Hair Care Basics
Hair is important. Every woman, even the ones who won’t admit to it for fear of being deemed superficial, knows this. Luckily, taking care of your hair is not difficult, and it may not be as expensive as you think.
In order to keep your hair looking nice, you need to get it cut regularly. Some women favor very long hair and resist the idea of frequent cuts, but skipping hair cuts in order to grow your hair out is actually self-defeating. Eventually, your hair will develop numerous split ends; not only will your hair look trashy, but it will also break off. As soon as you start noticing a couple of split ends, you should get a trim. If you take good care of your hair, you may not need to get it cut more than twice a year. Of course, shorter hair styles require more frequent cuts.
Coloring you hair can be very damaging. Although home color kits are a lot less expensive than going to the salon, they also tend to be a lot harsher. Bleach is especially damaging, so if you want hair that is the color, but not the texture of straw, you really should enlist the help of a professional. However, if you are going darker or redder, you will probably be
alright doing it at home. If you want to go blond, avoid spending a lot of money, and have healthy hair, then, well frankly you’re asking for a lot. Try going to the salon for blond highlights rather than all over blond color. This way, only some of your hair will be bleached, so there will be less damage. Additionally, you will need fewer touchups, resulting in both fewer bills and less damage.
What you do to your hair on a daily basis is also very important. Unless you are working out or using a ton of hair product, you really do not need to wash your hair everyday. Shampoo can dry your hair out, and frequent blow drying can be very damaging, so save some water and wash your hair every other day. When you do wash your hair, use a shampoo and conditioner designed for your hair type (dry, oily, etcetera). If your hair is at all dry, you should also use a deep conditioner once a week. Salon versions, such as Sebastian Laminates Masque, work very well but can be quite expensive. The deep
conditioners sold at drug stores tend to be a lot less expensive, and some of them, notably Aussies’s 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor, work very well. You can also make your own deep conditioning mask with olive oil, honey, and avocado.
If you blow dry your hair, make sure that you use a hair product designed to protect your hair from heat damage. You should also use a protective product when using a flat iron or a curling iron. Even more importantly, you need to make sure that your hair is completely dry before putting a hot iron to it; otherwise, you will boil your hair. Ceramic models cause less damage than other models, and they are usually only a little more expensive.
The simple act of brushing your hair can also cause damage. In order to limit the amount of breakage that you cause from brushing, use a good brush; boar bristles are great, and metal brushes are the most damaging. Also, use a good conditioner to limit the amount of tangles in your hair. Work out tangles gently, and use a leave-in conditioner if necessary. Avoid brushing your hair too much when it is wet, as it is more prone to break at this time.
Even when you’re not doing anything to your hair, you still might be harming it. The sun damages your hair; if you have lighter streaks in your hair from sun exposure, then your hair is also drier and more brittle. Swimming, especially in chlorinated water or sea water, is also very, very damaging. A swimming cap can help protect your hair, although they’re not exactly stylish.
What you eat can also affect your hair. If your diet is low in vitamins and healthy fats, then your hair might become dull and dry. If a healthy diet is out of the question, at least take a multivitamin. Omega-3 fatty acid pills are also very good for your hair, and many people claim that they promote hair growth.
Good hair care is basically common sense. Avoid doing things that damage your hair, and do things that repair your hair.
