How to Properly Take Care of Your Hair

Take a second to think about everything you do to your hair.

Shampoo, conditioner, dry shampoo, hair spray, texture spray, mousse… Now think about all of the heat you apply to it- straighteners, blow dryer, curling iron… And if you dye your hair, that’s a lot of chemicals.

All of that can really take a toll, not just on your hair, but your scalp as well! Did you know you’re supposed to be treating your scalp like you would the skin on your face? Bottom line: a healthy scalp = healthy hair!

Keep scrolling to read some tips to keep your scalp healthy and your hair gorgeous!

1. Exfoliate your Scalp

So you exfoliate your face, your body, even your feet, and hands- but when was the last time you exfoliated your scalp? All of that product and oil build-up can be seriously clogging you up. The CINCteam and I love the Ouai Scalp & Body Scrub and the Christophe Robin Cleansing & Volumizing Paste. It might seem a little counterintuitive to put something grainy onto your head, but you’ll be so amazed at how much lighter and cleaner your hair feels afterward! Just work it into your scalp and rinse it out. As for the order, I’d shampoo, then Scalp Scrub, then condition but if you’re using the Cleansing and Volumizing paste, you can actually use that as your shampoo!

This is especially important if you dye your hair!

2. You’re Probably Washing Your Hair Wrong

So there’s a pretty big chance your washing your hair all wrong. First of all, you should definitely not be washing your hair every day. Shoot for 2 to 3 times a week. And when you do wash your hair, you should only be applying shampoo to your roots, not through the length of your hair and massage your scalp. When conditioning, only apply the product on the ends of your hair and not your scalp.

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3. Say Yes to Oils

Hair oils are a great product to have in your hair arsenal. They make your locks look extra shiny and give curly or wavy hair an extra boost and tame frizz! They’re even great for styling- think taming fly-aways and getting the sleekest pony tails. Of course, a little goes a long way! I love using a few drops of either the Rodin Hair Oil or the Ouai Hair oil to work through the ends of my damp hair.

Another great way to use hair oil is to use it kind of like a hair mask! This one from Christophe Robin is specifically designed to be used pre-shampoo treatment. You put it all over your hairline and the ends of your hair and leave it in either overnight or for about an hour before you wash your hair, then wash it out as you normally would! It gets your hair super moisturized and helps repair it from heat damage + pollution.

4. Massage your Scalp

Not only does it feel good, but a good scalp massage helps get your blood circulating in your scalp to promote hair growth! It also helps strengthen the roots of your hair AND helps promote better sleep. So, even if you’re not washing your hair that night, give yourself a little two-minute scalp massage before you get some shut eye. You’ll be amazed at how relaxed you’ll feel!

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5. Lay off the Dry Shampoo

Dry shampoo is a magical product that is pretty much life changing, right? But there can be too much of a good thing. While dry shampoo is great as a quick fix- all of that product build up is not good for your scalp or your hair. Think about it this way- would you go to sleep with makeup on and then pile on MORE makeup when you wake up the next morning? Didn’t think so.

6. Brush your Hair when it’s Dry

Yep, you read that right. Brush your hair when it’s dry, not when it’s wet. When your hair is wet it gets a lot more pliable and therefore it can stretch easier. So if you brush it out when it’s wet, your hair can stretch and break! Instead, brush your hair before you wash it. Start from the ends and work your way up!

Photography by Karla Ticas