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Hair Care: Tips on Caring for Your Hair

Some people don't give a second thought to hair care. They jump in the shower, rub some shampoo into their scalps, rinse and dry their hair with a towel. For others, however, hair care is an extremely important topic. After all, using the right products and techniques on your hair can transform an average head of hair into a phenomenal, flowing mane.

When caring for your hair, you want to make sure you always use high-quality products that won't damage your hair. Keep in mind, however, that high-quality products don't have to be excessively expensive. You can find a number of great products for less than $10.

In addition to good products, you'll want to make sure you have the proper tools to keep your hair healthy and looking its best. For the best results, experts recommend using a natural-bristle brush. Not only will brushes made from natural bristles prevent breakage, but they'll also help distribute the oils in your hair.

Properly caring for your hair means taking into account your hair's unique needs. For example, while a woman with oily hair might need to wash her hair every morning, a woman with dry, curly hair will likely need to wash her hair only a few times a week.

In this section, we'll provide you with the information you need to give your hair the best care possible. We'll discuss caring for both long and short hair as well as straight and curly hair. We'll also offer step-by-step instructions on how to wash and dry your hair.

Hair Washing

In all likelihood, you don't think too much about washing your hair. Most people hop in the shower, rub a glob of shampoo into their hair for a few seconds and rinse. While this will remove excess oil and dirt from your hair, it could be causing damage.

To properly wash your hair, follow these simple steps:

Saturate your hair with water before applying your shampoo.
Once your hair is completely wet, add shampoo. Long hair needs approximately 1 Tbsp. of shampoo. Short hair will require much less.
Work the shampoo into your scalp, massaging to remove dead skin cells.
Rinse your hair well, making sure to remove all of the soap from your hair.

Knowing the proper hair washing techniques can prevent unnecessary and unwanted hair damage.

Hair Conditioning

Hair conditioning is vital to keeping your hair moisturized and healthy. To keep your hair in top condition, wash your hair using the tips provided in our hair washing article and proceed with these steps:

After rinsing all of the shampoo from your hair, place a small amount of high-quality conditioner in your palm. If you have long hair, you will likely need a tablespoon or more of conditioner. Short hair, of course, will require less.
Rub the conditioner in your palms to emulsify it.
Starting at the front of your head and continuing to your crown, rub your fingers through your hair.
Work the conditioner into the ends of your hair. If necessary, use a wide-toothed comb to evenly distribute the conditioner.
To get the full benefits of the conditioner, leave it on for a few minutes or for the amount of time specified on the bottle.
Rinse your hair until all of the conditioner is removed.
Use a towel to blow excess moisture from your hair.
Use a wide-toothed comb to smooth any tangles.

Knowing the proper steps for hair conditioning will keep your hair healthy, shiny and smooth.

Curly Hair Care

Curly hair requires extra care. To get the most from your curls, you'll need a moisture-rich shampoo and an extra-strength conditioner. In addition, you'll likely want to apply a curl-enhancing product and some form of gel or lotion to your hair to help structure your curls.

Curly hair care also requires special tools, including a diffuser and a wide-toothed comb.

Resources

About, Inc. (2007). How to How To Wash Your Hair. Retrieved October 24, 2007, from the About.com Web site: http://beauty.about.com/cs/hair101/ht/washhair.htm.

HairCareGuide.com (2004-2007). Hair Care Guide.com. Retrieved October 24, 2007, from the Hair Care Guide Web site: http://www.haircareguide.com/.

YGoY, Inc. (2007). How to Condition your Hair. Retrieved October 24, 2007, from the Shower: Watery Issues Web site: http://shower.ygoy.com/2007/10/06/how-to-condition-your-hair/.

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