When you have healthy hair it is easier to manage, style, and wear the way you want. So, what exactly is healthy hair? Healthy hair starts at your scalp and goes all the way to the ends of each strand of hair. Your scalp is where your hair grows from. It’s just like the skin anywhere else on your body and can get oily, dry, or irritated. When your scalp is healthy it helps your hair stay healthy. It also helps you avoid pesky issues like dandruff that can ruin your look.
The hair itself has different requirements to be healthy based on its texture. Some people are blessed with “normal” hair that’s neither dry nor overly thick or thin. It’s just right - lucky you! Everyone else generally falls into a spectrum of hair that tends to be dry or not, hair that is fine or thick, and hair that is curly, straight or somewhere in between. Knowing your unique locks first before investing in products for a healthy head of hair will save you time, money, and frustration.
It’s a great time to get on the healthy hair bandwagon because there are so many wonderful ingredients and products available these days. Let’s start with a few to avoid. Some ingredients have been common in hair products for years but can damage your hair and scalp. Check your labels and steer clear of these nasty no-no’s which can disturb your moisture balance, irritate your skin and hair, and make your hair more vulnerable to things like heat styling:
Now that you know what to steer clear of, here are some good-for-your-hair ingredients to opt for instead. Look for these active ingredients for serious hair health benefits:
There are loads of healthy shampoo brands available these days. Some reliable go-to favorites are:
These are a few major brands that are tried and true. There are also plenty of up-and-coming smaller brands that you can explore! Now, as for which shampoo to try, here are a few suggestions.
No matter how fine or thick your hair is, or even if you have an oily scalp, conditioner is another important step in your healthy hair routine. Conditioner puts back the moisture that your hair and scalp lose through styling, environmental exposure, and washing. In fact, if you have an oily scalp the right conditioner can help you control your oil production!
Formulas from Aveda, SheaMoisture, OGX, and Moroccanoil are excellent. To heal and prevent future damage, you should also consider a hair oil (OGX makes a great argan oil treatment) once or twice a week. Just apply from the ends to about halfway up the length of wet hair and let it air dry.
Taking good care of your hair and scalp can reverse and prevent future damage. Make sure that you’re using shampoos, conditioners, treatments and styling products that are specific to your head and what your hair goes through daily. Always use protective products when heat styling, and consider sunscreen for your hair if you’re outdoors a lot. Time to go lather, rinse, repeat!
