Your hair goes through a lot. Every day it gets washed, styled, brushed, combed, whipped around by wind, baked in the sun – it can all be very damaging! That’s why we thought it would be fun to share some ways to show your hair some love this month. Follow these hair care tips all year long for strong, shiny hair. When you show your hair a little love it will love you in return, by looking amazingly healthy! 

 

1. Eat a Hair-Healthy Diet 

Eating a hair-healthy diet is essential for growing great hair. Make sure you’re getting enough protein, because protein makes up the building blocks of hair. Try eating lean sources protein like chicken, quinoa, or chickpeas to get your daily minimum of hair-building protein. If you’re concerned that you’re still not getting the right nutrients in your diet, try a supplement formulated to help with hair growth. 

 

2. Be Gentle with Wet Hair 

Wet hair is fragile and prone to breakage, so avoid combing or brushing your hair when it’s wet if you can. When you do brush your hair, use a brush specifically designed for fine or thinning hair to prevent breakage. Always detangle by combing from the bottom up, and take your time! 

Don’t rough dry your hair – gently squeeze the extra moisture out of your hair with towl or old t-shirt. Finally, don’t immediate blow dry your hair after you wash it. It’s best to let it air dry for 15 minutes or so first. This cuts down on both exposure to the blow dryer, and effort for you!

 

3. Get Regular Trims 

Every 6 to 8 weeks, get ¼ inch trimmed off the ends of your hair. This will help prevent split ends, which can split the hair shaft and lead to breakage. Ask your hairstylist which timing is right for you.

 

4. Don’t Over-Wash 

You shouldn’t be washing your hair more than 3-4 times per week. According to celebrity hair stylist Dan Sharp, “Your hair’s natural oils are designed to condition and protect your tresses, so when you shampoo daily, it strips these vital oils away.” If you have color-treated hair, over-washing can fade your color faster. The curlier the hair is, the longer you can go between washes. In the mean time, you can use dry shampoo to absorb any extra oil and dirt.

 

5. Stay Away from Heat 

Heat tools like blow dryers, straighteners, and curling irons can damage hair and cause breakage, so their use should be kept to a minimum. If you do use heat tools, use them on the coolest setting possible and always use a heat protectant beforehand.

6. Deep Condition 

It goes without saying that you should be conditioning the ends of your hair every time you wash your hair. You should also be doing regular deep conditioning treatments for added moisture and nutrients. Apply a high quality deep conditioner all over your hair and let sit for 10 minutes to fully work its magic. Depending on your hair texture, you should do a deep conditioning treatment every week to every other week. Your hair stylist will be able to recommend how often you should be deep conditioning.

 

7. Avoid Sulfates 

Sulfates are chemicals added to shampoo to make it lather. However, sulfates dry your hair out by stripping the strands of essential oils. Sulfates are also linked to acne and other types of skin irritation. Looking for a sulfate-free shampoo? Try Toppik’s Hair Building Shampoo, specially formulated to strengthen and repair damaged and thinning hair.  

Now you know 7 hair care tips to love your hair, it’s time to treat your hair for Valentine’s Day! 

What are your favorite ways to love your hair?