Avoid products with sulfates, alcohol, or glycol, which strip oils or dry out hair. [2] X Research source Look for moisturizing shampoo or conditioner, or “leave in” options that don’t need to be washed out. Look at the description and directions on the bottle to identify which products are “leave in”. It can take several weeks to notice major changes. Give a product time to work before you give up on it, unless you notice drastic negative effects.
For easy application, fill a spray bottle with conditioner, natural oil, and water. Shake well and spray onto your hair before shampooing, or daily if your hair is extremely dry. Alternatively, apply a leave-in deep conditioner in the evening. Leave in overnight and wash or style your hair the next morning. Conditioner is essentially a cream that smooths the cuticle, softens hair, add sheen, and restores moisture.
For an even gentler treatment, dilute one part shampoo with two or three parts water.
Some people can wash as frequently as every other day with this treatment. Reduce frequency if you notice dry hair. Some people prefer using a homemade conditioner for this purpose. You can use eggs, mayonnaise, yogurt, honey, olive oil, vinegar, or avocado. Rinse thoroughly after applying to remove any odor.
Replace the towel with a cotton T-shirt instead of extra-gentle drying.
After a certain thickness or length, it may help to section your hair and detangle each section separately. Do not over-brush. Detangle slowly and only when necessary. If detangling is painful, brush the outside of your hair with a wide brush first. Comb the lower layers of hair with a fine-toothed comb, if possible without tearing your hair.
Apply heat protectant before you begin. Spray on, brush to distribute through the hair, and wait for it to dry. When blow drying, pull the hair downward with a vented, round brush. Direct the heat downward to flatten the cuticle, instead of lifting and frizzing it. Set your blow dry to blow cool air for a safer, but longer, drying process. When visiting the salon, ask your stylist for low-heat options.
Wear styles that keep your hair out of your face, so you’re not constantly moving it, tucking it behind your ears, or arranging it with pins. The less you have to handle your hair, the longer it will stay healthy.
Remember, keep the style loose to minimize tension on your hair. Even if you don’t like this as a permanent style, use it overnight to protect your hair in your sleep. You may even be able to mist or wash with conditioner without removing the style.
For coarse hair — relax every 2-3 months. For fine hair — relax every 3-5 months. For super fine/soft hair —relax hair every 6 months
Home-use products that contain keratin are more budget friendly, but may not be as effective.
Talk to your doctor before you consider supplements. Vitamin supplements or biotin may help in some cases, but they can have serious side effects. A doctor can check whether you’re deficient in these substances, and prescribe a safe, effective dosage.
You can add a few drops of olive oil to the hair at night for extra conditioning. This makes your hair more manageable, shiny, and easy to comb.
