Hair care at home – dos and don’ts

“Wind in my hair, sun in my eyes…”

Been a while hasn’t it since you felt the wind in your hair - be it on one of those beautiful long drives a la Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, or even the shorter ones - like for those monthly salon visits. They feel like remnants of a rather different time where we almost didn’t value such luxuries enough. A hair care session complete with that feeling of getting your hair washed at the salon, the snip of a sharp pair of scissors followed by a relaxing head massage, and finally walking out with hair that looks and feels great – brings back fond memories, doesn’t it?

Let’s face it! We all want great hair. A good hairstyle – yes, but more importantly healthy hair that has a good texture, with no signs of dandruff, is less prone to breakage and doesn’t fall out at the slightest tug. Too many boxes to check? Perhaps that is one reason guys tend to prefer shorter, low-maintenance hairstyles.  But what if we told you hair care at home is as easy as it can get with a few basic dos and don’ts.

Move aside YouTube tutorials and DIY videos because we’ll help you catch the wind in your hair (maybe just off your balcony for the moment and not from the highway) with the right hair care tips – all while you’re home chilling on your couch.

Go easy on the hair wash

Gentle mate! It’s your hair, not a car wash. Wash your hair in gentle movements; don’t tug or pull at the roots while you’re shampooing. The roots of your hair are the weakest when wet, and the slightest bit of pull can cause more hair fall while washing it. Work in your shampoo in light circular motions while massaging your scalp to improve blood circulation. And do not, we repeat, do not use your nails to scratch and injure your scalp.

Read the damn label

Your current shampoo contains sulphates? You know what to do next; take it straight to the trash. While shopping for a shampoo make sure it contains no sulphates or parabens, which can mess with your hair care routine by stripping your hair of its moisture. Think frizzy brittle hair, easily susceptible to breakage, dry scalp and frequent hair loss.  

Follow up with a conditioner

A conditioner’s job is to replenish the essential oils lost from your hair while shampooing. Missing your conditioner when you’re running late for a meeting, or a Zoom call is okay but not conditioning every time you wash your hair is going to lead you into serious trouble. Short hair or long – adapt the conditioner into your hair wash ritual for a healthy hair care routine.

Dry your hair right

Vigorously rubbing your hair as soon as you’ve stepped out of the shower? A big no! Like we said, your hair is the weakest when wet, and aggressively rubbing it will only cause it to become frizzy and inevitably cause hair loss. A great hair care tip is to gently pat your hair dry with a towel and gently stroke it in the direction of natural hair growth. Also, skip the blow dryer and let your hair air dry.

Don’t rush to grab multifunctional products

Saw a recent ad about a facewash that doubles up as a bodywash and a shampoo? Don’t buy it, unless you are absolutely sure about its ingredients and their properties. Hair care needs a gentler approach, and a body or face wash can make your hair dry by causing it to lose its natural oils.

Trim your hair frequently

Get a haircut every 3-4 weeks to get rid of split ends and unruly edges. It makes your hair appear thicker, plus a fresh haircut gets noticed; even on Facetime or Zoom calls. Frequent haircuts also help do away with scraggly tufts of hair on the neck or the top of your ear.  

Hairstyling - but only the right way 

There is nothing wrong with using hairstyling products - but make sure you choose only the right ones. The ingredients & the amount of product - both are extremely important when it comes to hairstyling products. They are not a classic case of the more, the better! Again, for 101 hair care read the labels while buying, and be it clays, waxes, or gels, go for ones that are free of silicone polymers which can make your hair brittle on prolonged usage.

The Final Word

This might come off as a surprise but the most basic step to hair care is getting adequate shut-eye. Your body, and this includes your scalp, goes into repair mode while you hit the snooze button. Cells reproduce faster while you’re asleep, which means your hair is in growth mode. Need another reason to hit the sack early? You got it!