T-3 months until June 1st 🚨 Since it takes 3 months to reap the rewards from healthy haircare there's no better time to get started on hot girl summer 2.0 than today.
Winter can take its toll on our hair, and the changing weather we've had in the UK can make this worse than ever. According to celeb hairdresser Luke Gregory (@lukezg), more of us than ever are struggling with dry hair and scalps "so many of my clients are coming in telling me they're struggling with their hair at the moment, and it's down to the weather constantly changing between warm and cold."
But when it comes to achieving truly healthy hair it's useful to take a step back and focus on our future hair, rather than trying to repair damage that's already been done.
By focusing on nourishing our scalp and roots both internally and externally we're going to have hair that's shinier and less prone to breakage without relying on an excessive amount of products that promise miracles.
So follow our 5 expert tips and you'll be showing off your mirror hair in no time.
1. Get acquainted with the right ingredients for your hair
Just like fingerprints, everyone's hair in unique. What works for your BFF might not work for you, even if your hair looks similar. The easiest way to begin working out which ingredients you want to look for is by working out your hair type. Your hair's texture, structure and porosity all make a difference to how it responds to ingredients. If you don't know yours you can use our handy 3 step process to determine your hair type.
But in general, you'll want to look for ingredients based on how fine or thick your hair is, such as:
- For fine hair - look for lightweight ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, panthenol, and aloe vera, which can help to nourish and strengthen the hair without weighing it down. Avoid heavy oils and butters that can make hair look greasy.
- For medium hair - look for ingredients such as hydrolysed wheat protein, keratin, and argan oil, which can help to strengthen and protect the hair from damage. Avoid heavy oils and butters that can make hair look greasy and weighed down.
- For coarse hair - look for moisturising ingredients such as coconut oil, shea butter, and castor oil, which can help to soften and nourish the hair. Avoid products that contain sulphates and other harsh chemicals that can strip the hair of its natural oils.
2. Pamper your scalp
Our scalp is the foundation of healthy hair. It's where our follicles are located, and is solely responsible for producing new hair. Meaning we need to take pretty bloody good care of our scalp in our quest for perfect tresses.
One of the best ways to pamper your scalp (and yourself) is to massage it regularly. This promotes blood flow which ensures the essential nutrients and oxygen are delivered to our follicles. To get the most out of your scalp massage, use a scalp massager when washing hair to gently exfoliate, clearing any product and sebum build up which can hinder healthy growth.
You'll also want to look for ingredients which keep your scalp moisturised and hydrated. Look for shampoos that contain hydrating ingredients such as aloe vera, coconut oil, argan oil and glycerin, which helps to attract moisture to the scalp and keep it hydrated.
In addition to shampoo, oiling your scalp weekly helps to further lock in moisture and gives growing strands the nutrients they need remain strong. Look for oils that contain ingredients such as jojoba oil, castor oil, and tea tree oil. These oils are lightweight and won't weigh down your hair.
3. Nourish hair with a balanced diet
What you eat can have a significant impact on the health of your hair. Your hair needs essential vitamins and minerals to grow strong and healthy. Nourish hair from the inside out by focusing on nutrients such as protein, biotin, vitamin C, omega 3, and iron.
As hair is made of protein, consuming enough in your diet is absolutely critical in ensuring its health. Whilst consuming enough biotin and omega-3 fatty acids helps to strengthen the hair follicles, reduce inflammation in the scalp, and prevent hair loss. Vitamin C is critical for producing collagen, a protein that helps to strengthen hair and promote healthy growth. Lastly, iron is essential as a deficiency can lead to hair loss.
Get the essential nutrients your hair needs by working the following foods into your diet:
- Get protein from foods such as chicken, fish, eggs, and beans
- Get biotin from foods such as eggs, almonds, spinach and sweet potato
- Get iron from foods such as red meat, spinach and lentils
- Get vitamin C from foods such as oranges, strawberries and broccoli
- Get omega-3 fatty acids from foods such as salmon, walnuts and chia seeds
4. Get regular trims
Getting regular trims is an essential part of maintaining healthy hair. Although it may seem counterintuitive, trimming your hair regularly can actually help it grow faster and healthier.
Regular trims help prevent split ends from forming, which cause damage to the hair shaft, and can shift your focus to trying to get the ends of your hair healthy again (spoiler - it wont happen).
Additionally, trimming your hair regularly can help to promote healthy hair growth by removing damaged and weak hair, which encourages new, healthy hair to grow in its place. It's generally recommended to get a trim every 6-8 weeks, but this can vary depending on your hair type and the style you're trying to maintain.
5. Reduce the heat
Using hot tools such as straighteners, curlers, and hair dryers damages your hair, there's no two ways about it. Regular high heat leaves hair dry, brittle, and prone to breakage. It can be tough to break up with heat, but even reducing how much you use can make a massive difference. Reduce heat in the following ways:
- Dry naturally: While it might take longer, drying without heat will give it a much needed break. Use gentle towels on your hair which help speed up the drying process by absorbing excess moisture. Look for materials such as bamboo and microfibre.
- Use a Heat Protectant: If you must use hot tools, be sure to use a heat protectant spray or cream. These products help to minimise damage from the heat by creating a barrier between your hair and the hot tool.
- Lower the Temperature: When using hot tools, lower the temperature as much as possible. It may take a little experimenting, but find the lowest setting that keeps your style in place as long as you need.
- Use a Diffuser: If you're going to use a blow dryer, consider using a diffuser attachment. These distribute the heat more evenly, avoiding high heat being concentrated on small areas of hair.
- Experiment with no-heat hairstyles: Try to limit your use of hot tools as much as possible. Instead, experiment with different hairstyles that don't require heat, such as braids, buns, or natural waves.
Let us know how you get on with your 3 month healthy hair journey, you can share with us on Insta or by email. Or reach out to us any time if you have any other hair related questions or concerns 🧡
