How to Take Care of Your Hair

There are many ways that people say are the best practices in taking care of your hair - but it can be difficult to see the transparency in some of the hair care "tips" that might be more like myths, sales pitches or random trends that celebrities claim they use or condone. Below we offer a few hair care tips for the everyday woman looking to follow a couple of rules to avoid breakage and damage to her hair.
Tip #1: Make sure your mane is completely wet before applying shampooThis will prevent breakage and buildup in your hair. And also make sure not to use too much shampoo, as this will also cause buildup. A good rule is to use about a dime-sized amount of shampoo.
Tip #2: Rinse your luscious locks with cool water to keep your color lasting longerAfter shampooing, turn your faucet to cold and rinse with cold water to close the hair follicles to prevent future damage at the hair shaft.
Tip #3: Don't run to the blow dryer right away.Towel dry your locks as long as possible before running to the blow dryer. The wetter it is, the longer you will have to blow dry it - meaning more damage to the follicles if you are constantly blowing hot air on your scalp. Wrap it in a towel and wait as long as you can before hitting it with the dryer.
Tip #4: Don't use a brush if it's wetWhen detangling when it's wet, make sure to use a comb and not a brush, as a brush will cause unwanted breakage. It is better to comb out snarls with a comb instead of constantly brushing through it when it's wet.
Tip #5: Do not wear your hair back too tightIf you wear your hair back a lot, make sure not to wear it too tight as it will cause breakage and if you wear your hair tightly back often enough, it can even cause hair loss, called traction alopecia.
Tip #6: Go for the baking sodaIf you are prone to buildup from shampoos, conditioners or styling products, mix a tablespoon of baking soda in the product to prevent more build-up in the future.