Buzz
By mastering the right shampooing, drying, and styling methods, your hair can easily become one of your standout features. supersizer / Getty ImagesDesigner clothes, flawless makeup, and elegant jewelry all lose their appeal if your hair appears greasy, lifeless, or unkempt. Thankfully, you don’t need pricey salon visits or high-end products to achieve hair that looks professionally maintained. With the right techniques for shampooing, drying, and styling, your hair can become one of your most striking features.
In this article, we'll offer some helpful tips on hair care, starting with the fundamentals.
Basic Tips for Hair Care
- To prevent breakage, ensure your hair is fully wet before applying shampoo. Use a quarter-sized amount and rub it between your palms before applying. Lather for no longer than 30 seconds.
- After shampooing, rinse with cool water to help seal moisture into your hair shafts.
- To spread natural oils through your hair, bend over and brush your scalp and hair from the back to the front until your scalp tingles. Then, massage your scalp with your fingertips.
- Dry your hair with a towel before using a blow dryer. This will save time and help avoid excessive heat damage.
- Reduce static by lightly dampening your hairbrush before brushing your hair.
- Avoid brushing wet hair to prevent breakage. Use a comb to gently detangle any knots.
- If you have a flaky scalp, try this treatment every two weeks: Section your hair and apply rubbing alcohol to your scalp with a cotton pad. Let it dry, then brush your hair and rinse with warm water, but don’t shampoo.
- To refresh permed hair between shampoos, lightly mist it with water and use your fingers to reshape the curls.
- Dull, lifeless hair may indicate a poor diet. Try cutting back on cholesterol and fats.
- Wait at least 48 hours after coloring your hair before shampooing. Wetting your hair opens the cuticle, so give it time to lock in the color.
- Beer can help remove residue from your hair. Mix 6 tablespoons of beer with 1 cup of warm water and use it as a final rinse.
- If your hair collects buildup from conditioners or styling products, mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with your regular shampoo once a week. Rinse and dry as usual.
- Use pomade in moderation to eliminate static, control flyaway ends, and add shine to both straight and curly hair. Apply a small amount to your hand, liquefy it between your palms, and run your hands through your hair. If braiding, apply before braiding and use for touch-ups after.
- After finishing a braid, apply hair gel to smooth down any loose or stray hairs. Apply it to your fingertip or a hairpin, then press it gently on the stray hairs to encourage them back into the braid.
- Use hairspray to set your finished style. For a softer finish, but still with control, spray it into your palm and then smooth it over your hair to manage flyaway strands.
- To minimize stress on your hair, use a coated rubber band or a soft hair tie to secure ponytails and the ends of braids.
- For a “wet” look, apply gel to your styled hair. If braiding, apply the gel to all your hair before you braid, or apply it to your hairline for a clean, off-the-face style.
Next, we'll explore some homemade solutions for hair care.
Homemade Hair Care Solutions
New hair-care products are always exciting, but you can achieve great results without spending too much by using these homemade alternatives. Give them a try.
- To repair damaged hair, try an oil and egg yolk treatment. Massage olive oil into your hair, then beat the yolk of one egg and massage it in, starting from the ends. Leave it on for 10 minutes, then shampoo as usual. Repeat once a week for a month to notice healthier hair.
- For conditioning, apply mayonnaise to your dry hair before shampooing. Let it sit for 30 minutes, then rinse and shampoo as usual.
- For a refreshing lemon rinse, mix 1/2 cup of strained lemon juice with 1 cup of distilled water. Comb the mixture through your hair after every shampoo.
- To create a quick dry shampoo, apply baby powder to your hair and brush it through thoroughly.
- Herbal rinses are a great way to enhance your natural color or refresh artificial color. They are budget-friendly and easy to experiment with, as their effects are gentle and subtle. However, avoid using acidic fruits or vegetables like lemons or beet juice, as they can cause unpredictable changes, especially when exposed to sunlight. Over time, lemon juice may lighten your hair, but it could eventually leave your hair with uneven tones.
These hair-care tips should keep you busy and help you look your best for a while. Good luck!
How to Make Your Hair Shine
- For blonde hair: Steep 2 tablespoons of dried chamomile and 2 tablespoons of dried marigold in 1 quart of boiled water for half an hour. Once cooled to a comfortable temperature, pour it over your wet hair.
- For brunette hair: Use sage and rosemary instead of the herbs above. For extra shine, add 1 tablespoon of cider vinegar.
- For red hair: Mix 1 tablespoon of honey with 2 tablespoons of saffron in 1 quart of boiled water. Let it steep for 30 minutes, check the temperature, and slowly pour it over your wet hair as a final rinse.
