How to Keep Hair Healthy & Growing

Hair is an expression of individuality. However, it can also be an important health indicator. Luxurious, shiny hair is a sign of a healthy body.

To keep your hair healthy and growing, there are several things you can use every day. No matter what length your hair is, or what your growth goals are, these useful tips can help.

It’s not hard to achieve healthy locks. More often than not, it just takes some awareness. You should be aware of the things that can damage your hair. While avoiding those, use practices and products that will nourish your hair and encourage growth.

Before you get started with any healthy hair regimen, gauge the current health of your hair and scalp. If your hair is fairly long and severely damaged, the best thing you can do is trim off a few inches.

Think of this as starting with a clean slate. You’ll cut away the damage and be able to start fresh with the right hair treatment options.

How to Keep Hair Healthy & Growing

Keeping healthy hair comes with a small list of rules to follow.

Most of them are common sense and are easy to introduce into your everyday life. In a world of salon blowouts, flat irons, hair dryers, and more, our hair goes through a lot.

The solutions below can revive your hair, so make them a part of your routine:

Take Greater Care When You Shower

Heat and water might be the two biggest enemies of healthy hair. Whenever you get your hair wet, it swells. This forces the cuticle upward and can create a lot of frizziness.

A good rule of thumb is not to wash your hair every day. Instead of washing it every time you’re in the shower, invest in a high-quality dry shampoo that won’t break the bank, such as Batiste Clean and Classic dry shampoo.

Use the Right Over-the-Counter Products

Sometimes, our favorite hair products can dry things out. That can cause damage to the roots and even the scalp. With a few simple product changes, you can add nourishment to your hair:

• Pre-shower treatment: Whenever you do wash your hair, keep it protected. Use a pre-shampoo as a sort of sealant for your hair. It will keep the strands from rubbing together and causing frizz. It will also protect your hair from swelling under the weight of the water.
• Shampoo: Many shampoos contain sulfates that can damage and strip your hair. Unfortunately, even some natural shampoos can do the same. If you have damaged hair, go to the source when it comes to your shampoo – choose a product that specifically states ‘damage repair.’ These shampoos typically have proteins designed to strengthen your hair back to health. Use a trusted shampoo, like Christina Moss Natural Organic Natural Shampoo.
• Conditioner: Conditioners can be great for adding nourishing moisture to your hair. However, all of that moisture can be wicked away the second you use a flat iron or blow dryer. Try to select a conditioner that features heat-protection. Leave it in for five minutes to soak in, before gently rinsing away.
• Heat protectant spray: Always use a heat-protectant spray before using any heated styling tool. Mist through the layers of your hair, and distribute evenly with a comb. It’s important that these sprays fully cover your hair, so spray small sections at a time.

Avoid Heat Damage to the Hair

Heat is one of the biggest causes of damaged, frizzy, unhealthy hair.

Unfortunately, sometimes it seems unavoidable when it comes to styling. Try to find other products that help to wick away moisture from hair. A quick dry primer spray can help to reduce your blow drying time. The less time you spend under the heat, the better.

Additionally, if you get done using a dryer or iron and your head feels hot, cool it off. Your hair can continue to feel heated even after using tools, if they were too hot. Switch your dryer to cold for a minute or so to cool things down and prevent overheating the hair.

Tips for Quick & Healthy Hair Growth

Long hair won’t grow overnight. But, whether you want to grow it out for length, or just start with healthier hair, use these tips to make your hair grow faster and stronger.

Again, get started by giving your hair a trim. This might seem counterproductive, but it will keep the tips of your hair healthy as it grows.

Even if you’re trying to grow long hair, you should get an inch or so trimmed every 10-12 weeks to keep split ends from going farther up. Other practices you can put into your routine include:

• Weekly oil or mask treatments: Using natural oils, like jojoba oil or almond oil, can fill up hair strands with fatty acids. When you shampoo your hair, those good fats get sealed in. If you’ve been growing your hair out for a while, this can help to keep it looking healthy and shiny.
• Take daily vitamins that promote hair growth. These include Vitamin A, B (biotin), C, D, and E. Iron, zinc, and protein are also great for healthy hair growth.
• Don’t wrap your hair in a towel after you’ve washed it. It may be convenient, but the fibers in the terry cloth towel can cause a lot of breakages. If you need to wrap up your hair, choose a microfiber towel.
• Quickly rinse your hair with cold water at the end of each shower. It can help to lay down the outermost layer of your hair. That helps to keep moisture locked in and protect your hair from heat damage.

The Right Routine for Healthy and Growing Hair

Healthy hair care is mostly a matter of routine and making smart choices with your products and practices. If you want to push the reset button on your hair, avoid heat, excessive water, and certain hair products.

If you want long hair, focus on the overall health of your hair first. Then, you can use the tips listed above to keep your hair healthy and growing properly.