How to have a good hair day every day
Everybody wants to have a ‘good hair day’ every day. Unfortunately, this is something that can be pretty hard to achieve. It's often difficult to get the perfect hairstyle that we want, even after using different hair products and tools. You may still find that your curls appear frizzy or that there is a single hair out of place on your sleek, straight hair. Whatever your hair type is, if you want to avoid bad hair days and encourage healthy hair growth, there are a few things you can do in advance.
Wash your hair correctly
The truth is, how often you wash your hair varies on your hair type. Fine hair tends to get oily quickly, so you should aim to shampoo it every other day with a gentle formula. For coarse hair, aim for washing it every 3-4 days and look for a shampoo that tames frizz and is moisturising. Coiled curly hair requires more maintenance as the coils can be prone to breakage, so you should wash it less often- every 2 weeks. If you suffer from eczema or psoriasis, look for a shampoo and conditioner formulated for sensitive skin with no fragrances to avoid aggravating your scalp. Healthy hair starts at the scalp, so look out for ingredients that strengthens its skin barrier, such as niacinamide.
Start at the scalp
It's important to take care of your scalp, just like you do with your skin! The best way to do that is by using a shampoo that exfoliates the scalp, stimulates hair growth, adds volume, and moisturises the hair. Remember, shampoos are only meant for your scalp, as they contain surfactants which can dry out the hair strands. Key ingredients included in our Hair Thickening Shampoo are salicylic acid to allow for strong, healthy hair growth, and biotin which strengthens the hair at its root. Oils in your shampoo such as vitamin E, argan oil and amla oil can also be beneficial to detangle the hair and improve its shine. Shampoo your hair 2-3 times maximum to avoid over exfoliating your scalp and stripping it of moisture.
Avoid using dry shampoo
If you’re in a rush and overdue a hair wash, the temptation is to reach for dry shampoo to make your hair look fresh. However, dry shampoo is extremely irritating to the skin. Whilst it is a ‘quick fix’ absorbent, dry shampoo can stimulate more oil production and lead to contact dermatitis if used regularly. If it is sprayed too closely to the scalp, dry shampoo can leave behind a heavy, powdery white finish to the hair which will look unnatural, weigh the hair down and feel sticky. Instead, use a thick jersey hairband to hide greasy hair or style with sleek back hairstyles that can look even better with day-old hair!
Try heatless styling techniques.
To protect your hair from damage, try to avoid styling your hair with heat every day. Too much heat styling can damage the keratin proteins that give hair its strength, which leads to dryness and breakage. Luckily, there are a number of heatless styling techniques to keep your hair healthy and fake a good hair day. A slicked back wet look requires a pea-sized amount of leave in conditioner to be distributed on wet or dry hair, then combed into place. For beach curls, you can sleep in plaits or wrap your wet hair around a scarf and tie it up overnight. Finger curls can be achieved by coating your hair in mousse and using your fingers or a rat tail comb to create’ S-shaped’ patterns across your hair line down to the nape of the neck. Low buns, wide jaw clips and headbands are great hair accessories for heatless styling. If you’re dealing with thinning hair patches due to excessive heat styling, invest in a Hair Anagen Boost Tonic to increase hair density and reduce the inflammation of the scalp. Leave this in overnight or until your next hair wash.
Eat the right foods.
Your body is an interconnected system, eating the right foods can contribute to healthy hair growth and shinier hair. Because hair is made up of protein, you need to make sure you're getting enough of it in your diet. If you don't eat enough protein, your hair might become dry and brittle, causing hair loss. Fish, legumes, chicken, turkey, and nuts are all excellent choices. Omega-3’s in oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and trout are also beneficial for keeping the scalp nourished and promoting shine.
Vitamin C will help strengthen the hair follicles and aid in the production of collagen, often found in fruits such as oranges, kiwi, guava, papaya, and strawberries. We lose 1% of collagen every year from age 21 and it is the most abundant protein for hair, skin, nails, and joints. Loss of collagen is the main factor why hair doesn’t grow enough and is more brittle. So, alongside your diet, I would recommend everyone from mid 20’s onwards to be taking our Collagen Boost Drink daily. After menopause, we lose 30% collagen in 5 years, so at this point you will want to double your collagen intake.
Use a leave in conditioner and hair oils for a natural shine.
Whether your hair needs an added boost of hydration, or is coloured and chemically treated, Hair Protect & Shield Conditioner can improve the elasticity, moisture and shine of your hair. Glycerin and Isododecane are great ingredients incorporated in our leave in conditioner, as they work by preventing spilt ends, smoothing down your hair, making it easier to style. Panthenol and Pantolactone can also help to protect against hair damage from environmental stressors too. For intense repair and moisture, apply our Strand Strengthening Oil to your ends after the leave in conditioner to regenerate your hair without weighing it down. Any hair growth tonics should also be water-based due to the microbe-malassezia that feeds on oil and leads to dandruff.
Don’t brush your hair in the shower.
Unless you’ve got coiled curly type 4 hair, do not brush your hair in the shower. Your hair is the weakest when it is wet, and therefore most susceptible to breakage and split ends. Even hair that is quite healthy can take on damage from combing wet hair in the shower. Combing through tangles will also lead to more hair loss than what is considered natural. You want to minimise the time that your hair is wet, which is why I recommend wrapping your hair in a microfibre towel after a shower. This way, you are protecting your hair and also occluding the ingredients of your haircare products, so they can penetrate into the cuticles and nourish every strand. By doing this routine, your hair will become softer and less likely to break.
By Dr Vanita Rattan, August 2024