How to give your hair the skincare level of attention
Skincare: It’s been drummed into us for as long as we can remember that we need to look after our skin on a daily basis. We all know of the importance of keeping our skin healthy and hydrated, and most of us will use at least one skincare product every day to achieve these results. It’s not uncommon for the more skincare-obsessed of us to perform a complicated routine involving an endless range of products every day just to keep our faces looking and feeling good. The question is: why do we shower our skin with so much attention, but forget about our hair? It’s time we all learnt how to give our hair the TLC it needs.
Hair masks
Hair masks don’t have to be investment in time or money. If your hair is dry, dull, damaged or all of the above, it’s probably badly in need of this sort of treatment. The easiest way to incorporate a hair mask into your routine is to buy one that you can apply to wet hair, meaning you can just put it on after your conditioner (or between shampoo and conditioner, depending on the product). Gone are the days when hair masks would only be used by top models and actresses and no one really knew how to use them; they’re now as regular as shampoo. It’s usually unnecessary to use a hair mask every day of the week, so that’s less work for you already. Most products will recommend you use them two-to-three times a week, so just give yourself some set days and make sure you keep to it. Your hair will love you for it.
Shampoos and conditioners
We all (hopefully) use shampoos and conditioners anyway, but in the same way you wouldn’t just scrub your face with water and hope for the best, it’s not a good idea to buy the cheapest products available and think that’s good enough. If you want to give your hair a little more love, search for products that contain aloe vera if you can, as this repairs dead skin cells on the scalp and acts as a great conditioner, leaving your hair smooth and shiny. Avoid products containing parabens, alcohol, or synthetic fragrances, as they will wreak havoc on your hair over time. Making a simple switch from a cheaper shampoo and conditioner to something more accredited is one of the best ways to look after your hair. You don’t have to spend a fortune on products, just shop around and search the internet for products that have the best reviews from both the public and professionals in the industry.
Heat protectant
If you use heat tools on your hair, it goes without saying that you should be applying some form of protection before doing so. We’d never put our skin through such extreme heat application, and just because our hair can withstand it, it doesn’t mean it’s doing it any good at all. There are hundreds of heat protectant sprays and creams out there; make sure you buy one that’s worth the money and make a regular thing of using it before you apply the heat.
Protein products
Some people might not think a protein-rich hair product is worth using on a daily basis, but we actually lose some of the vital protein in our hair from chemical processes and heat and the strain of day-to-day life. Protein helps to both strengthen and grow our hair by rebuilding the areas of our hair, so it’s vital that we keep our hair as protein-rich as possible. Again, there are hundreds of protein-containing products to choose from, all of which will keep your hair healthy and strong, allowing it to grow with less damage to the ends.