How to Keep Your Hair Moisturized and Healthy

Summer heat can often mean dried-out and damaged hair. If you want to keep your hair sleek, shiny, and healthy during the warmer months ahead, we’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks to help you maintain healthy, hydrated hair.

Healthy Hair Starts on the Inside

The saying is really true that you are what you eat, and your hair is no exception. Hair is made up mostly of protein, so consuming adequate protein is vital. Foods like meat, fish, and eggs are high in protein. If you don’t consume animal products, beans, and lentils are a great source of protein. Aside from protein, your hair needs Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, and iron to grow strong and healthy, so make sure to eat foods that are rich in these nutrients. Leafy greens are a great source of iron. If hair hydration and health products have not been working for you, a healthy diet might be the missing piece you need. Stress and lack of sleep can also be key factors in the health of your hair, so aim to reduce stress and increase rest.

What Causes Damage?

We all know that overusing heated styling tools can damage your hair. But did you know that UV rays, and even summer heat, can be drying and damaging to your hair? If you spend a lot of time in the sun, consider throwing on a hat or purchasing a sun protectant product. If you use heated styling tools like curling irons, flat irons, or even a blow dryer, consider switching to ceramic. Ceramic heating tools distribute heat much more evenly, to prevent spots of heat damage. Always use a heat-protectant product when styling.

Hair can also be damaged by friction. Cotton pillowcases can be damaging to hair because of the friction they have with your hair while you sleep. Switch to a silk pillowcase to limit the amount of friction on your hair at night. Silk does not grip your hair the way cotton does, and protects it from contact damage.

Keeping Hair Moisturized

In order for your hair to maintain its health and vitality, it needs moisture. Moisture comes from water, not oils, but the oils help to seal in the water. Use shampoos and conditioners specifically formulated for hydration. Make sure to choose shampoos that don’t have sulfates – they can be really damaging to your hair. Try adjusting your hair-washing schedule. Creating longer gaps between washes can give your hair the break it needs in order to produce the natural oils that are vital to hair health.

If you need deep hydration, try using a deep treatment hair mask about once a week. Be sure to allow the hair mask to process for the full length of time specified on the packaging, in order to get the full effect.

After infusing water into the hair, oils will be your best friend for holding onto that hydration. Oils are great for holding moisture in and keeping damaging elements out. Oils like coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, and argan oil drive nutrients into the hair while locking in hydration and giving hair a glossy sheen. Hair oils are best used a couple of times per week, and should always be used as a very last step in your hair care process. Oils keep moisture in, but can also keep moisture out, so it is important not to put them on before hydrating the hair. If your hair needs a total reboot, a hot oil treatment can soften and moisturize hair.

Anna’s Salon Elite is your one-stop shop for hair moisturizing treatments and products. Our Salon is located at 2616 Brodhead Road, Aliquippa, PA. To book an appointment, call 724-375-8511 or book online. Browse our services, shop online, purchase gift cards, and more on our website.