Proper hair care ensures your hair stays healthy, nourished, strong, frizz-free, and free of bacteria, dirt, dust, and infections. According to Dana Reeves Carter, making your hair appear healthier, softer, shinier, and stronger requires thorough planning and a strict-to-follow routine with the right products. Otherwise, your scalp and hair will experience the following:

· Dandruff

· Dry hair

· Split ends

· Frizzy hair

· Dull hair

· Flaky scalp

· Greasy hair

· Hair loss

· Etc.

If you want to prevent or overcome these problems, you are in the right place. Today’s post will give you ten hair care tips for all hair types based on Dana Reeves Carter‘s recommendations and insights. Read on!

Table of Contents

1. Trim Your Hair Regularly

Your hair goes through three stages. The anagen is the first stage characterized by rapid cell division in the hair roots. Catagen, the second stage, is active when the hair growth stops and the outer sheath shrinks.

During the catagen stage, your hair’s outer root sheath attaches itself to the root. Telogen, the third stage, is characterized by symptoms and signs like hair thinning, split ends, and breakage.

So, if you want to prevent your hair from undergoing the second and third stages, trim your hair regularly to retain optimal growth. Dana Reeves Carter recommends marking your calendar for hair trimming sessions. For instance, you can trim your hair every 2-3 months.

2. Massage Your Scalp

Massaging your scalp is an excellent way to increase blood flow to the roots and hair follicles. Not only do scalp massages create a sense of relaxation, but they also nourish your hair with essential nutrients and increase oxygenated blood circulation, reducing hair’s risk of hair thinning and loss. Dana Reeves Carter recommends massaging your scalp at least 2-3 times a week before bedtime.

3. Condition Your Hair

Conditioning your hair is another practical tip by Dana Reeves Carter. A conditioner with natural ingredients, such as aloe vera, can moisturize and hydrate your scalp and hair. However, how you use the conditioner determines its effects on the hair.

For example, Dana Reeves Carter advises applying conditioner evenly on the ends of your hair once you have used the shampoo and washed your hair. The purpose is to avoid frizz and tangles.

4. Avoid Heat Treatments

Heat treatments or styling tools can leave your hair dry, brittle, and dehydrated, increasing the risk of damage and breakage. Heating tools, such as straighteners and curling irons, strip your hair of keratin, an essential nutrient/protein that keeps your hair fuller, healthier, and stronger. According to Dana Reeves Carter, men and women with thin/fine hair are more vulnerable to damage from heated styling tools.

5. Consume Protein-Rich Diet

Although you can use various products, including shampoos, conditioners, and scrubs, to promote your hair growth, maintaining a balanced diet is an excellent way to provide your scalp and hair with essential nutrients, such as proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

According to Dana Reeves Carter, a diet that includes protein-rich foods, such as eggs, meat, milk, yogurt, etc., can boost fibrous protein, including keratin, production and make your hair appear fuller, stronger, thicker, and shinier.

6. Use Essential Oils

Essential oils contain natural/plant-based ingredients that speed up hair growth at follicular levels and reduce the risk of scalp-related conditions. Some essential oils, such as peppermint, rosemary, tea tree, bergamot, lavender, and thyme, increase blood flow to the scalp, restores sebum oil, and strengthen the skin barrier to prevent bacteria and allergens from building up on the scalp.

7. Get 7-8 Hours of Sleep Daily

A good night’s sleep balances your circadian rhythm, reduces stress, and allows your body to rest and restore energy levels. However, numerous studies have shown that getting enough sleep (7-8 hours) at night is directly proportional to increasing hormonal production, including melatonin, to prevent hair from experiencing dryness and frizz. Some studies conclude that melatonin is associated with optimal hair growth.

8. Increase Blood Flow to the Scalp with Exercise

Exercise, particularly aerobic or cardiovascular workouts, increases blood flow to your scalp and supplies it with enough oxygen and nutrients. Your scalp, with an optimal number of proteins, vitamins, and antioxidants, streamlines hair growth.

9. Use A Wide-Tooth Comb

Instead of using a regular plastic or metal comb, Dana Reeves Carter recommends using a bamboo comb with wide teeth. Not only is bamboo a sustainable material, but it also improves your hair growth. In addition, a wide-tooth bamboo comb can quickly detangle your hair and eliminate knots.

10. Stick to Your Haircare Routine

Last but not least, sticking to your haircare routine means fully benefiting from the products and maintaining your hair’s growth for a prolonged period. A typical hair care routine involves shampooing, conditioning, massaging, oiling, detangling, and moisturizing. Dana Reeves Carter advises men and women to use products with natural/plant-based ingredients to reduce side effects and achieve their hair care goals.

Final Words

Haircare is not daunting and frustrating, especially if you don’t have enough time to cleanse, shampoo, condition, detangle, and moisturize your hair daily. However, not maintaining a hair care routine can take a massive toll on your scalp, leading to hair thinning or hair loss. Follow these ten tips to improve your hair growth.

Dana Reeves Carter – Hair Care Tips for Every Hair Type