TCHD's Guide To Healthier Hair

We all desire longer, stronger, and healthier hair. But how many of us actually get to the hair length we desire? I will give you the best tips I can to help you on your hair journey.

Get a hair cut!
If you're new to the hair care game, I suggest getting a trim to clip off those damaged ends so that you can have a fresh start. Holding on to hair with split ends is just asking for trouble!

Shampoo once (or twice) a week.
It is essential that you shampoo at least once a week with a moisturizing shampoo. Shampooing less can actually make the hair drier and more prone to breakage.

Condition your hair.
After shampooing, it's important to put some moisture back in those tresses.

Deep condition after EVERY wash!
No matter your hair type, deep conditioning is a MUST! No ifs, ands, or buts. If possible, always do so with a plastic cap and under a dryer for 15-20 minutes. Why? This allows the deep conditioner to penetrate the inner layers of the hair strand. If you rather not sit under a dryer, you can DC without heat for 45-60 minutes or overnight. You can use either a moisturizing conditioner or moisturizing and protein conditioner mixed together.

Always use a leave-in.
Doing so will reduce breakage, moisturize the hair, and of course reduce tangles. Another thing, if you air dry, it helps a bunch!

Reduce heat usage.
Excessive use of heat causes damage. Plain and simple. But if you MUST use heat, keep it to a minimum. Once a month should suffice. Also, make sure your hot tools are ionic! And always, always, always USE A HEAT PROTECTANT!

Clarify/chelate once a month.
Products buildup on the hair after a while so these special types of shampoos eliminate the residue which means your products will in turn keep working. Unlike clarifying shampoos which only rid the hair of surface buildup, chelating shampoos go deeper and remove nearly ALL the buildup.

Use a Reconstructor once a month.
Reconstructors are designed to temporarily fill in the gaps in the hair shaft. They also realign and seal the cuticle while restoring elasticity to the hair.

Detangle the RIGHT way.
From ends to roots. Make sure you do so in sections to minimize breakage. And make sure you use a wide-toothed comb only.

Moisturize AND seal daily or every other day.
Moisturizing the hair keeps it nice and soft which means more manageable hair. Sealing, which is just rubbing a little bit of natural oil (Coconut, Jojoba, or Olive) on the hair after moisturizing, keeps the moisture in place.

Massage your scalp DAILY!
I can't stress the importance of scalp massages. Scalp massaging increases the hair growth by 5%. When you massage your scalp, you're allowing blood to flow to the scalp which promotes hair growth.

Keep your hair protected at night.
Before bed, make sure you tie your up with a SATIN OR SILK scarf. Cotton scarves suck the moisture right out of your hair.

Wear protective styles!
This isn't mandatory, but it does help. Keeping your up and away from your clothes keeps your hair from rubbing against them, which means less breakage. You can rock ponytails, buns, braids, sew-ins, etc.

Avoid hair things that DAMAGE your hair.
Fine-toothed combs, ponytail holders with metal bands, rubberbands, the list goes on. Just stick with a wide-toothed comb and metal-free ponytail holders.

Relax only YOUR NEW GROWTH.
Do not for any reason relax your whole hair (unless it's a virgin relaxer). Make sure you also keep your already processed hair protected with petroleum jelly or a natural oil.

Take your vitamins.
If your diet isn't so healthy, I recommend you take vitamins like Iron, B-complex, Biotin, or MSM. These vitamins are great for hair growth. You can always buy a multivitamin or a supplement designed for hair.

Drink WATER!
Make sure you drink at least 48-64 ounces worth of water daily. By doing so, you are removing toxins from your body which means healthier hair AND scalp. Not to mention healthier skin all over.

Take pictures!
Keeping track of your hair allows you to see how much it has improved.

... I will keep adding more tips when I can.