How to Get Silky Smooth Locks in Five Easy Steps
Shampoos and conditioners contain many chemicals that can dry out your hair. Commercial hair products, such as gels and mousses, can make your hair a frizzy mess, especially when you have dry hair. Luckily, you can restore softness to your locks, making them silky smooth, by following these five easy steps.
Eat Healthy
Like the rest of your body, your hair needs the proper nutrition to stay healthy. Eat fresh vegetables and fruit, fish, lean meats, nuts, and dairy foods to nourish your hair as well as your body. A healthy diet works from the inside out to give you silky, shiny locks.
Essential Oil Massage
An essential oil massage is relaxing and will provide a natural conditioner that’s free from chemicals. Before you shampoo, rub an essential oil into your hair from roots to tips. Massage your scalp with the oil as well, then cover with a warm towel. Leave the oil on for at least 20 minutes or overnight before washing out. Essential oils like doTERRA oils work well for hair, and can be diluted when added to a shampoo or conditioner. You can also try other oils such as avocado, argan, olive, sweet almond, castor, jojoba, wheat germ, linen and coconut oil.
Avoid Hot Water
When you wash your tresses, avoid using too much hot water. Hot water strips the oils from your hair, so wash with warm water instead. For softer and silkier hair, give your hair a final rinse in cold water after you’ve shampooed and conditioned. Cold water helps keep the moisture locked into your hair. Towel dry gently afterwards, and don’t pull on your hair. Rough toweling can lead to breakage and messy tangles.
Don’t Wash Your Hair Every Day
Keep your hair shiny by not washing your tresses every day. Washing your hair every day removes the natural oils and leaves your hair looking dry and frizzy. Try washing every two or three days to give your head a chance to produce the oils your hair needs.
Combing Your Hair
Improperly combing your hair can cause breakage. Put mild pressure on a soft-bristled comb while combing to prevent breakage. Mild pressure also helps to spread the natural oils from the scalp to the hair tips. At first, comb the hair tips. Then gradually work your way up to higher sections to gently detangle your hair. Then, comb from root to tip. Don’t comb your hair while it’s wet. Wet hair can stretch and break more easily than dry hair. To detangle wet hair, work your fingers gently through the tangles.
Soft and shiny hair takes a bit of effort, but proper hair care is the only way to get shiny, silky and smooth locks.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Eileen O’Shanassy is a freelance writer and blogger based out of Flagstaff, AZ. She writes on a variety of topics and loves to research and write. She enjoys baking, biking, and kayaking. Check out her Twitter @eileenoshanassy.