9 Healthy Hair Habits You Need to Start Today

Keeping your hair healthy isn’t something you should take for granted. From extreme temperatures to poor brushing technique, there are a ton of ways you could be damaging your hair without even realizing it!

Let’s talk about 9 important habits you need to start today to keep your hair healthy, shiny, and beautiful.

1. Brush your hair before (not just after) you take a shower.

If you take about a minute to brush your hair before hopping into the shower, you’ll keep your strands strong, and avoid breakage. It’s important to always dry-brush tangles and knots out of your hair, instead of waiting until it gets wet. And there’s a bonus, too: when you brush your hair before showering, you help distribute your scalp’s natural oils down to the ends of your hair follicles.

2. Use the right technique when brushing your hair.

A lot of people think that the right way to brush hair is to start at the roots and work your way down. Nothing could be further from the truth! The best way to avoid damage when brushing is to start at the ends, and slowly work your way up to the roots.

Then, after you’ve de-tangled all of your knots, you can start brushing in the opposite direction (from roots to ends). If you do, it’s best to brush your hair in sections after drying your hair with a towel. If you have long hair, separate it into three or four sections; for short hair, use two sections.

Of course, you’ll also need to use a brush that won’t damage your hair with rigid bristles. The Silicone Shampoo brush from Brushious can actually massage your head, promote nutrient-rich blood flow to your follicles, and exfoliate your scalp — all without any danger of hair damage.

3. Condition your hair properly.

Never overdo conditioner with your hair; too much conditioner can turn your hair greasy over time, and even damage your follicles. For most hairstyles, you’ll only need to apply a drop of conditioner about the size of a nickel to your hair. Start at the middle section and ends of your hair, and then inch your way up to your scalp. It’s usually good to leave your conditioner on for a full 60 seconds before rinsing it out of your hair.

4. Use hair masks.

Hydration is key to a healthy head of hair. Your hair follicles need to regularly absorb moisture in order to stay strong and flexible. One of the best ways to keep your hair smooth and hydrated is to use a deep conditioner and/or hair mask once a week — or more often if you’re a curling iron addict! 

There are a ton of hair mask and heat cap products that can help you keep your hair moist, shiny, and healthy. For example, the Cordless Deep Conditioning Heat Cap makes hydration simple and convenient. It provides 30 minutes of gentle heat that’s suitable for any hair type or style, and allows you to deep condition your hair without having to worry about overheating.

5. Use haircare ingredients that will strengthen your follicles.

With so many haircare supplements and natural ingredients from which to choose, it can be a real challenge to pick the best ones for your particular hair. One way to rise above the confusion is to look for ingredients that will strengthen and nourish your hair strands. Some of the healthiest ingredients include:

• Aloe
• Coconut oil
• Spirulina
• Henna

And besides supplements that you directly apply to your hair, you also need to make sure that you…

6. Eat a healthy diet (for your hair). 

One of the most important food categories for your hair is protein (since your hair is, you know, mostly made up of the stuff). For that reason, it’s a good idea to include protein-rich food into your diet, such as meat and eggs. (You can also eat beans if you’re a vegetarian.) Foods that are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids (like salmon, mackerel, and sardines) are at the top of the list when it comes to hair-healthy food.

Other foods that are great for hair health include just about anything that has a lot of vitamin C or E, such as blueberries, strawberries, spinach, and avocados. Remember, “you are what you eat;” so if you want healthy hair, eat healthy food!

7. Get regular trims.

Split ends and breakage are usually the result of going too long without a haircut. You need to get regular trims to make sure that your hair stays healthy, especially since split ends don’t just make strands thinner, but can actually damage a strand’s cuticle and core.

Even if you’re not feeling a normal trim, think about going in for a “dusting” — in other words, a trim where only the tips are cut off. It’s a great way to maintain length without neglecting your hair strands.

8. Breathe!

Believe it or not, something as simple as breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth can make a difference in your hair’s condition. Since stress affects all areas of the body, including the scalp, it’s important that you do what you can to stay stress-free — and proper breathing can help!

9. Don’t take really hot showers.

If you’re the kind of person that loves your showers steaming hot, watch out! Taking an extremely hot shower each day can actually weaken your hair over time. Instead, keep the water temperature warm, and before you step out quickly rinse your hair with cold water to seal shut your cuticles (along with that invigorating moisture they need)!

And if you need to dry your hair quickly when you get out of the shower, use the Quick Drying Microfiber Towel from Brushious. It will dry your hair in record time (much faster than cotton towels), without damaging it.

There you have it: 9 ways to keep your hair shiny, healthy, and stunning. If you haven’t developed these habits yet, start today! And for other hair-related help, check us out at Brushious.com for more information.