The Ultimate Guide to Healthy Hair: Tips, Tricks, and Must-Have Products
By Kelsey Morey
If you want the hair of your dreams- maintaining healthy hair is key. From glossy strands to voluminous waves, the secrets to vibrant hair often lie in a combination of expert advice, time tested tricks, and high-quality products. Drawing from the insights of your favorite Stylists at Haus of Pretty, celebrity stylists and industry professionals, this will unveil the tips and must-have products that can transform your hair care routine.
Know your hair type, it is unique! Knowing your hair type will allow you to select the best products for a successful hair styling routine. To find your hair type, see this article that contains all the information you need in regards to identifying your hair type and what products to choose.
Stick with Hydrating Products
Celebrity stylist Chris McMillan, renowned for his work with Jennifer Aniston, emphasizes the importance of hydration for healthy hair. Hydrated hair is less prone to breakage and looks more vibrant. Incorporate moisturizing shampoos and conditioners into your routine, focusing on products enriched with ingredients like argan oil, coconut oil, or shea butter. Regular deep conditioning treatments, such as hair masks or leave-in conditioners, can also provide an extra boost of hydration.
Haus of Pretty Pro-tip: Limit use of volumizing products and reserve for special occasions. These types of products have a space in your routine, but used daily degrade hair color and cause minor damage usually in the form of dull-ness to the surface of your hair.
Must Have: Hydrating shampoo, like this one.
Take Care of Your Scalp
Healthy hair starts at the scalp. According to Rita Hazan, celebrity colorist to stars like Beyoncé and Katy Perry, maintaining a healthy scalp is crucial for promoting hair growth and vitality. Incorporate scalp treatments into your routine to nourish and revitalize the scalp, promoting healthier hair from the roots. Look for products containing ingredients like tea tree oil or salicylic acid to clarify the scalp and remove buildup.
Haus of Pretty Pro-tip: you can use bentonite clay or products containing charcoal added to any shampoo to balance and extract oils naturally.
Must Have: Activated charcoal powder for your scalp care routine, like this one. Here is an article that mentions 10 ways you can use this, including an exact recipe for creating a ‘Detoxifying Shampoo’ for your scalp. You’re welcome.
Avoid Heat Damage
Heat styling tools can be detrimental to hair health if not used properly. Renowned hairstylist Frederic Fekkai recommends minimizing heat damage by using heat protectant sprays before styling with hot tools. Opt for tools with adjustable heat settings and limit the frequency of heat styling to prevent excessive damage. Embrace air-drying methods whenever possible, allowing your hair to recover and maintain its natural moisture balance.
Haus of Pretty Pro-tip: Choose hot tools with tourmaline instead of ceramic. This coating offers more negative ions than ceramic which equals less frizz and more shine. There are even hot tools that claim to actually enhance your hair health, the product is called the Hairbeauron. It can be yours for the steep price of $650 USD. Better yet, just avoid using high heat on your hair altogether and you can’t go wrong. This is why we use Dyson products at the studio.
Must Have: Dyson Airwrap. You want the long version. There is a learning curve on this tool and you have to figure out the exact right combination of products to use it with, but it is a game changer for a daily routine. Knock offs just don’t cut it.
Regular Trims, Even when Growing Out Your Hair
Maintaining healthy hair involves regular trims to prevent split ends and breakage. Celebrity stylist Sally Hershberger advises scheduling trims every 6-8 weeks to keep your hair looking fresh and vibrant. Even if you're growing out your hair, consistent trims help maintain its overall health and appearance.
Haus of Pretty Pro-tip: While getting trims every 6-8 weeks is great, it may not allow you to take advantage of the rate your hair Grows. Once to three times a year is enough to cut off split ends, reshape to avoid tangles and keep your length going. Your hair generally grows at a rate of half an inch per month, so make sure you are requesting ‘eyelash length’, or 1/4 inch trims to maintain your progress. You can also add a protective oil to your ends to help prevent splits from starting or going on an uninvited vacation up your hair shaft.
Must Have: Split end oil. We like Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil and use this in the studio. You can purchase here.
Invest in Quality Products
Quality hair care products can make a significant difference in the health and appearance of your hair. Celebrity hairstylist Serge Normant, whose clients include Julia Roberts and Sarah Jessica Parker, stresses the importance of investing in high-quality shampoos, conditioners, and styling products. Look for products free from harsh chemicals like sulfates and parabens, opting instead for formulas enriched with nourishing ingredients that support hair health. Unfortunately, lower-priced products must cut corners somewhere, and as such add things like silicone and other ingredients that boost the shelf life but degrade any benefit from the star ingredients.
Haus of Pretty Pro-tip: Our line of shampoos and conditioners are small batch and ultra high quality formulations that offer numerous benefits to your hair. Including the fact that it will not strip your hair and leave it feeling like straw before you add conditioner. That is a telltale sign that your shampoo is doing you a major disservice. Are we biased? Absolutely, we love our product and went to great lengths to provide a mega-awesome product just for you. Our shampoo still suds up like a normal sulfate-shampoo and smells amazing with the addition of natural essential oils and fragrance extracts. Our shampoos offer a nostalgic feeling that we have loved since the launch of the Britney Spears Herbal Essences commercials. 90’s babies, you know what I’m talking about!
Must Have: Haus of Pretty Shampoos and Conditioners, linked here.
Achieving and maintaining healthy hair requires a combination of knowledge, diligence, and the right products. By incorporating the tips and tricks shared by celebrity stylists into your hair care routine, you can nourish your locks from root to tip and achieve the vibrant, luscious hair you've always desired. Remember, consistency and care are key ingredients on the journey to healthy, beautiful hair, and your friends at Haus of Pretty are here to help you get there!
Xx
Kelsey
Sources:
Hazan, Rita. "The Importance of Scalp Care for Healthy Hair." Allure, www.allure.com/story/scalp-care-for-healthy-hair
Fekkai, Frederic. "How to Minimize Heat Damage to Your Hair." Vogue, www.vogue.com/article/frederic-fekkai-tips-how-to-minimize-heat-damage-to-hair
Hershberger, Sally. "The Importance of Regular Trims for Healthy Hair." Harper's Bazaar, www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/hair/a21764/the-importance-of-regular-trims-for-healthy-hair/
Normant, Serge. "The Secret to Healthy Hair: Tips from Celebrity Hairstylist Serge Normant." Byrdie, www.byrdie.com/serge-normant-hair-tips