Beauty Tips: How to keep your hair healthy

How do you take care of your hair?

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve always been somewhat lazy about my hair. I request a “wash and go” style every time I sit down in a stylist’s chair because I simply can not worry about primping, heating, and spraying my head for 30 minutes a day. Those 30 minutes are devoted to sleep or reading, thank you very much.

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But I do want and love healthy hair.  Who would say no to soft, shiny hair right?

I’ve done a few right and wrong things over the years to achieve this and these are my tips for maintaining healthy hair:

1. Thoroughly wash, but not frequently

I remember having to shampoo almost daily when I was a little girl.  But my hair is not as easy to manage now as when I was in pigtails.  Frequent shampooing will actually strip your scalp of its natural oils which is essential for my friends experiencing winter now (oh and that may get itchy!)  Use a good shampoo that really cleans out any products or residue in your hair while also nourishing your scalp.

Picks: Garnier Fructis rinses pretty cleanly for me while leaving it soft and manageable.  I haven’t tried but have heard good things about Kérastase in terms of strengthening hair and leaving it shiny (In Style Beauty award winner and recommended by my aunt).

2. Treat those tresses

Did you know that if your hair is shoulder length or longer, it’s been sitting on your head for three to four years (fun fact via Glamour.com)? Hair can’t possibly remain healthy without a little loving treatment via oils or a hair masque (or incredible genetics).  Treatments will moisturize and strengthen your hair while also creating shine and minimizing frizz through breakage. Remember to use a heat protectant as well before any flat ironing, blow drying, or heat curling.

Picks: Argan oil or Moroccan oil are both known to strengthen/condition hair. I have also used Bumble & Bumble Creme de Coco masque and can vouch that it creates very soft, tangle free hair (the smell is a bonus!)

3. Trimming is winning

I like to keep my hair in long layers though it has yo yoed between being chin length to falling to my elbows. I have to be careful though because I do get split ends easily. I used to grow out my hair for up to a year because I was 1)lazy and 2) afraid cutting it would stun the growth. I have learned the errors of my ways though and get a trim every few months to both maintain the shape and keep it healthy.

Picks: I’ve gone to a few places in NYC including Bumble & Bumble. Rush Tunbridge Wells in London has good reviews and I’m still looking for places in Singapore.

4. Don’t be too hard on your hair

You tease it, braid it, spray it, and do who knows what else to your hair.  Your hair may go through a lot so treat it gently.  Don’t comb all the way through (or use a wide tooth comb or your fingers) when your hair is wet or you have just removed it from an updo/other style when it still has a lot of product. Towel drying is also a no-no on wet hair because it causes breakage. Remember to condition it and be gentle with it.

What are your healthy hair tips?

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