Having healthy hair makes us feel like the best version of ourselves. Effortlessly glossy, silky, and shiny locks begin with the overall health of your hair, and end with the products you use and steps you take to nourish and protect it.
With the right hair care habits, you can achieve healthier, beautiful hair that shines from root to tip. Read on for our expert tips that truly, genuinely, work – trust us, they’re straight from the playbook of our salon’s hair experts. Bonus: they’re quick, simple and easy to implement into your hair care routine.
Before diving into our salon’s key tips, it’s crucial to determine the health of your locks. Here are the subtle signs that reveal the true condition of your hair and so that you can give it the care it deserves.
How to tell if your hair is healthy
- Texture Talk: Healthy hair should feel smooth, soft, and silky. When you run your fingers through it, it should glide easily and feel sleek. On the other hand, damaged hair often feels rough, coarse, and brittle.
- Bounce Back: Gently pull on a strand of your hair. Does it bounce back with resilience? If it does, your hair is healthy! This flexibility is a strong indicator of your hair’s overall well-being, demonstrating its ability to withstand styling without breaking easily.
- Split ends Scan: Are split ends and frayed tips a common sight in your hair? If so, it’s a sign that your hair needs care and attention. Addressing these split ends promptly is crucial for maintaining the overall health and appearance of your hair. Regular trims are essential to prevent split ends from traveling up the hair shaft and causing further damage.
| Healthy Hair Signs | Unhealthy Hair Signs |
| Minimal shedding | Sheds a lot when hair is combed |
| Hair does not break when brushed | Strands break at mid-shaft |
| Reflects light and has sheen and lustre | Dull and limp hair |
| Easy to detangle; feels moisturised | Hard to detangle; drier than normal hair |
| Scalp does not have dandruff | Scalp has dandruff, and visible bald spots. |
If you’ve been struggling with dull, damaged, or lifeless hair, here are some tips on how you can boost the health of your hair and give your hair that ‘glass-like’ shine that’s currently trending all over Instagram and Tik Tok. Below, our NK Hairworks stylists share their top tips on how to achieve healthier, stronger, and shinier hair.
- Take a personal approach to your hair wash routine
- Deep condition regularly
- Remove product and environmental buildup on your scalp
- Protect your hair from the sun
- Trim regularly
- Eat a balanced diet
- Try a hair oil treatment
- Brush daily
- Be gentle when towel drying
- Focus on your ends
- Take care of your scalp too
1. Take a personal approach to your hair wash routine
When browsing through hair care products at the store or at our salons, you’ll likely see a range of products catering to various hair types and concerns. Far from mere gimmicks, these products are highly specialised and can make a tangible difference in your hair.
Tailoring your approach based on differences in hair wash routines and product selection is key. For instance, while someone with curly or dry hair might prioritise adding moisture, an individual with oily hair may opt for a clarifying shampoo to remove excess oil and build-up from the scalp. Someone with oilier scalp may choose to wash their hair everyday, while someone with a drier scalp can afford to wash their hair on every other day. Whether your hair is colour-treated, or you’re dealing with dandruff, understanding your hair type and its unique needs is essential for achieving healthy hair.
Here’s a special tip from our salon: our stylists recommend using two types of shampoos — one for your scalp and one for your hair. Both shampoos should address your specific scalp and hair concerns, tailored to your individual scalp and hair type. Thoroughly cleansing your scalp is crucial to remove dirt, oil, and product buildup. Don’t forget to condition your hair to restore moisture, prevent dryness, and reduce static electricity. Choose a conditioner that suits your hair type. If you invest in hair products that are specifically tailored to your hair type, you’ll notice a significant difference in the look and feel of your hair.
2. Deep condition regularly
Contrary to popular belief, achieving shiny hair doesn’t always require double conditioning or using a heavy in-shower conditioner. In fact, heavy conditioners can sometimes leave your hair looking dull and weighed down.
Instead, consider incorporating targeted leave-in treatments like oils, serums, mists, and sprays into your routine to moisturize and smooth the hair cuticles. For added nourishment, treat your hair to deep conditioning treatments such as a hair mask or deep conditioner to replenish moisture, mend damage, and enhance shine. Our salon’s stylists recommend using a hair mask at least once a week, but using it more frequently can yield even better results.
3. Remove product and environmental buildup on your scalp
Scalp buildup can result from a combination of factors: natural processes like scalp oil production and skin cell shedding, environmental elements such as hair products, airborne pollution, pollen, and tobacco, as well as leftover residue from styling products. Over time, this accumulation can obstruct hair follicles, impeding hair growth, diminishing natural shine, and weighing down strands, leading to a heavy feeling in the hair.
To maintain a clean and healthy scalp, consider the following steps:
- Use a clarifying shampoo: Using a clarifying shampoo deeply cleanses the hair and removes buildup. Pairing it with a scalp brush featuring gentle bristles during shampooing aids in physically exfoliating the scalp to facilitate the removal of buildup.
- Regular scalp exfoliation: Just like the skin on the rest of your body, your scalp benefits from exfoliation to eliminate accumulated dead skin cells from the pores. Consider using a scalp scrub or exfoliating product after shampooing, or visit one of our salons for a specialised scalp treatment.
- Massage your scalp: During shampooing, use your fingertips to massage the scalp gently, aiming to physically dislodge buildup. Be mindful to use your finger pads rather than your nails to prevent irritation.
