20 Haircare Tips For Healthy Hair

It can seem like a lot of work, but I can promise you - achieving those healthy, shiny manes you see on TV and celebrities is not impossible at all!

With the right products and hair care routine (and, as always, a lot of patience) you can step up your hair game and get gorgeous tresses - so silky and soft that you can run your fingers through them with no fuss.

Do you want to know how to achieve healthy hair? Then look no further than this list with 20 hair care tips for shiny hair.

Cold Rinse For Shine

After your shampoo and conditioner routine, a cold rinse could make your tresses go a long way. A lot of hair stylists will also confirm this to you, as it’s a common practice in many salons (when possible). Many also follow with an apple cider vinegar rinse, which - although the smell might not be the most pleasant - is considered to be a natural miracle in a bottle for shiny, strong, healthy hair. The popular cold rinse on hair extensions is also a great way to keep them luscious, shiny, and manageable - sealing the cuticles and improving their overall look and feel.

Natural Oils For Moisture Retention

The key point of a healthy hair care routine is to retain moisture - which is what keeps your mane soft and silky - for as long as you can. Healthy, hydrated strands will better resist mechanical stress and all the factors that, in the long run, can damage your hair. Using natural oils for hair is a simple solution to lock the moisture you provide it within your locks, sealing the cuticles.

Protective Hairstyles 

Whether you have curly hair or straight hair, there’s a protective hairstyle for you. From the simplest plait to pineapples and more intricate and glamorous styling techniques such as the milkmaid braid, protective hairstyles are an efficient way to protect your hair whilst you sleep and to look glamorous when going out, without compromising on your ends’ health.

Sunscreen

UV rays are not bad on your skin exclusively; they can also do significant damage to your scalp and hair. Sun damage can come in the forms of discoloration, dry hair, broken or split ends, thinning, and frizziness. UV protection for your hair is definitely in the top 10 summer hair care products to bring with you on holiday.

Air Dry

With the right styling products and technique, air-drying your hair is the most efficient way to avoid heat damage from the blow-dry, bringing your hair’s natural texture back to life. If you’re used to styling your hair a lot, don’t worry: air drying your locks doesn’t equal missing out on style. There are various styling techniques that take pride in being completely heatless, both for curling or even straightening your hair!

No Silicones, No Sulfates 

This is kind of obvious, but sometimes it’s good to send a reminder: avoid silicones and sulfates on your hair! 2 in 1 products such as shampoo & conditioner together may be good for hair extensions but they’re not ideal for your actual hair, which is directly connected to your scalp and receives nourishment from it.

No Bleach 

Unfortunately, if you were born a brunette and are longing for those creamy, blonde tresses - you gotta keep in mind that bleach = damage. You can lighten up your locks with natural methods, but that won’t take you any close to a bleach blonde shade. Ideally, you could resort to hair extensions to add some highlights to your natural mane. Embrace your natural color!

Shampoo

Shampoo is a great product, and once you find the right one it’s usually hard to let go of it. I understand. But try to avoid shampooing your hair and scalp every day, as stripping them of your natural oil (sebum) will actually be counterproductive.

Trims

No matter how good you’ve been to your hair, the outside world won’t always be as kind. It could be a stressful afternoon of playing with your ends, a day at the beach where you forgot to wear your protective products, or a little hair accident; your locks are now showing the early signs of damage. Regular trims (an average of 1 CM every three months, if you’re looking to grow your mane a bit longer) can help you salvage your tresses’ health.

Heatless Curls 

I did mention heatless styling before; if you’re looking for big bouncy locks you can always achieve them with the help of Velcro rollers, flexirods, and braids. Heatless curls are a fun way to switch up your style without damaging your hair with curling wands and other heat-based tools.

Colouring 

Less damaging than bleaching, hair coloring is unnatural to your hair - unless you’re using henna - and in the long run, it can lead to dry hair and irritated scalp. If you’re willing to add a touch of color to your mane you can play around with funky colored shades in your hair extensions, or resort to henna to change your whole mane.

Hair Extensions

If you’re used to long hair and you’re scared of giving it the big chop to get rid of split ends and damaged, overly treated tresses, then know that you can always “cover-up” the haircut with hair extensions (temporarily).

Eat Healthy

They say “you are what you eat”, and they are absolutely right. Health and beauty start from within; feed your stomach a good amount of fibers, vitamins, and healthy fats and be amazed! Your whole body and appearance will benefit from it. Also, don’t forget about staying hydrated and keeping up with your healthy habits - including avoiding cigarettes and abusing alcohol.

DIY 

When taking care of your hair, you will quite often be told that the majority of the ingredients that can make and keep your hair healthy and shiny are already stored in the average pantry and/or fridge. Olive oil, eggs, avocado, honey, oatmeal, lemon, apple cider vinegar… These are only a few of Mother Nature's gifts for a heavenly mane. Interested in knowing more? Here’s a list of DIY hair mask recipes to try in the comfort of your own home!

Deep Conditioning

Deep conditioning your hair is essential, and it’s good custom to take a day for your self-care routine once a week and include a deep conditioning hair treatment in your roster of self-love activities. You can either buy a salon-quality product to make things quicker, or take the time to create your own recipe and feed your head a homemade meal.

Brushing Techniques

Brushing your hair too often or too zealously can make the difference between a healthy, shiny mane and a dry, dull one. Which one are you aiming for? Natural hair and human hair extensions have different needs, so always make sure you’re using the right products on them - including your hairbrush. A detangling hairbrush can be used to gently get rid of any matting and knotting, whilst if you really have to do this on wet hair or under the shower then a large-toothed comb is your best bet. Boar bristles are the best to soften your hair once dry, and distribute your natural oils on your strands from your roots.

Silk Pillowcases

Investing in a good set of silk or satin pillowcases and bedsheets will be a life-changing experience. Kind and fresh on your skin and hair, this fabric is soft and smooth against your hair cuticles, minimizing frizz, and breakage caused by harsher textile materials - including cotton.

Microfiber Towel

The same rule that applies to your bed routine applies to your shower routine. Why would you compromise on your hair’s health and use those rough towels? A microfiber towel will gently cuddle your locks whilst absorbing the water in excess after a much needed nice shower. If you don’t have a microfiber towel, wrapping your hair in a soft t-shirt will also do the trick. Curly-haired people can use this method for “hair plopping”, a heatless drying technique specific to curly hair.

Mechanical Stress

Aggressive brushing, twisting your locks around your fingers, chewing on your ends, using and abusing bobby pins and whatnot; this is mechanical stress and more. If your hair is prone to damage (or already damaged) then you may want to avoid using clip-in hair extensions or back-combing your roots when wearing them. If you don’t want to miss out on longer, fuller locks, then consider going for tape-in hair extensions, the kindest semi-permanent hair extensions option on the market.

Hot Water 

This one is kind of a given, especially after we talked about heat damage and cold rinses, but let’s not skip the obvious: avoid hot water in the shower and in your treatments! Whether you’re experimenting with DIY or simply enjoying a shower, try to remember that the advised temperature for the water you use on your locks is usually defined as “lukewarm”.