Hair Care Routine Steps for Healthy Hair

Finding the right hair care routine for you can be a little daunting, especially with so much information online, an overflow of #HairTok tutorials and new haircare products launching every day. This is why we’ve compiled an overview of simple hair care routine steps to achieve healthy hair! 

Tackling specific hair concerns with your hair care routine

Before you rethink your hair care routine, it’s important to think about your hair concerns and the current state of your hair. Achieving healthy locks will be a different journey for everyone! 

Typical hair concerns:

• Dryness and damage
• Frizz and flyaways 
• Oiliness or greasiness
• Split ends
• Hair loss
• Damage as a result of coloring or chemicals
• Scalp issues: itchy, oily, dry, flaky
• Lack of volume

Setting goals for your healthy hair care routine

Next to the hair concerns you want to tackle with your daily haircare routine, it’s also smart to set some hair goals. This will help you create your routine and choose the right products to achieve your desired results!

Some haircare goals you may set for yourself:

• Smoothness and shine
• Volume, texture and body 
• Strength, repair and hydration 
• Color longevity 
• Wave and curl definition 
• Overall healthy hair 

With your hair concerns and goals in mind, it’s now time to build your routine. 

Hair care routine steps for healthy hair

Every basic haircare routine contains some important steps: cleansing, conditioning, moisturising, detangling, styling and treatment. The frequency of these steps will depend on your hair type, lifestyle and preferences. Let’s cover the basics: 

Step 1: Cleanse

The first step in any haircare routine is to cleanse. Just like you cleanse your skin every evening, your hair also benefits from a cleanse – perhaps not daily, depending on how dry your hair and scalp is and how many products you use which can cause build-up. 

Washing your hair will leave your hair and scalp feeling clean, removing any products, grease, dirt and dead skin cells which might have built up. 

Cleansing tips:

• Opt for a gentle, sulfate-free moisturizing shampoo, which is better for your hair and scalp health in the long run.

Step 2: Condition & nourish

The next essential step in your washing routine is to condition. Conditioning your hair helps to detangle, seal the cuticles and provide moisture. It replenishes the moisture that your shampoo may have removed, and it will help remove any knots or tangles that were caused by massaging your shampoo onto your hair and scalp.

Conditioning tips:

• Apply conditioner on wet hair. Squeeze out excess water, apply to the lengths of your hair and leave on for 1-2 minutes before rinsing with cool water. 
• Use a wide toothed comb to gently comb through your hair after applying conditioner to evenly distribute the product. 
• Opt for a lightweight, silicone-free conditioner like Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner, which won’t weigh your hair down. 

Step 3: Detangle

Detangling your hair will help eliminate knots and minimize breakage. One product that can smoothen the detangling process is a leave-in conditioner, like Garnier Whole Blends Repairing Conditioner Honey Treasures. This will help smooth your locks, preparing them for detangling with a brush or wide-tooth comb. You can also opt for a hair oil or serum before detangling.

Step 4: Protect, prime & style 

Always make sure you prep your hair before using heated tools such as a blow dryer, curling tool or straightener. This will not only protect your hair from breakage but also enhance styling results and ensure that your hairstyle lasts! 

Use a lightweight styling primer, like the Eva NYC Mane Magic 10-in-1 Primer, to prepare your hair for your styling routine. Not only will it help prevent frizz, but it also reduces drying time, enhances hair texture and ensures optimal workable hold while using heated styling tools, protects hair from heat up to 230ᵒC/446ᵒF and contains a UV-filter to prevent sun damage. Section hair and mist evenly from an arm’s length distance onto dry or damp hair before applying any heat tools or exposing hair to UV.

Step 5: Moisturize 

After styling your hair or letting it air dry, you might want to add back in a little moisture. Also on days where you’re not washing your hair, your strands may benefit from a moisture boost. This is where hair oil comes in, our favorite multitasker! Hair oils are also great for controlling frizz and preventing dryness. 

Step 6: Treatment

There are three types of treatments which you can add to your weekly routine to give your hair some extra TLC: a mask treatment, oil treatment or a scalp treatment. Regular hair treatments will help tackle specific hair concerns such as damage, dryness and an oily, flaky or dry scalp, and improve the overall appearance and health of your hair.

Mask Treatment: Apply a generous amount of the Elizavecca cer-100 collagen coating hair protein treatment  to damp or dry hair from mid-lengths to ends. Leave on for 5-7 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with cool water.

For a more nourishing treatment, apply to damp or dry hair from mid-lengths to ends. Leave in overnight, then wash your hair the next morning. Repeat twice a week for optimal repair and restoration. 

Scalp Treatment: Apply small increments of scalp treatment directly onto scalp in 1” (3cm) sections from the hairline to the crown. Gently massage in with fingertips for 5 minutes to distribute and allow the active ingredients to absorb. Leave on overnight. Do not rinse.

If you experience residue or oiliness in the morning, simply wash your hair. To tackle recurring irritation, use twice a week. Move towards weekly application when scalp concerns subside. Use twice a month to prevent irritation, itching, flaking and improve overall hair health.

Oil Treatment: Section your hair into 2 sections, then take 1 full syringe of the Moroccanoil Treatment Hair Oil for each section and fully coat hair. Braid hair and let it absorb for a few hours or overnight. If the product isn’t fully absorbed, then give hair a light rinse or cleanse.