4. Protect your hair from the sun
Just as UV rays can harm your skin, they can also inflict serious damage on your hair, resulting in dryness, brittleness, premature greying, and oxidative stress in the scalp, which can lead to inflammation and damage to hair follicles. Protect your strands from these harmful effects by wearing a hat or using a UV-protective hair product. This not only safeguards your scalp from sunburn, but also maintains the health and vibrancy of your hair.
5. Trim regularly
Regular trims are vital for maintaining healthy hair. Split ends can travel up the shaft, weakening the hair and exposing it to moisture loss and tangling. By eliminating split ends, trimming prevents them from progressing up the hair shaft and causing further damage. Aim to schedule a trim every 6-8 weeks to keep your hair looking fresh and prevent breakage.
The same principle applies if you’re trying to grow your hair out. While you may be tempted to skip a trim, regular reshaping and trimming help keep your hair strong and healthy throughout the growth process, preventing it from becoming brittle and thin.
6. Eat a balanced diet
Did you know that your diet has a significant impact on the health of your hair? Nutrition plays a crucial role in maintaining strong and vibrant hair. If your body is not in optimal health, your hair may be one of the first indicators that something is amiss. To promote hair growth and strengthen the hair shaft, incorporate a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats into your diet. Factors such as crash dieting, anemia, and hormone imbalances can all negatively affect hair growth, texture, length, and sheen.
Key vitamins and nutrients for healthy hair include:
- Biotin
- Iron
- Zinc
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Protein
- Healthy fats (like omega-3 fatty acids)
7. Try a hair oil treatment
Damaged hair strands start to break and lose their ability to reflect light properly. Applying hair oils is the fastest way to boost hydration levels and repair existing damage. Hair oils help close the hair cuticle, ensuring it is smooth and naturally shiny.
Using hair oil a couple of times a week is ideal for maintaining shine and health. To apply oil, warm a small amount in the palm of your hands, then distribute it from the roots to the tips. Typically, it’s best to apply oil to dry hair for better absorption and even distribution. Our salon’s experienced stylists also recommend starting with a small amount, especially if you have fine hair, as it can quickly become oily and even drier with excessive use.
Run the hair oil through your ends and use a warm blow dryer to set the shine. Leave the oil in for a few hours or overnight, covering your hair with a towel or shower cap, to achieve glossy, nourished locks.
8. Brush daily
Regular brushing not prevents knots but also distributes natural oils from the scalp down the strand. Well-moisturised hair is less likely to tangle, and the natural oils produced by the sebaceous glands effectively keep the scalp moisturised. Using a boar bristle brush daily can evenly distribute these oils from the scalp to the ends, closing the hair cuticle and enhancing shine.
It’s crucial to use the right kind of hairbrush for your specific hair type and texture. For fine hair, a soft boar bristle brush is ideal as it detangles without pulling or causing damage. For coarse hair, a brush with nylon bristles is best, as these bristles are stronger and stiffer, making them more effective for brushing through thicker textures. For medium textured and curly hair, use a mixed bristle brush that combines both types of bristles. Our stylists can help you find the best brush for your hair type.
Although it might be tempting to brush out every last tangle, excessive brushing can be harmful, especially if done with force. To prevent breakage, brush gently and consider using a wide-tooth comb with smooth prongs for detangling before brushing. For long hair, hold the lower portion of your hair as you carefully brush through the ends. Gradually move your hand up and continue brushing below your hand to avoid pulling and breakage.
9. Be gentle when towel drying
When drying your hair with a towel, avoid vigorous rubbing, as this can roughen the hair cuticles, causing friction and breakage. Instead, gently squeeze out excess water and pat your hair dry with a soft towel from top to bottom to prevent damaging the strands.
10. Focus on your ends
Dry ends don’t just look bad, they can also cause breakage and split ends. To revitalise your locks, focus on giving your dry ends extra care and nourishment. Consider using specialised hair serums designed to provide intense moisture and essential nutrients to your parched and brittle ends. With regular trimming and treatment, you can expect healthier, shinier hair that makes you feel more confident.
11. Take care of your scalp too
While often overlooked, the scalp’s condition is crucial for the overall health of your hair. Regularly cleansing your scalp and maintaining its hydration and balance create an optimal environment for lustrous, soft, and healthy hair to thrive. Scalp massages further enhance blood flow to the hair follicles, promoting growth and overall scalp health. Dedicate a few minutes each day to massaging your scalp in circular motions with your fingertips.
Introducing scalp care treatments can nourish your hair from roots to tips while clarifying your scalp to remove buildup. Our scalp treatments feature high-quality products infused with essential vitamins, offering moisture to dry scalps. With a relaxing scalp massage and thorough scalp cleansing techniques, our treatments lay the groundwork for new, healthy hair growth.
Book an Appointment at NK Hairworks
At NK Hairworks, we provide specialised treatments that enhance your daily hair care regimen, giving your hair the extra care it deserves.
By incorporating these expert tips into your daily luxury hair care routine, you can ensure your hair is in optimal condition. It’s not just about looking good; it’s about feeling your best every single day. Embark on your journey towards your best hair ever with these essential tips. For further information, our hair experts at NK Hairworks are here to assist you.
Book an appointment today, and let us help you achieve your best hair ever!