Beautiful and Healthy Hair

Avoid heat styling

Let’s be honest, you have to use them sometimes. Michael Due?as, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Hair Room Service, recommends steam rollers, which are gentle on the hair and do not get overly warm, as they're heated solely by steam passing through the foam on the roller.

Sleep on silk.

Silk's smooth texture won't rough up your hair cuticle when you sleep the way cotton does, leaving you with smoother hair in return, explains Suave Professionals celebrity stylist Marcus Francis. Fewer frizzy strands in the morning? Now that's the dream (no pun intended).

Keep hair clean.

As long as women are using quality products, they can benefit from more frequent washing," he explains. "It reduces split ends, provides great moisture, and gives hair an overall clean and shiny look.

Not sure how often to lather up? Jeffrey J. Miller, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine suggests these straightforward rules:

Wash daily if you live in a city with pollution or humidity, or work out daily.

Wash every few days if you live in a rural environment away from pollutants, or an especially dry climate.

And if your hair is normal or combination, with dry ends and oily roots, you should split the difference and wash every other day.

Don’t skimp on moisturizer.

The skin that makes up your scalp needs moisture just like the skin on your face does, especially if it's going to provide a healthy foundation for hair to grow, explains Riawna Capri of CLEAR Scalp & Hair. She adds: "A general rule of thumb is to condition every time you shampoo."

But the moisturizing doesn't end once you leave the shower.

Even if you're not heat-styling your hair, you should comb through a protective product, says Oribe Hair Care stylist Adam Livermore. It can reduce frizz, dryness, and split ends, and even protect your color!

Stay loyal.

It's a common misconception that switching up your hair care brands keeps your hair healthier because it never gets time to adapt, but experts disagree.

Instead, they suggest finding what works for you and sticking with it. Remember:

Your hair doesn't know the difference. And while it's perfectly fine to change things up when searching for that perfect combination that leaves you with killer strands — once you find it, don't let it go.

Eat the right food.

For all the attention we pay to the hair follicle once it leaves the scalp, half the battle for beautiful hair is already lost (or won) by what you're putting in your body every day. According to Dr. Robert Dorin, New York City-board certified diplomat of the American Board of Hair Restoration, what you eat plays a huge role in gloss, growth, and volume.

"A diet rich in iron, zinc, Omega-3 fatty acids, and protein will help stimulate your hair follicles for growth." Dorin recommends alternating between lean red meat, chicken, and fish during the week for optimum hair health.

Take vitamins.

Even if your diet is impeccable, it's possible you're missing out on some crucial hair-boosting vitamins. For example, if your fingernails are ridging and/or if you have dry, flaky skin, chances are your hair is crying out for help, too.

But that's easy to reverse: Once you start taking the right combo of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and herbs, you can get fuller, shinier, and stronger hair in just a few months. Bonus: Your nails and skin will also benefit.

Limit time in the sun.

You see the damage that a day without sun protection does to your skin, but even though your hair suffers just as much, it can be harder to tell.

To prevent sun damage, Rik Rak Master Stylist Marcelo suggests applying a leave-in conditioner at least every other day. Careful application from mid-shaft to the ends of hair can combat damage from the summer big three — UV rays, wind, and saltwater.

Steer clear of snarls.

Before you go ripping a comb through your strands, think about what you're doing — and be gentle. Use a wide-toothed comb for particularly tangled locks, and always brush your hair from bottom to top to avoid creating more knots and snarls.

Get regular trims —

You might be tempted to skip seasonal trims when growing out your hair, but to add healthy length, you actually need to do just the opposite. Meri Kate O'Connor, senior colourist and educator at Eva Scrivo Salon stands firm that a haircut every six to eight weeks is necessary to prevent split ends from forming as the hair cuticle splits.

"When the split goes up the hair shaft, it becomes so thin that it breaks — that's when people get breakage." And once your hair splits, there's no way to repair it, so keep it trimmed to prevent harmful breakage before it starts.

Keep it cool in the shower.

When you're washing your hair, you don't want the water too hot, warns David Edery, owner of Attitudes Paris Salon in Houston.

Excess heat can blast the volume out of your hair, leaving you with limp locks. Instead, opt for warm water — this temperature allows you to work up a nice lather while still staying hot enough to rinse suds clean.

And when it comes to the final post-conditioner rinse, the colder the better. Chilly water locks in those coveted nutrients into each strand, adding a beautiful, healthy luster.

Know the right amount of product to use — and where to use it.

If you cover your entire head when you shampoo or conditioner, you're doing it wrong! Concentrate the shampoo on the first few inches of hair at the scalp, where you get the most oil and product build up — your ends don't need cleansing as much. As for conditioner, work it in from the mid-shaft to the ends where the hair is driest and prone to split ends.

Disclaimer: The information on this POST is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional advice. The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this article is for general information purposes / educational purposes only, and to ensue discussion or debate. 

Thank you …It’s surprising how much TLC it requires to look its best. And it’s not just the actual strands that need care and attention – the scalp does too.

So how can you deal with hair-raising problems like greasiness, breakage and product build-up?

What’s the best way to tackle a receding hairline?

And how on earth do you find a decent barber that doesn’t cost it?

Less Is Often More

“One of the biggest hair mistakes women make when it comes to styling is using too much product,” says barber/stylist Lachlan Watson, from the Covent Garden branch of Murdock in London.

“A little can go a long way and if you use products sparingly you’ll find yourself sporting a more natural look while avoiding a heavy and greasy appearance.”

Want to add word or two?

Pat Dry, Don’t Rub

We men tend to think that the harder we rub our hair after washing the quicker it’ll dry. In reality, an over-zealous towel drying technique will just cause breakage – especially bad news if your hair already isn’t quite as thick as it used to be.

Hair tends to be weaker when wet (and hence more prone to damage) so don’t rub too hard, Instead, pat dry to avoid putting any extra stress on it.

Your comment ….? 

It may be tempting to put the wind up your hair with a dryer set on maximum heat, but according to Asgar Saboo, style director at the Daniel Galvin salon in London’s Mayfair, wherever possible you should allow hair to dry naturally. Or, at the very least, change the setting to low.

“If using a dryer, don’t overdo it, as this will leave the hair frizzy and damaged,” he warns. “Instead, set the dryer on the ‘cool’ mode. It might be a bit more time-consuming, but it’ll help keep the hair in good condition.”

Regular stress can tighten the scalp and cause hair thinning.

To de-stress and boost circulation to the scalp, ensuring healthy hair growth.