If there is one thing I know, it's ways to keep your hair healthy! I've always wanted long hair but I also love changing up my colour, which sometimes requires bleach and my hair is just so fragile. So here are some of my tips and tricks to keeping your hair healthy.
1. Regular hair cuts
'Cue eye rolls and heavy sighs'. I know everyone hates this one and tries to ignore it. I have even read other blogs trying to prove that this doesn't work. But I promise you it does work.
Now I'm not talking cutting an inch or more off your hair every month! You just want to take half an inch or less off your ends to clean them up(I call this a baby trim or a dusting) and the rule for how often:
Growing hair: 10-12 weeks
Maintaining length: 8-10 weeks
Why it works: getting frequent hair cuts will keep away any split ends and breakage, keep your hair healthy and able to continue to grow and not break off.
2. Washing your hair (or not)
No one likes oily hair, but not giving your natural oils a chance to come through your hair will start drying out and on top of that your scalp will start over producing oils to make up for the lack of oil(because you keep washing it away). If you are an every day shampooer I would suggest trying to stretch it to every other day.
let those natural oils come through a bit and give your hair the nutrients it needs!
I have worked my way to washing my hair just 2 times a week. It has made such a difference in the healthiness of my hair and I've noticed it's grown faster in the last 6 months. It takes a couple weeks for your scalp to understand that you are not going to rid the oil as soon as it comes in but after a few weeks of stretching your shampoo days your hair will calm down and not be so oily, only washing my hair twice a week really isn't so bad any more and no one ever notices;)
Why it works: the natural oils are on your scalp and hair for a reason! They keep your hair healthy by adding moisture and self-healing it.
3. Colouring hair
The basic fact is: box dye is bad for your hair. Sorry (not sorry) but it is true. Box dye is kind of a ‘one size fits all’ thing, it has a high peroxide amount that will blow open your hair cuticle really fast and aggressively which most people's hair does not need! Also, box dye has a bunch of chemicals in it that can cause damage and are sometimes nearly impossible to ever get out of the hair. The colour line that I use is high quality and actually adds moisture to the hair, I use the right level of peroxide that is needed for the hair type so I can ensure the integrity of the hair. And don’t even get me started on bleaching your own hair…I’ve never seen this end well and if you have, well that’s great but why risk it? Just so you know, I went to school for this. It is not as easy as it looks and not everyone can do it.
Why it works: Having a professional who has been trained to do something is always better than just winging it, in everything in life. Stylists use high quality, professional dyes and they have the professional knowledge to know how to do it properly. Also professional hair colour is easier to lift out of the hair without damage than a box colour.
*I’m not saying every stylist is perfect and mistakes do happen.
4. Heat Protecting
If you only buy one professional, high-quality product for your hair in your whole life, make it a heat protector. One of the biggest causes of damage to your hair is over usage of heat, literally frying your hair. If you are like me and use a blow dryer, flat iron or curling iron on a regular basis then you NEED something to protect your hair! Your hair is just like your skin, when something hot is on it and stays on it or goes over it, again and again, it will eventually burn.
Why it works: A heat protecting product creates a barrier between the hair and the heat, protecting the hair enough to not cause damage. My all time go to favourite products is Kevin Murphy’s Young Again serum, I'll never not use this product. It is a heat protectant, hair repairer and adds shine and moisture. My favourite part about it is that you can use it on wet and dry hair, protecting your hair from both blow dryer and hot tool! And you can put as much as you want on and it will not make your hair oily!
*If you are interested in the Young Again or have questions about heat protectors feel free to message me!
5. Air dry
Similar to number 4 but just as important. The less amount of hot tools on your hair will mean less damage to your hair.
So, air dry as often as you can!
Wash you hair at night or get up early enough to shower that it is dry by the time you’re ready to style it. Follow my sisters lead and go for a bike ride to wind dry it or go with a braided style for the day. There are plenty of products out there to help control frizz when air drying, natural hair is beautiful! So just leave with wet hair and let your natural hair texture come out.
Why it works: Blow drying your hair can cause damage from the heat as well as dry out your hair, letting your hair air dry allows for it to keep what moisture it needs and it leaves the hair cuticle untouched giving you with silky soft hair.