I made an appointment with my hairdresser a couple of weeks ago to discuss my hair.
It’s dull.
It’s full of split ends.
It’s not growing as fast as I would like it to.
It’s going gray.
And I desperately want to know how to get healthy hair again.
I was convinced he was going to tell me I’d have to pay thousands of dollars for some deep-conditioning treatments only his salon was equipped to do, but after bribing him with a vanilla latte, he let me in on some pretty amazing tips that are already making a difference.
And since I know I’m not the only woman out there who is trying to figure out how to get healthy hair without spending a fortune, I decided to share his tips with all of you.
Shhhhhhh!
Don’t tell him!
1. CUT BACK ON THE SHAMPOO
Admittedly, my hairdresser has been telling me to stop washing my hair everyday for YEARS, and thanks to this fabulous collection of tips and tricks, I’m finally taking his advice. And guess what? My hair not only looks healthier, but I also have more time in the morning to do more important things. Like sleep!
2. SHAMPOO YOUR ROOTS AND CONDITION YOUR ENDS
I always used to think the more conditioner I applied to my hair, the healthier it would be, so I used to squeeze half a bottle over my head every single morning. As it turns out, I was completely wrong in my assumption, and after speaking to my hairdresser, I now know I only need to shampoo my roots and condition my ends. Not only does this trick make my hair look healthier and have more bounce without all of that conditioner weighing it down, but I’m no longer buying 3 bottles of conditioner a month!
3. DON’T WRAP WET HAIR IN A BATH TOWEL
Have you ever noticed that your hairdresser wraps your hair in really light-weight towels after a hair wash? Well, there’s a reason. Heavy towels like the ones hanging in our master bathroom can be very damaging to your hair. It pulls at the roots, causes hair breakage…you get the idea. The Aquis Microfiber Hair Towel is a good alternative, but any small, light-weight towel is better than a big ol’ bath towel!
4. DON’T BRUSH WET HAIR
Alright, this one doesn’t work for me because I shower in the mornings, but if you prefer to shower at night, try not to brush your hair until it’s dry. Why? Because wet hair is more fragile and is much more likely to break than dry hair.
5. USE A WIDE-TOOTHED COMB
If you simply cannot avoid brushing your hair when it’s wet (like me!), then invest in a wide-toothed comb. I really love my Swissco Tortoise Wet Comb Wide Tooth if you’re looking for recommendations!
6. RINSE WITH COLD WATER
Have you ever wondered why your hairdresser rinses your hair with cold water after a shampoo? I have. And I finally know the reason: it seals the hair cuticles and makes your hair look shinier. Of course, I did a bit more research before writing this post and it seems this might be a myth, but my hairdresser swears it makes a difference, so why not, right??!
7. USE A HEAT PROTECTOR
I learned the importance of heat protectors a few years ago when I singed the ends of my hair with a flat iron, and now I never (EVER!) use a flat iron or curling iron without applying a good heat protector to my hair first. And I apply the heat protector to every single layer of hair I’m straightening or curling. I prefer the CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray, but that can get a bit pricey here in Canada, so I often use the TRESemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Protective Spray instead. They both work really well – I just prefer the smell of the CHI one!
8. ADJUST THE HEAT SETTING ON YOUR STYLING TOOLS
I always used to think I should use the HIGHEST setting on my styling tools, but when a friend of mine literally burned her bangs off of her head with a curling iron, I’ve always been careful to use a lower setting. But according to my hairdresser, I was STILL using a setting that’s too high for my hair, so I recently turned the temperature of my flat iron and curling iron down even further and I can definitely see a difference. My hair still holds a style, but I don’t feel like I’m burning it as much, you know?
9. TIE YOUR HAIR UP ON WINDY DAYS
Whenever the weatherman tells me the winds are going to be strong during the day, I always tie my hair up into a ponytail while I’m outside. Why? Because whenever I try to run my fingers or a brush through wind-blown hair, I can actually hear my hair breaking, and I often find little pieces of hair on my bathroom floor afterwards. But if I tie it up in a ponytail, I avoid the unnecessary damage, which is a win in my books!
10. GET REGULAR HAIR TRIMS
While getting your hair trimmed every 6-9 weeks won’t make it grow longer, it will make it look healthier. And if you are religious about getting regular hair cuts, you won’t need to cut a lot off. Just a dusting will go a long way in making your locks look and feel healthy!
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