Healthy hair is a concern that many people have. Sometimes, it can all be up to genetics, but there are ways that you can improve what you have. And one of the ways to keep your hair healthy is to make it strong. Going about strengthening your hair can be a simple task to do if you are willing to change a few things.
Why Do You Need Strong Hair
Everyone wants to have healthy, strong hair from their scalp to the tip. Hair health is a major concern among people regardless of their hair type and age. Many of them want to prevent hair loss or for their hair to thin out. Keeping your locks healthy would let you dodge a lot of issues down the road, making your daily routine more manageable.
However, having thick hair does not mean that it is healthy. Health has to do with the amount of protein in the hair follicles in every single strand. A strong head of hair care can promote significant hair growth as well as help you avoid split ends. Plus, men and women like to run their fingers through their locks, and if you are kinky and like someone pulling you hair, sex can be super fun.
Strong locks are attractive, and you would not need to worry about your hair as much. You would be able to maintain and experiment with different hairstyles. For example, dyeing your hair is easier and safer if it is healthy than if it is weak.
There are several ways that you can strengthen your follicles.
The Type of Shampoo
Washing your hair is a great start to make it tougher. However, you should not wash it every day (unless an expert says otherwise or if you have oily hair) since shampoos can wash away the necessary natural oils. They keep the hair healthy and protect it from various external factors. Plus, washing your hair everyday can dry it out, which causes damages and breakages.
It would be a good idea to shampoo your hair about two to three times a week. That will leave enough time for the natural oils to come back and work and make sure your head smells fresh. But do not overdo it. A little goes a long way and remember — wash twice and condition once.
You can also opt to use dry shampoos. That is not a long term solution but can be handy when a shower is not nearby. Dry shampoo can soak up the oil and grease from your locks, and you will be able to keep your head clean while traveling or camping.
If you are into DIY, you can make your own shampoo. You can take cornstarch, or you can mix it with some cocoa powder if your hair is darker. However, dry shampoos should not replace wet shampoos. That is because you need to wash and rinse not only your hair but your scalp as well. Dry shampoos can give you a decent look for a while, but their effect is minimal.
How to Rinse Properly
A shower is great for your hair, but it is better when you use lukewarm water to wash it. While many people like to take a hot shower, this is not very good for the locks — a hot stream opens up the cuticles. That can make the hair get frizzy, dry, and damaged. Therefore, you should use lukewarm water.
But, before you start the process, you may want to massage your scalp first. While your hair is wet, let your fingers rotate in circles on your scalp for a few minutes. That will improve the blood flow to the follicles. You can also massage your head while your hair is dry. You may even want to invest in a scalp massager.
Now that that is out the way:
- Take a bit of shampoo and gently rub it in (making sure you do down to the scalp where the roots are), but do not create shampoo foam;
- Rinse is out all the way;
- Take another bit of shampoo and massage it well into your hair and on your scalp (make it foam this time);
- Rinse it out again;
- Add conditioner — you can use a comb to spread it as well as get the loose ends out if you have curly hair;
- Let it sit for a bit;
- Rinse it out with cold water.
The last step is crucial. While it may take some time to get used to it, it will help — cold water can close up the cuticles and lock in the moisture from conditioning. That can add length, volume, and shine to your locks.
Protecting Your Hair From the Heat
Blow drying your wet hair on a rainy day is something everyone tends to do when they want to go out. However, all the tools, such as the hairdryers, curling irons, straighteners, etc. damage your hair.
That is especially true when it comes to fine hair. It can dry the locks out, causing breakages and split ends. It would be a good idea to use one of the hot tools two or three times a week. Anything more than that will not give the strands enough time to heal.
The method that you should use to dry your hair is to keep the dryer about 15 cm (6 inches) away from your head. The temperature should be in the medium to low ranges, not the highest. Constantly moving the dryer will help lessen the damage to your strands too. Plus, you can use heat-protection products before you start drying. They will create a protective layer between your hair and the hot air. Doing that will preserve the natural oils as well as decrease the frizz. However, heat protection products can only help decrease the damage — they are not a cure-all type of thing, but they are better than nothing.
You can choose to let your hair dry naturally, but that may come with its own issues. Wet hair will take longer to dry, which can cause your hair to swell slightly. That can lead to cuticle cracking, which damages the strands.
Avoid Tight Buns
Hairstyles go in and out of fashion, but some dos are classics. Ponytails and buns are just two examples of ageless trends. They can get your hair off your face quite fast, so it is no surprise they are still popular. You can choose this look for a classy event, a formal presentation, when working on a task, or playing a sport. However, there can be a few issues with these styles too.
The main problem is tightness. If it is too tight, you are causing damage to your hair. That will make it weak as well as frizzy. Plus, another issue is the placement of the bun or ponytail. Always putting the hair tie in the same spot can also wreak some havoc to your locks. Therefore, make sure you mix it up and move the tie around. Also, make sure it is loose to let your strands breathe.
Tight buns or ponytails are a look that you may want to go for, but you should not make it a regular thing. Now and again is fine, but tying your hair every day will show negative results.
Foods That Help Your Hair Be Stronger
Food can be a major factor in strengthening your locks because your hair follicles are made of protein. The foods that you should not eat as much are your typical processed foods that contain sugar. However, you can (and should) eat fish (salmon and mackerel), as well as nuts and some seeds. Lean meat with some spinach or kale would make a great dinner to strengthen your hair too. Plus, beans and eggs can be great for breakfast.
Protein is not the only thing that can enhance your hair — healthy fats can do it too. Foods that contain healthy fats such as flax seeds, walnuts, and salmon can be your staples. These are full of omega-3 acids, which are excellent, not just for your hair. However, if you cannot eat the foods mentioned above, other things can work too. You can also always opt for taking Omega-3 capsules to give you the boost you need.
Since we are on the subjects of capsules, you may want to think about taking multivitamins. Vitamins can promote hair growth and demote hair loss. The ones to look out for are Vitamin A, B, C, D, E, as well as Zinc and Iron. Your diet does not have to be limited to strengthen your hair. Plus, you would be eating healthy, which is killing two birds with one stone.
Ending Off
Stronger hair would require you to do a few things differently. These changes can be good things in the long run as long as you keep at it. Certain foods, loose hair, heat protection and rinsing well as go tos to add strength to your locks. Healthy hair will make you feel fantastic.
