Highlights. Lowlights. Blow-drying. High-heat straighteners. Bleaching. Chemical treatments. Metal bobby pins. Let’s face it. We’re not very kind to our hair, and yet each day we expect it to look perfect and give us the good hair day we want oh-so-badly.
As many hairstylists will tell you, sometimes less really is more when wanting to get healthy, better looking tresses. Isn’t it odd that all that we do to our hair to make it beautiful often makes it just the opposite?
Since many of us may not be scientists or cosmetologists, let’s start with the basics. Hair is fiber made up of three layers: the medulla, the cortex and then the outer cuticle. Hair grows at an average of 1/4 an inch every month. People have different natural hair life cycles—some may have a hair life cycle of up to six years, others may have a two year hair cycle. However, the life cycle of your hair depends a lot on its health, too.
Over-styling, especially heat-styling can really wreak havoc on your hair’s cuticle, causing your hair to become dry, damaged, and lacking shine and luster. What part of your beauty routine is damaging your hair? Probably a lot of things you do regularly. To keep your hair healthy, try to avoid or limit these activities:
- Bleaching
- Perming
- Highlights and colors
- Using a flat iron
- Blow-drying
- Wearing tight ponytails and braids
- Extensions
We understand you can’t just give up styling your hair every day. So, besides limiting the use of these styling products and routines, here are a three healthy hair tips from hairstylists:
• Use a product made for heat styling. Luckily there are now products that help protect hair from the high temperatures of the curling iron and straightener—use it every time you heat-style your hair!
• Eat healthy foods and drink water! Crazy diets aren’t going to boost your hair health. Eat a balanced diet of lean proteins, fruits, veggies, whole grains and yes, some healthy fats!
• Know when to cut your hair. Sure, you may want to grow out your hair, but you have to know when it’s best just to trim off the unhealthy ends. Trimming your hair when it needs it will help it grow.
Here’s to your hair’s health!
Recommended Articles:
You may also enjoy The Top 10 Reason’s Women Change Their Hairstyle and Five Hair Styling Techniques for Curly Hair.
UR93VPBM4RTC
