Hair care is one of the easiest ways to convey a certain message to those around you, whether it’s businesslike or casual. Washing your hair as necessary and avoiding damage from chemicals are two easy hair care steps. Find out more by reading the tips in this article for help!

When you are using products for your hair make sure that you apply them directly to the hair and not on the scalp. This is important because adding hair products to your scalp can clog the pores of your head, which could lead to hair damage and/or loss of hair.

If you color your hair at home, do not apply hair color to previously colored strands until the last 10 minutes. Apply the color to your roots first, and then comb through to freshen-up the color on the rest of your hair. This minimizes the damage that repeatedly soaking your hair in harsh chemicals can cause.

When you are washing your hair, do it in two separate steps. Take half the shampoo you would typically use for your whole head and wash your roots with that. Rinse that out, and then use some more shampoo to wash the hair shafts. This technique ensures that you wash all the hair and not just your roots.

To give your hair that look that says you just came out of the ocean, look for products that can mimic this look. Look for products that market themselves as a salt spray. To create your own formula, put a teaspoon of salt into 8 ounces of water. Finish by adding 10 drops of lavender essential oil and enjoy your ocean-inspired concoction.

Don’t use your bristle hairbrush on wet hair. Always use a comb or pick on your beautiful wet tresses. A hairbrush encourages breakage and split ends. Just lightly towel dry your hair and remove tangles by gently combing through your hair with a wide-toothed comb, or even your fingers. Allow to air dry whenever possible to minimize heat damage.

If you are going to condition your hair make sure you do it directly after shampooing it. This will make sure you get the most out of your conditioning and it will be softer and more managable than if you just shampooed it. You will have a more beautiful head of hair.

Avoid using any hair care products that contain alcohol. Alcohol has a drying affect and can make hair brittle. Broken, dry hair looks unhealthy and messy. Sparingly use hair care products that are free from alcohol to style your hair. Using a lot of styling products can damage your hair.

Use a towel to dry your hair, as much as possible, before blow drying. When blow drying your hair, use the coolest possible setting to avoid damage. Do not leave the blow dryer in the same spot for more than a few seconds and keep it several inches away from your head.

When you wash your hair, be sure to really clean your scalp. The shampoo that you use will remove the buildup of dead skin, oil, dirt and hair products that could be clogging your hair follicles. If your follicles begin to become clogged, you may start to suffer from hair loss or slowed growth.

Brush your hair from the scalp down to the ends to distribute the natural oils to your hair shafts. The oil in your scalp is very healthy for your hair. However, you need to get it from your scalp to your hair. You can accomplish this by brushing from the scalp to all the way down to the tips of your hair. Try bending over and brushing your hair upside down to make this a little easier to do.

A healthy diet will show in your hair. If you eat a diet high in fat and cholesterol, your hair may appear dull and lifeless. For healthier hair, a well-balanced diet is best. Eat food that is low in fat and cholesterol, and high in anti-oxidants, protein, vitamins and minerals.

Prior to putting on shampoo, get your hair very wet. This will help your hair stay protected, as the washing process takes place. In addition, aim to apply about a quarter-size dab of shampoo onto your head, rubbing it in your hands before putting it on your hair. Too much shampoo could make your hair look drab and lifeless.

Take the time to read the labels on all of the hair care products that you plan on using. You may find that your favorite products contain harsh chemicals or other ingredients that you’d rather not place in your hair on a consistent basis. In fact, some of these ingredients may have a short term hair benefit, but in the long run, they can damage your hair even more!

Though it may seem a bit more costly, stick with professional-grade hair care products. Generic or low-price, low-quality products can leave you wondering what all the promises on the bottle are about. Professional level products are designed to maximize benefits with each use. If cost is a concern, look for specials on the quality products.

Braiding wet hair and letting it air dry can add instant texture, volume and style that costs nothing but a few minutes of your time. If you find wet hair a challenge to braid, work on dry hair and mist your hair well with water, when done with your plaits.

If you are interested in going blond, try highlights first! Lightening your hair to the extreme can cause serious damage, so be sure it’s something you really want before committing to it. Pretty highlights might be just the thing that you need to brighten your hair, without the harsh damage that coloring can do.

Whether or not you’d like to spend an hour on your hair every day or five minutes, remember that the most important part of your appearance is liking how you feel. Don’t follow trends or expectations that others set if you don’t personally like it. Remember the tips in this article for great hair care!