We all have that one friend who has absolutely beautiful locks on her head. But does anyone really know how she gets her hair looking so flawless all the time? Was she just blessed with goddess hair? Does she have some secret formula she doesn't reveal to anyone?
Well, despite what you might believe, great hair isn't always just a fortunate gift, it has to be achieved and maintained. And you can have great hair too!
Here are 12 secrets of women with gorgeous hair:
1. Sleeping on silk
Sleeping on silk might sound overrated, but doing so has many health and beauty benefits. Your ordinary cotton pillowcase can absorb your hair's natural oils each night and it can cause static and breakage. Silk pillowcases also reduce your risk for premature wrinkles, which is a definitely a bonus.
2. Deep conditioner
Just like your skin, your hair needs moisture to grow and maintain its health. With every shampoo, make sure to follow up with conditioner. Also, deep condition your hair at least once a week or use a leave-in conditioner after washing to give your hair that extra moisture it needs to thrive.
3. Vitamins
Your hair's health depends a lot on what state of health the rest of your body is in. Be sure to eat enough fruits and vegetables to keep your vitamin C levels high and also spend an ample amount of time in the sun each day to get vitamin D, but be sure to protect your hair from sun damage. All in all, take care of your body and your hair will definitely benefit.
4. Ditching the heat
Learn to style your hair without heat. Many women suggest leaving your hair in braids overnight and taking them out in the morning to get natural, heat-free waves. And if you must use heat to get those waves and curls, it is vital to use heat protectant on your hair before you put your hair between that flat iron.
5. Sticking to routine
There are many claims about changing your shampoo and conditioner brand every so often so your hair doesn't grow numb to the formula's benefits, but experts say sticking to the same brand or whatever routine works for your hair is the way to go.
6. Protein
Just like your muscles need protein to bulk up, your hair needs protein to grow and become strong. Try to incorporate more lean meats and nuts into your diet. The more protein your hair has, the stronger and thicker it will grow. Red meats rich with protein most likely contain iron as well, and iron deficiency anemia has been linked to hair loss. That being said, protein is vital to your hair health.
7. Air drying
So many women are constantly in a rush to get everything on their to-do lists finished that they don't think twice when turning on the blow dryer at full blast on the highest heat level so they don't run out of the house with sopping wet hair. When you wash your hair, give yourself time to allow your hair to air dry. If you wash your hair at night, try an anti-frizz spray to keep in your hair overnight or wrapping it in a silk scarf to reduce frizz. Air drying your hair will reduce split ends, keep it moisturized and reduce breakage.
8. Regular trims
Even if you are trying to grow your hair out, get your ends trimmed if you are starting to notice breakage and splitting. Ends do not repair themselves on their own, and the only way to get rid of them and reduce your risk for more is with a snip of the scissors.
9. Keep clean
The number of times you should wash your hair each week heavily depends on your hair type. If your hair is naturally curly and dry, try washing your hair only a few times a week to reduce the dryness. If you have oily hair, try washing it every other day or investing in dry shampoo to soak up those excess oils. If you use a lot of products, be sure that when you wash, you wash thoroughly to remove build-up from your scalp.
10. Cold showers
Hot water is especially bad for your hair because it can dry out your hair, your scalp and leads to frizz. When in the shower, use lukewarm water or cool water. The cold water keeps your hair shaft sealed, which reduces the risk of breakage and keeps moisture intact. If you have color-treated hair, washing with cold water can prevent your color from fading as well.
11. Brush correctly
That age-old saying about brushing your hair 100 times before bed should be thrown out the window. Your hair is most fragile when it's wet, and therefore, brushing while it's wet could be the worst possible thing you can do if you don't want split ends. If you have to rid your hair of tangles after washing, use a wide-toothed comb to do the job. When brushing at any other time, do so lightly with a detangler brush and start from your ends and work your way to the scalp.
12. Ditch the hair tie
Tight, high ponytails and messy buns can put a lot of stress on the roots of your hair. If you like to sleep your hair up high at night, try using a scrunchie or even putting your hair in braids, these two methods are much gentler on your locks.
