Copyright mirror
If you're on a hair growth journey, or are just trying to keep your locks as gorgeous and strong as possible, then you may be looking for tips on how best to achieve the look you're going for. You may have nailed your shampoo and conditioner routine, be using a hair primer to achieve lovely hairstyles without heat, and your hair oiling technique may be on lock. However, there's something free of charge that you should be doing every single day to keep your hair stunning. Bronagh, who posts on TikTok sharing her hair care and self-care tips, said she'd "only started taking hair health seriously recently" and she wishes she'd known these tips sooner. So, what does she recommend doing every single day? It's a scalp massage. According to Healthline, some research suggests that scalp massages may help promote hair growth. You can massage yourself with your fingertips or a scalp massaging tool. If you massage your scalp daily, it stimulates the hair follicles, which can lead to hair growth over time. Although research is limited, the scientific evidence to date shows that while scalp massages can’t cure hair loss, they do show promise in promoting hair growth. "I've noticed a big difference in the hydration, health and shine of my hair by doing these things," Bronagh shared. Other things she recommended were using protective hairstyles every night, using a heat protectant that is also a leave-in treatment, double shampooing every wash, using a satin or silk pillow case every night, using heatless hairstyles instead of straighteners and curlers, using scrunchies instead of normal hair ties, using a detox shampoo every few washes, and washing hairbrushes every one to two weeks. Sleeping with protective hairstyles at night will prevent your hair from rubbing against your pillowcase. You could sleep with a satin scarf or bonnet on your head, or do a simple braid, or a loose ponytail or bun. By doing this, you protect your hair. Using a heat protectant on your hair that also works as a leave-in treatment is important because it provides multiple benefits in one step. The heat protectant shields your hair from the damaging effects of styling tools like blow dryers, curling irons, or straighteners, which can cause dryness, breakage, and split ends. At the same time, the leave-in treatment helps to nourish, moisturise, and detangle your hair, making it more manageable and healthier overall. Combining these two functions means your hair is protected from heat while also receiving essential care, leading to stronger, shinier, and softer hair with less risk of damage over time. Double shampooing during every wash is important because the first shampoo helps to break down and remove surface dirt, oil, and product buildup from your scalp and hair, while the second shampoo can more effectively cleanse the hair and scalp itself. This two-step process ensures your hair is thoroughly clean, allows your scalp to breathe better, and helps your conditioner and other treatments work more effectively. Double shampooing can also promote a healthier scalp environment, which is essential for hair growth and overall hair health. Using a satin or silk pillowcase creates less friction against your hair and skin compared to cotton. This reduced friction helps prevent hair breakage, tangles, and frizz, allowing your hairstyle to last longer and your hair to stay healthier. They also have benefits for your skin, as satin and silk pillowcases help minimise creases and moisture loss, which can contribute to fewer wrinkles and better hydration. Overall, sleeping on a satin or silk pillowcase supports both your hair and skin health by providing a gentler surface throughout the night. Doing heatless hairstyles is better for your hair because it avoids the damage caused by high temperatures from styling tools like flat irons, curling wands, and blow dryers. Without repeated exposure to heat, your hair retains more moisture, stays stronger, and is less likely to become dry, brittle, or develop split ends. Heatless styling also helps preserve your hair’s natural texture and shine, making it healthier and more resilient over time. By choosing heatless methods, you reduce the risk of long-term damage and keep your hair looking and feeling its best. It is better to use scrunchies instead of normal hair ties because scrunchies are made with soft fabric and have a wider surface area, which puts less tension and friction on your hair. This helps prevent breakage, creasing, and tangling that can happen with regular elastic hair ties. Scrunchies are also gentler on your scalp, reduce the likelihood of pulling or snagging, and can help maintain the health and appearance of your hair, especially if you wear your hair up often. Using a detox shampoo every few washes is good because it helps remove buildup from styling products, oils, hard water minerals, and environmental pollutants that regular shampoos might not fully eliminate. This deep cleansing allows your scalp to breathe better and your hair to feel lighter and cleaner. It also helps prevent issues like dullness, greasiness, and clogged hair follicles, making your hair more receptive to conditioners and treatments and supporting overall scalp and hair health. Clodagh Egan, a training trichologist, recommends regularly cleaning your brush. Clodagh explained that "dirty brushes can lead to hair loss," so it's important for you to get your brushes cleaned as soon as possible. She shared: "Bacteria can build up on brushes from dead skin cells, general dirt, among other things. This can lead to irritation of the hair follicle and, over time, can lead to hair loss". Clodagh recommends that you first mix water with a detoxing shampoo. She explained that she used the L'Oreal Detox shampoo, "but you can use any". She also said that using baking soda in the mixture helps as well, and some normal shampoo also.
