Ten Top Tips for Healthy Hair

Tips for healthy hair can assist considerably in improving the appearance, growth and feel of our hair. Our most important accessory, hair has instant impact on our looks. For this reason, great looking hair is something almost all of us long to have.

No matter what your hair challenge, there are plenty of ways to make things better. The varying problems people face with their hair include dead-ends, dull hair, stunted growth and frizz. These are only some of the many frustrations that we face because of our hair.

The great news for anyone facing these hair issues is that there are loads of helpful tips for healthy hair. With some tweaking to your haircare routine and some basic lifestyle changes, your hair can see vast improvement. Below is a list of ten great tips for healthy hair.

10 Top Tips for Healthy Hair

1 – Trim those tresses!

This simple little task makes a tremendous difference to the overall health and appearance of your hair. It is amazing how many people refuse to keep up with this essential part of hair care. The bottom line is that trimming our hair is the best way to rejuvenate its best qualities. Regular trimmings will stimulate growth, deplete dead-ends and considerably lessen the frizz. The most common offenders that refuse to abide by this important rule are those die-hard long-haired types. (Yep. We know you are out there.) For some, their long hair is so treasured that even a simple trim is too much. However, in the long run, the lack of regular trimming will slow down the growth and affect the appearance negatively. There is absolutely no way to achieve your healthiest hair without regular trimming. Depending on your hair type and rate of growth, every 4-8 weeks is generally the best schedule for regular trimmings. Consult your hair stylist for the schedule that best suits you. While you are at it, go ahead and hit them up for any other tips for healthy hair that they can offer.

2 – Ease up on the accessories.

One of the most important tips for healthy hair is simply treating it right. One of the best ways to do so is by avoiding accessories that break and snap our hair. Hair ties, barrettes, headbands and clips all do a fair share of damage to our hair. A great way to improve the overall appearance of your hair is to lay low on these damaging accessories. Constant use of hair accessories will cause major breakage and excessive split-ends. This does not mean that accessories can not be used, but minimal use will be best for the health and appearance of your hair.

3 – Trust Mother Nature.

One of the most commonly overlooked tips for healthy hair is going natural. Putting a little faith into Mother Nature is a great way to find your hair cooperating. The thing about Mother Nature is that she provides us with an amazing arsenal of useful weapons to battle almost every ailment we have. Damaged hair is no exception. There are numerous natural remedies to seek for the best hair possible. For example, eggs can be used for a conditioning treatment, and Aloe Vera gel and lemon are great additives for your favorite shampoo. The bottom line is going natural for awhile, or at least as natural as possible, is a smart way to stimulate your hair into cooperation. Let go of your harsh hair products, and you will likely be surprised to see a marked improvement in your hair.

4 – Know your hair-type.

Tips for healthy hair are going to be the most effective if you truly understand your hair type. Understanding the ‘personality’ of your hair is a sure-fire way to achieve the healthiest hair possible. While there are many characteristics of our different hair-types that are similar enough to call for the same haircare techniques, knowing the variables that give your hair distinction is a great way to tune-in to the needs of your own hair. This means ‘listen’ to your hair. Pay attention to how it responds to the products that you use, changing climate, and the things which you consume. Paying attention to these things will help you fine-tune a personal haircare plan, and zero in on the best tips for healthy hair for you.

5 – Beauty starts from the inside.

While we are told not to judge a book by its cover, we are all mostly guilty of doing so to some degree. If not for the sake of our own ‘cover,’ we would have very little interest in the appearance of our hair! Looking good on the outside is important to us, however, it truly starts from the inside. This means that what we put into our bodies has huge effect on the outside view. Eating with your general health in mind is also going to assist in the health of your hair. Any list of great tips for healthy hair is most likely going to put emphasis on the importance of eating the right foods. While vitamins can be taken in pill form, there is absolutely no better way to deliver important nutrients to your system than the way that Mother Nature intended – through the food that you eat. The many hair-healthy foods include salmon, oysters, carrots, sweet potatoes, eggs, beans, poultry, low-fat dairy, cantaloup, spinach and green vegetables. Food for healthy hair is extremely important to your hair’s rate of growth, sheen and strength.

