Whether your hair is long or short, curly or straight, you need to know how to take care of it properly so it can look at its best. To take care of your hair, you really need information more than you need expensive products. Read on to learn the basics of hair care.
When shampooing your hair, make sure that your hair is completely wet before applying a quarter-sized amount. This minimizes breakage due to tugging and tangling, and it helps the shampoo to effectively cleanse each strand. Do not lather for more than 30 seconds, and rinse with a blast of cool water to seal in moisture.
Avoid heavy conditioners if you have thin or fine hair. This only weighs your hair down giving it a thinner appearance. To add volume without a greasy look, use mousse conditioners or leave-in conditioners.
To get the best looking hair possible, consider using a leave-in conditioner. These conditioners give you the amazing effects that you typically associate with normal conditioner, but the effects last all day long! You’ll find leave-in conditioners at your local drug store or salon, in either, lotion or spray-on form.
Sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase instead of a cotton. Cotton retains oil and can cause your hair to get tangled and to break during your sleep. You will find that your hair looks much better in the morning if you use a satin or a silk pillowcase and that is is easier to keep clean.
You may think it counter-intuitive, but your hair is the most delicate when it is wet. Avoid brushing and combing your hair until it has dried fully. Otherwise, your hair will look frizzy, dull, and angry. Furthermore, you risk extensive damage and breakage when brushing your hair while it is wet.
Treating your hair from the inside out is the best way to achieve the look that you desire during the day. Make sure that you drink and eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, which are packed with antioxidants. These foods can help to reduce toxins in your body, yielding a healthy scalp.
As tempting as it may be, try not to get a salon perm for your hair. The chemicals that are used in perms can cause major damage to your hair, even making it fall out. If you insist on getting a perm, ask for a Acid Perm, which does not cause as much damage.
Make your hair fit your individual style. Your hair says a lot about your personality. Whether you are sophisticated and elegant, or if you like something more fun and carefree, find the right style to suit you. This will allow any first impressions you make, to be accented visually by your personality through your hairstyle.
Although you may think you are saving money by doing at-home dyes or perms, unless you are experienced, you are probably better off seeing a professional. Home kits can do a great deal of damage to your hair, and undoing that damage can be quite costly. A talented stylist can give you the look you want without any collateral damage.
Use hair gel to smooth down any hair that is loose or out of control, when you braid your hair or put it up. Put some gel on your fingertips and rub in onto the hair that does not want to stay in place. Direct the hair where you want it to go.
Make sure you use shampoos and conditioners that are geared towards curly hair. When you do this, you can feel confident that your hair is being cleaned and moisturized as much as it should be. This will help you avoid frizz, and it will give you beautiful curls that you can be proud of.
As obvious as this may seem, don’t straighten your hair with a clothes iron. Amazingly, lots of people still do this, causing great damage to their hair. If you check out the various online outlets, discount stores or sale papers, it is easy to find straightening irons at a modest price.
Avoid sun-lightening, hair-care products. Lemon’s juice or store-bought treatments for your hair, that allow the sun to “naturally” lighten through exposure, can severely damage your hair. Understand that severe means, you may have to consider a short cut for a while, and allow time for new healthy hair to grow back.
You really only need to wash your hair as often as you feel is needed for keeping it clean. The amount that you wash it, also depends on your hair type. The general rule if you have oily hair, is that it needs to be washed every day or every two days. For dry hair, just wash it 2-3 times per week.
If you need to save money, you can cut your hair yourself. The best way to do it is to wash it, brush it and divide it into seven sections. Use a pair of sharp scissors to cut one section at a time. Working with sections allows you to create layers and to keep things well-balanced.
Develop healthy habits if you want your hair to look its best. Your hair can be affected by many things that also affect the body. Make an effort to decrease stress, exercise more, and eat right. Also, if you’re smoking, you need to quit.
Hair care principles help you take care of your hair regardless of what type of hair you have. Now that you’ve read this article, you should understand what you need to do in order to keep your hair looking at its best. Good luck, and enjoy your new, healthier hair.