Healthy, beautiful, and shiny hair has an important effect on the overall look and impression. If you want to have healthy and beautiful hair, you need to maintain a proper hair care routine at home. This hair care routine includes using scalp and hair treatment products along with natural remedies like applying natural oils to your hair. Read this comprehensive article about at-home hair care routines to understand what a good hair treatment regimen is, leading to healthy and beautiful hair.
Hair Care Routines Personalized for Different Hair Types and Conditions
The first thing you should consider before choosing a hair care routine at home is to know your hair type and the condition of your hair. There are various hair types with different needs. Here are some hair types explained:
Straight Hair: Straight hair is soft and silky and doesn’t have any curls and coils. Although this hair type is more immune to hair dryness and split ends, it is more likely to become greasy. People with this hair type usually have to use hair care practices suitable for oily hair and greasy scalp.
- Wavy Hair: Wavy hair is the most common hair type. This hair type is characterized by large S-shaped waves, which are different from curls. Wavy hair is almost easy to maintain, but it can become frizzy without proper care.
- Curly Hair: Curly hair, as its name defines, contains prominent curls that are denser than hair waves. This hair type is very prone to hair dryness, getting frizzy, and having split ends. Taking care of this hair type involves moisturizing to avoid these complications.
- Coily Hair: Coily hair is the most sensitive hair type among them all. This fragile hair type is defined by very tight and small curls and is more common among African-American people. Coily hair needs more care because of its fragile nature. The Coily hair treatment routine must consist of hair moisturizing, deep conditioning, natural oils, and heat protectant usage.
Choosing the Right Hair Treatment Products
Choosing the right hair care products plays a very important role in achieving healthy and strong hair. Here are some hair products and how you should use them:
Shampoo
The main role of shampoo is to clean your hair and scalp by cleaning an excessive amount of oil from them. In addition to this role, some shampoos are specifically made for different hair treatment purposes. Specifically-made shampoos contain different ingredients to boost hair growth, strengthen the hair, or moisturize it.
It is very important to choose a shampoo based on your hair condition and hair type. Different hair types might need different shampoos, for example, you should use a gentle shampoo for fragile coily hair. Also, damaged and dyed hair may need special shampoos to stay healthy and shiny.
Hair Conditioner
Hair conditioner can moisturize and nourish the hair and lead to more healthy, beautiful, and shiny hair. A hair conditioner can lock in hydration and prevent hair dryness and split ends. Moreover, some hair conditioners have nourishing ingredients to strengthen your hair.
You should choose a hair conditioner that suits your hair type. People with thin hair better choose a light hair conditioner, while those with thick hair can use heavier and more nourishing ones. It is also important to apply hair conditioner on your wet hair strands, not near the roots. After applying the hair conditioner, wait a few minutes or massage your hair to ensure that the hair conditioner is applied to all of your hair. After that, you should rinse the conditioner with water properly. Then, you can enjoy healthier, softer, and shinier hair.
There are also leave-in hair conditioners that are lighter, so you don’t need to rinse them with water. These hair conditioners have a slightly different formula that makes them safe for staying on hair for a longer time.
Hair Mask
A hair mask works similarly to hair conditioner, but typically, it is a more nourishing and heavier moisturizer. Actually, hair masks are more intense and nourishing hair conditionethat to strengthen and repair the hair more than hair conditioners.
People with dry and damaged hair need to include hair masks in their hair treatment routine. Hair masks cannot be used on a daily basis and they should be used just about twice a week. Similar to hair conditioner, you should apply hair masks on your hair strands and then rinse it out with lukewarm water. The difference is in the time that hair masks stay on the hair as they should be left on the hair for a longer time.
Heat Protectant
Heat is harmful to hair as it damages the hair cuticles by destroying hair’s proteins. When you want to use heat on your hair, for example, while using blow dryers and hair irons, you need to prepare your hair in advance. Applying heat protectants to your hair works as a shield to your hair cuticle and prevents damage.
Heat-protectant products can be in different forms like sprays, lotions, or creams. You should choose between them based on your hair type, for example, if you have greasy hair, it is better to use sprays rather than creams.
Hair Serum
Hair serums are used for both health and aesthetic purposes. This hair treatment product has many benefits like protecting hair from pollution and preventing damage to the hair. Also, hair serum makes your hair soft, smooth, shiny, and less frizzy without adding a greasy look.
There are different types of hair serum that can be applied on dry hair or wet hair. You shouldn’t rinse out the hair serum after applying it to your hair since it is a leave-in product and works as hair protection.
Natural Oils
Natural oils have so many benefits for your hair and scalp. They can nourish, moisturize, and repair your hair as they are rich in natural, healthy ingredients and have the ability to lock in water. Different natural oils have different benefits; for example, coconut oil can work as a moisturizer, argan oil is good for damaged and dyed hair, baobab oil is the best for curly and oily hair, tea tree oil can treat hair dandruff, and rosemary oil can help hair regrowth.
You can massage your hair and scalp with natural oils and use a shampoo to rinse them out. Some light natural oils can be left on your hair if you like the shiny and oily look of your hair.
How to Look After Your Hair at Home
An at-home hair care routine consists of both hair treatment products and natural remedies. The mentioned hair products like hair conditioners and hair masks can prevent hair damage and provide moisture and nourishment for your hair. In addition to these hair products, you can use natural remedies in your hair treatment routine. Natural oils like argan oil can prevent hair and scalp dryness and repair some hair damage, which makes them a good option for damaged and dry hair. Rosemary extracts can boost hair growth and be a solution to hair loss.
Here are some more tips to take care of your hair at home:
- Massage your scalp: You can massage your scalp to enhance blood circulation and boost hair growth. You can use special scalp massagers or simply massage your scalp using your hands and natural oils. You can wash out the oils after the massage.
- Comb your hair: Combing your hair regularly can prevent hair damage and also enhance blood circulation. Note that don’t brush your hair while it is wet.
- Have a healthy diet: A healthy diet can lead to beautiful and healthy hair, as it can provide enough nourishment to the hair. Your hair needs vitamins, essential fatty acids, and proteins to grow and stay healthy and strong.
- Avoid heating your hair: You should avoid using hair iron and other tools that heat your hair if possible. Heat can damage your hair as it breaks the hair cuticles. If you want to heat your hair, you should use heat-protectant products.
Conclusion
There are many ways to take care of your hair at home and have healthy and beautiful hair. Maintaining a proper hair care routine that consists of regular washing and combing, using hair treatment products such as hair conditioner, and using natural remedies like oils and plant extracts can help you have healthy and strong hair. It is important to note that you should choose your hair care products depending on your hair type and condition, as each kind of hair needs different treatments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hair Care Routine
How often should I use hair masks and treatments?
The frequency of using hair treatment products depends on your hair condition. Typically, you should use hair masks twice a week.
What steps should I take to prevent hair damage at home?
You should use hair moisturizers or hair conditioners to keep your hair clean, moisturized, and nourished because dry and weak hair is more prone to damage. You should also avoid heating your hair or use hair protectant products to prevent damage to your hair.
