How to Start the Best Hair Care Routine for You

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

Factors to Consider

Basic Routine

Conditioning

How Often to Wash Hair

Changing Needs

Tips

Diet

Hair care routines are important to keep your hair healthy and protected. All basic hair care routines involve steps such as cleansing and conditioning, but using products and practices tailored to yourhair typeand individual needs helps your hair look and feel its best.

Things to consider when developing your ideal hair care routine include:

Hair Type and Texture

Your hair type and texture depend on a number of factors.

Diameter/Thickness

Place a strand of your hair between your fingertips and take note of the following:

Elasticity

Elasticity refers to how well your hair stretches before it breaks. Degrees of elasticity can be detected as follows:

Low elasticity is more associated with thin hair, while high elasticity is associated with medium to thick hair. Elasticity helps determine how well your hair can hold a style.

Density

Porosity

Porosity refers to your hair’s ability to absorb moisture and hair products. To test your hair’s porosity, place a strand in a bowl filled with water and if it reacts as follows:

Type/Shape

Hair type includes:

There are three types of curly and coily hair.

Curly hair includes types:

Coily hair includes types:

Bleach, Hair Dye, and Chemical Processing

Hair that is color treated, bleached, or otherwise chemically processed is often more dry and needs moisturizing products.

Color-treated hair is also vulnerable to fading,discoloring, and heat damage. Products developed specifically for this type of hair can help.

Hair Concerns

Certain hair orscalp conditionsmay require specialized medicated shampoo.

Medicated shampoos fordandruffinclude active ingredients such as:

Scalp psoriasis, an autoimmune skin condition, may also require the use of medicated shampoos. It also makes your scalp easily irritated, so gentle hair styling important.

Lifestyle practices can also affect hair care. For example, those who swim regularly need to protect their hair from damage due to chlorine.

Basic Components of a Hair Care Routine

Each person’shair care routineis unique, but most include some form of cleansing, moisturizing, and styling.

Cleansing

Shampoos clean the hair and scalp. They usually aremade upof the following:

Different types of shampoo are formulated to meet certain hair needs, such as:

Conditioners help to:

Types of conditioners include:

Apply rinse-out conditioner after eachshampoo. Apply to ends only if you have fine or straight hair. Apply to the whole hair length if your hair is dry or curly.

Leave-in conditioner is a spray, cream, or lotion applied to damp hair after washing and conditioning, and not rinsed out. It is used in addition to rinse-out conditioner, not instead of it.

Leave-in conditioner may benefit people who have hair that is:

Moisturizing

Hair masks, oils, serums, and conditioning treatment may be helpful if your hair needs extra conditioning.

If you have curly, dry, or easily-tangled hair, look for conditioning products that contain ingredients such as:

You may also want to massageoilssuch asjojoba, argan, andcoconutinto your hair once a week.

Monthly professional conditioning treatments at a salon are also an option.

Products designed for Black hair can help meet its unique moisturizing needs. These may include oils, sheens, and greases.

Detangling

If your hair tends to get tangled, you can try tips such as:

Styling

After washing your hair, use a microfiber towel to soak up excess water.

If you are letting your hair dry naturally, apply your desired products and allow it to air dry.

If you are going to be using heat to dry or style your hair, it’s important to apply a heat-protectant product first to prevent heat damage.

Some tips for helping to protectyour hairwhile heat styling include:

Products you may choose to use before and/or after styling your hair may include:

Styling tips to minimize damage to your hair include:

Chemical treatments that alter the natural curl pattern may be used.

Relaxers are the most common chemical treatment used for Black hair. Relaxers permanently straighten the treated hair (new hair growth will be its natural texture).

Typically, relaxers are applied every six to 12 weeks. Relaxers can make the hair more fragile and prone to damage, especially when applied more often than every six weeks or in combination with hairstyles that cause tension. A protective base should be applied before the relaxer.

Spot Treatments

Dry shampoo is a powder or spray applied between washings to soak upexcess oil. Dry shampoo is not a replacement for hair washing, but it may be helpful after a workout, or during times when washing your hair is not possible or inconvenient.

It can also help prolong the wear of hair styling like blowouts and up-dos and minimize washings that can fade hair coloring.

Some dry shampoo contains pigments that can help mask gray hair.

When using dry shampoo:

How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?

How often to wash your hair depends on factors such as hair type, how often it gets oily or dirty, and special hair considerations such as dandruff. Some people need to wash their hair daily, while others do best washing their hair every two to three weeks, and everything in between.

You may need to shampoo more often if:

You may need to shampoo your hair less often if you:

Choosing Hair Care Products for Your Hair Type

If you havestraight and/or oilyhair:

If you havewavy, curly, or dryhair:

If you havecoilyhair:

Your Needs Change Over Time

Your hair care routine is likely tochange with ageand circumstances.

For example:

Other Tips for Healthy Hair

Other tips for maintaininghealthy hairinclude:

Your Diet Can Also Boost Hair Health

Like the rest of your body, eating a variety of nutritious food helps support hair health.

While taking in additionalvitaminsand minerals may not do much for your hair,supplementingmay be necessary if you have a deficiency in micronutrients such as:

Check with a healthcare provider before taking supplements.

Summary

Most basic hair care routines involve cleansing, conditioning, and styling. Products and practices, such as how often to wash hair, depend on factors such as hair type, lifestyle, and individual needs.

