You’ve been taking care of your hair your whole life. As a child, you probably haphazardly applied the shampoo, creating a mohawk while trying to avoid getting it in your eyes. Your teen years may have been filled with questionable styles — looking at you, feather hair extensions. And now, you’re hoping to get the most out of your hair’s natural state while also maximizing your time in the morning.
Knowing which products to use and when, though, presents its own challenges. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. It just takes a bit of trial and error coupled with an understanding of your hair type and texture. Here are a few tips on how to get started building your ideal hair care routine.
1. Improve Your Hair’s Health
Before you spend time and money tailoring your hair routine, you first need to identify what you’re aiming to do. Is damage from bleach leaving you with dried-out locks? Are you concerned about the length or thickness of your mane? Or is it just a goal to have all-around healthier hair? The answer to these questions will help direct your approach for the foundation of your hair care routine.
The good news is that you can cater the products you incorporate in your routine to align with your hair’s needs. For intense damage and split ends, a trim is a good place to start to refresh your hair. If you’re noticing flakes or dryness, get products that target dandruff and pay special attention to scalp health. For thinning locks, topical minoxidil is a great option to help encourage hair growth and volume.
This step is crucial for tailoring your routine and ensures you get the most out of the rest of your products. Plus, once you identify and address your biggest hair concerns, it’s just about sticking to it. With time and consistency, you’ll have a solid foundation for the rest of your routine.
2. Find the Right Hair-Cleaning Products
The point of washing your hair is to get it clean, that’s obvious. But it’s less clear which shampoo products will really work for your strands. Luckily, there are a few easy steps to take to find the best shampoo for your hair type and texture.
If you have thin or straight hair, it may get oily faster. Find a lightweight shampoo and pair it with a scalp scrubber to remove dirt, sweat, and unwanted oil from your scalp. If you have curly or wavy hair, your curl creams, dry shampoo, and hair spray can stick around longer than planned. A clarifying shampoo that’s rotated into your routine can help break down any buildup left behind.
Those with textured hair may want to wash less regularly and focus primarily on moisture. This can help avoid breakage without sacrificing the clean feeling you’re after. While it’s not a foolproof process, remember that cleansing is meant to leave your locks feeling refreshed. From there, you can move on to rocking your favorite style with confidence.
3. Prioritize Moisturizing Your Locks
Once your hair is clean and fresh, it’s time to add moisture. After all, dried-out hair will lead to breakage and frizz, which isn’t the look you’re after. Instead, you’ll want to establish a few moisturizing steps in your routine.
First, you’ll need an everyday routine with conditioner or oil to nourish your hair. Being sure only to apply them to the ends of your hair avoiding your scalp, these products lock in shine. The best part is that they’re made in different formulas that work well for every hair type. Straight locks may do best with a thinner gel or cream product to not weigh down the strands. Wavy, curly, and textured hair can benefit from thicker creams to prevent frizz and boost moisture.
Your other routine should be used roughly once a week. This should feature more intense moisturizing products like deep conditioners and hair masks. In addition to giving your hair a luscious look, these products can improve your hair’s health. So, save them for the day before a big presentation or date night. You’ll feel like a million bucks with hair that’s clean, moisturized, and looking its absolute best.
4. Rotate Products Seasonally
It may seem counterintuitive to switch up your products once you find the ones you love. They’re not broken, so why try to fix them? While there’s no reason to ditch every product you love, you’ll want to match your routine to the season. That’s because your hair acts like a sponge and can be drastically impacted by weather conditions.
Take summer, for example. It’s often many degrees warmer and possibly humid, depending on where you live. That’s the perfect environment for frizz and unwanted humidity-induced texture. So, if you normally go for thicker creams and leave-in products, you may be adding extra weight. And that can mean your hair is more susceptible to the effects of humid temps.
Instead, align your products with each season. When it’s warmer, opt for lightweight options to not weigh down your hair. When it’s cooler, opt for moisturizing products and thicker creams. Then, you can rotate your product combinations in and out depending on the weather. That way, you’ll never be without a routine that fits the seasons.
Hair That’s Uniquely You
Your hair is a big part of your everyday appearance. It can boost your confidence or give it a blow. While it can be difficult to identify the best products, trying out different options can help steer you in the right direction. Eventually, you’ll have a routine you love that makes every day a good hair day. Who doesn’t want that?