Establishing the right hair care routine is akin to beginning a skin care one. After you’ve found one that works for you, you rarely deviate from it.
But the process of finding that routine can seem a little challenging. Especially when there are so many options for people with the same hair type.
Here’s a quick list of things you need to know to how you find the right hair care routine for your hair concern.
Your Individual Routine Depends On A Few Factors
From the styles you prefer to the feel of your hair, these elements will all alter the routine you end up choosing.
Your natural hair texture or type
Hair types tend to be coarse, fine, thick and fall into one of four categories:
straight
wavy
curly
kinky
Each has its upsides and downsides. For example, straight hair usually looks and fees greasy quicker than curly hair. This is due to oil making its way down the hair shaft faster.
Whether your hair has been bleached, dyed, or otherwise chemically processed
If your hair has come in contact with chemicals, dye, or bleach, you may have to think extra hard about your routine. People with dyed hair are advised not to wash it every day to prevent dryness and premature color fading.
And bleached hair may require some extra nourishment in the form of conditioner or hair masks.
Whether you have specific concerns that you want to address
It’s common to find at least one aspect of your hair problematic, whether it’s frizz, a flaky scalp, or damaged strands. Knowing what the problem is, is half the task. The rest involves finding the best solution.
Every hair care routine share a few basic elements
Your hair type and concerns will change your hair care routine in some ways. But, there are a few basic steps that every person can benefit from.
Cleanse
Cleansing is a balance between removing things like dead skin and product residue without stripping the hair of its natural oils. Without a good wash, sebum will build up, leaving unwanted oiliness.
So will dead skin if not removed. The skin renews itself around every 28 days or so. And this may be noticeable if the hair is not clean.
Plus, if you’re an avid swimmer, you don’t want to leave chlorine on your hair. The longer it sits, the more time it has to strip hair of its natural elements and cause damage.
Condition
Conditioners have many benefits. The main one is moisturizing, but others include frizz reduction, shininess, and detangling.
The main ingredient of a conditioner is called a cationic surfactant. When hair is wet, this sticks to it, coating the strands to replenish the moisture that shampoo may have removed.
Moisturize and seal
To add further hydration to the hair, you may want to embark on a two-step process known as moisturize and seal.
This can be particularly useful for kinky or coily hair that tends to be dry. The aim is to seal in moisture, not to lock in dryness, using a hydrating product and sealing oil.
Detangle
Detangling is important for stopping breakage and for making your life a whole lot easier. But you need to use the right tool, such as a wide-tooth comb, to avoid pulling hair out by mistake.
Depending on your hair type, you may need to detangle every day or much less often.
Style and protect
Thanks to a number of tools and tricks like gels and volumizers, you can style your hair practically any way you want.
But, if you’re a fan of heated tools, you’ll need to protect those strands with a heat protection spray.
The bottom line – finding the right hair care routine may take a few days, if not a few weeks. But once it’s figured out, you’re well on your way to getting the hair you deserve.
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