1. Tips For Washing Your Hair

You’re probably thinking I’m daft to suggest that you’ve been washing your hair wrong your whole life. Well, there are actually a few things you could be doing wrong in the shower that are stopping your hair from looking its best. So let’s look at some tips you can try out:

• Oil your hair: Oiling your hair before washing it is probably the best thing you can do for your mane. Massage some coconut oil, olive oil or almond oil onto your hair and scalp an hour before getting into the shower to pre-condition it.
• Use lukewarm or cool water: Hot water can damage your hair in the same way that the heat from heat styling tools does – by dehydrating your hair and causing split ends. So, always wash your hair with either lukewarm or cool water to close the hair cuticles and retain the moisture in it.
• Dilute the shampoo: We’re all prone to using 2-3 pumps of shampoo when washing our hair. But the harsh truth is that shampoo strips your hair of its natural oils, leaving it dry. To prevent that from happening, dilute 1-2 pumps of shampoo in half a mug of water and then use that to wash your hair.
• Gently massage: Don’t rub your head harshly when shampooing it. Instead, gently massage your scalp and hair with your fingers in small, circular motions while shampooing it to prevent excessive tangling and damage.
• Apply conditioner only on the ends: A big mistake I made for the longest time was applying conditioner all over my hair from root to tip. However, I have since learned that doing so can create a lot of buildup on your scalp. So, apply conditioner only from the mid-length to the ends of your hair and wash it off after 2 minutes.
• Don’t wash your hair every day: The last and most important tip for washing your hair is this – Don’t. Wash. Your. Hair. Every. Day. While you may think you are being very hygienic, all this will do is dehydrate and damage your hair, strip it of its natural oils, and make it more prone to breakage and hair fall.

2. Tips For Drying Your Hair

You may not know this, but there is a high chance that you are unleashing a world of damage on your hair while brushing and drying it. So, here’s a few things you need to keep in mind once you step out of the shower:

• Use a microfiber towel: Pre-dry your hair with a microfiber towel once you step out of the shower. Avoid using a terrycloth towel as it can tangle your hair too much, increase frizz, and cause it to break.
• Avoid blow drying: The heat from blow dryers damage your hair just as much as heat styling tools do. So it’s best to apply a leave-in conditioner all over your damp hair and let it air-dry.
• Blow dry only after your hair is partially dry: If you absolutely cannot stop using a blow dryer, then just make this one simple adjustment. Blowdry your hair once it is 70% dry. This gives time for your hair cuticle to close up and will reduce the heat damage.

3. Tips For Brushing Your Hair

Yes, there is a bit more nuance to brushing your hair than going straight at it with the hairbrush/comb of your choice every morning. After all, knots and tangles are a major cause for hair breakage. So, here’s what you need to do:

• Detangle in the shower: Detangle your hair in the shower with a wide toothed comb while there’s conditioner in it. This is when your hair is soft and malleable, thus making it easier and less painful to detangle it.
• Use a boar bristle brush or wide toothed comb: If you’ve been using a round brush or metal brush to detangle your hair, then you need to stop right away. Those brushes are meant to be used when you are blow drying your hair. For everyday use, opt for a boar bristle brush, wide toothed comb or stagger toothed comb to remove the knots and tangles from your hair.
• Detangle from the ends to the scalp: You may not know this, but detangling your hair from roots to ends can create more knots and ultimately lead to more breakage. The correct way to go about it is to start a few inches above the ends and brush downwards, slowly working your way up to the scalp.

5. Tips To Protect Your Hair From The Sun And Pollution

You may not know this but every time you step out, your hair is being bombarded by the sun and the innumerable pollutants floating around in the air. So, it’s super important that you take some steps to protect your precious tresses from them:

• Wear a hat/scarf: Cover your hair when you step outdoors, especially during summers. A hat or a scarf can go a long way in protecting your hair from intense sun damage.
• Don’t step out with oily/wet hair: Don’t step out right after you’ve oiled or washed your hair as it can make dust and dirt stick to it.
• Use a hair sunscreen: Invest in a hair sunscreen and use it religiously to protect your hair from the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun.
• Tie up your hair: Leaving your hair open and loose when outdoors can make it more prone to dryness and damage. So, tie up your air when heading out into the world.
• Deep condition: Deep condition your hair at least once a week to restore cleanse your scalp completely and restore moisture back into your dull, dry hair.