#1. When to cut?

Your hair grows (on average) about 1,2cm every four weeks. How frequently you need to cut it for it to look fresh and healthy depends on how much you put your hair through, it’s current length and your goal length.
 
If you're trying to grow your hair out then cut it every 12 weeks. Don't push it because the longer you wait the more fragile your hair becomes and the more you'll have to hack off.
 
If your hair's current length suits you just fine then get a trim every six to eight weeks to keep it looking just the way you like it. If your hair is chemically processed or you use a lot of heat when styling then you’ll need to cut your hair more regularly.
 
Read More: How to Choose the Best Hairstyle to Perfectly Suit Your Face Shape

#2. Read the ingredients

If your hair is damaged look for shampoo and conditioner labels that say things like ‘strengthening’, ‘repairing’ or ‘anti-breakage’. Good ingredients to add moisture to your hair include aloe vera and shea butter.
 
To repair and combat damage look for products that contain Keratin or argan oil, which are both great for providing protein.
 
Our product picks: CHI Argan Oil Shampoo, Schwarzkopf Gliss Total Repair Shampoo, Marc Anthony Deep Repair Aloe Vera Jasmine Conditioner, Nu Hair Protein Booster Shampoo and Nu Hair Protein Booster Conditioner.

#3. Don’t wash too often

The more you wash your hair the weaker you make your hair shafts. This leads to breakage and splitting, making your hair look and feel unhealthy. Washing every two to three days is ideal.
 
Don’t wait too long between washes though to avoid hair looking dull and weighed-down. You might need a good dry shampoo (like Marc Anthony Coconut Clear Dry Shampoo) to spritz away any oiliness in between, but after a while your hair will thank you for easing up on the constant shampooing and stop producing so much oil.

#4. Pat, don’t rub

It’s easy to give your head a vigorous rub with your towel to speed up the drying process, especially when you’re in a rush. But this causes friction, which means dry and frizzy hair.
 
To get healthier-looking hair (i.e. glossy and sleek) try gently patting your hair instead of rubbing it. Better yet use a less rough piece of fabric, like a t-shirt or a cotton sarong, to dry off instead.

#5. Start from the inside out

Your hair is part of your body so obviously what you put in your body will have an effect on it. To get healthy hair you need to start with a healthy scalp.
 
Omega-3s and iron are the secret to this so start taking these supplements as well as upping your protein (your hair is made of a protein called keratin). The results will take about 6 to 12 weeks to be visible but it’s so worth it in the long run.
 
While the research results are inconclusive, there are some signs that Biotin, or Vitamin B7, can also promote healthy hair growth.
 
Read More: 7 Easy Ways Guaranteed to Help You Get Longer, Stronger Hair

#6. Protect your hair from the sun

Just like your skin, your hair can take a real beating from the sun’s rays. Wear hats or headscarves as much as you can to keep your hair safe from the elements. Otherwise look for a leave-in cream that will protect your hair from UV rays.
 
Read More: How to Banish Frizzy Hair When It’s Beyond Humid

#7. Change your pillowcase

Silk pillowcases are recommended not only for decreasing your face wrinkles but also for your hair’s health. The smooth surface means less friction, so your hair is less likely to break and frizz out while you sleep. No more bed-head!

#8. Treat your hair to a treatment every week

While using a good shampoo and conditioner every other day is important, you need to do a little something extra if you want to up the oomph of your hair.
 
Treat your hair to an intense hair mask once a week. The extra thick and luxurious ingredients coat your hair strands making it look like you’ve just had a professional treatment in the salon.
 
Leave it on for at least 20 minutes, or keep it on overnight for a super intense treatment. Look for nourishing and strengthening ingredients like coconut or argan oil. We like Argan Oil Hydrating Hair Mask and Black Chic Hair Food Coconut.

#9. Use a split-end product

Split ends are one of the most common indicators of unhealthy hair. When the ends of your hair get super dry they literally split and leave you with not-so-sleek tresses.
 
The only real cure for split ends is a good trim but you can use special split end treatments to seal them temporarily (while you muster up the strength to get the chop). We recommend ghd Advanced Split End Therapy and Redken Extreme Length Sealer Split End Treatment.

#10. Upgrade your tools

Make sure that what you use to blast heat onto your hair every other day is of good quality. If you’ve got a cheap hairdryer it takes much longer to dry your hair, meaning more time for your hair being exposed to heat.
 
The same goes for straighteners and curlers. They’re worth the splurge because you will only need to go over each section of hair once. And, of course, don’t forget the heat protectant spray.
 
Also, be sure to use the nozzle attachments that come with your hairdryer. They distance your hair from the super hot metal coils at the mouth of the dryer. They also concentrate the blast of heat, so that only the section you’re working on is being affected, not your whole head.
 
We recommend the Wahl Cutek 2000 Professional Hair Dryer and TRESemmé Salon Professional Ceramic Styler 230 24mm.

Read More: 19 Things You Need to Know When You Use a Hair Straightener

#11. Brush it right

Brushing through knots feels good and makes your hair look better but the way you brush and the tools you use could actually be doing more damage.
If your hair is wet it’s ideal to use a thick-toothed comb while your conditioner is still in. Otherwise be sure to use brushes with little balls on the ends of the bristles (these are less harsh on your hair) and look for flexible bristles.
 
Stay away from metal ones if you’re heat styling as they heat up so fast that they can burn your cuticle.
 
We recommend Cala’s Bamboo Square Hair Brush and Denman’s Freestyle Thermal Hair Brush Round Medium.

 

Want to know the best care routine for your specific hair concern? Whether your hair is damaged, frizzy, limp, or flaky, Allure has the inside story on how to wash your way to healthier and glossier locks...