Gentle Care for Healthy Hair

Those of us who grew up in the 80’s and 90’s have been guilty of our fair share of hair atrocities. First there was a lot of teasing and perming in order to get the tallest possible hair…and do you remember that summer we all sprayed peroxide products on our hair and laid out in the yard until we achieved an unfortunate shade of “sun-kissed orange?” Or how about that year that straighteners first became a thing and we abandoned volume altogether? Everyone just walked around for a year with their hair flattened to the sides of their heads. Our hair has been through a lot and some old habits die hard, so let’s recap some of the most important things you should be doing right now to have your best hair in the 2020’s.

1. For shiny, healthy hair think first of your body’s intake. Your hair is really just a reflection of what you are inside. A good balanced, nutritious, and healthy diet will do more to make your hair shine than any shampoo or conditioner. And drink eight to ten glasses of water a day too; hair is 25% water, so don’t let yours go thirsty!

2. Heat styling will leave your hair brittle and damaged in time. Be natural whenever you can. When possible, dry your hair after washing in the ambient temperature of your room. Use an absorbent towel to soak up the excess moisture, but don’t rub hard. When you need to use hot tools such as blow-dryers, flat irons, curling irons or hot rollers, use the lowest possible heat setting and an appropriate heat protection spray to protect your hair from damage.

3. Prevent unnecessary hair damage by using the right kind of hairbrush. Only comb wet hair with a wide-tooth comb, combing from root to end, but avoiding touching the root. Detangling wet hair with a fine-tooth comb or densely bristled brush can create a lot of damage, so don’t!

4. Hair needs regular trimming even when attempting to grow it long. Get regular haircuts or trims to keep hair growth even and remove split ends. For hair that is easily damaged or hard to manage, plan to visit the salon every other month. Hair that is healthy and manageable can benefit from a visit at least once per season.

5. Avoid daily cleansing. Even in mild formulations, the surfactants in shampoos remove natural oil from the hair which diminishes the hair’s health and appearance. Ideally hair should be cleansed 2-3 times per week using a regular sulfate-free shampoo appropriate for your hair type. Dry shampoos in either spray or powder form can be used between washes to absorb oil from the hair and prolong the period between shampooing.

Start with small changes when trying to create new habits around your haircare routine. If you are cleansing and high heat styling daily, try to move to cleansing every other day or lowering your heat setting. It may take time to see the results but your hair will be healthier than its ever been if you treat it gently.