Healthy hair: we all want it, but there’s a lot of misinformation out there on the best way to go about getting it.
That’s why we put together this how-to guide for healthy hair that actually works.
The wash
Healthy hair starts with what you wash it with.
Online, you’ll find advocates of the ‘no poo’ movement (that is, not using any shampoo at all) through to recipes for natural shampoos you can make from the contents of your fridge. Washing your hair is actually really important; it helps get rid of dirt and irritants that can build up on your hair and bother your scalp.
Our advice is to go with a shampoo that has been proven to make your hair healthier over time. Head & Shoulders is the first shampoo that is clinically proven to improve the quality of your hair from the scalp, by keeping your scalp in good shape.
Then, pay attention to how you use your shampoo:
- Start by rinsing your hair with warm water to get the oils and dirt on your scalp moving
- Move onto your shampoo – choose one that will work with your specific hair type
- Lather at the roots in an up and down, rather than a circular motion; this will help avoid knots forming. If your hair is prone to greasiness, leave the lather sit for a minute to allow the shampoo extra time to work.
- Rinse thoroughly to remove the dirt, oil, and shampoo lather.
Once you’ve washed your hair, move onto a conditioner. Like your shampoo, start from the roots and work out, so every bit is protected from scalp to tips. Leave your conditioner in for a minute or two to give it time to moisturise your hair. Again, make sure you rinse thoroughly.
Post-wash
Once you’re out of the shower, take care how you dry your hair; wet hair is particularly fragile, and you don’t want to undo all the good work you did in the shower.
So that means taking the appropriate care as you move onto the drying and styling portion of your routine.
For drying, you’ll want to avoid towelling your hair too roughly – try squeezing out excess water first, and patting your hair dry with a towel, or better yet, a T-shirt which will create less friction against your hair. Then detangle with a wide-toothed comb – avoid brushes and fine-toothed combs, which can put too much stress on wet hair.
Likewise, the hair dryer is best left switched off. The heat it generates can easily damage hair. If you can’t go without it, the best option is to leave the temperature cool enough that you can aim it at your hand without it feeling uncomfortable. Anything hotter and it should stay away from your hair.
Stick to these tips during and after your wash to keep your hair looking and feeling healthy.