Beautiful, healthy hair is something for which most people strive. The best way to improve the look and feel of your hair is to acquire as much knowledge about the subject as possible. Apply the tips in this piece to your daily hair care regimen, and you will reap the rewards in short order.
If you color your hair at home, do not apply hair color to previously colored strands until the last 10 minutes. Apply the color to your roots first, and then comb through to freshen-up the color on the rest of your hair. This minimizes the damage that repeatedly soaking your hair in harsh chemicals can cause.
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!
Hair dryers can harm hair. What works best when using a blow dryer is to keep it on a cold air setting with constant movement of the dryer. This way, it moves around and not on one spot for too long. Knots should be untangled with your finger during the drying process, as this helps to avoid harm to your hair while brushing later on.
Chronic use of blow dryers and curling irons damages hair. This is why it is important to use a healing and protective serum on your hair before using any hot styling tools. Styling products will protect the hair from the intense heat that these devices generate.
Try using a leave-in-conditioner. It will give you a nice soft feel to your hair all day long. It is the equivalent of moisturizing your skin. Leave-in-moisturizers will protect your hair from any harmful sun rays or dirt or debris you may come across every day.
Many people believe that trimming your hair on a regular basis will cause the hair to grow faster, but that is not necessarily true. The main reason that you should keep your hair trimmed is to prevent yourself from developing split ends, which look very unsightly and can cause further hair damage.
Don’t use salt spray on your hair. While salt spray is great for creating beach waves and minimizing grease on your hair, it is also very damaging to your hair. After all, salt is a drying agent, so it will take all of the moisture out of your hair and leave it dry and brittle.
Avoid hot water when washing you hair. Lukewarm water is okay, and cold water is even better, if you can tolerate it. Hot water dries out the hair and can irritate the scalp. If you are used to a steaming hot shower, use a shower cap and wash your hair separately.
If you value your hair color, wear a swimming cap before jumping into a chlorinated pool. Chlorine causes hard metals, present in all water in various concentrations, to oxidize, and that in turn can add a green tinge to any hair color. Applying a coat of conditioner before swimming can help, but most public pools frown on that practice. Stick to swimming in lakes and ponds to keep hair from looking like it belongs on a Martian.
Take the time to read the labels on all of the hair care products that you plan on using. You may find that your favorite products contain harsh chemicals or other ingredients that you’d rather not place in your hair on a consistent basis. In fact, some of these ingredients may have a short term hair benefit, but in the long run, they can damage your hair even more!
If you use a lot of styling products, add baking soda to your hair cleaning routine. Once a week mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda in with your shampoo. Wash your hair with this mixture and proceed with your routine as usual. This will help get all of the styling product build up out of your hair.
Never comb or brush your hair when it is wet. Hair is at its weakest when it’s wet, meaning it is more prone to damage. Let your hair dry somewhat before brushing it. If your hair must be combed while moist, then make sure you are using a wide-toothed comb that has rounded tips.
Use a comb on wet hair. A brush will grab and break the individual strands of hair if your hair is wet. If you find your hair is tangled after washing it, use a comb to get the knots out. Start combing small sections from the bottom up to gradually detangle your hair. This method will help to reduce breakage.
Squeeze your hair dry with a towel after shampooing. Do not rub your towel vigorously all over your head in order to dry your hair. This ruffles the hair cuticles and causes tangling of the hair. Instead, gently squeeze separate sections of your hair to get the excess water out.
Today there is a lot of debate over how frequently you should use shampoo. Although skipping a day or two will not hurt your hair, neither will applying shampoo daily. Any residue that shampoo might leave in your hair is going to wash away when you rinse it. If you feel that a daily shampooing is necessary to keep your hair clean, feel free to do it.
It’s important not to go outside with wet hair, especially during winter. The water in your hair can freeze, which can lead to hair breakage. If you have to step outside before your hair is dry, keep it covered at all times. It may be a little extra effort, but it’s worth it to protect your hair.
There is no substitute for a head of lush silky hair when it comes to making a great first impression. In order to achieve your best look, it is essential to invest the necessary time to understand the best methods and techniques in hair care. Follow the advice you have read in this piece, and you will be on your way in no time.