Let’s be real; we are in a difficult time right now. Instead of focusing on the bad, let’s look at some of the positives of staying home. One great thing to focus on is your hair and how you can get your mane back to its gorgeous and shiny self if you’ve been lacking. We know the salons are closed and we can’t get our favorite cuts and colors, but that doesn’t mean we can’t show our hair some love.
Instead of trying your hand at cutting your hair, step away from the scissors, let’s focus on some at-home care tips. Regardless of your type of hair, thin, curly, oily, dry, these tips will only benefit your hair health, and they’re effortless to do at home and alone.
Take a look at some of our favorite tips, grab a glass of wine, and give it a try yourself.
1. Wash your hair in lukewarm water
This may seem daunting, but trust us, it’s for the best. Hot showers can be relaxing, but it’s not good for your hair health or your scalp. Hot water can strip your hair of essential oils and leave it feeling dry and looking dull. The next time you wash your hair, turn the temperature down a little bit, your hair will get the same amount of cleanliness with lukewarm water.
2. Shampoo your scalp
When you shampoo your hair, you mainly want to focus on the scalp, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Washing the ends of your hair can strip the moisture and cause your hair to be dry. Your scalp produces oils and sheds skin cells regularly, so it’s the part of your hair that needs the most cleansing. Focus on your scalp and roots, and if you’re worried that your hair isn’t getting cleaned when you rinse, the shampoo will run down the length of your hair and clean the rest of it.
3. Condition correctly
This is where I tell you that you might have been conditioning your hair wrong your whole life. Take a breath, I know it’s hard to hear. When conditioning your hair, it only needs to be placed in certain areas of your hair. You want to avoid adding conditioner to your roots since that section of hair already gets oily. Instead, apply conditioner mid-way down your hair to the ends. Conditioning your roots can lead to your hair being weighed down and looking flat. You can also use a wide-tooth comb to distribute the conditioner through your hair.
4. Give your hair a break from a ponytail
Being home is an excellent opportunity to ditch the ponytail and give your hair a break. We know they are convenient and easy to get the hair off your face, but your hair shouldn’t be up 100% of the time. Having your hair pulled back can cause unnecessary strain on your locks and cause damage in the long run. Try giving your hair a breather and leaving it down more often, or try a looser and lower ponytail. If you’re a die-hard ponytail wearer, go for a softer hair tie that won’t pinch your hair.
5. Give your scalp some TLC
Just like the rest of your body, your scalp is skin too, and it needs to be regularly exfoliated. Once or twice a month, you an exfoliating hair scrub and give your scalp a good scrub. This will help remove all that buildup and leave your scalp and hair looking and feeling healthy.
6. Air Dry
Excessive heat can damage your hair and make your color fade faster. During this time, layoff the heating tools if you can, and air dry your hair. When your hair is damp, you can add some styling products and style it in its natural shape ad definition, so once it’s dry, you’re rocking the same look. If you need to have curly hair, try braids out to give yourself a gentle beach wave.
7. Use a wide-tooth comb
The AAD says that wet hair breaks more easily when it’s being brushed, To help save your hair a little, invest in a wide-tooth comb to help detangle when it’s damp. When brushing your hair, try to be as gentle as possible as well.
8. Use a hair mask
A hair mask is a great way to give your hair a little bit of life and recharge it after being dried out. If you work out a lot, the salt from your sweat can dry your hair out even more. A hair mask will help push moisture into your hair and seal it, reducing the risk of dry strands.
9. Don’t shampoo every day
This might be another hard one but trust us. You don’t need to shampoo your hair every day or every time you shower. Shampooing your hair every day will dry your hair out faster, leaving it dull and lackluster. Instead, invest in your favorite dry shampoo and use it in-between washes. Try to wash at least every-other-day, maybe longer if you can stand it.
10. Use T-Shirts to dry your hair
Skip that towel and instead look at an old t-shirt to dry your hair. Cotton is gentler on your hair, and a lot of stylists will recommend that to you. Cotton doesn’t rough your cuticle up as much as a towel, and then it will be easier to smooth your hair.
These were just ten tips to get healthier, shinier hair while at home. These practices take no money at all and only a little attention when your shampooing and conditioning your hair.
