HAIR CARE

Caring for your hair doesn't have to be so hard! Looking for healthy, shiny, gorgeous hair every day? Follow these foolproof hair-care tips to keep your hair looking beautiful.

• Basic Hair Care means you should shampoo hair to remove dirt, hair oil, dead skin cells, and a buildup of hair-care products. This keeps hair healthy and beautiful. Use warm water instead of hot — hot water can dry and irritate your scalp.
  
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• Depending on your hair type, you should wash your hair every day, every other day, or once a week. If your hair is dry, shampoo only two or three times per week. If you have African-American hair, shampooing once a week or every ten days is fine. If your hair is oily, shampoo every day to remove excess oils and unclog pores.
  
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• Use conditioner after shampooing or instead of shampoo. Conditioner cleans and also moisturizes hair; protects it from sun, wind, and dirt; adds shine, reduces hair static, and makes it easier to untangle. When using conditioners, spread evenly throughout hair, leave it on for a few minutes, and rinse hair gently to remove.
  
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• Avoid concentrating the conditioner on the hair roots — roots contain the most oils and don't need added conditioning (like the ends do).
  
• Try a leave-in conditioner to keep hair extra hydrated.
  
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• Be gentle when shampooing and conditioning your hair. (Hair is most fragile when wet.) Don't scrub, force a comb through tangles, or vigorously massage your scalp.
  
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• Brushing wet hair can cause your hair to break, so avoid brushing or combing when hair is wet and vulnerable. Instead, gently run your fingers through your wet hair to detangle, and then brush hair when it is almost completely dry. Never pull on your hair while drying, as this can cause damage, breakage, and split ends. To protect your hair while brushing, begin at the ends (using downward strokes) and then work your way up to the base of your hair (again, always brush hair with downward strokes).
  
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• Use a hairbrush with bristles made of natural animal hairs to avoid damaging your hair.
  
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• Avoid using plastic combs or plastic brushes on hair, since they can create static.
  
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• Dirty brushes make dirty hair. Be sure to remove hair that gets stuck in your brush or comb every day. Then wash and dry your brushes and combs once a week. To clean hair brushes and combs, first remove any stuck hair, then soak in warm water and shampoo for five minutes, rinse, and let dry on a towel overnight.
  
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• Be thoughtful about hair-styling products — choose the right ones and avoid using more than necessary.
  
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• Never put hair-styling products directly on your scalp; instead work them through your hair with your hands.
  
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• It's best not to blow-dry, but if your hairstyle calls for regular hair-dryer use, use the cool setting, as hot air can cause damage.
  
• Also, your hair and scalp can burn if you leave the dryer in one spot — or too close to your scalp — for too long. Hold it several inches away from your hair at all times, and keep it moving.
  
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• Trim your hair every six to eights weeks to remove split ends and excess hair weight that can make hair oily, frizzy, or dry.
  
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• Your lifestyle shows in your hair. Excessive stress, lack of sleep, smoking, and poor eating and exercising habits take a toll on your hair.
  
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• Eat a nutritious diet rich in vitamins and protein, drink plenty of water, exercise regularly, get enough rest, avoid cigarettes, and your hair will boast its health.
  
  By following these simple hair care tips you can have healthy, beautiful hair every day.