Top 5 Ways to Keep Your Hair Healthy
Top 5 Ways to Keep Your Hair Healthy
Hair is noticeable, but healthy hair is even more noticeable. Achieving great hair is a coveted feature everyone wants. Unfortunately, achieving great hair comes with a price: damaged hair. Between styling products to dyes to hair straighteners and curling irons, your hair takes quite the hit day after day. Outside of that, your hair is prone to the elements and other natural forces. It’s a wonder our hair is intact by the end of the day!
It’s easy to think shampoo is enough to keep your hair healthy but there’s more to a healthy hair routine than that. At TipTop, we care about your hair, from the style to the health. That means it takes more than shampoo to keep your hair happy and healthy. By following these five big steps, your hair is in good hands.
The Product is (almost) Always Right
Hair products can be your best friend but only if you use the right ones. With all the various products in the market, it can be easy to be overwhelmed with all the options. We all know everyone’s hair is different, just like the lines on your hands. The biggest rule here is to experiment and find the right products for your hair.
Let’s start with shampoo. Shampoo is your first tool to fight dry scalp, keep your hair intact, and more. The first aspect of a good shampoo is to know your hair. Pick a shampoo that pairs with how your hair is, whether you have oily hair or mostly dry hair. Try to stay away from shampoo with ingredients like ammonium lauryl sulfate or sodium lauryl sulfate, as those dry your hair out.
As those chemicals are in many shampoos, your back-up protector is a good conditioner. A regular conditioner helps keep your hair and your scalp moisturized. Look for ingredients like methicone that will leave residual conditioning effects in your hair, even after your shower.
Lastly, other ingredients or products can help keep your hair moisturized and healthy. A weekly hair mask can aid in keeping each strand moisturized. This is especially important if you use various hot tools like curling irons or straighteners. Other ingredients to look for in shampoo and conditioner are coconut oil, Argan oil or aloe, as these help strengthen your hair and prevent any breakage.
Strengthen with Supplements
A complement to products, supplements and balanced diets are great ways to keep your hair strong and healthy. Adding supplements into your daily routine is an easy way to create a barrier against harmful outside invaders, as well as help prevent split ends, dry scalp, and more.
Your first line of defense, and the best one to start on, is adding more protein into your diet. Since hair is made up of a protein called keratin, it is important to have a source of protein to keep each strand of hair strong and resilient. In addition, protein is effective in keeping your scalp healthy. No matter your preference in diet (whether you eat meat, have no meat, or no animal products at all), there are many foods out there that have protein. Consider adding lean meats, eggs, fish, poultry, low-fat dairy products, or beans for a natural boost of protein. Any food with vitamin C or vitamin E is also great to help with hair strength.
Another key vitamin to keep track of is zinc. Zinc deficiency is a common factor to hair loss, so add any vegetables, fruits, and leafy salads into your diet. Additionally, keeping consistently hydrated with clean water is important for not only combating hair loss but keeping your hair hydrated as well.
The last important supplement to have is omega-3. Omega-3 helps provide proteins to the scalp and hair follicles, helping aid hair growth, strengthening hair, and maintaining a healthy scalp. Good food to add into your diet are salads, cereals, yogurts, flax seeds, cottage cheeses, and fish. Outside of adding these vitamins into your diet, there are market products to help with deficiencies in your diet. This way, you can maintain your current diet but still get the necessary vitamins to help keep your hair healthy.
Handle with Care
Outside of products and supplements, treating your hair with the utmost care is important to its overall health. This entails anything from haircuts, brushing your hair, styling your hair, and more. Knowing what your hair does and doesn’t like is most of the battle in keeping it healthy, but there are other ways to protect the top of your head.
Keeping your hair regularly trimmed is important to overall hair health. Despite what most think, trimming actually helps promote new hair growth by removing split ends and unhealthy strands. The rule of thumb is to get your hair trimmed every four to six weeks, or every 8 to 12 weeks for those with longer hair. To get the most out of a good haircut, consult a professional stylist or barber to ensure any unhealthy hair strands are being taken care of. If you’re a hair stylist or barber, join TipTop to connect with those needing a hair trim or cut.
Combing and brushing hair is a common activity for everyone, if not daily. Other than removing pesky knots, regularly keeping your hair brushed removes loose hair, distributes oils across the strands for a natural shine, and stimulates the scalp. Though it may seem intuitive, many people comb or brush their hair the wrong way. Vincent De Marco, owner of Vincent Hair Artistry, recommends brushing your hair in sections and from the middle. De Marco says, ““Brushing your hair from top to bottom will inevitably cause breakage.” Additionally, don’t force your brush or comb through any knots; start over gently to avoid breakage.
Shower Smart
A regular routine of shampoo and conditioner is important to keep your hair and scalp clean but there are many ways to go about it the wrong way. Your routine should start prior to the actual shower by brushing your hair. Wet hair is more prone to breaking so take care to remove any knots before stepping in.
Starting with shampoo, find the perfect schedule of washing your hair. Over-washing can lead to as many issues as under-washing so do what is best for your hair. When washing, use just enough product to cover your hair but not enough to overdo it. Remember: a little can go a long way! Make sure to massage the shampoo into your scalp as well and rinse thoroughly so no residue is left.
Conditioner follows the same rules as shampoo. Smaller is better, like a dime-size dollop, as to not over-condition your hair. Work the conditioner from the middle of your hair to the scalp and leave it in for two to three minutes for the best results. Like shampoo, experiment with how often you condition. Every head of hair is unique!
Limit Harmful Tendencies
Following the above four ways is the best way to maintain a healthy routine for hair. However, there are still outside forces that can affect your hair health. This includes many additives in your diet or medical issues.
Many medical issues can affect your hair, such as its abundance and strength. Some issues are hereditary while others are gained, but all can be managed with the right tools. To start, consult a medical professional with any known diagnoses or unknown symptoms to get to the bottom of the issue if your hair health is being affected. A common issue people deal with is stress, and stress can lead to hair loss.
A professional is the best equipped person to help get you on the right path in addressing any concerns, hair or not. If you are on any prescription drugs or blood thinners, or are getting prescribed new drugs by a doctor, make sure to ask about side effects. Some prescriptions can cause issues with hair, so ask questions and air concerns if any prescriptions you take affect your hair.
Outside of medical issues, there are many things you consume that can affect hair health. Crash diets, low-calorie diets, or diets lacking in any of the above mentioned vitamins can decrease hair strength and more. Additionally, excessive amounts of drinking negatively affect your hair. Limit alcohol and unhealthy foods in your diet to help keep your hair strong.
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These top five ways will lead you to develop a routine in keeping your hair strong, shiny, and healthy. If you take anything away from this article, remember that every head of hair is unique! You may not get your routine down on the first try but don’t give up. Experiment with different products and vitamin-rich diets, as well as other factors, to come up with a routine that is specific to you. And if you need help, turn to the professionals at TipTop. Our professionals can help you develop healthy hair habits that will keep your locks looking healthy and beautiful for years to come.
TipTop was built around one idea: to empower the individual. Our app aims to help clients and service providers reach their full potential. Whether you’re a service provider looking to take your business to the next level or a client aiming to take back ownership of your time, the team at TipTop is here to elevate you to your peak - your tiptop.