Hair Care Checklist

Whether you’re easily overwhelmed by hair care or you carry around 600 hair care products just in case, this hair care checklist is for you. Try these six easy steps for fantastic hair. You’ll love the results! Do you get overwhelmed by the huge array of products and potions in the hair care aisle? Or maybe you’re the type who’s never without your trusty case of myriad gels, pomades and sprays? Hair care does not have to be complicated, expensive or take up a lot of your time. Use this checklist as your guide and before long all your friends will be asking you for hair care advice!

Six hair care essentials

1. Start with the right style. Haircuts and styles are not the place to cut corners. The right haircut can make any hair type or texture look fantastic. A good salon cut can be a money-saver in the long run because it will still look good as it grows, so you can cut your hair less often. Be sure to ask your stylist questions while he or she is doing your hair — you’ll learn the hair care products and techniques that will work for you at home to get the look you want. Oh, and if you wake up the next morning hating your cut, go back to the salon; most places will be happy to fix it (and make you happy!) without any additional fee.

2. Keep it clean and soft. Regular shampooing and conditioning are the foundations of healthy hair care. Ask your hairdresser which shampoos and conditioners are best for your hair and how often you should use them.

3. Use products with caution. When used correctly, products can enhance your look and protect your hair. Used incorrectly, any number of disasters could occur — flakiness, excessive oil or dryness, flat hair or frizz. Read product labels carefully and always start off with just a tiny amount; it’s easy to add a bit more but a lot harder to get rid of too much once it’s applied to your hair.

4. Work with your hair’s natural look, not against it. High heat from blow dryers, straighteners and curling irons as well as chemicals from dyes, perms and relaxers can all promote hair damage. Whenever possible, go au naturale. Your hair will thank you. Plus, that tussled “bed-head” look can be pretty sexy!

5. Don’t forget about trims. Dr. Jeni Thomas, a senior hair care scientist for Pantene, includes regular trimming in her recommendations. According to Jeni, the wear and tear at the ends of your hair can spread up the hair shaft if they are not cut off. Average hair growth is a couple of centimetres every four to six weeks, so you should trim about that much that often. The healthier your hair is, however, the less often it will need to be trimmed, so let the

ends of your hair be your guide.

6. Eat right. You really are what you eat when it comes to hair care. A balanced diet with plenty of vitamins and minerals from fresh fruits and vegetables is important for healthy hair, but some additional nutrients stand out. Protein, especially from animal sources like meat, fish and poultry, allows your hair — which is composed of protein — to grow strong and healthy. And omega-3 fats, found in fatty fish like salmon, nuts and flaxseed oil, fight dryness and give your hair that natural shine. Include these foods in your diet on a weekly basis, and you’ll be quite happy with the results.

Follow these six easy hair care guidelines for strong and healthy hair that looks great every time!