5 Essential Hair Care Practices for Healthy, Luscious Hair
1. Don’t let your hair air dry
It's not a piece of advice you often hear, but believe it or not, air-drying your hair can contribute to weakness and dryness. Contrary to popular belief, your hair is most vulnerable when it's wet and prone to damage.
When we let our hair air-dry, we expose it to prolonged moisture, which can weaken the strands and lead to dryness. The longer the hair stays damp, the more susceptible it becomes to breakage and other forms of damage.
Hair typically has a pH range of 4.5-5.5, making it acidic. Water has a pH of 7, making it more alkaline than hair. When hair comes into contact with water, it can swell by approximately 20%. Plus the Hydrogen bonds join together to make the hair much stronger when it's dry. The longer hair remains wet, the more it remains in its most vulnerable state.
To protect your hair and maintain its health, it's essential to take precautions even during drying. You can minimise the risk of weakening and drying out your hair by using a gentle heat or low setting on your blow dryer or opting for a microfiber towel to absorb excess moisture.
2. How often should you be washing your hair?
We've all heard that washing our hair every day is bad for us. The idea is to space out the washes to train our hair to be less greasy and healthier. However, the truth is that you can wash your hair as regularly as you want, as long as your using the right shampoos.
During the summer months, when heat and sweat are inevitable, with people often enjoying vacations by the beach/pool or frequent visits to the gym, it's natural for our hair to need washing more regularly.
When it comes to choosing the right shampoo, it's important to be mindful of the ingredients. INNOluxe offers a range of shampoos that are sulphate and sodium chloride (salt) free that prioritise the health of your hair. We now have more of an understanding that some hair care brands may be doing more harm than good for our hair, using chemicals and ingredients that ultimately damage our hair. We may be saving some pennies along the way but at what cost?
3. Use leave-in conditioners
Incorporating a leave-in conditioner into your hair care routine can work wonders for the health and appearance of your hair. Leave-in conditioners have become a popular hair care staple and for good reason. They offer a multitude of benefits, including detangling, moisturising, and heat protection.
With a wide range of formulas available to target specific needs, nearly every hair type can benefit from the wonders of leave-in conditioners. However, it's worth noting that dry, thick, and curly hair tends to experience the most transformative effects.
Our Elixir (a version of a leave-in conditioner, but taken to another level) is a powerful ally in the journey towards hair repair and strength. With regular use, INNOluxe’s formula helps rebuild damaged strands, strengthening them from within. By rebuilding the hair's structure, Elixir reduces the risk of breakage, leaving you with resilient, healthier-looking hair that can withstand daily stresses.
4. Add weekly masks to your hair routine
Hair masks are a game-changer when it comes to replenishing and nourishing your hair. These treatments work wonders in protecting and restoring your hair's keratin while strengthening the hair shaft with essential proteins.
Regularly treating your hair with a nourishing mask is one of the most effective ways to rehydrate, repair, and revitalise your hair. Masks work diligently to rebuild and fortify the hair's structure. Whether your hair is damaged from heat styling, environmental factors, or chemical treatments, a quality hair mask can help reverse the effects, promoting stronger, more resilient strands of hair. Plus, it gives you some well-deserved me time. Sit back and relax for 10 minutes while your hair mask does its thing.
Our #SAVED mask does just that. Infused with a potent blend of nourishing ingredients, #SAVED deeply penetrates hair strands, providing the essential nutrients they crave. This healthy action helps restore moisture balance, improving the overall health and strength of your hair. Bid farewell to dry, brittle strands and embrace the renewed vitality and resilience that #SAVED brings.
5. Shield your hair from sun damage
Summer is here, and while we're all excited for sun-soaked adventures, protecting our hair from the harmful effects of UV rays is essential. Just like our skin, our hair can suffer damage from prolonged exposure to the sun. Sun damage can lead to dryness, colour fading, brittleness, and even breakage. That's why it's crucial to take steps to shield our precious locks from the sun's rays.
A crucial tip to bear in mind while on vacation is to promptly rinse your hair immediately after swimming in the sea or a chlorinated pool. This is where a leave-in conditioner can prove invaluable; simply apply a generous amount to seal in essential moisture following these activities.
One of the easiest ways to protect your hair is by wearing a hat or scarf when you're out in the sun. You should also consider using hair products with built-in UV protection. These specially formulated products create a barrier that shields your hair from the damaging effects of the sun, preserving its health and vibrancy.
