No matter what type of hair you have or your hairstyle goals, you always want your hair to be at its best. Shimmering, voluminous, and healthy hair is a must for all hair types. However, if you are trying to grow your hair out, prevent hair damage, or just maintain that perfect look, consider the following steps toward healthier hair.
Tip #1: Always remember to take your vitamins.
Although many people say that it is impossible to alter the rate at which hair grows (approximately a ½” per month), it is proven that you can speed up your normal growth rate to ¾” per month by taking vitamin supplements.
When shopping for vitamin supplements that promote healthy hair, remember that there are many types that claim to be specific to boosting healthy hair. Try taking a multivitamin that will address all of your body’s needs and worry about giving your hair extra nutrition later.
Some of the best vitamins to promote healthy hair include B complex, biotin, folic acid, zinc, flax seed oil, black currant seed oil, pantothenic acid, iron, kelp, silica, and amino acid complexes. Hair is a byproduct of the body’s natural function. If your body is operating at peak performance, your hair will show it.
Tip #2: Give yourself a scalp massage.
You can actually make your hair stronger and thicker by giving yourself a scalp massage for 5 minutes daily. Scalp massages will also promote hair growth. Scalp massages can be done dry or using an oil or scalp treatment. You can even massage the scalp while shampooing.
Giving yourself a massage will stimulate your scalp’s blood supply, bringing nutrients to the follicles helping them to become more active. A scalp massage can also be a great stress reducer.
When giving a scalp massage, use the pads of your fingers, never your nails. To begin, spread your fingers apart and place them firmly on your head. Start massaging the base of your neck and slowly work your way up to your front hairline, moving in little circles. If it feels tingly, you are doing something right. The tingles are the result of your improved circulation.
Tip #3: Wear your hair up more often.
If you want to maintain your beautiful long hair, wear it up more often. Each time you wear your long hair down it is being exposed to environmental conditions that can cause damage. Air dries it out, wind gets it tangled, and the more you handle it, the more it will get damaged further.
By wearing your hair up 50 percent of the time, you will notice fewer breakages and less dryness within a month.
Tip #4: Remember to trim.
If you are trying to grow out your hair, don’t forget to cut it regularly.
Does that sound crazy? It might, but it is actually the way to go. If you don’t trim your hair regularly while trying to grow it out, you will ultimately have at two inches of hair that looks raggedy and thin. If you give it a good trim regularly (approximately every two months), your ends will be soft, smooth, and thick.
This is because the ends are the oldest, driest and the most damaged part of a person’s hair. No matter how gentle you may be in caring for your hair, the ends will split and move, causing tangles, which can lead to breakage and snapping.
Having your hair trimmed regularly will also help to maintain the shape of your hair. Because hair grows so unevenly, your style can go from chic to shaggy in just a short time.
Tip #5 – Find the secrets that work for you.
Because there are so many hair tips offered up on the Internet and in books and magazines, it is often hard to figure out which ones will work best for you and your hair. The only way to find out is to try all of them.
Here are some unique ideas for maintaining healthy, beautiful hair. Pick one or two of them and try them for about two weeks to one month. Then you can decide if the method is right for you and your hair.
- Use a satin pillowcase when sleeping to prevent damage caused by tossing and turning in bed.
- Use a protein treatment once a week on damaged hair.
- Don’t shampoo every day if you suffer from dry hair.
- Stay away from volumizing and thickening shampoos if you have fine, thin hair, as they will dry your hair out.
- Don’t use metal hair accessories.
- Replace your existing hairbrush with a boar bristle brush.
- Instead of plastic combs, use wooden or cellulose acetate. Plastic combs will damage your hair cuticles.
- Use distilled water during your final hair rinse because tap water leaves mineral deposits on hair that will dull it and damage it.
Although having great looking and healthy hair may not be easy to achieve, it is well worth the extra work. Use some common sense, but don’t be afraid to experiment.
