Important Hair Care Tips that you MUST KNOW- Healthy Hair Care Do’s and Don’ts

Have you ever considered that certain practices that we commit to when it comes to haircare may actually do more harm than good unknowingly?

Tiny changes to our everyday practices can help maintain a strong foundation that will be beneficial in the long run. In this article, I’ll pinpoint various things that you have control of and that you can do right away to take care of your gorgeous locks.

1. Do’s and Don’ts For Washing Your Hair

• Using Hair Oil: Oiling your hair before washing it is one of the best ways of nourishing your scalp and hair externally. While it may not be possible to do so every single time, massaging the scalp with some coconut oil, olive oil, or almond oil onto your scalp an hour before getting into the shower will pre-condition it and give it a lovely shine and bounce.
• Be mindful of the water temperature- Avoid using hot water to wash your hair. Using lukewarm water is ideal as hot water can damage your hair in the same way that the heat from heat styling tools does. Moreover, hot water can strip the moisture of the scalp and hair. As a little experiment, try washing your hair with lukewarm and hot water on different occasions and see the difference for yourself.
  • Pro tip- Rinse your hair with cool water if possible one last time before you step off the shower. This will help seal the cuticle.
• Dilute the shampoo: I often took this for granted and assumed that people were aware of diluting the shampoo before using it over their scalp. However, in my years of practice, I have clients getting surprised every time I stress the basics of hair washing… the foundational one being diluting the shampoo. Commercial shampoos are made up of harsh chemicals that can dry the scalp and hair by stripping off natural oils. It is advisable to dilute 1-2 pumps of shampoo in half a mug of water and then use that to wash your hair.
• Apply conditioner only on the ends: Your conditioner contains ingredients that align the outer cells of the cuticle and helps make the hair more manageable. It also protects your hair from environmental aggressors and heat styling. However, a conditioner needs to be applied only over the hair and NOT your scalp. Apply the conditioner only from the mid-length of your hair to the ends and make sure you rinse it off thoroughly post-application. 
• Alter the frequency of Hair Wash: How frequently you need a hair wash depends on the type of work you do and the environment you are subjected to. While washing your scalp daily can dehydrate the scalp and strip off the natural scalp oil, a daily hair wash may be required if you are performing strenuous physical activity where you sweat a lot or if you are subjected to muddy or dusty terrain. Alternatively, washing short hair every other day with a mild shampoo is fine while washing longer hair once or twice a week is sufficient.

2. Do’s and Don’ts For Drying Your Hair

Quite often we tend to take this step for granted. Wet hair is fragile and prone to breakage, hence it is very important to ensure that hair dries in the correct manner. Here are a few things you need to keep in mind once you step out of the shower:

• Do NOT rub your hair dry– It may be tempting to rub wet hair with your towel to dry it off, courtesy of the commercials we grew up looking at. But the friction caused by rubbing the hair in addition to the fragile nature that wet hair possesses inherently will lead to frizz, breakage, and overall damage in the long run.
• Use A Hair Wrap Or Old T-shirt To Dry– Traditional towels are rough and may damage your cuticle and hair in the long run. An old cotton t-shirt is soft and can be used to dry your wet hair without causing damage to the hair.

• Avoid blow drying: Blow drying sure fluffs and makes your hair as beautiful as that of your on-screen idol. However, the heat from blow dryers damages your hair just as much as heat styling tools do. If you have to style, try to limit its use to important events.
• Blow dry only after your hair is partially dry: If you absolutely cannot stop using a blow dryer, make this one simple adjustment. Blow dry your hair once it is 70% dry and use the blow-dryer on the lowermost setting. Also, use a diffuser attachment on your blow dryer to decrease the intensity of heat damage. This gives some time for the cuticle- the outermost protective layer of the hair shaft to close and seal and in turn will help reduce the damage caused by the heat.

3. Do’s and Don’ts For Brushing Your Hair

We all know knots and tangles are a major cause of hair breakage. And the truth is that there is more to brushing your hair than going straight at it with the hairbrush/comb of your choice every morning. Here’s what you need to do:

• Do NOT comb wet hair- Now I am guilty of doing so myself, but if I do not comb my washed hair, they end up having a wavy look, which I do not envision having every time. But I comb my wet hair very slowly and with a wide-toothed comb. However, be mindful that wet hair is fragile and combing wet hair harshly can lead to breakage and damage. Another useful practice I have adopted is to detangle my hair in the shower with a wide-toothed comb while there’s conditioner in it. This is when the hair is soft and malleable, thus making it easier and less painful to detangle it.
• Use a wide-toothed comb: Using the right type of brush and comb is necessary to avoid damaging your hair externally. Avoid using regular combs to detangle your hair. For everyday use, opt for a wide-toothed comb or stagger-toothed comb to remove the knots and tangles from your hair.