6 – Balance more than just your diet.

Any list of tips for healthy hair is likely going to mention the importance of a balanced diet. However, while a balanced diet is certainly a huge contributor to great hair, it is not the only area that needs balancing. Proper sleep and stress-control are also important to your hair. In fact, stress is the number one cause of excessive hair loss. To best keep those hairs in your head, find a way to balance the stress-causing factors in your life. Yoga, workouts, walking, and praying are all effective ways to lower the stress level. Additionally, achieving the proper amount of sleep is also important to living a balanced lifestyle. Just like your plate should be balanced with grain, vegetables and protein, your lifestyle should be balanced with sleep, exercise and stress control.

7 – Timing is essential for healthy hair.

Having a healthy haircare routine is essential for great hair. However, the timing of our haircare is just as important. This is because so many of the requirements for healthy hair are determined by when and how we do things. For example, when and how we brush our hair is key to limiting split-ends. Brushing wet hair will maximize the number of hairs that break. Also, well-timed haircare will have you avoiding the blow dryer and other damaging tools that are used in a time-pinch. Switching up your morning routine in an attempt to allow your hair the time to air-dry will significantly improve the health of your hair. Brushing hair after it is dry not only lessens the chance of splitting ends, but it’s also much easier to get the brush through it. If your hair likes to morph into a force-field that prevents entry of a brush or comb, simply spritz with a gentle no-tangle spray while still damp.

8 – Protect your hair from the elements.

Most tips for healthy hair emphasize the importance of protecting it from damage. While most of us realize that chemical-laden products are an enemy for healthy hair, we tend to fall short in realizing the dangers that our environment can pose. Our hair shares many of the same characteristics of our skin. Just like our skin, the elements can wreak havoc to the health of our hair. Exposure to damaging UV rays or frigid winds can cause major damage. While the sun is a great way to naturally lighten our hair, it can also cause excessive dryness and dullness. For this reason, limited exposure is best. Wear a hat or bandana if you are spending an excessive amount of time in the blazing sun. Additionally, a scarf is a great shield against damaging winds and frigid temperatures.

9 – Create a hair-healthy toolbox.

Preparation is key for successful haircare. That is why having a properly stocked ‘toolbox’ is one of the most important tips for healthy hair. Nothing spells out failure to succeed more than the lack of preparation. Make sure you have a gentle shampoo and conditioner, preferably made of the most natural ingredients possible. While eating right is a key element for having healthy hair, a daily multivitamin is certainly going to assist as well. As far as the brush, avoid the hard, plastic bristle brushes, and go for the more flexible rubber bristle brushes. Also, as previously mentioned, make sure your accessories are as hair-friendly as possible. Try to use a hair clip rather than a barrette, as they tend to cause less breakage, and make sure your hair ties are covered with fabric.

10 – Relax, take a chill pill.

While many important tips for healthy hair call for swift action, you should never underestimate the power of taking it down a few notches. This means that sometimes the best way to take care of yourself is to give yourself a little break. When you put things into perspective, you will likely see that most of the damage to your hair has been self-created. Ironically, we tend to damage our hair by attempting to make it look its best! We plunk down serious money on products that promise to do things that they rarely do. We also use blazing hot hair tools to style our hair, and in the end we are only creating more problems. Whenever you can, take a break from your haircare routine in general. Skip the products, the styling and even the worry of what it looks like. If you allow yourself – and your hair – a little breathing room every now and then, getting your hair to look its best will feel far less like a chore. Remind yourself that your hair problems didn’t happen overnight, nor will you be able to fix it overnight. It simply takes time and patience.

The Lowdown on Tips for Healthy Hair

While the ten tips listed above are all going to assist in achieving a healthier head of hair, the bottom line is that the best hair is usually found on top of the heads of the healthiest bodies. This is not because some people just have all the luck! It is no coincidence that the people who eat a healthful diet and regularly exercise also happen to be the people that have great bodies, complexions and bouncy, healthy shining heads of hair!

There are no tips for healthy hair that will counter-act an unhealthy lifestyle. Treating your body (and soul) right is the only way to get the best results. Eat, drink, sleep, play and live with your health in mind, and your best self – and of course, hair – will soon emerge.