Wanting your hair to look its best is not unusual. Even so, many of us don’t think much about what it takes to keep our hair healthy. One of the more important points to consider is what heat can do to hair follicles. There are strategies that help people avoid heat damage and keep their hair healthy. Here are four tips that you can begin using today.
Getting to Know Your Hair
You’ve lived with your hair all your life, so you think that you know it. Maybe you could stand to learn a little more about your hair. What do you really know about the texture, the thickness, the level of natural oils, and the strength of the individual hair follicles? When was the last time you talked with a professional who can give you expert answers to these questions?
The first step in taking proper care of your hair is learning all you can about it. That knowledge will help you have a better idea of how much heat is safe to use and when applying any type of heat is likely to cause damage. If you are not sure how to conduct an analysis of your hair, schedule an appointment with a professional. The information you glean will provide the basis for protecting your hair from all sorts of problems, including those created by exposure to heat.
Nutrition Matters
Proper nutrition keeps the body healthy. That includes your hair. Did you know that a lack of certain vitamins and minerals will impact the texture and health of your hair follicles?
Spend some time learning what the different B vitamins and different minerals will do in terms of producing healthy hair. When you plan your meals, include foods with the right nutrients. Since many of those same vitamins and minerals also nourish your muscles, bones, and nervous system, you’ll improve your general health as well as taking proper care of your hair.
Preparing the Hair for Heat Application
Maybe you want to add curls to your hair or would like to straighten it. Heat helps with both goals. Before applying heat, may sure that you apply some type of protecting agent to your hair. Follow the instructions and make sure the product coats every hair evenly. The right product prevents the heat from draining your hair of the nutrients that keep it healthy and strong. It will also prevent the heat from creating split ends or causing the follicles to become brittle.
This is not as difficult as you may think. Use a shampoo and a conditioning product formulated for the type of hair that you have. If there needs to be a little something extra, there are also stand-alone products that you can apply and leave in place for a short time. Ideally, the product you use will leave your hair feeling silky. This is true whether your hair is curly, thick, thin, or any combination of the above.
Monitoring the Frequency and the Level of Heat Exposure
Whatever device you use, do not apply more heat than recommended by the manufacturer. You should also remember that using those devices daily may cause damage over the long term. Talk with a stylist and get some guidelines based on the texture and body of your hair. Doing so will allow you to create the style you want and avoid any damage.
Whatever your hair type, there are ways to use heat without causing damage. Put these ideas to use today and see what a difference they make over the next month or so. Once you get into the habit of using heat responsibly, the results will be all the motivation needed to keep you on the right path.
