How to Make Sure Your Hair is the Best it can be!

(Written by Lauren, TCU Intern) With it being so dry and cold outside, the winter months seem to take a toll on our hair. Hair can be full of static and get dried out easily in the winter months, and we know that dry, brittle hair can lead to breakage and of course, dreaded split ends. Here are a few tips to get you through the next few months of cold, and transform your hair year-round!

1. Coconut oil: I’ve been using coconut oil as a deep-conditioning treatment for several years now and the difference is noticeable. It helps your hair grow thick, long, and strong. Plus, it smells amazing! You can buy coconut oil at your local grocery store (I get mine at Trader Joe’s).  Typically, it comes in a jar as a solid. I spoon some of the oil out and put it in a mug and stick in the microwave to melt it back down to a liquid. Then, I apply the oil all over my head, concentrating on my roots. After my hair is coated with the oil, I let it sit for about an hour. After an hour, simply shampoo it out! Since you want to make sure there is no leftover oil, I usually shampoo my hair twice afterwards. Once you do this process a few times, you can start your own routine according to your hair type.
2. Brushes v. Combs: To help with breakage, use a wide-toothed comb while your hair is wet and a brush when your hair is dry. Wide-tooth combs help evenly distribute any conditioner or product you may put in your hair after the shower, and also helps with detangling. Brushing your hair while it’s dry is so important because it massages your scalp as you brush, stimulating hair follicles to grow more hair.
3. Use a silk pillowcase: Silk pillowcases have been found to be beneficial for many reasons, but are especially helpful in creating naturally silky hair. Most of us use cotton pillowcases, a fabric that can create friction between your hair and the pillow. This leads to waking up with static-filled and dry hair. Silk is a much slipperier fabric and therefore there is little friction happening between your hair and pillow. The result is naturally soft, static-free hair!
4. Washing your hair: If you can help it, try not washing your hair every day. There are a few reasons that this is so beneficial. First of all, some shampoo can strip your hair of its natural oils and actually make your hair drier. Or worse, it can send the oil glands in your scalp to go into over-drive since they don’t think your hair has enough oil, leaving you with greasy hair. Secondly, your hair is weaker when it’s wet. So, the more your hair is wet, the more susceptible it is to breakage. When you do wash your hair, look for shampoo that is sulfate-free, meaning it doesn’t contain such harsh chemicals. If you color your hair, make sure to use shampoo that is safe for color-treated hair to ensure your color lasts long and stays vibrant! Afraid to make the switch? I had an extremely oily scalp but decided a little over a year ago to start washing my hair only every-other-day. It took about 6 months for my hair to adjust to not being washed every day, but eventually my scalp’s oil levels adjusted and I can easily go two days without washing and still have non-greasy looking hair. Another product that really helps out during non-wash days is dry shampoo. This can be found at stores like Ulta or even your grocery store or drugstore. It leaves hair looking refreshed and smelling great!
5. Vitamins: There are several vitamins out there that can help boost the health of your hair. Vitamin stores have multi-vitamins for women that help hair, nail and skin health that work great. Personally, I take Biotin and Vitamin B-12, both of which have proved helpful in growing long and healthy hair and are good for nervous system health.

Do you have any helpful tips? Email us at image@stoltzimage.com and you could be featured right here on our blog!