If you’re like most you put your hair through a lot.
It’s a wonder some of us aren’t bald what with all the devastation from heat styling, chasing our inner hair color chameleons, plus fun in the sun that isn’t fun for our locks and other abuse we subject our hair to.
Well, a new year calls for new habits, right?
If you’ve been abusing your hair stop.
Use the turning of the calendar as an excuse to turn over a new leaf, ditch the awful things you’ve been doing to your hair, and embrace a whole new approach to hair care.
To that end here are 10 resolutions you can make today for better hair tomorrow. All more or less lean heavily on showering TLC on your tresses. Starting with a big area of abuse.
Resolve to Use Hot Tools Correctly
I know you’re harried and rushed for time.
What else is new?
But that’s no excuse to crank up the heat to max on your blow dryers, flat or curling irons and go for it in the name of fast styling.
Yet a lot of us are super guilty of doing this and it’s a prescription for dull, damaged locks.
Besides overuse of hot tools is just lame and it will catch up with you.
Honestly, since less heat is often more – fix it.
For starters instead of blasting your locks with styling tools packing high heat use the lowest possible temperature setting needed to produce the results you seek. 325 degrees is usually more than enough for flat or curling irons.
Another example where less is more? Work with smaller slices of hair.
Too many go for big chunks to save time. But doing so only wastes time because the heat doesn’t do it with one pass.
Stylist understand that the smaller the section of hair you style, the faster you’ll get done because a once over heat swipe is more likely to work its magic to achieve results you will love.
Moving the tool through your hair slowly and deliberately is another smart move here.
It’s also wise to try to limit how many times you hot style to at most two or three times a week.
On those days you’re giving your cherished straightener a rest you can discover the beauty of braids or messy updos or other styles that work just fine without heat.
Finally don’t try to blow dry your locks right after stepping out of the shower when the mirror is all fogged over because of all the humidity and steam. Wait for the air to clear some before you fire up your dryer.
And remember to keep the nozzle pointed down not blasting side-on into your mane.
While on the subject of heat…
Resolve to Use Protection
As in heat protection. Especially if you’re one of those who simply can’t leave the house without straightening or curling your tresses.
Do not try to save time by skipping thermal protection application. Not smart.
Yet it’s maddening how often this happens.
It’s all the more important if your hair care routine relies heavily on straighteners or curlers.
Shielding your strands in this way will allow you to defy most of the damage that comes from the overuse of hot styling tools. Not to mention keep shine deficient hair at bay.
So resolve that before you hit the on switch on any hot styling tool you will always, always, always do the heat protector thing.
Still split ends can and will happen.
Resolve To Stop Splits Cold
Which is why it’s said avoiding split ends requires eternal vigilance.
Yet even if you see splits left and right all is not lost. The name of the game is first managing those already there. Then preventing more from developing.
And by manage I mean eliminating. That can be accomplished with tiny trims or dustings over time. More frequently at first then less once you’re on top of them.
This approach will keep them from getting out of hand. Because as you know the ends of your hair are the most vulnerable to splitting since they are the driest and have suffered the most abuse the longest.
Which is also why regular maintenance in the form of regular trimming is a must for anyone wanting to avoid splits.
Prevention also requires becoming religious about applying conditioner or hot oil or some moisturizer to the lower parts of your strands.
Intense hydration like this can help stop splits in their tracks. Setting the scene for healthier hair going forward.
Resolve To Keep Your Color Safe
After investing the time and plunking down serious money for your brilliant new hue you surely don’t want to see it disappearing down the shower drain.
What’s the fix?
Aside from resolving to wash your color treated hair as little as possible, when you do shampoo use color protecting products to keep the color vibrant.
It’s even better to use products designed specifically for your hair color be that blonde, red or brunette. This will combat color fade and keep the hue fresh and alive.
Also stick to lukewarm water since hot water causes cuticle opening which allows the color pigment to escape from your strands.
Yet luke warm is still warm enough to lather well and then thoroughly rinse the shampoo out of your hair.
Not to mention hot water can suck the volume out of your hair and dry your strands just like it dries your skin.
Oh and on days you don’t lather up, I strongly suggest you wear a shower cap to keep your hair dry. Just another small thing to do to extend the life of your color.
Resolve To Avoid Tight Pony Tails
Those seeking healthy hair to admire want to avoid super tight ponytails.
