All of us know at least one woman in our lives who always looks like she’s walked right out of a luxurious hair commercial. When you dig deep into her routine, you will find out she wakes up exceptionally early to dry her hair, deep conditions diligently, and wet combs her tresses patiently to detangle knots.
Maybe we don’t admit it too often, but we all wish (with a tinge of resentment), that we were like her. It’s difficult, though, because sometimes life can be too full of chaos and stress, and lying in bed for those few extra minutes of snooze-time can be really blissful.
So here are a few tips recommended by hair stylists from around the world to best enhance the natural definition of your hair so that you can wear as your crown and rule the world, even on the busiest of days.
Tips To Improve Hair Texture
Warning: Most of these may mean that your old careless hair habits need to be shown the door.
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1. Do Not Overwash
This has been covered by lots of hair care experts and stylists multiple times before, but we think it still bears repeating. No matter how much you crave for squeaky-clean locks, washing every day is a big mistake. Washing your hair will strip your strands of the natural, essential oils secreted by your hair, designed by Nature to protect your tresses. Over-washing also leads to over-production of oils and hence, the need to overwash your hair again. To avoid getting trapped in this vicious cycle, you only need to wash your hair twice or thrice a week.
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2. Healthy, Balanced Diet
Ever heard of the phrase ‘you are what you eat’? Well, it certainly holds true in the case of your hair, because the pursuit of happy, healthy locks starts with a good diet along with plenty of water. Be sure to include a healthy balance of the following:
- Leafy Greens – Spinach, broccoli, asparagus, and lettuce are rich in iron, zinc, and potassium which are vital hair nutrients.
- Legumes – Beans and sprouts are good sources of biotin that helps maintain the quality of your hair.
- Natural Oils – Flaxseed oil and salmon oil contain alpha-linolenic acid, omega-3 essential fatty acids, phytochemicals, and magnesium that work to make your hair healthier and softer.
- Lean Meats And Eggs – A deficiency in biotin can lead to brittle hair that breaks easily. Lean meats and eggs are packed with biotin, a B vitamin that aids in healthy hair growth and general scalp health.
- Fruits And Nuts – Adding lots of fruit like oranges, apples, strawberries, blueberries, and bananas can do wonders for your hair. Fruits contain antioxidants and vitamin c that promote hair growth, while nuts are a fabulous source of protein and magnesium that prevent hair loss.
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3. Avoid Hot Water
Soaking your scalp with extremely hot water can dry out your hair, while leaving the cuticles open, thus causing tangles that could result in breakage. Be sure to wash your hair in cool or mildly lukewarm water, and give it a good cold water rinse just before you step out of the shower; this will close your hair cuticles and lock the moisture in.
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4. Start Small When Shampooing
Using a giant dollop of shampoo is not going to result in cleaner hair, and can actually lead to more harm than good. The amount of shampoo you need will depend on the average length and thickness of your hair, but it’s always good to start with a blob that is about the size of a coin.
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5. Aim For The Scalp, Not The Ends
Where you apply your shampoo counts just as much as how much of it you use. Apply shampoo on your scalp only; there is no need to scrub it into the ends of your hair. Make sure to massage the shampoo well into your scalp to get the circulation going. This will detoxify your scalp and help stimulate hair growth.
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6. Towel Dry Before Conditioning
Excess water in your hair will prevent your conditioner from being absorbed properly into your hair shafts which altogether defeats the purpose of moisturizing your hair. Gently squeeze out the water from your freshly shampooed hair with a towel before applying your conditioner. If you’re in a hurry, remember to at least wring out the excess water from your wet hair before reaching out for the conditioner bottle.
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7. Use Softer Towels And Less Vigour
Avoid using the regular, run of the mill, everyday towel to dry your hair, even if you’re hard-pressed for time. Use an old cotton t-shirt handy, or a microfiber towel to dry your hair; hair experts agree that both are a lot gentler on your freshly washed hair. Also, pat your hair gently instead of rubbing your locks vigorously to get the water out. This may seem silly, but this small change in habit is guaranteed to enhance the natural texture of your hair while minimizing overall frizz and breakage.
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8. Blow Dry The Right Way
One of the worst things you can do to your hair is subjecting it to excessive blow drying. To avoid dry and damaged locks, you need to make it a habit of doing one of two things – either cut down using your hairdryer so often or pay extra attention to improving your blow drying technique. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Minimize Usage Of Heat Styling Tools – Styling irons and even blow drying can damage the hair shaft and make your hair rough. Avoid using your tools by making your hairstyles last. Give yourself a good blowout on Monday, wear a high ponytail on Tuesday, and coil your hair into a chic bun on Wednesday.
- Use Leave-In Protection Serums – Applying a pea-sized amount of heat protection serums and treatments from the mid-levels to the ends of your hair can help seal in the moisture and prevent your hair from drying out when you start blow drying.
- Wait Before You Start Blow Drying –Ideally, you should allow your hair to dry for 15 minutes by wrapping it up with your towel. This will reduce hair exposure to the heat from the blow dryer.
- Lower Your Heat Settings – Try not to use the high heat settings on your blow-dryer at all. Test the air stream on the back of your hand, it should feel pleasant and comfortable.
- Blow Dry From A Distance – Hold the hairdryer nozzle two or three inches away from your hair, and keep it pointed straight down. Don’t apply the heat onto your head from the side; this will only make your hair frizzy and feel very static-like.
- Flip Your Hair Around – To get the perfect at-home blow-out, you need to involve as much movement as possible. First, flip your head upside down, and shake your hair while you blow-dry. The more movement, the more volume you’ll trap in between your hair. Once your hair is about 80 percent dry, flip your hair back the right way and divide your hair into sections. Blow-dry each section smooth, focusing on neat, polished ends by moving your brush and dryer right down the length to the very end of the strands. Take your time with this step; it’s worth the effort.
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9. Apply Deep Conditioning Masks
Putting your hair through all that heat, pollution, and grime can make your mane feel dry and frazzled. Bring your tresses back to life by infusing them with nutrients and moisture with an appropriate deep conditioning mask at least once a week, if not twice. You don’t need to invest in expensive hair masks, though. Just walk into your kitchen, and you’ll find everything you will need to bring your hair back to life. You could either use just one ingredient or a combination of two or three ingredients to whip up a good hair mask in no time.
Here are a few options:
- Warm coconut oil
- Egg Yolks, honey, and lemon juice
- Yogurt, honey, and olive oil
- Mayonnaise and honey
- Mashed, over-ripe bananas and coconut milk
- Green tea rinse
- Apple cider vinegar rinse
At first, following all of this might seem like a pain. Remember, however, that hair is something that needs to be cared for. You need to groom it, feed it, wash it, and moisturize it carefully. It’s the little things that come together to give you beautiful, happy hair that shines with health and confidence!