Being South Asian, Indian hair care secrets were well known in my household. Regardless of the environment, bleach, heat, and external stress, these hair care tips always kept my hair shiny and soft. However, one of the most underrated secrets was always how to have the healthiest hair without breaking the bank. In this blog post, I’ll touch on how to keep your hair healthy on a budget, saving both money and the need for unnecessary products.
Brush Your Hair Every Night
Brushing your hair is extremely important, especially if you add products to your scalp. Our body rejuvenates and repairs itself at night while we are sleeping so we want to make sure our scalp can breathe and get the care it needs. By brushing your hair at night, you are loosening up the product build-up around your hair follicles, allowing it to get the necessary nutrients it needs to grow healthy hair. Healthy hair starts at the scalp, so make sure you brush out any build-up.
Sleep in Protective Hairstyles
Whatever you do, do not sleep with wet hair or loose hair. This causes a ton of unnecessary breakage due to the friction between your head and the pillow. Instead, sleep in low, loose buns or braids to allow movement without the extra friction. Pick hairstyles that do not put tension on the hair. This means no high ponytails or tight buns. Hairstyles are one easy change in learning how to keep your hair healthy over time with no extra dollars spent.
Deep Condition with Oils
Hair oils are probably the best hair care regime there is when it comes to learning how to keep your hair healthy. It provides nutrients to the hair while protecting strands from external pollutants. However, it is important to know how to do it correctly. You don’t need any fancy oils here to start. Coconut oil is great. Take a bit and massage throughout your scalp as mentioned before. Massage for at least five minutes to let the oil penetrate through the cuticle, and leave the oil in your hair for at least 20 minutes. It is important to pick hair oils based on your hair porosity to reap the most benefits. After you shower, apply lightweight dry oils to the ends of your hair to keep them hydrated, soft, and breakage-free.
Do A Daily Scalp Massage
Scalp massages help bring blood flow to the scalp. Our scalp gets some of the least blood circulation so it is important to give it a bit extra TLC. Scalp massages help promote healthy hair growth and helps reduce stress and tension. All you need are some clean hands and the padded part of your fingertips. Gently massage your scalp with your fingertips (not nails) to avoid breakage and increase blood circulation. Try doing this for a few minutes every night.
{Related Post: 9 Ways to Manage Your Greasy, Thin, And Fine Hair for Desi Girls}
Use a Detangling Spray
A common theme here is to reduce hair breakage. Using a detangling spray helps loosen the knots in your hair, allowing the brush to comb through your strands easily. Apply these nourishing sprays on damp hair and always brush from the ends to the roots. This helps prevent knots from tightening and causing more breakage.
Take Out the Sulfates
Sulfates, although good in moderation, overly dry out the hair. As a result, our scalp feels like it needs to work overtime, and it messes with our hair’s microbiome. Not to mention it strips the hydration from our hair, causing weak hair follicles and cuticle shafts. Instead, opt for sulfate-free shampoos and only use sulfates once or twice a month depending on your hair and water hardness. Sulfates will help reset your hair if any product build-up remains after a few washes. Using sulfate-free shampoos regularly will ensure your hair is clean without being stripped.
Use Less Products
In the consumerist society we live in today, we are probably using way more products on our hair than we actually need. Adding heat protectants with flexible hold hairspray and texturizing mousse and dry shampoo weighs down our hair. Not only do we need to wash our hair more often as a result, but this also prevents us from letting our scalp breathe. Try to reduce the number of products you use on your hair, or try to find cleaner alternatives to some of these products. Your hair will thank you over time as it becomes softer and shiner with every wash.
{Related Post: Redefine Fine, Flat Strands: 7 Best Sustainable Brands for Hair Products}
Nourish from the Inside
Of course, we can do all the treatments on our hair, but it will not make much of a difference if we are not promoting healthy hair internally. Eat foods rich in omegas and healthy fats such as chia seeds and avocados to give your body the nutrients it needs to grow healthy hair. Make sure you are drinking your water and getting the proper protein intake. Eating the right foods is how to keep your hair healthy in the long term, making sure it is strong and nourished right from the start.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to keep your hair healthy is a long-term game that requires time and patience. The goal here is to reduce breakage, hydrate our ends, and keep our scalp healthy. Try to start by incorporating one or two of these tips and work your way up. I hope this is helpful, and good luck!
With love,
Aditi <3
Aditi Rani – Figuring Out Life in Your Twenties
*Disclaimer: This is not professional advice. Some links are affiliate. By clicking and/or purchasing, I may receive a commission. It does not alter the price or change your buyer experience.