Why? Well believe it or not high tension can stress the hair at the roots leading to a receding hairline and who wants that?
Yes women can suffer from this embarrassing problem if they choose to go too taut too often. So take care to keep your ponytail, or bun, free and loose.
And while on the topic of pony tails tight elastics don’t do your strands any favors either and can lead to breakage at the point of contact.
Resolve to (re)Discover Dry Shampoo
A good way to shampoo less is to jump on the dry shampoo bandwagon. It’s the hands down best way to give new life to second day hair. Effectively hiding the fact you didn’t shampoo.
Pro Volumizing Tip: Spray the product on the roots around your crown. Work it in with your finger or a brush then blow dry on at most warm to build in volume to spare. Taking it a step beyond pulling your mane into a messy updo of sorts will complete the second day hair salvage job.
Resolve To Not Sleep With A Wet Head
Know why washing your hair at night is a bad idea?
Tangles.
Friction.
Exposure to breakage.
Given that can we agree this is a dumb move and should make your hair care “no no” list?
Remember wet hair is naturally more stretchy making it breakage prone. All this means that as your head tosses and turns on the pillow you’re exposing those damp strands to damage.
If you’re going to wash your hair before hopping into bed just be sure to give your mane ample time to air dry. Or braid those damp strands to protect them from abuse.
Resolve To Support Your Hair From The Inside Out
Despite our love of styling products fact is gorgeous hair comes from within.
Aside from a hair beneficial diet taking a potent dose of vitamins and maybe some biotin can do wonders for your hair – naturally.
Not only are these tiny miracle workers great for hair growth, then can strengthen those strands you are so lovingly caring for so your hair looks its best. So load up on the vitamins and help your locks be shiny and healthy.
Resolve To Treat Your Hair Gently
Can we agree too many of us pull our hair back far too often, color too much, and use too much heat – see the a common theme here? Given all that you wouldn’t necessarily think to include brushing cruelty in that list of abuses of your tired tresses but you should. Especially if it’s wet.
If you insist on brushing your hair when wet get yourself a Wet Brush ASAP. The bristles will glide through your strands detangling as they go with ease and WITHOUT breakage.
Don’t let the low price fool you. These brushes are winners and picking up one might just be one of the best things you’ve done for your hair in a long time.
Resolve To Condition More Shampoo Less
First let’s go with the less part because who isn’t guilty of over washing their luscious locks?
Truth be told you want to try not to lather up no more than three times a week – at the most! It’s simply better for your hair.
Besides what with the concentration of cleansers in today’s shampoos that makes them super-efficient at removing any product build up, scalp oil, and dirt accumulation.
So you want to stop feeling like you have to shampoo daily. That kind of thinking needs to go this year starting now.
Also approach shampoo time with the right mindset. You’re looking to clean your scalp and the hair closest to the scalp. That’s it.
So none of this piling all your hair in a big clump on the top of your head and having at it. High intensity lathering away like this is just asking for split ends from all the friction.
Instead leave your strands hanging down and focus your attention on your head and first few inches of hair. As you do this the so called “second hand suds” will cleanse the remaining length of your strands as it rides them down before hitting the drain.
Then let’s turn our attention to the all-important conditioning.
You see the moisture your strands pick up from conditioning protects them from breakage, adds shine, and cuts down on split ends. So most all styling pros agree conditioning should be a non-negotiable part of your hair care routine. If it isn’t resolve to make it so.
Focus the product on the driest part or mid-shaft and down to the ends. Then give your hair a minute or two to suck up all that hydrating goodness.
Those with designs on super healthy hair go beyond that and deep condition weekly to insure their locks stay ultra-hydrated.
Beyond that a regular hot oil treatment adds even more hydration. Here’s how.
- Apply your fav product, work it in the entire length of your freshly laundered strands using a wide tooth comb, wrap your hair in a damp towel warmed in the microwave and cover with a shower cap.
- Go about your business to give this time soak in.
- After 20 minutes or so step into the shower and wash the oil out thoroughly.
This will leave your hair stunningly soft and touchable.
Resolve to do nothing more than this. Focus shampoo on your roots to target the oil and conditioner at your ends to target dryness. Do that and you’ll be surprised at how much healthier your hair will be.
I’m sure none of these resolutions isn’t anything you can’t handle.
New year new habits.
Change up your usual routine and you’ll breathe new life into your mane in no time. Then you too can have strands that live beautifully ever after.
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