• Detangle from the ends to the scalp: You may or may not be aware, but detangling your hair from the roots to the ends can create more knots and ultimately lead to more breakage. The correct way to go about it is to start a few inches above the ends and brush downwards, slowly working your way up to the scalp.

4. Do’s and Don’ts For Heat Styling/Styling Your Hair

There are two things you need to keep in mind when you use heat styling tools like the curling wand or straightening iron on your hair:

• Avoid using heat as far as possible: It is best to avoid using heat-styling tools altogether. There are better alternatives available. Another option is to make use of rollers or pin curls to maintain bouncy curls between styling. But if using heat styling equipment is non-negotiable, a good compromise is to limit your heat styling to once or twice a week.
• Apply heat protectant: Always, always, always apply a heat protectant to your hair before straightening or curling it. This acts as a barrier between your hair and the heat, thus protecting your tresses from untold damage.
• Trim Your Hair Regularly- Trim your hair every 8-12 weeks to get rid of split ends. Split ends form when the hair is damaged due to heat styling, pollution, smoking, stress, and so on. Now it is important to keep in mind that trimming does not magically make the hair grow faster. Hair growth happens at the level of the scalp (from the hair bulb-the live seed present within the scalp), but trimming ensures healthy hair. [ I have discussed the Hair Anatomy and Basics in Detail in the article- Hair & Scalp Basics: Hair Facts that you Must Know ]

5. Tips To Protect Your Hair From The Sun And Pollution

The life-giving force of the Sun is vital but the harsh afternoon rays of the sun coupled with the innumerable pollutants floating around in the air can do more harm than good when it comes to skin and hair health. Thus, it is important that you take some steps to protect your precious tresses from them:

• Wear a hat/scarf: Cover your hair as far as possible when you step outdoors, especially during the afternoon and the mid-summer sun. A hat or a scarf can go a long way in protecting your hair from intense sun damage.
• Wear a cap for a swim– It is equally important to protect your hair with caps when you are in a swimming pool. Chlorinated water is not good for your hair.

• Avoid stepping out with oily/wet hair: Don’t step out right after you have oiled or washed your hair. A greasy scalp will attract more pollutants as it can make dust and dirt stick to it.
• Tie up your hair Outdoors: Leaving your hair open and loose when outdoors can make it more prone to dryness and damage. Tie up your air when heading out into the world.
• Don’t tie your hair up tightly: Don’t tie your hair up in very tight braids, buns, or ponytails as this can cause unnecessary traction, and damage your hair and hair follicles. This will lead to hair fall, and headaches, and this constant traction can also lead to traction alopecia in the long run.

7. Do’s and Don’ts For Hair Care At Night

We tend to take care of our hair all through the day but jump straight into bed without paying heed to how we could be damaging our hair while we sleep. Here are a few things you should be mindful of before falling asleep:

• Tie your hair up loosely at night: If you have hair long and beyond your shoulders, it is better to tie your hair up loosely with a soft hair elastic or bandana. I like tying my hair in a loose braid. Avoid tight ponytails and buns as that can lead to unnecessary traction on the hair follicles and cause them to break as you toss and turn at night. Leaving your hair open is an option, but I find it leads to a lot of knots and tangles and it is preferable to tie up your hair in such cases.
• Moisturize the ends: Rub a little bit of any hair oil of your choice (olive oil, almond oil, coconut oil, or Argan oil that works best) on the ends of your hair before going to bed to give them an extra moisturizing boost.

Now, you know all the hair care tips and tricks to practice to keep your hair healthy. Always remember, eating a healthy and balanced diet really maintains your hair health. Follow all these care tips to see your hair grow. But, if you still notice severe hair loss or thinning, please consult a doctor to properly diagnose the issue.

If you wish to learn the basics to better understand your hair, you’ll find all details here- Hair & Scalp Basics: Hair Facts that you Must Know

Sending lots of healthy and happy wishes your way. ?

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