Washing, Drying, and Brushing for Healthy Hair

• Wash your hair no more than three times per week (or less often if you have thick curls or afro-textured hair.)
• Wash only your scalp and the hair nearest to it. Leave the rest of your hair down. It should receive enough washing from the shampoo that runs down on its own.
• Hot water strips away protective oils, so rinse your hair with the coolest water you can stand.
• If your hair still splits rapidly, try a different, milder shampoo. Avoid shampoos with sulfate or paraben.

2.Use conditioner. After shampooing, apply conditioner along the length of your hair. Let it soak at least three minutes before you rinse it out.

3.Dry hair gently. Vigorously rubbing your hair dry with a towel is not a good idea. Instead, gently squeeze dripping wet hair with a towel to remove excess water. Once the excess water is removed, let your hair air dry naturally.

• If you need to speed up the drying, use a blow dryer on a medium or low setting, preferably set to blow cool air. Hold it a few inches (several centimeters) away from your hair to minimize damage.
• If you normally wrap your hair in a towel, try a cotton T-shirt instead.

4.Deep condition regularly. If your conditioner regimen isn't working, try a "deep condition" once or twice a month. This involves putting a leave-in conditioner or oil on your hair and leaving it in for a while. Oils like jojoba and coconut oil are fantastic for this. Here's an example regimen:

• Get your hair nice and wet
• Drop a coin-sized amount of deep conditioner or oil on your palm. Use a dollop the size of an American dime for hair below shoulder length, up to a quarter+ for hair that reaches your waist.
• Rub it through your hair.
• Let it sit for five to ten minutes for very damaged hair.
• Rinse out with cold water.

5.Find a gentle comb or brush. Your brush or comb should aid you in untangling your hair, not pulling it out. The best option for people with thick hair is a wide-toothed, wooden comb or pick. People with thin hair may use a narrow-toothed, wooden comb or a brush with boar bristles or another flexible, natural bristle.

6.Brush or comb gently. Start at the bottom and work your way up. When you encounter a tangle, stop and untangle it with your fingers before you continue brushing.

• Stop teasing or backcombing your hair. This pulls up the scales of your hair, making it easy to break them off.
• Do not brush more than necessary. Once the brush or comb runs through your hair without obstruction, you're done.
• Hair is very fragile when wet. Brush it only when dry, unless you have very thick, curly hair that can only be brushed wet.