Shampoo
01Keep your hair clean. The sebaceous glands that lie at the base of each hair shaft secrete oil. As the sebum makes its way down the shaft, it coats the hair with a greasy ' layer that not only lubricates and softens the hair but also attracts dirt and airborne debris. Shampooing the hair cleans the hair and scalp and lifts dirt and oils.
Condition
02 Not everyone needs to condition ', her hair, and those who do don't need to condition each time they wash. There are three main reasons to condition your hair: to moisturize it, to add shine, and to make it softer and easier to comb. Conditioners coat the hair shaft with emollients that remain on after you rinse: they help reduce tangles, static electricity, and flyaway hair, and they smooth the hair cuticle so that it reflects light better and thus has more shine. Conditioners are like moisturizers for the hair. Apply conditioner from the middle of the strand to the ends, not on top, or it will flatten your hair. If your conditioner makes your hair flat anyway—wax, silicone, and balsam ingredients sometimes do—switch brands.
Brush and/or comb
03 Brushing at the end of the day removes dirt and debris. It also helps spread the oil down the hair shaft. But if your hair is curly, brushing will flatten out the curl, so don't do it, except right before shampooing. Brushing with a natural-bristle brush helps get the blood flowing on your scalp. If you don't brush, be sure to massage.
Massage the scalp
04The scalp is thickest at the nape of the neck, but scalp skin, overall, is thick skin. It has an intricate microvascular system, however, and because the scalp is the only part of your skin that doesn't move much on its own, it needs all the help it can get. Massage stimulates the flow of blood and oxygen to the bulb of your hair, which feeds it and helps it grow and thrive. (Bad circulation can result in thinning hair.) So before you go to sleep, take one or two minutes to massage your scalp. Starting at the base of the skull, gently rub upward and outward in small, circular movements. You won't see results overnight, but in the long run, your hair will be healthier if you massage regularly. And it feels great!
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