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If you're trying to grow your hair longer or simply want to maintain healthy , strong locks, you might be searching for the best ways to achieve your desired look. Perhaps you've perfected your shampoo and conditioner routine, started using a hair primer for heat-free styling, and mastered the art of hair oiling. Yet there's one completely free technique you should be incorporating into your daily routine to keep your hair looking its best. Bronagh, who shares hair care and self-care advice on TikTok , revealed she'd "only started taking hair health seriously recently" and wishes she'd discovered these tips earlier. So what does she suggest doing every day? Sleeping with protective hairstyles at night can prevent your hair from rubbing against your pillowcase. You could sleep with a satin scarf or bonnet on your head, or perhaps do a simple braid, or a loose ponytail or bun. This way, you're protecting your hair. Applying a heat protectant on your hair that also acts as a leave-in treatment is crucial because it offers multiple benefits in one go. The heat protectant shields your hair from the damaging effects of styling tools like blow dryers, curling irons, or straighteners, which can lead to dryness, breakage, and split ends. Simultaneously, 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 crucial as the first shampoo helps to break down and remove surface dirt, oil, and product buildup from your scalp and hair. The second shampoo can cleanse the hair and scalp more effectively. 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. Opting for 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. Choosing 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 is a great way to maintain your hair's natural texture and shine, making it healthier and more resilient over time. By opting for heatless methods, you're reducing the risk of long-term damage and ensuring your hair looks and feels its best. Scrunchies are a better choice than standard hair ties as they're made with soft fabric and have a larger surface area, which puts less tension and friction on your hair. This helps prevent breakage, creasing, and tangling that can occur 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 frequently wear your hair up. It's beneficial to use a detox shampoo every few washes as 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, has emphasised the importance of keeping your hairbrush clean. She warned that "dirty brushes can lead to hair loss," and urged people to clean their brushes promptly. Clodagh explained: "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". She suggested a simple method for cleaning brushes, involving water mixed with a detoxing shampoo. Clodagh mentioned that she used L'Oreal Detox shampoo, "but you can use any". Additionally, she recommended incorporating baking soda into the mixture, along with some regular shampoo.