Well, despite what you might believe, great hair isn't always just a fortunate gift, it has to be achieved and maintained. And you can have great hair too!
Here are 12 secrets of women with gorgeous hair:
1. Sleeping on silk
Sleeping on silk might sound overrated, but doing so has many health and beauty benefits. Your ordinary cotton pillowcase can absorb your hair's natural oils each night and it can cause static and breakage. Silk pillowcases also reduce your risk for premature wrinkles, which is a definitely a bonus.
2. Deep conditioner
Just like your skin, your hair needs moisture to grow and maintain its health. With every shampoo, make sure to follow up with conditioner. Also, deep condition your hair at least once a week or use a leave-in conditioner after washing to give your hair that extra moisture it needs to thrive.
3. Vitamins
Your hair's health depends a lot on what state of health the rest of your body is in. Be sure to eat enough fruits and vegetables to keep your vitamin C levels high and also spend an ample amount of time in the sun each day to get vitamin D, but be sure to protect your hair from sun damage. All in all, take care of your body and your hair will definitely benefit.
4. Ditching the heat
Learn to style your hair without heat. Many women suggest leaving your hair in braids overnight and taking them out in the morning to get natural, heat-free waves. And if you must use heat to get those waves and curls, it is vital to use heat protectant on your hair before you put your hair between that flat iron.
5. Sticking to routine
There are many claims about changing your shampoo and conditioner brand every so often so your hair doesn't grow numb to the formula's benefits, but experts say sticking to the same brand or whatever routine works for your hair is the way to go.
6. Protein
Just like your muscles need protein to bulk up, your hair needs protein to grow and become strong. Try to incorporate more lean meats and nuts into your diet. The more protein your hair has, the stronger and thicker it will grow. Red meats rich with protein most likely contain iron as well, and iron deficiency anemia has been linked to hair loss. That being said, protein is vital to your hair health.
7. Air drying
So many women are constantly in a rush to get everything on their to-do lists finished that they don't think twice when turning on the blow dryer at full blast on the highest heat level so they don't run out of the house with sopping wet hair. When you wash your hair, give yourself time to allow your hair to air dry. If you wash your hair at night, try an anti-frizz spray to keep in your hair overnight or wrapping it in a silk scarf to reduce frizz. Air drying your hair will reduce split ends, keep it moisturized and reduce breakage.
8. Regular trims
Even if you are trying to grow your hair out, get your ends trimmed if you are starting to notice breakage and splitting. Ends do not repair themselves on their own, and the only way to get rid of them and reduce your risk for more is with a snip of the scissors.
9. Keep clean
The number of times you should wash your hair each week heavily depends on your hair type. If your hair is naturally curly and dry, try washing your hair only a few times a week to reduce the dryness. If you have oily hair, try washing it every other day or investing in dry shampoo to soak up those excess oils. If you use a lot of products, be sure that when you wash, you wash thoroughly to remove build-up from your scalp.
10. Cold showers
Hot water is especially bad for your hair because it can dry out your hair, your scalp and leads to frizz. When in the shower, use lukewarm water or cool water. The cold water keeps your hair shaft sealed, which reduces the risk of breakage and keeps moisture intact. If you have color-treated hair, washing with cold water can prevent your color from fading as well.
11. Brush correctly
That age-old saying about brushing your hair 100 times before bed should be thrown out the window. Your hair is most fragile when it's wet, and therefore, brushing while it's wet could be the worst possible thing you can do if you don't want split ends. If you have to rid your hair of tangles after washing, use a wide-toothed comb to do the job. When brushing at any other time, do so lightly with a detangler brush and start from your ends and work your way to the scalp.
12. Ditch the hair tie
Tight, high ponytails and messy buns can put a lot of stress on the roots of your hair. If you like to sleep your hair up high at night, try using a scrunchie or even putting your hair in braids, these two methods are much gentler on your locks.