SIMPLE TIPS TO HELP YOU BOOST YOUR HAIR GAME
Maintaining healthy and happy locks is never easy. But following these basic rules will make it easier to choose the right products
We tend to forget that our hair deserves just as much attention as our skin. You don’t necessarily need to implement a 12- step routine like you can with skin, but owning the right products that you can mix and match will dramatically change your hair game.
From masks to deep conditioning treatments, styling tools and scalp treatments, today’s market has a category and an answer for every and any hair struggle. There are plenty of possibilities to choose from, but that means picking the right ones can get a bit overwhelming.
The haircare market is growing exponentially and many skincare brands are getting into the game and releasing their own hair products. Brands such as Ouai by celebrity stylist Jen Atkins; DAE Hair, a hair line inspired by the US state of Arizona; the bee-inspired Gisou line by Negin Mirsalehi; and Olaplex currently dominate the market, where everything is about functionality and real results.
Still, do we really need things like hair treatment masks? Is it OK to dye your hair at home? How often should you wash it, really? We have probably asked ourselves these questions and a dozen more hundreds of times but, as with skin, answers can vary as we have different hair textures, patterns and styles.
No matter your hair type or the levels of humidity you’re facing, however, there are some basic rules you need to keep in mind when streamlining your haircare heroes.
How often should I wash my hair?
It’s the question of questions in the haircare world. Opinions about this matter are often polarised, but there’s one rule all experts stand by: washing your hair every day is a big no. Doing so can dry and damage it, as the scalp produces natural oils that are necessary for hair to stay healthy. Wash it too often with shampoo and you’re getting rid of that oil.
The final answer of how often will be directly linked to your hair type and factors such as how often you work out, pollution levels, heat styling and even UV exposure but, generally speaking, washing it every two to three days is considered enough.
Do we need deep conditioners?
In short: yes, we do. Hot tools, the chemicals in our styling and colour products, UV rays, environmental conditions and even medication can all damage your hair. The ingredients in a deep conditioner are especially formulated to hydrate, nurture and soften your hair. Using a deep conditioning treatment regularly will also improve your hair’s elasticity and help prevent, or certainly reduce, breakage.
How can I figure out my hair type?
We tend to define our hair as either dry or oily and call it a day, but there are different elements to keep in mind to determine its type: texture (whether it is straight, wavy, curly or coiled), structure (thin, medium or thick), porosity (whether it absorbs all, some or little moisture), and scalp condition (oily, normal or dry). Once you find out where your hair fits in each of these categories, you will realise that it is a mixture of types. Being aware of that will make it easier to choose the right products.
How does heat styling affect my hair?
Hot tools like straighteners, curling wands and blow dryers are great to change up your hairstyles, but they can also deeply damage your hair as they can cause dehydration, water loss, oxidation of pigment particles and protein damage. If used without a heat protectant, you are putting your hair under lots of stress, and the damage can be severe and sometimes irreversible.
Is it important to take care of my scalp separately?
Our scalp needs proper cleansing, hydration and exfoliation, as it’s where our hair follicles live. Rashuna Durham, a pro team stylist at brand Amika, says: “A clean scalp will promote good cell turnover and a healthy environment for optimal hair growth. All great hair starts with a healthy scalp [ …] It is important to stimulate blood circulation around the roots of the hair, which energises the scalp and promotes hair growth, nourishing the scalp and rehydrating it to prevent breakage.”
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Brushing your hair goes much further than getting rid of knots. Doing so daily helps distribute your hair’s natural oils all the way to your ends, which in turns provides you with more hydrated, overall healthier locks. Each stroke will help reduce leftover impurities or excess build-up on your hair, making the styling process and daily maintenance easier.
brushing my hair important?
We tend to define our hair as either dry or oily and call it a day … but it is a mixture of types
How does the sun affect my hair?
The vitamin D we get from the sun can be great for your hair’s health and growth but, at the same time, sun exposure is the single most frequent cause of structural hair damage. Sunlight, and the UV rays that come with it, can damage the proteins and pigments in your hair, leading to protein loss, weaker structure, dehydration, frizz and colour opacity. To avoid these issues, either wear a hat whenever you’re exposed to the sun or get a leave-in conditioner or hair oil with SPF.
What can I do to control frizz?
Believe it or not, humidity is not always the cause. Using hair products formulated with sulphates and/or alcohol, washing it in water that’s too hot, constantly touching your hair, towel drying, hot styling tools and too much brushing could affect your hair’s structure, too. So, no matter how many anti-frizz products you use, without fixing these issues, getting rid of frizz will be almost impossible.