Every woman fantasizes about lush, silky strands – and 2015 could be the year you get closer to those hair dreams! Taking as much care of your tresses as you do for your clothes and makeup should be on the top of your resolutions list. We give you some hair commandments to live by in the coming year. Follow these to make it easier to stick to your resolutions and also get that gorgeous, look-at-me hair that you’ve always wanted!
Thou Shall…
1. Cut Down the Heat
We get it: it’s difficult living without our blow dryers and irons. But it’s important to give your strands a break every few days. Learn to embrace your natural kinks and waves instead of wanting to smoothen them out all the time. Save the heat styling for big occasions and important events. Trust us, healthy and undamaged locks will be more than worth it.
2. Stick to Those Haircut Appointments
If you’re one of those who procrastinates whenever it comes to getting those regular trims, then that’s something you need to change this year. Listen to your hairdresser and go in for those trims every 3-4 months to get rid of dry and split ends. Yes, even if you’re trying to grow out your mane, it’s important to trim the ends in order for your strands to grow healthy. Plus, dry, shapeless hair is never a good look.
3. Not Over-Shampoo
Believe it or not, but washing your hair too often can be bad for your strands. Yes, even if you’re trying to be clean. Too much shampoo can strip your hair of natural oils and lead to extreme dryness. Washing your hair three to four times a week is a healthier option than doing so every day. Also, make sure to use a sulfate-free shampoo. If do feel dirty in between washes, dry shampoo will bail you out every time. It’s great for getting rid of greasiness and reviving limp locks.
4. Put the “C” in Conditioning
Of course, we all use conditioner every time we wash our mane, but it’s important to go that extra mile and deep-condition every week. Leave a deep-conditioning mask in your strands for at least 10 minutes before rinsing it out to really let it hydrate your strands and give you softer, silkier hair. If you feel like your hair is extremely dry, then you may want to try a leave-in conditioner as well to help repair damage even when you’re outside of the shower, as well as to help control frizz.
5. Eat Your Way to Happier Hair
There are plenty of foods that help make your hair healthier and grow stronger. Make it a point to add foods rich in Omega-3 and Vitamin C to strengthen your hair follicles and prevent hair fall, as well as zinc and protein. Nuts like walnuts and almonds, lentils, eggs, dark green veggies, mushrooms and fruits should be part of your daily diet for a thick, lustrous mane.
6. Get Back to Oiling
It’s probably been years since you oiled your hair religiously. Go ahead and get your hands on some almond oil or coconut oil and sit back for a relaxing head massage. It will help boost circulation in your scalp, leading to healthier and stronger hair growth. Plus, the oil will give you shinier and thicker locks! Do this once or twice a week for a swishy-swashy mane.
7. Keep Your Hair SPF-Ready
Just like your skin, your strands are also prone to damage from the sun. We all lather on layers of sunscreen on our face, but what do we do to protect our locks from those harmful rays? Sun exposure can cause dryness, frizziness and dullness, so make it a point to protect your locks by wearing a hat or a scarf. You can also use UV-protectant hair products like Kerastase Soleil Micro-Voile Protecteur Spray.
(Psst! Read about easy ways to sun-proof your hair here!)
8. Avoid Tight Hairstyles
We all need to pull our hair back and away from our face to make it easier to work, but if you constantly tie your hair back in super-tight buns and ponytail, you could be damaging your strands. Tying your up tightly in the same place often and for long periods of time can weaken your hair follicles and cause hair fall and even bald patches. Leave your hair loose regularly, or try looser ponytails and braids instead of a severe hairstyle.
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