We all feel great on a good hair day, don’t we? But what about the days your hair looks brittle, lacks shine and it’s hard to style? A nightmare, I know. That’s where you start to seek styling products and tools to make it slick and healthy. Just that, the right recipe is something most people often overlook: the basics. So why risk losing time and money on expensive treatments when you can do these extra steps in your haircare routine that can improve your hair appearance? And it cost nothing!
The basics of healthy hair
Brush your hair every day
Brushing your hair on a daily basis can stimulate scalp blood flow, helping hair receives more nutrients and oxygen necessary for healthy hair growth. Besides, brushing helps distribute the hair’s natural oils from the ends to the roots, keeping your strands hydrated. So if your goal is soft hair, then it’s time to become a partner with combs and brush your hair at least once a day. But be careful not to overdo it as excessive or aggressive brushing can do the exact opposite.
Make sure you pick a soft brush and gently comb your hair so that it won’t break. If you usually brush your hair while it’s wet, use a comb or brush specially designed for it. Brushes geared for wet hair have flexible bristles that won’t break or tug wet strands. And finally, for long hair use a wood comb as it glides smoothly and has better chances to avoid breakage.
Rinse with cold water
The hot water can weaken the scalp, making it look dull and dry. On the other hand, cold water is very healthy for hair, as it seals the hair cuticles, making it shinier and silkier. We’re not saying you should rinse it off with ice water. Showering with medium, cold or warm water will suffice. To undo the knots in your hair, apply a little jojoba or coconut oil. You’ll see how you can untangle your hair without any problems.
Avoid excessive exposure to heat
When you are frequently exposed to heat, your scalp dries out, and as a consequence, your hair loses its shine as days go by. So there’s no secret that dryers and tweezers can weaken your hair. The ideal would be to reduce the use of these types of appliances and when you use them, apply a proper moisturizing treatment for hair and scalp afterward.
Take care when removing knots
Knots are a common hair issue and sometimes can be a real struggle to deal with them. And trying to get rid of them abruptly is a huge mistake. A good trick? Apply some jojoba or coconut oil to the knot, let it go for a few minutes, and then untangle the annoying knot. You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to remove knots.
Cut the ends frequently
Hair’s ends are oftentimes the ones affected by dryness, and over time they break off, making hair look less healthy and duller. Hence, cutting the ends at least once every two months not only makes hair easy to style but it helps keep it look healthy and bouncy.
Now, a hairstylists’ tip: you know you need to trim your hair when you can’t run the comb smoothly over the ends.
Maintain a healthy diet
Hair is mainly made up of muscle tissue, keratin, oils, silicon, and proteins. Just like any other part of the body, hair follicles need vitamins and nutrients to function properly. Research found that nutritional deficiencies are a common cause of thinning hair, especially in women during menopause. More precisely, zinc, iron, and vitamin H (biotin) deficiencies are often associated with poor hair health.
The basics are to increase the consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts, dairy products, fish, and drink 2L of water every day. What you need from your diet are foods rich in proteins, healthy fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. You can also use supplements to correct nutritional deficiencies.
Natural remedies for hair
There are no better allies to complement your haircare routine than natural remedies aiming to hydrate and strengthen your strands. Like these:
Avocado and egg
Avocado is known as a hair savior because it’s rich in nutrients and essential oils. The same goes for eggs too.
What you need
- 1 ripe avocado.
- 1 egg yolk.
- 1 spoonful of olive oil (15 ml).
How to do it
Mash the ripe avocado with a fork, and then add the egg yolk and olive oil. Mix all the ingredients and apply the resulting paste to your hair and scalp, leaving it to work for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse as usual and repeat twice a month for nourished and healthy hair.
Banana and lemon
This mix contains minerals such as calcium, potassium, and iron, which, when absorbed, help to keep the hair healthy.
What you need
- 1 ripe banana.
- Lemon juice.
- 1 spoonful of sunflower oil (15 ml).
How to do it
Mash the ripe banana with a fork and mix it with the lemon juice and sunflower oil. Once you have obtained a paste, apply it to damp hair. Leave it on for 20-30 minutes and rinse thoroughly.
