Bad hair days are nothing to brush off: 88% of women claim that their hair has a direct effect on their confidence. Since confidence has a direct effect on everything else, from how you feel in the morning to how well you perform at work, keeping your hair in top condition should be a big priority in your New Year’s resolutions.
There’s no big secret to always having perfect hair, but there are things you can do that result in dramatic improvements over time. To find out what New Year’s resolutions you should make for healthy hair in 2020, keep reading.
Always Brush Before Showering
Taking a couple of minutes to detangle and brush your hair before each shower will help keep it strong and healthy. It’s important to only brush knots out of your hair whenever it’s dry, since wet hair breaks more easily. As another benefit of dry brushing, natural oils from your scalp get distributed along your strands of hair more easily when brushed dry. By brushing before showering, it comes out of the shower clean, smooth, and ready for you to style it exactly as you desire.
Hydrate Your Hair and Scalp
A common problem holding people back from enjoying excellent hair is dehydration. This is especially significant for those who use heat tools on their hair regularly. To keep your hair well hydrated, it’s important to use conditioner on your hair and scalp every day. When applying conditioner, start in the mid-shaft area and work down to the ends, then work back up to your scalp. Be sure to leave your conditioner in your hair for a full minute before rinsing it out.
Another useful method for getting rich, hydrated hair is using moisturizing hair masks. You should apply a hair mask or deep conditioner at least once per week. Apply more often if you use hot tools frequently.
Shower in Cooler Water
Steamy showers and hot baths may be relaxing, but they aren’t great for your hair. Super-hot water can irritate your scalp, and since the intense warmth opens up the pores of your skin, it can cause some of your hair to become loose and fall out. As 33% of women will already experience hair loss at some point in their lives, it is important to not increase your chances of hair loss with habits like piping hot showers. You don’t need to take cold showers, but try to avoid making them too hot.
You can finish off your shower with a few seconds of cool, brisk water to seal the pores of your scalp shut. As a bonus, there is evidence that finishing with cold water can improve your health and boost mental focus. It also helps your hair’s shine.
Avoid Harsh Chemicals
As you may know, the ingredients used in common hair products aren’t always above board. To keep your hair and scalp as healthy as possible, avoid using shampoos, conditioners, or other products that use questionable chemicals. Research how hair and skin react to common ingredients used in hair care products to figure out which products and brands work best for you.
Harsh chemicals in hair care products aren’t the only ones to be wary of, though. As spring wears on and summer starts to make a comeback, you’ll want to be cautious around pool chemicals as well. If you have a personal pool or spa in your backyard, you can try using an ozone sanitation system to partially replace chlorine. While ozone sanitation systems don’t replace pool chemicals completely, it can reduce the amount of chlorine you have to use by 90%. If you use your pool for exercising or relaxing regularly, this can go a long way in caring for your hair.
Eat Healthy
Eating a nutritious, balanced diet doesn’t just help you feel better and look more fit. It’s also essential for beautiful, healthy hair.
Your hair is primarily made up of protein, so you need to consume protein-rich foods to maximize your hair’s health. Some notable examples include eggs, fish, beans, and just about all kinds of meat. You also need foods rich in Vitamins C and E. These nutrients help boost collagen production, which results in stronger hair. This includes foods like avocados, spinach, and several types of berries.
Relax
Similar to dieting, allowing time to deliberately relax your mind and body is essential for great health in every area of your life. Your hair grows out from your body and if your body is stressed and tense, your hair won’t be as healthy as it could be.
Make sure to get plenty of sleep every night. If you have trouble sleeping, take steps to improve your sleep, such as turning off all electronics and doing some light reading in the half-hour leading up to your bedtime. Power naps during the day can also be a great strategy.
Perhaps the most beneficial thing you can do for your holistic health and relaxation is to try activities like meditation or acupuncture. Just a few minutes per day focusing on your breath can go a long way in helping you calm down. As a bonus, meditation improves every aspect of your life, including your mood and your performance at work. Acupuncture will require a little more effort, with you making an appointment at a professional clinic. However, the World Health Organization has released a report that supports the use of acupuncture for more than 200 diseases and symptoms. This kind of endorsement could certainly make getting acupuncture a worthwhile investment in the effort to relax more.
Use a Silk Pillowcase
In addition to getting more sleep and relaxation into your life, be sure to trade your cotton pillowcase for a nice silk one. Silk creates less friction than cotton, which means it causes considerably less wear on your hair and cuticles.
Additionally, sleeping with your hair in a loose topknot and a silk scrunchie is a good way to protect your hair during the night. Although if you have very thick or textured hair, a low, loose braid might work better.
And there you have it: our top recommendations for keeping your hair healthy and beautiful throughout the new year. From watching your diet to keeping an eye out for pesky chemicals, these are some of the most important New Year’s resolutions to keep for healthy hair.
