How To Build A Basic Hair Care Routine

Your hair is your crowning glory. In most situations it’s visible and it makes a lot of difference to a person’s appearance.  Hairstyle and hair condition reflect one’s personality and style. But, in order for your hair to look good and make you look good, you need to build a hair care routine. The better you take care of your hair, the more it will look after you.

Your haircare routine will depend on the following

1)      Your hair texture or type

Whether your hair is fine, thick or course, each type has its upsides and downsides. For example, straight hair usually looks and feels greasy quicker than curly hair due to oil speedily making its way down the hair shaft.

2) Whether your hair has been chemically processed

If you have dyed, bleached, or chemically treated hair, you may have to build your routine differently.

Like if you have dyed your hair, you are advised not to wash it every day to prevent premature color fading and dryness or your bleached hair may require some extra nourishment in the form of specially formulated conditioner or hair masks.

3) How you want to wear your hair on a daily basis depending upon your lifestyle?

Do you have enough time for drying and ironing your hair naturally or you prefer a chic low maintenance bob due to your hectic schedule?

Do you like to straighten your hair? Curl it? Leave it completely natural?

4) Is there something specific that you want to address

If you have frizzy or dry hair, flaky scalp, dandruff or hair fall, you will have to find a solution to address these issues in your hair care routine.

Your hair care routine will largely depend on your hair type and concerns, there are a few basic steps that you can work upon

• Cleanse

If you really want to look after your hair; you need to choose products that are specially formulated for your needs.

Shampooing too often will strip the nutrients from your hair, potentially leaving it dry and brittle. Put a little in the palm of your hand and mix it into your hair, leave it to work for several minutes before rinsing out.

But, regardless of how often you shower, only use the shampoo 2-3 times a week.

• Condition

Conditioners have myriad benefits. The main one is moisturizing, but others include detangling, shininess, and frizz reduction.

You should use the conditioner every time after the shampoo. Blend it in thoroughly and leave it in for approximately 5 minutes. This gives it time to work it’s magic, hydrating and repairing your hair.

If you use straighteners and blow dryers a lot then your hair may become dry and brittle. The deep conditioning will combat this. You should also turn the heating setting down on your appliances, medium is fine for most hair types and styles.

• Detangle

Detangling is essential for stopping breakage and for making your life a whole lot easier.

But you need to use the right tool, such as a wide-tooth comb, to avoid pulling hair out by mistake.

Depending on your hair type, you may need to detangle every day or much less often.

• Style and protect

Thanks to a number of tools and tricks like volumizers and gels, you can style your hair practically any way you want.

But if you’re a fan of heated tools, you’ll need to protect those strands with a heat protection spray.

Some general tips and tricks that are beneficial for all hair types

1)      Get regular trims

Getting hair cut every 6 to 8 weeks is considered to be beneficial for reducing breakage and split ends as well as growth.

2) Use warm, not hot, water

Using very hot water to wash hair can dry it out and, if dyed, can quickly fade color. Just use lukewarm water instead.

3) Make sure you’re getting enough nutrients in your diet

Your diet effects the condition of your hair. Have nutritious food covering all food group will keep your hair healthy.

4) Go natural where possible

Frequent use of chemicals, straighteners, curling irons can damage your air.

Letting your hair breathe can work wonders. This means limiting heat use by letting it air-dry and avoiding straighteners and curling irons.

Even putting hair up in a tight ponytail can cause strain, so leave it down to stop the pull.

And if you don’t need to use a styling product, don’t use it. That way, you’ll reduce residue buildup.

Conclusion

Figuring out a hair care routine may take some time. But once you understand what works for you, you’re well on the way to getting the hair you deserve.

What basic hair care routine do you follow? Do let us know in the comments below.