How to Have Healthy Hair: Tips for Healthier Hair

I know! We all want to know how to have healthy hair, but sometimes it takes expensive products and procedures that will break the bank instead of helping us. 

Having healthy hair isn’t about going out there and spending hundreds on a one-day treatment. It’s all about the habits and what you do daily. So, don’t think that spending money is the only key to healthy long hair. 

As someone who transitioned from processed and damaged hair to healthy curls, I’ve learned a lot about the ways to help the hair turn into all you ever dreamed of. It was a process that took me years, and I had to be as gentle as possible with it. So, are you ready?!

How to have healthy hair: 15 Best Tips

 

1. Sleep with a satin pillowcase and use satin scrunchies 

You have no idea how much damage cotton pillowcases do to your hair!

Cotton is a drying material, so if you use it constantly, as in your pillowcase, it will absorb all the hydration from your hair. Hence, you’ll have dehydrated hair just because you’re not using the right material. 

Using a sating pillowcase or a satin hat will avoid frizz and the chance of breakage since it won’t be that hard on your hair. Plus, using satin is a great way to avoid any tangles! 

2. Shampoo only in your roots, conditioner in the ends 

This one, my friend, was a life changer for me. I remember I saw a girl on tik tok with wavy-healthy hair, showing how she washed it, and… OMG! The changes I saw in my hair after starting going it. 

Using shampoo on your ends dehydrates your hair since it was made to clean. Using conditioner in your roots will leave your hair too greasy, and you’ll have to wash it constantly because it was made to hydrate. So, stop using both products everywhere! It’ll only be more work and fewer results.

3. Know your hair type 

Knowing your hair type will help you with two (2) main things: how often you should wash it and which products you should use. 

Honey, your hair is like your skin… What would happen if you used a product for dry skin in your oily skin? A mess, right? It’s the same with hair. You must use products that suit your necessities. And, for god sake, stop using mineral oils and parabens! They only damage your hair! 

Wash day hack that’ll save your life: if you have oily hair (wavy or straight), you can wash your hair once or twice a week or every other day. For dry hair, once a week or twice a month. If you have medium, you are part of the blessed ones, it doesn’t matter the frequency… but don’t wash it every day! 

You may also like: Is Cantu’s Curl Activator Cream Worth the Hype?

4. Hair masks and deep conditioning are your besties 

Use hair masks or deep conditioning once a week, depending on your necessities. You can use a protein or hydrating mask or intercalate three (3) weeks of a moisturizing mask and one (1) week of a protein one. 

But don’t use too much protein! Protein masks can be harmful depending on the porosity level of your hair. Too much protein can leave your hair freezy and will make it look very damaged and dehydrated. 

Here are some of my favorite deep conditioners (my love forever will be the Cantu one, it’s perfect for processed and dehydrated hair!)

5. Silicone, sulfate, and paraben-free products, always!! 

Remember I told you about avoiding mineral oils and parabens? Well, add silicone and sulfate to that list. 

Have you felt like your hair is shiny and hydrated, but then it’s falling, and you have to wash it often? Well, that’s what silicones do.

When you use silicone in your hair, it creates a barrier that will make it look healthy and shiny, but in reality, it’s not letting all the nutrients in. So, it looks healthy, but it’s not. 

Also, sulfates are very dehydrating! They’re your #1 enemy if you have wavy to curly hair or any hair type, to be honest. Just try to avoid products that have those ingredients, and you’ll see a big difference in your hair. 

Some options you can use (no matter your hair type), and which I love, are these: 

6. Healthy lifestyle = healthy hair 

I know it sounds cliché, but drinking lots of water will help you have healthy hair too! I mean, what doesn’t water help with? Because it’s there for your skin, hair, and your health! 

Also, try to avoid stressful situations, take supplements (such as iron and zinc), and increase protein and healthy fats in your diet. These few habits will change the way you see and feel your hair. 

You may also like: 10 Healthy Habits that’ll Change Your Life

7. Protect your hair from heat 

Are you going to the beach? Protect that hair, babe.

Heat protection is not only necessary when you’re doing your hair, but when you’re going out too. Taking too much sun can hurt your skin and hair, so if you’re going anywhere this summer, use heat protection or UV protection products. 

However, if you’re a curly girl like me, try to avoid heat as much as you since it can damage the shape and health of your curls. 

8. Avoid chemicals a.k.a bleach and colors

Alright, I know changing colors is cute, and we all want a different look every month. But, if you knew all the damage it does to your hair, you wouldn’t even think about it. 

Those chemical products will hurt your hair strands’ barrier, making them weaker and causing breakage. 

9. Dry your hair with a microfiber towel 

Repeat after me! I-will-never-use-cotton-close-to-my-hair-EVER-AGAIN. So from now on you’ll start using a microfiber towel, and you will be gentle with your hair while drying it. 

Drying your hair with this type of towel will be the key to avoiding dehydration. Remember the cotton pillowcases? Well, it’s the same with cotton towels. As I already said, cotton is a very dehydrating material, so the more you use it, the more damage you do to your hair. 

10. Detox Detox Detox 

We use hair products all the time; to comb our hair, wash it, hydrate it, and even do hairstyles. That means that it comes a moment when our hair is too saturated with those products. 

That’s why we should detox our hair at least once a month or maybe every two months. But remember, always use the right products. That way you won’t hurt your hair with too much detox or the wrong ingredients. 

Here are some of my favorite detox products! 

11. Coldwater on wash days 

I know hot water is heaven. And I also know how hard it is to wake up and wash your hair with cold water. However, cold water is your go-to if you want to have shiny hair and zero frizz on the way. 

If you don’t want to wash your hair with cold water, you can use hot water during the first steps and end it with cold water. That way, you won’t need to suffer that much! And it’ll give you the best results. 

12. Don’t tie your hair too tight 

We love the clean girl look. Yes, we do. But it’s hurting our hair! 

Tying your hair too tight can lead to breakage and tangles. Plus, that “brush brush” on the front part can cause hair loss because of the strength we put into getting that “clean” look. 

13. Always use conditioner after shampoo 

Even if you’re going to use a deep condition treatment, you should always use conditioner after shampoo. 

Conditioning your hair gives back all the good things the shampoo took from your hair. It’ll help you with hydration and detangle a lot more easily. 

14. Learn how to comb your hair the right way

Pro tip: Comb your hair while wet, if you have curly or wavy hair, if straight, wait until it is damp and then comb. This will avoid any breakage! 

And, oh please, be careful treating wet hair, because it tends to be more fragile. This means: if you’re hard on your hair while detangling, you will cause breakage and hair loss! And we don’t want that, do we? 

15. Cut your ends periodically 

I know, a bit cliche. But, do you know how many people don’t cut their ends because “their hair is alright”? 

Cut those ends, girl! 

And no, it won’t help it grow fast. It’ll only help it look shinier and healthier, and isn’t that what we’re looking for? 

So, this is it! Remember that every hair is different. While one of these tips can work for you, it’ll also depend on the products you use and the habits you create toward your hair. And these aren’t magical tips! Remember, consistency is key whenever you want to see changes in your life! 

And don’t forget, sharing is carrying! Save this post on Pinterest and see who you can help with it!