Top Tips For Healthy Hair

Hello everyone, hope you are all well! Here are some top tips for healthy hair.

1. Brush your hair when it's dry

Brush your hair before you wash it.

If possible you should use a tangle teezer or a paddle brush, avoid using a round brush unless blow drying.

When hair gets wet the water swells the cuticle and stretches it out. Then when we comb the hair it stretches even more and doesn't stretch back which makes the hair weaker/ snap off over time.

The cuticle layer is supposed to be flat down protecting the cortex like slates on a roof.

2. Protect your hair from the elements (Sun/ Heat)

Use a heat protection spray when you are drying/ straightening your hair but don't go mad with products.

Try to dry your hair on a medium heat as much as you can, finish off on high heat if you think it needs it.

If you over saturate the hair then it will be harder to dry, it will take longer and you will be more likely to damage the hair too.

Use a UV protective product if you spend a lot of time outdoors especially if the hair gets wet.

3. Use masks on your hair once a fortnight and leave it on for at least 15-20 minutes.

You should try using a mask on your hair every 2 weeks to maintain the condition. This is especially important if you apply heated tools to your hair or have it coloured.

If you have a dry scalp then you should apply the mask to your scalp first whereas if you find the scalp gets oily quickly then apply it to the mid lengths and bring it through the ends before working toward the scalp.

4. Use an old t-shirt to dry your hair

Towels are great for absorbing moisture but can be damaging to the hair.

Try to be gentle with the towel or use an old t-shirt to minimise the chance of damaging the cuticle.

You will cause less friction using a t-shirt which will in turn help the cuticle lay flat and protect the cortex which will maintain the hairs protective layer.

Avoid vigorously rubbing your hair with the towel.

5. Avoid putting your hair up too often

Putting your hair up all the time can cause the hairline around the front to recede especially if it's in a tight bun/ bobble.

If you must put your hair up then try and make it loose as it can also cause headaches.

6. Relax

Try meditating or go for a walk. Both provide many benefits such as improved concentration, circulation and improved sleep.

Stress can cause a magnitude of underlying health conditions/ problems and hair loss is no exception.

Under stress the body is in fight or flight so it reduces functions such as digestion to 'escape' the danger.

As a result the blood supply to the hair is reduced which means the hair can't get the nutrients it needs to flourish and so it suffers as a result.

Below is a link to an article relating to the stress of covid and the effect it has on our hair.

Is the Stress of Covid Causing Hair Loss?

For more information on relaxation methods, click here.