How to establish a hair care routine

Starting a new hair routine is like beginning any new habit. It takes practice and time until it feels like a natural part of your everyday life. Determining the best hair care habits for yourself can be challenging and may take some trial and error until you find a routine and products that work.

The basics of a hair care routine include three steps:

• Wash
• Dry
• Style

This is a good starting point, but there are additional considerations to keep in mind to ensure that your hair regimen is customized to your needs and is sustainable for the long term.

Not only should your hair care habits be tailored to your needs, but they should also work to keep your hair healthy and vibrant. There are four factors to consider when creating a healthy hair routine.

To establish your hair routine, first determine your hair type - fine, thin, or thick - and texture. Hair textures include:

• straight
• wavy
• curly
• coily.

If you bleach or dye your hair, or have it chemically straightened, it may be dryer or more damaged than natural, untreated hair. Additionally, if you use heat tools on a regular basis, your hair may have some heat damage.

How you wear and/or style your hair on a daily basis may also determine the frequency with which you complete your hair care routine and what products you use. This can include:

• Leaving your hair natural
• Air drying
• Drying with a hair dryer
• Straightening or curling
• Wearing it up
• Wearing it down

Decide what hair goals or issues you’d like to address. These may include:

• flakiness from a dry scalp
  
• an oily scalp
• split ends
• heat damage
• frizz
• flyaways
• dryness.

Understanding your hair type and texture will help in choosing what products to use – and how often – to complete your hair care routine. It's also important to factor in any chemical or mechanical damage, styling and concerns.

The frequency with which you complete your hair care routine depends on the texture and type of hair you have:

• Thin, fine hair: If your hair is thin and fine you can wash your hair every other day, or every day, if it gets very greasy and oily quickly.
  
• Medium, thick hair: If you have medium type hair or it’s on the thicker side, it’s recommended that you wash your hair every two to three days. This hair type and texture doesn’t become as oily as quickly, so you can stretch the time between washes by a few days.
• Course, coily hair: If your hair type is course or you have coily hair, you can wash it as little as once or twice a week. This hair type and texture tends to be dryer and doesn’t become as greasy, which means you can go longer between washes.

If you work out regularly and sweat frequently, you may need to wash your hair more often. You may also need to wash your hair more frequently if your scalp is visibly oily, flaky, or itchy.

Look at your weekly schedule to figure out when the best days and times are for completing your hair care routine. You’ll also want to decide if you’ll complete your regimen in the morning or in the evening. Try some different days and times to find the best combination for your needs and your schedule.

These are the five main steps to follow:

The first step in your hair care routine is cleansing your hair. Choose a shampoo that’s designed for your hair type and texture – to help you achieve hair goals, like moisturising or adding body and volume.

Hot water can dry out your hair and cause color to fade, so it’s best to wash and condition, using warm water. Shampoo should be applied to the scalp and top parts of your hair to remove excess oil and product buildup. 

Like shampoos, choose a conditioner that’s made for your hair type and that treats your desired hair concerns.

Those with fine or thin hair should consider a lighter weight conditioner that won’t weigh hair down, while those with thicker hair may want something heavier and more nourishing.  Concentrate on applying conditioner to the mid-shaft downwards, where hair is dryer and needs more moisture.

After applying conditioner, use a wide tooth comb to ensure the conditioner is evenly distributed.

After getting out of the shower, use a microfiber cloth to dry your hair. Microfiber is softer on hair than terry cloth, and it’s very absorbent, which helps remove more moisture.

Hair is most vulnerable when it’s wet. So after towel drying, gently untangle with a wet brush or wide tooth comb, then apply any products.

As with shampoos and conditioners, post-shower products are designed for different hair types and needs. Some products to consider include hair oils and serums, leave-in conditioners, heat protectants, and air-dry creams. Which products you use will depend on your hair type and texture and what you’re trying to achieve.

Follow the directions for each product to ensure they work correctly in this step of your hair care routine.

The next step in your hair routine is drying. You have two options: air dry or heat dry. It’s beneficial to allow your hair to air dry sometimes to give it a break from heat and reduce the risk of heat damage. If you are heat drying your hair, choose a hair dryer that’s engineered with a quicker drying time and uses less extreme heat.

For naturally curly hair, it’s recommended that you use a diffuser attachment. For straight hair, use a paddle brush to straighten as you dry or a round brush to add volume.

You might also want to consider using a hair styler that allows you to dry and style your hair at the same time without extreme heat.

The final step in your hair care routine is styling. If you air dried your hair, you may skip this step if you’re happy with that look. For work or going out, you may want to straighten or curl your hair. Remember to use a lower heat setting to prevent damage when using hot tools. You can complete your look and manage any frizz or flyaways with styling products.