Best Hair Care Routine: Step-by-Step Guide for Healthy Hair

There are tons of fancy treatments and procedures nowadays when it comes to hair care. Some can address specific concerns and help you achieve the look that you desire. These treatments are a fantastic way to enhance your hair. However, nothing beats the basics when it comes to maintaining hair health.

Fancy treatments are great once in a while but the overall health of your hair will be majorly impacted by what you do on a daily or regular basis. That means that you really should be paying more attention to the routine that you do regularly more than you think. Creating the proper hair care routine for your hair can make a huge difference when it comes to its overall health and quality.

So, let’s get back to basics! Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get the best out of your hair care routine.

Determine Your Hair Type

Knowing your hair type is crucial when creating the proper hair care routine for it. Different hair types require different types of care and you can choose the products that you use according to your hair texture and hair type.

There can be numerous combinations but the basics are:

• For curly hair, you typically will need a lot more moisture in your routine than straight or wavy hair. In fact, it’s very hard to overload on moisture if you have curly hair.
• For wavy hair, it’s a bit less dry than curly hair but drier than straight hair. The key here is balance. You want your hair fresh and voluminous while still being hydrated.
• For straight hair, it’s very easy to overload on moisture and have things looking flat and greasy. This type needs more volume and cleansing than the other two.
• For oily locks, it’s important to have a good cleansing routine that includes regular cleansing and clarifying. Don’t use a ton of heavy moisturizing products, and instead focus on clearing up the sebum buildup regularly at the roots.
• For dry locks, moisture and protein are key. You need to moisturize and then lock in that moisture with some protein.
• For fine hair, it’s also beneficial to have a good cleansing and clarifying routine because oils can easily saturate the fine strands. It would also benefit from protein-based products that can add a bit of girth to the hair strands.
• For thick or coarse hair, moisture and hydration are the way to go. Thick hair usually has low porosity and has a hard time absorbing moisture which makes it hard to overload.

Daily Hair Care Routine Steps

Cleanse

Cleansing doesn’t need to be a part of a daily hair care routine. It is much better to lessen hair washing days as the hair’s natural oils contribute to its health. Stripping the hair of its natural sebum can cause several issues.

However, cleansing should still be done regularly, depending on your hair type. Less often for those with curly or dry hair and more often for those who have oily and straight hair. Regular cleansing should at least have 1-2 days in between to let the natural oils moisturize the scalp and hair.

For regular cleansing, use a sulfate-free shampoo to avoid stripping your hair and drying out your scalp. Sulfates are a harsh type of detergent that deeply cleans the scalp but also causes dryness and damage with prolonged use.

Clarify

A lot of people still don’t know about the benefits of a clarifying shampoo. A gentle, sulfate-free shampoo is the way to go when it comes to regular cleansing, however, a lot of factors can still cause buildup in the hair and the occasional deep clean is the only answer to this.

A clarifying shampoo is not to be used daily. This should only be done around once or twice a week depending on your hair type and lifestyle. If you are exposed to a lot of elements and use a lot of styling products, once a week may be right for you. If your hair is dry, you use a minimal amount of product and aren’t exposed regularly to environmental factors, you can go longer without a clarifying cleanse.

It’s still highly recommended to use a sulfate-free clarifying shampoo. Other natural ingredients give you that deep cleanse without drying out your scalp and hair and causing damage in the long run. Look for ingredients such as Sapindus Mukurossi Peel Extract for deep cleaning properties.

Condition

Regular conditioning is essential, especially for those with dry hair. This is done after cleansing (shampoo) typically, but new techniques have been discovered to suit those with different hair types.

For example, conditioning after cleansing is suited to those with dry hair types.

Reverse conditioning is conditioning first and cleansing afterward. This is suited to those who have oily hair and want more volume at the roots.

The sandwich method is conditioning between 2 rounds of shampoo. This is suited for those who have very oily hair and want to go longer between washes.

Deep conditioner

This is a more potent and intense version of a conditioner. This is not a step you add to every hair wash, but it pairs brilliantly with a clarifying shampoo. You can take a day out of your week to do a full refresh for your hair by deep cleansing and deep conditioning.

A deep conditioner penetrates the shaft to give your hair intense moisture and shine. It can be a bit too much if done too often but those with dry hair and curly hair will benefit from more frequent deep conditioning sessions.

Brush or Detangle

For those with straight or slightly wavy hair, detangling and brushing can be part of your daily routine. It’s a good way to stimulate the scalp and avoid severe tangles or matting, This is especially beneficial for those who have fine hair prone to tangling.

For those with curly or wavy hair, it’s best to brush or detangle only on wash days before and after washing hair. Brushing wet hair will avoid frizz and help your curls form beautifully. Dry brushing will cause extreme frizz and get rid of your defined curls.

Protect

Hair gets damaged every day with styling and environmental factors. Minimize damage by applying heat protectant and hair SPF. You can also apply dry shampoo and leave-in conditioner to absorb excess sebum at the roots while keeping the hair moisturized.

Level Up Your Routine

Dry shampoo

For those who are used to washing hair daily, it can be a hard transition to suddenly not shampooing the hair every day. The hair is being stripped of moisture daily so it has gotten used to overcompensating and producing more sebum.

To help with the transition, include a dry shampoo in your routine. Even once you are done transitioning and your hair isn’t producing so much oil, dry shampoo can help extend your style and the time between washes by absorbing the excess oil. Bonus: it also gives the roots extra volume.

Treatment

Another “treat” that you can add to your routine is to get regular hair treatments that nourish the locks. For example, get an organic keratin treatment every 3 months.

Hair masks

For more frequent pamper days, add a hair mask to your weekly routine. A hair mask can be used more often than say, a keratin treatment. It adds an amazing amount of nourishment for strong and shiny hair.

Hair growth

Who doesn’t want thick, luscious hair? You can also add a hair growth serum to your routine to boost your regrowth rate.

Consistency Counts!

You can get the most expensive and luxurious salon treatments but none of that will matter unless you have a regular hair care routine that addresses your hair’s needs. This guide was created to give you an idea of how to properly care for your tresses to achieve healthy hair.