How To Get Healthy Hair: Top 10 Tips For Luscious Locks

Lets face it, we put our hair through the ringer. Dye jobs, highlights, daily blow dries, flat irons, curling irons, perms and more. Its a miracle we aren't bald by now with all the crazy things we have done with our hair, yet it still holds on. We don't quite realize all the damage that is being done to our hair on a daily basis, so all the more reason to try our hardest to keep it as healthy as possible.

Our hair defines who we are, so keeping it healthy is super important as it will boost our self confidence, and keep our hair looking beautiful throughout the ever changing seasons. As a former hairstylist, i have seen the two extremes: virgin, healthy, beautiful hair on one side, and on the other, damaged, breaking and fried locks. Here I will share with you some great insider tips on how to keep your hair healthy, and beautiful.

1. Protect Your Hair From Heat

This is one of the most damaging factors on your hair. Heat breaks hair, dries it out, and leaves strands looking dull and crispy. Breakage most often occurs due to the damaging heat we inflict on our hair on a daily basis. Luckily, there are great ways to protect our hair from our beloved flat irons, blow dryers and curling irons. There are some great heat protectant products out there that act as a shield to guard your hair from damaging. My personal favorite is TIGI Headrush. It smells amazing, adds beautiful shine to the hair without weighing it down, but most important, it protects your hair from heat damage, and can prevent breakage.

2. Limit Styling

What I mean by this, is try to skip the blowdryers, flat irons and curling iron for a day or two. Luckily, beachy waves are really in style right now and there are a lot of great products to help you achieve this summery look. Another great thing about it, you don't need any heat stylers to achieve the beach wave look. Don't dig the natural wave look? No problem, try a nice top knot on day old hair, or a tousled braid works amazing on dirty hair as well. The best part is, no harsh heat needed!

3. Deep Condition

I recommend doing this at least once a week. It doesnt have to be a fancy salon conditioning treatment, as a matter of fact, simple olive oil mixed with regular conditioner can have just as much benefits as the fancy treatments that you get at a salon. Whatever you use, make sure you apply it at the ends first, and sparingly to the roots (to prevent flat hair). Leave on for about 15-30 minutes and rinse. Let hair air dry for maximum shine and softness.

4. Vitamin B Complex

Vitamin B Complex is not only good for hair growth, but its beneficial for our insides as well. B Complex promotes energy, healthy nervous system, good digestion, and promoting nail and hair growth. Vitamin B is also good for your mental health as it decreases anxiety and depression. With all these amazing benefits, Vitamin B Complex should be in every girls medicine cabinet.

5. Skip A Wash

Washing your hair every day can strip it of its natural oils which are essential for hair growth, and healthy cuticles. Thin hair? Oily Scalp? A Dry shampoo is for you. With so many different types available to you, why not opt for the easy route? All you have to do is spray in the dry shampoo, and style. No blow drying, no heat styling, no fuss. All those celebs out there with their gorgeous, shiny hair? Guess what, they sometimes only wash their hair twice a week!

6. Use Good Products

I know that professional hair products can be expensive, but when it comes to your personal appearance, don't go for the cheap stuff. Professional salon products really do make a difference, the ingredients in professional products are specially designed for different hair types and can really do wonders if used consistantly. If your hair is dry, a moisturizing shampoo will do wonders. Flat hair? A bodifying shampoo will give you the lift you need. So save up the money and don't skimp when it comes to the health of your hair!

7. Don't Over Do The Protein

When people here the word protein, they instantly think strength. While this is true, its a little known fact that too much protein can actually cause breakage. If your hair is dry and brittle, go ahead and purchase a protein infused shampoo or treatment, but make sure it is evenly used with a moisturizing product. For example, a protein shampoo should be followed by a moisturizing conditioner or vice versa. Protein can dry out the hair and cause it to break, so a moisturizing product should always be used as well.

8. Limit Hair Coloring

This is the hardest one, especially for me. i love to color my hair, and with the ever changing trends i know I am not alone. Unfortunately, whenever you are putting any kind of chemicals on your hair, a certain amount of damage is going to occur. Going lighter? Even more damage. If you are obsessed with bleach blonde hair, and get your monthly highlights, think twice. Your hair will end up looking like Christina Aguilera...fried. Ever notice how Paris Hiltons hair never grows long and she is constantly needing extensions? Thats because she is constantly bleaching and highlighting her locks to get that platinum barbie look. Im not saying give up the highlights all together, but try and go a little longer in between highlights. A good tip, if you tend to get an all over color with highlights as well, try this: Next time you need your roots touched up, instead of getting highlights as well, ask your stylist for a toning gloss. This will refresh your highlights and can actually condition your hair as well.

9. Eat Healthy - Drink Water

As for all things body related, it helps to eat healthy. Treat your insides well, and your outsides will reflect it. Water keeps the body hydrated, and will keep hair luscious and shiney. A few good foods that can promote hair growth would be:
Salmon- Filled with omega 3 fatty acids, salmon is great for your hair, skin and nails
Dark Green Veggies: Dark green veggies are filled with healthy vitamin A, B, & C. These vitamins are needed by your body to make sebum, a substance made by your hair follicles that acts as a natural hair conditioner.
Poultry: Such as chicken and turkey, which are full of protein and will make for strong hair with maximum growing power
Eggs: The incredible egg contains vitamin B and biotin which are essential for healthy hair, skin and nails.
There are lots of foods out there that will promote healthy hair growth. Eating well is not only going to make you look beautiful, but you will feel beautiful as well.

10. "If You Want It To Grow, Let It Go."

I heard this on the Tyra show back in the day, and I thought it was the cutest and most true statement about hair I have ever heard. Everyone thinks that in order to get Blake Lively's ultra long hair, they have to go as long as possible without cutting it. This is such a common misconception, and if I could get one thing through to everyone out there, it would be that if you want long hair, you MUST TRIM YOUR ENDS EVERY 12 WEEKS. Im sorry to use the all caps, but it is so, extremely important! When ends start to split, they split all the way up until the entire strand just breaks off. Not only will hair start to break, but your hair is going to look fried and the color will look mucky as well. Theres nothing worse than damaged and split ends, so please, cut them off! Afraid of the stylist cutting too much off? Next time you go in for a haircut, instead of telling them you want a trim, tell them you want a "DUSTING" of your ends. In nice terms this means, "BARELY TAKE ANYTHING OFF". Trust me, they will get the point. And if they end up cutting a tad too much off, it wont be enough to notice.


Luckily for us gals the natural look is in, and hotter than ever. The reason this is so awesome? Well it gives our poor strands a little break from the constant heat styling, coloring, and product abuse. Following these ten tips will guarantee your hair will be long, and luscious in no time!


Sources
http://www.foodforhealthyhair.com/