Fine, thin, straight hair is typically more prone to beingoily, requiring more frequent washing and lighter conditioning. Thick, curly, or coily hair tends to be more dry, requiring less frequent washing and more conditioning.

If you are unsure about your hair type or needs, make an appointment with a professional hairstylist.

21 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Florida Academy.Keep your hair healthy with the ideal hair care routine.JD Institute of Fashion Technology.Hair care routine: a beginners guide.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Tips for healthy hair.Gavazzoni Dias MF.Hair cosmetics: an overview.Int J Trichol. 2015;7(1):2. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.153450DermNet.Shampoo.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat dandruff.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair styling tips that can reduce flares of scalp psoriasis.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Must-try summer hair care.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Tips for healthy hair.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dermatologists' top tips for using leave-in conditioner.American Academy of Dermatology Association.6 curly hair tips from dermatologists.DermNet.Hair care practices in women of African descent.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair styling without damage.American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 hair care habits that can damage your hair.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry shampoo: dermatologists' tips for getting your best results.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How often do children need to wash their hair?HCA Florida Healthcare.How many times a week should you wash your hair?American Academy of Dermatology Association.6 curly hair care tips from dermatologists.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Black hair: tips for everyday care.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Teaching your child healthy hair care habits.Almohanna HM, Ahmed AA, Tsatalis JP, Tosti A.The role of vitamins and minerals in hair loss: a review.Dermatol Ther(Heidelb). 2019;9(1):51-70. doi:10.1007/s13555-018-0278-6

21 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Florida Academy.Keep your hair healthy with the ideal hair care routine.JD Institute of Fashion Technology.Hair care routine: a beginners guide.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Tips for healthy hair.Gavazzoni Dias MF.Hair cosmetics: an overview.Int J Trichol. 2015;7(1):2. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.153450DermNet.Shampoo.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat dandruff.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair styling tips that can reduce flares of scalp psoriasis.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Must-try summer hair care.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Tips for healthy hair.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dermatologists' top tips for using leave-in conditioner.American Academy of Dermatology Association.6 curly hair tips from dermatologists.DermNet.Hair care practices in women of African descent.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair styling without damage.American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 hair care habits that can damage your hair.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry shampoo: dermatologists' tips for getting your best results.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How often do children need to wash their hair?HCA Florida Healthcare.How many times a week should you wash your hair?American Academy of Dermatology Association.6 curly hair care tips from dermatologists.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Black hair: tips for everyday care.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Teaching your child healthy hair care habits.Almohanna HM, Ahmed AA, Tsatalis JP, Tosti A.The role of vitamins and minerals in hair loss: a review.Dermatol Ther(Heidelb). 2019;9(1):51-70. doi:10.1007/s13555-018-0278-6

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Florida Academy.Keep your hair healthy with the ideal hair care routine.JD Institute of Fashion Technology.Hair care routine: a beginners guide.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Tips for healthy hair.Gavazzoni Dias MF.Hair cosmetics: an overview.Int J Trichol. 2015;7(1):2. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.153450DermNet.Shampoo.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat dandruff.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair styling tips that can reduce flares of scalp psoriasis.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Must-try summer hair care.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Tips for healthy hair.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dermatologists' top tips for using leave-in conditioner.American Academy of Dermatology Association.6 curly hair tips from dermatologists.DermNet.Hair care practices in women of African descent.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair styling without damage.American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 hair care habits that can damage your hair.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry shampoo: dermatologists' tips for getting your best results.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How often do children need to wash their hair?HCA Florida Healthcare.How many times a week should you wash your hair?American Academy of Dermatology Association.6 curly hair care tips from dermatologists.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Black hair: tips for everyday care.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Teaching your child healthy hair care habits.Almohanna HM, Ahmed AA, Tsatalis JP, Tosti A.The role of vitamins and minerals in hair loss: a review.Dermatol Ther(Heidelb). 2019;9(1):51-70. doi:10.1007/s13555-018-0278-6

Florida Academy.Keep your hair healthy with the ideal hair care routine.

JD Institute of Fashion Technology.Hair care routine: a beginners guide.

American Academy of Dermatology Association.Tips for healthy hair.

Gavazzoni Dias MF.Hair cosmetics: an overview.Int J Trichol. 2015;7(1):2. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.153450

DermNet.Shampoo.

American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat dandruff.

American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair styling tips that can reduce flares of scalp psoriasis.

American Academy of Dermatology Association.Must-try summer hair care.

American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dermatologists' top tips for using leave-in conditioner.

American Academy of Dermatology Association.6 curly hair tips from dermatologists.

DermNet.Hair care practices in women of African descent.

American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair styling without damage.

American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 hair care habits that can damage your hair.

American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry shampoo: dermatologists' tips for getting your best results.

American Academy of Dermatology Association.How often do children need to wash their hair?

HCA Florida Healthcare.How many times a week should you wash your hair?

American Academy of Dermatology Association.6 curly hair care tips from dermatologists.

American Academy of Dermatology Association.Black hair: tips for everyday care.

American Academy of Dermatology Association.Teaching your child healthy hair care habits.

Almohanna HM, Ahmed AA, Tsatalis JP, Tosti A.The role of vitamins and minerals in hair loss: a review.Dermatol Ther(Heidelb). 2019;9(1):51-70. doi:10.1007/s13555-018-0278-6

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