The Ultimate Hair Care Guide 

We all dream about having luscious, healthy hair. But with so many different products, trends, and styles out there, it can be a daunting task. However, there are some essential rules to follow based on your hair type, as well as some essential steps that everyone should take to ensure healthier, sleeker hair. Let’s take a look at how anyone can achieve great hair with a little bit of patience and care. 

Know Your Hair Type 

The most important factor in how to care for your hair is to understand your hair type. This will influence everything from the way you care for it to the products you should buy. 

• Straight Hair 
  Straight hair is usually finer and has more natural oils than other hair types. The oils mean it can get greasy much easier than other types of hair. 

• Wavy Hair 
  With loose, S-shaped strands, wavy hair is prone to frizz and varies in oiliness from person to person. 

• Curly Hair 
  This ranges from tight curls to looser ringlets. Curly hair often needs extra moisture because it is prone to dryness.  

• Coily Hair: 
  Coily hair has tight zigzag curls and spirals. This is the driest type of hair, and it often requires very deep conditioning to keep it healthy. 

Hair Porosity 

Porosity is a measurement of how well your hair can absorb moisture. This is something to consider when you are hair care products. 

• Low Porosity 
  Hair with low porosity will struggle to absorb moisture and generally needs lighter products. 

• Medium Porosity 
  This is the sweet spot. If you have medium porosity hair it is easier to maintain, and you don’t need to be as careful about which products you use. 

• High Porosity 
  High porosity hair loses moisture easily and requires heavier products to maintain its condition. 

You can test your hair’s porosity by using the float test. 

• Get a few strands of clean hair with no product on them. 

• Fill a glass with room temperature water. 

• Drop the hair strands into the water and wait a few minutes. 

Low porosity hair will float to the top, medium porosity hair will sink slowly, and high porosity hair will sink quickly. 

The Essential Hair Care Routine 

Your perfect hair care routine will vary depending on your hair type and the condition of your scalp. However, there are some guidelines to follow which will help keep your hair in good condition. I’ve segmented these suggestions by hair type. 

1. Washing 
   Always choose a hair and conditioner that is suited to your hair type, otherwise your hair may end up much drier or much oilier than you want it to be. 
   Shampoo and Conditioner For Low Porosity 
   For low porosity hair, I like to go for Shea Moisture Shampoo and Shea Moisture Conditioner. These are with baobab and tea-tree oil and are a great choice for hair which is resistant to moisture. 
   You should wash your hair less often if it is low porosity as you don’t want to strip it of natural oils. 
   Shampoo and Conditioner For Medium Porosity 
   Those lucky enough to have medium porosity hair don’t need to worry as much about which products they use, so I recommend treating yourself and getting something that feels luxurious to use. Recently I’ve been enjoying using the Vivid Tones Vibrancy Shampoo from Curlsmith. It’s a vegan shampoo and has no sulphates in it. It feels lovely of my scalp. I follow it up with an Argan Oil Conditioner from HASK – I like that it’s safe to use with coloured hair as I’m often trying out different colours for this blog so having a conditioner that’s safe to use with coloured hair is a must for me. 
   Shampoo and Conditioner For High Porosity 
   High porosity hair needs products which will replenish moisture and substitute for the natural oils that it lacks. My recommendation would be the Catwalk Shampoo and Conditioner from TIGI. My friends with dry hair say that this has been a real life saver for them, the oatmeal and honey extracts in it really help to bring life back to porous, dry hair. 

2. Deep Conditioning 
   Once a week I like to use a deep conditioning hair mask. This can help to repair damaged hair and it an absolute must if you are regularly blasting your hair with products and styling tools. My go-to recommendation is the Shea Moisture Superfruit Complex 10-in-1 Multi-Benefit Hair Treatment Mask. It’s certainly helped bring my hair back from the brink a few times. This one is designed for all hair types, but you can find alternatives specifically suited to your hair porosity. 

3. Protectant 
   If you use a lot of styling tools like straighteners, dryers, or curlers, you should apply a protectant to help prevent damage to your hair. I use Schwarzkopf Styling Keratin Heat Protection Hair Spray to help protect my hair before I blast it! You won’t notice the difference straight away but over time using a protectant will lead to your hair recovering quicker from the damage that styling it can do. 

Beyond the Basics: Haircare Power-Ups 

As well as the steps listed above that form my hair care routine, there are some extras which provide even more care and protection. These aren’t technically “essential”, but they are to me! 

• Scalp Massage: 
  I massage my scalp at least once a week to promote blood flow and boost hair growth. 

• Diet & Supplements: 
  I take omega 3 supplements and Viviscal Hair Supplement For Women to promote healthy hair. 

• Pillowcases 
  If your hair is prone to breakage or frizz, using a silk or satin pillowcase can help to reduce friction, and more importantly I like how they feel! 😊 

• Mixing Up Styles 
  If you regularly wear your hair in a tight style, it is good to occasionally take a few days off from this to reduce tension on your scalp and give your hair time to recover. 

Hair Concern Troubleshooting

These are my go-to quick fixes for common hair problems. 

• Dryness 
  Use a deep conditioner hair mask or a leave-in overnight treatment. Products which contain honey, oat milk, and glycerin are your friends. 

• Frizz 
  Use hair oil to lock in moisture and use anti-humidity products which contain silicone to reduce frizz. 

• Dandruff 
  If you have persistent dandruff then you should see a dermatologist, but tea tree oil treatments can help with breakouts of dandruff. 

• Thinning 
  Gentle volumizing products can help with thinning hair, but persistently thinning hair can also be a sign of underlying problems such as stress or menopause. 

The Takeaway 

You should think of healthy hair as a journey, not a destination. There will be trial and error involved in finding the right products and routine for your hair and you should remember that your hair will change over the course of your life. When I was in my late teens I had terrible dandruff, but my mid-20s it had totally recovered. 

I hope these tips have been useful for you and give you a starting point for improving your hair care routine. Let me know if you’d like more specific hair care recommendations or have any other questions!