Improving your personal appearance can be quite good for your self-esteem, your professional prospects and your personal life. Healthy hair is one of the most important qualities that contributes to pleasing personal aesthetics. Your hair is one of the things that really defines you as a person. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to keep the appearance of your hair within acceptable parameters. If you think that all you have to do to have healthy hair is to wash your hair every day, you've got a lot to learn about this subject. Here are four ways you can keep your hair healthy and lustrous:
1. Trim your hair often to get rid of split ends. Generally speaking, split ends make your hair look sloppier and more unkempt. To keep split ends in check, trim your hair at least a quarter of an inch every six or eight weeks.
2. Despite what you may think, you shouldn't wash your hair every day. Just because you're showering, that doesn't mean you have to wash your hair as well. If you wash your hair thoroughly every other day, you'll maintain a perfectly clean head of hair. Too much washing strips the natural, healthy oils that keep your hair looking great.
3. These days, people are more conscious than ever about shampoo ingredients. Of the ingredients commonly found in shampoos, sulfates are uniquely controversial. Though sulfates produce a pleasing lather and do clean your hair, sulfates aren't necessary for a great shampoo. Sulfates are the cause of the stinging sensation that occurs when shampoo gets in your eye. More worryingly, sulfates can cause itchy scalp and overly dry hair in sensitive individuals. If you experience any of these issues, simply use sulfate-free shampoo.
4. Deep condition your hair periodically for an unforgettably lustrous shine. After washing, squeeze all of the water out of your hair and dry your locks with a bath towel. Next, apply a good deal of your favorite conditioner into your roots. With a broad-toothed comb, spread the conditioner through the length of your hair. After pulling up your hair and clipping it, allow the conditioner to soak in for anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes. Now you're ready to rinse the conditioner out of your hair. Afterwards, you'll be amazed at the incredibly silky and lustrous texture of your hair.
5. Heat is never good for your hair. If you routinely curl, dry or straighten your hair, you will experience hair damage. Fortunately, there are several ways to change the look of your hair that don't involve applying heat in any way. If you must use a curler, use coconut oil, almond oil and conditioner to treat your hair afterwards.
6. If you want great hair, be sure to eat a hair-healthy diet. Your hair loves foods with complete proteins and plenty of amino acids. Foods and beverages that fit the bill include whole milk, greek or regular yogurt, soy, peas and all types of cheeses. It's a good idea to consume at least 12 mg of iron each day. Studies have shown that it is far better to get your iron from food instead of supplements. Because of how your digestive system works, a lot of the vitamins and minerals in supplement pills are wasted. Foods with lots of iron include leafy green vegetables, pumpkin seed, beans, chickpeas and cereal. Besides providing iron, fish can improve your health in a number of ways.