Who hasn’t had a bad hair day? I know I have and nothing is right with the world on that unfortunate day. I guess it’s not reasonable to expect perfect hair every day – great big sigh! At least, there are things within our control to make sure that our bad hair days happen less frequently. Keep your mane glamorous with these 10 gorgeous hair hacks.
Table of Contents
Gorgeous Hair Hacks
1. Match your conditioner to your hair.
While you can skimp a little when it comes to shampoo, a good conditioner is a must. Look for professional products that are customized for your particular hair type. For instance, if you color your hair or have a perm, choose a conditioner that is designed for chemically-treated hair. Those all-in-one shampoo and conditioner combos may not be your best bet!
2. Choose a cut tailored to your face and body shape.
The number one mistake people make when choosing a new hairstyle is to pick a style based on popularity, rather than if it will be flattering to their features. Always choose a cut based on how it will enhance your facial features and body build. For instance, if you have a round face that makes you self-conscious, don’t go for a pixie cut.
3. Protect your hair.
Just as we protect our skin from the wind and sun, we should also protect our hair. Look for finishing products such as mousses, gels and sprays that block UV rays. Wear a cute hat if you’ll be out in the sun for prolonged periods of time.
4. Be consistent with your trims
Trimming your hair encourages hair growth and eliminates broken or split ends. Neglecting periodic trims may lead to further damage as these split ends move farther up the hair shaft. Get a trim every couple of months to improve the look and feel of your hair.
Watch this video for some fun hair care tips:
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5. Leave chemicals to the professionals
There’s a reason beauticians go to school. They learn about different chemicals, how to handle them, and how they’ll react with your hair. The last thing you want to do is damage your hair – don’t mess around with chemicals you’ve had no experience with.
You’ll end up having to visit a salon, anyway, for damage control. (Note: Some stylists charge double the rate for corrective color than they do for normal color processes.)
6. Match your color to your skin tone
A little color can do wonders for your look – not to mention your mood. The correct color for your skin tone can add depth and dimension to your cut. Whether you opt for a subtle, or a more dramatic look, color has the ability to add interest and volume to your hair.
Choose a stylist that understands the nuances of skin tone, and can determine if your tones are cool, warm or neutral. Highlights, lowlights, or coverage for gray hair will give you a new lease on life!
7. Condition weekly
Even healthy hair needs to be pampered. Weekly conditioning treatments can help protect your hair from the elements. If you swim in chlorinated pools wear a swimming cap to protect your hair.
If that doesn’t sound appealing, at least wet your hair before exposing it to chlorine. Dry hair is more absorbent than wet hair so just taking this precaution can lessen the damage induced by chemical exposure. You can also use a leave-in conditioner. This will coat the hair, providing a barrier of sorts, against chlorine.
8. Ionic ceramic flat irons are less damaging
Ionic flat irons are less damaging to hair than are conventional metal-plated flat irons. Ceramic plates distribute heat more evenly, minimizing damage. Choose a flat iron that is pure ceramic, and not just ceramic coated. If a flat iron is labeled ionic, it typically means that it generates negative ions leading to smoother, shinier hair. If you can style your hair without the use of heat, even better!
9. Clarify to remove build up
Avoid products that leave a build-up on your hair. This can lead to limpness, breakage, and the inability to hold a curl.
Clarify you hair periodically to gently remove residue caused by shampoos, conditioners, or other styling products. Clarifying shampoos also eliminate mineral deposits from hard water which weigh hair down.
Fun fact: Your hair color will deposit better If you use a clarifying shampoo beforehand. Baking soda is an effective clarifier. I mix 3-4 tablespoons of it with my shampoo, and leave on for two minutes while it does its magic.
10. Be gentle
Instead of vigorously rubbing your hair with a towel after washing it, gently scrunch the towel around your hair. Being rough can cause split ends, and static electricity, which is really annoying. I like using hair towels.
Key Points
Be kind to your hair – you’ll wear it every single day! Spend a little time, and do what it takes to keep your lovely locks luscious…
What do you do to keep your hair healthy? Let me know in the comments:)
Love all your tips. Especially now that we’re getting close to summer. I feel it is essential to protect one’s hair. Thank you also for the tips about color. I never thought about making sure it matched my skin tone. I never realized I should take my skin tone into account, but it makes sense.
Hopefully, I’ll be able to improve my look. Thanks a lot!
Hi Barbara,
Thank you. Yes, hair is a big deal and taking care of it certainly can improve your appearance. Matching your hair color to your skin tone will make the overall effect that much more appealing. Many people don’t take this into account.
Thanks so much for your comment!
Hello,
This is a very interesting blog. I really like some of the tips you give about hair care.
I go swimming 3 to 4 times a week and although I do wet my hair first, I had never thought of using a leave-in conditioner.
I work outdoors all year round so my hair does suffer from exposure to the elements, especially if it gets really dry and split in the summer.
I will take note of your advice, I have bookmarked this page as I find it so helpful.
Louise
Hi Louise,
Try using a leave-in conditioner next time you go swimming and see if it helps. If I’m out in the sun longer than 30 minutes, I wear a hat to protect my hair and keep it from drying out. Thanks so much for reading and bookmarking my site.
I don’t do much with my hair, as I have fine thin hair, so I’m scared to use certain things on it.
I shampoo and condition my hair three times a week, but recently I’ve slacked and now have an itchy scalp. I need to start washing and conditioning my hair more often to see if it clears up.
I cannot flat iron my hair too much due to my hair type so I’ll take your advice on buying an Ionic Flat Iron.
Thank you for this post. I am sure to bookmark this post and return to your website.
All the best to you!
I have the opposite problem, my hair is super thick. I know some people wash their hair everyday but for me three times a week is plenty. Sorry to hear about your itchy scalp. I hope it clears up.
Ionic flat irons shouldn’t harm your hair. Try it on the lowest setting when first using it to see how your hair reacts. Thanks so much for reading and commenting!
Hello Holly! I love your topic on Organic Skin Care. The sculpting wand has me very excited! I enjoyed the 10 Tips for Luscious Locks, I have been that girl ( the one who tried going blonde at home and paid way too much to get it fixed) lol. You have a lot of great information here and the setup is very pleasing. Thank You
Hi Tracy,
Thanks for reading my article. The sculpting wand is pretty amazing.
I know some of those girls, me included. Those were the days. Fortunately, I learned my lesson!