How to Make Your Hair Healthy Again

Starting a New Routine

Handle your hair gently. Damaged hair is very brittle, and it needs to be handled with care. If you're rough with your hair it can split or break, and it will look more frizzy than ever. Starting today, handle your hair with extra care, whether it's wet or dry. Here's what to do: When you're applying shampoo and other products, use your fingers to gently pull the product through your hair from roots to tips. Don't scrub your hair. Rinse your hair with lukewarm water, not hot water. Don't wring out your hair or roughly towel it dry. Squeeze out the water gently, then pat it dry with an old t-shirt, chamois or soft towel.

Wash your hair less often. When you wash your hair, the natural oils that protect it from getting dry and brittle get stripped away. Do it too often and your hair will become frizzy and damaged. Cut back to washing your hair only once or twice a week so it has time to recover. After just a week or so, you should notice a positive change in the texture of your hair. When you do shampoo, use only as much product as you need. A dime-or quarter sized amount is fine. Your hair shouldn't be dripping with soap. Try to wash your hair once every other day, or even once every 2 days. Make sure you're using the proper shampoo and conditioner for your hair type. If your roots start to look oily between washes, touch them up with dry shampoo. After a few weeks of washing less, it'll take longer and longer for your roots to need a touch-up. Realize that overuse of dry shampoo can dry out your hair and may damage it.

Let it air dry whenever possible. You've probably heard that using a hair dryer wreaks havoc on hair, especially if it's already damaged. Put down the hair dryer and let your hair air dry naturally. Get down with your natural hair texture; if you learn to love it and leave it alone, it will start getting less frizzy and dry. Avoid heat styling tools, too. Use curling and straightening irons very sparingly, if at all. If you do feel the need to use a hair dryer, use the coolest setting that works for your hair, typically finer textures should use lower temperatures. When finished, set the style with the cool shot.

Use a comb, not a brush. Brushes with plastic bristles drag through your hair, violently pulling out the tangles and causing rips and breaks to occur. A wide-tooth comb is a better tool for gently detangling hair without causing damage. Start by working through the tips of your hair, then move up a few inches at a time until your hair is detangled from tips to roots.

Stop damaging your hair with treatments. Dyeing, bleaching, perming and chemical straightening are anathema to healthy hair. There's no healthy way to permanently change your hair color or texture, so it's best to stop these practices altogether. If you really want to dye your hair, try a subtle tea or henna dye to brighten or deepen your color. It's fine to use methods for straightening and curling your hair without using heat.

Bringing Your Hair Back to Life

Deep condition your hair once a week. A good deep conditioner can restore your hair's vitality. It'll bring out the best in your hair's natural texture, whether it's smooth and silky or curly and bouncy. You can use a store-bought deep conditioner according to the manufacturer's instructions, or make your own deep conditioner treatment by doing the following: Dampen your hair. Apply one to two tablespoons of coconut oil or olive oil. Comb it through your hair to distribute it evenly. Put on a shower cap or cover your head in plastic wrap. Let it sit for at least an hour or overnight. Shampoo your hair as normal. It may take two or more washes to rinse out the excess oil.

Make your own hair masks to suit your texture. Hair masks are made from natural ingredients you probably have in your kitchen. They condition your hair and give it just the boost you're looking for. Apply a hair mask in the shower, after wetting your hair. Let it sit for five minutes before you shampoo it. Here are a few great masks to try: For frizzy hair: use one whisked egg For dry hair: use 2 tablespoons whole milk or yogurt For imbalanced hair: use 2 tablespoons honey For dull hair: use a mixture of 1 tablespoon white vinegar and 1 tablespoon water

Apply a finishing oil to wet or dry hair. A finishing oil is similar to a leave-in conditioner, but it won't leave your hair weighed down or dull. To apply, rub a dime-sized amount between your palms. Use your fingers to distribute it evenly through your hair, focusing on the roots. Here are a few oils to choose from: Coconut oil (use on very dry hair to fix it) Argan oil Jojoba oil Almond oil Olive oil

Try a boar bristle brush. This special type of brush is used to pull natural oils from the roots down to the tips of your hair. The oil acts as a wonderful conditioner. If your hair is damaged, it's the only type of brush that's safe to use. Boar bristles are natural fibers that closely resemble the texture of human hair. Here's how to use one: Several hours (or the night before) you plan to shampoo, brush your hair from roots to tips. Press the brush against your scalp and pull down gently. Brush each section of your hair several times to distribute the oils. Shampoo your hair as normal.

Use all-natural products only. Typical ingredients in most commercial shampoo, conditioner and styling products are damaging to hair. When you're trying to restore your hair to good health, it's worth switching to all-natural products you know won't cause further damage. Check the labels of your products and avoid those with the following ingredients: Sulfates: Commonly found in shampoo; they strip your hair of natural oils. Silicones: Commonly found in conditioner; they build up in your hair and make it look dull. Alcohol: Commonly found in hairspray, gel and other products: it dries out your hair.

Growing Healthy Hair

Massage your scalp. Massaging the scalp improves blood circulation in the area, which promotes the growth of healthy new hair. Get in the habit of massaging your head every time you're in the shower. Using the tips of your fingers, massage your scalp in small circular motions, making sure to cover every spot. For a nourishing massage, dip your fingers in almond, jojoba, olive or coconut oil before starting. Tea tree oil is said to promote hair growth; try diluting five drops in one tablespoon of olive oil, then massage it into your scalp.

Have a well-balanced diet. The food you eat has a big impact on your hair. If you're not getting enough vitamins and nutrients, your hair will look unhealthy and dull or can become brittle. The best way to avoid a deficiency is to eat a varied diet that includes protein, fruits, grains, vegetables, and a healthy amount of fat. Also realize that broad malnutrition that affects your hair can be caused by crash diets, or eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. Omega 3 fatty acids, found in salmon, sardines, flax seeds, and avocados Protein, found in meat, fish, eggs, beans and tofu Other foods to try include clams/oysters, peanuts, peppers, Greek yogurt, papaya and other fruits high in vitamin C like citrus. If you suspect you have a vitamin or mineral deficiency that is causing problems with your hair, consider if your diet contains enough iron, zinc, biotin and vitamin B12 (B12 must be supplemented if you are vegetarian) and talk to a doctor about your concerns.

Stay hydrated. Dehydration is another common culprit when it comes to dry, damaged hair. Be sure you drink plenty of water during the day. When you feel thirsty, reach for pure water instead of coffee or soda, which can act as diuretics and dehydrate you. Alcohol can dehydrate the body fast. When you have an alcoholic drink, follow with a large glass of water. Try carrying a water bottle along during the day so you're never without water.

Protect your hair from the elements. Hair is easily damaged by the sun, extremely cold air, and air pollution. Wear hats designed to protect you from these environmental factors that can make your hair less healthy. You should also wear a swim cap if you go swimming in a pool, to protect your hair from chlorine. Also, many thermal protectants and products designed for color treated hair can protect from sun and have an SPF rating. These be used to help with damage even if you don't use heat or dye your hair.

Trim your hair often. Getting regular trims will freshen your hair and let you start replacing damaged locks with healthy new ones. Aim to get a trim every 6-8 weeks, whether your hair is long or short. Even if you just get half an inch trimmed off, it'll freshen your look every time. At the salon, you might want to tell your stylist that you're only using natural products. Avoid having the stylist blow out or straighten your hair while you're trying to restore it to good health.