We might be halfway through January, but it’s never too late to create some goals for healthy hair. We’ve created a list of our top hair-solutions for 2014. Feel free to tweet us (@truelove_hair) or Facebook us (Facebook.com/truelovehair) with more advice to add to our list!
1. Good hair = healthy hair
Most of us were raised with the concept of ‘good hair vs bad hair’, but 2014 is the time to leave those hang ups in the past and understand that the only good hair is healthy hair! Commit to taking care of your hair and loving it, whether you relax it, wear it natural or wear weaves or wigs.
2. Switch to sulphate-free shampoo
If there’s one simple change you can make to promote healthier hair, this is it. Sulphates in normal shampoo give your hair that squeaky-clean feeling, but they also strip your hair of natural oils, which just makes it even dryer. Sulphate-free shampoos clean your hair, but are gentler. If you struggle with dry hair (who doesn’t?), this will work for you. Here are a few sulphate-free shampoos to try: The Body Shop Rainforest Shampoo (The Body Shop); Curl Care by Dr Miracles Rehydrating Shampoo (Clicks) and Enchantrix Family Shampoo (Dischem).
3. Learn to deep condition or treat your hair at home
You don’t have to hit the salon every time you feel like your hair needs pampering. If you’re dealing with damage and dryness, you can do an at-home treatment every weekend (or whenever you wash your hair). ClickHERE to read more on how to do an at-home treatment.
4. Limit heat-styling
This is a hard habit to break, but try to limit how much heat you expose your hair to. Heat from hairdryers, curling tongs and flat irons can severely damage your strands. Try to opt for other styling options such as braids or plaits.
5. Be gentle with weaves, braids or extensions
If you love your weaves or extensions or braids, make a commitment to be gentler on your strands. Long box braids can damage your hair and hairline just as much as any other severe styling. Be careful who you go to and how they handle your hair when you get a weave. Extensions can hide a multitude of hair sins, but there’s still hair under that hair piece!
6. Relax properly
This is the year to follow the instructions on the box! If you love getting a relaxer, be sure to do it the correct way. Not following instructions can lead to damaging your fragile strands and loads of breakage. Relax your hair every six weeks and only touch up the roots – relaxing already relaxed hair leads to breakage.
7. Rehab your hairline
Has your hairline gone missing? You can get it back! Click on this linkHERE to learn how to take better care of your edges.
8. Commit to feeding your hair from the inside
What you put into your body is just as essential to hair health as what products you use. Living a healthy lifestyle, eating better and drinking more water will affect the quality of your hair – for the better. Certain supplements (learn more about them HERE) can also help you grow stronger and longer hair.
9. Break up with that bad hairstylist
Now’s the time to break up with your bad hairstylist! If they don’t respect your hair, are never on time for appointments, deliver shoddy service, go see someone else! Life’s too short to spend money on a bad hairdresser.
10. Use TRUE LOVE Hair to chronicle your hair journey
Log on to TRUE LOVE Hair every week and show us your hair progress by posting pictures and letting us know what you’re doing differently with your hair in 2014.
