated water irritates the scalp and damages the hair cuticles. Always cover your hair while in the pool as chlorinated water has a bad effect on your hair.^(2,5)

Everyone loves perfect waves, beautiful curls or simply straight hair. All these require heat equipment. But you can achieve it with minimal effect of heat.

While you are using a curling iron, blow dryer or any other type of heat to your hair, make sure you set it to a low setting. The temperature you set should be below 350 degrees. Your hair doesn’t deserve so much heat!

When you are using a hairdryer, you can attach a diffuser. It will help distribute the heat to your hair instead of blowing your hair to direct heat, resulting in minimal damage.

Also, use a good heat protection serum before using a hairdryer, straightener or curling iron. For the best results, limit using heating tools to important events when you need style. Overheating can damage your hair if done regularly.^(1,6)

There are many dos and don’ts for our hair. It is just you need to find out what can you do to regain your hair health. This requires trial, research and mistakes. But with constant efforts, you can make your hair healthy and shiny in the long run. This may mean buying new products and getting rid of old ones. It can also mean leaving the heating tools behind.

With the usage of chemical-free products designed for your hair type, eating right, and following all the tips above, you can say goodbye to unhealthy hair.

But most importantly, if you experience hair damage and excessive hair loss despite following a good hair care routine, go for expert advice.

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