The Best Hair Care Routine For Your Hair Type

We all crave a hair-care routine that helps our hair live their best life. Do you want shiny, bouncy, full, non-broken strands and glorious natural hair? Having great hair indeed requires having a personalized hair-care routine. 

Think of your hair regimen as a basic set of principles to take care of your hair each day and night, customized to your hair type. This blog post will help you plan your daily hair care routine to achieve healthy hair.

How To Determine Your Hair Type?

Your hair's curl pattern can determine your hair type. Determining your hair type is essential for choosing the right hair care products. It is to be noted that not every product will be well-fit for your hair. Therefore, your unique hair type deserves a customized hair care regime that caters to your individual hair needs. For example, maintaining oily hair requires a lot of conditioning, unlike straight hair. There are four basic hair types, namely:

1. Straight Hair

Straight hair lays flat on your scalp and reflects light. The texture of your hair remains silky and smooth with no curls. Also, this hair type is more prone to oil secretion. It can further be divided into:

1A Type - Hair is exceptionally soft and shiny with zero hints of curls. While this hair may feel like a dream for many, it lacks volume.

1B Type - Slightly thicker and bouncier than 1A.

1C Type  - Most coarse and thick straight hair.

2. Wavy Hair

This hair type naturally forms an S shape and can be considered a medium between straight and curly hair. However, there is a slight curl at the end of the hair, but no full loops can be seen.

2A Type - Thin and fine hair forming an S shape when in a dry state.

2B Type - Wavy hair with slight frizz and medium thickness.

2C Type - Waves start from the scalp, and the volume is thicker than the other two types.

Read - How to Get Rid of Frizzy Hair: 9 Best Tips to Tame Frizz

3. Curly Hair

This hair type naturally occurs curly with spiral curls. Moreover, it is prone to frizz, tangles, dryness, and breakage. Despite the straightening process, the hair remains in its S shape.

3A Type - Hair has loose curls and is prone to slight frizz.

3B Type - Hair has medium to tight curls.

3B Type - Hair type with tight and thick curls.

Read - Best Hair Oil For Your Hair Type – How To Find The Right One?

4. Kinky Hair

This hair type has tight curls with coils that maintain themselves, whether the hair is wet or dry. Also, the hair loops follow a Z shape.

4A Type - Hair is soft, and the curls shrink when the hair is dry.

4B Type - Hair is wiry and has tight curls.

4C Type - Hair is coarse and densely packed.
Need help to identify your hair type and to determine the right products for your hair type? Book a free consultation with our Ayurvedic beauty experts.

How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?

Washing your hair is not a one-size-fits-all situation. How often you should wash your hair varies from individual to individual and depends upon several factors. Some of these factors include:

• Oil secretion: Oil leaves hair clumpy and limp. Excessive oil buildup can make your hair appear matted and dirty. Therefore, if you suffer from excessive oil secretion, you should wash your hair more frequently.

1. Presence of sweat: Sweat makes your hair smell foul and appear dirty. So, if you workout regularly, then washing your hair frequently can improve the situation.

1. Presence of pollen or dirt in your environment: Leaving pollen and dirt on your hair for a long time makes it appear unclean and exacerbates allergies. So, it is recommended to wash your hair often.

Read - Your Perfect Hair Spa At Home In 4 Simple Steps

Recommended Hair Care Routine For Your Hair Type

1. Straight Hair

There's a false assumption that straight hair is relatively easy to manage and does not require much care. However, the straight hair type gets greasy quickly and needs to be taken care of as much as other hair types.

How To Wash:

1. You can try using a sulfate-free herbal shampoo that assists you in getting rid of the excess grease and dirt deposited on your scalp. Also, certain products work great to prevent oil and grease formation on your scalp.
2. Ensure washing your hair once in 2-3 days unless your scalp appears extra greasy due any reason.

How To Care:

1. Use a mild shampoo along with a light conditioner for your hair.
2. Avoid brushing your hair in a wet state as it may cause your hair to break easily.
3. Straight hair is prone to split ends. Therefore, it is necessary to trim your split ends and get a haircut every 3-5 months.
4. Exposure to direct sun can make your scalp sweat and also cause frizz. So, try to avoid exposing your hair to the direct sun.
5. You can also use a volumizing hair serum to prevent your hair from getting flat at the roots. Applying it to damp hair will prevent your hair from drying.

Read - Scalp Massage For Hair Growth – Does It Really Work?

2. Wavy Hair

Wavy hair type stands between straight and curly hair, making it easier to manage. However, they are finer in texture than curly hair and require a different hair care routine.

How To Wash:

1. Wavy hair does not require to be washed as often as straight hair, as it tends to be drier. Therefore, you should clean wavy hair once every 3-4 days.
2. Using a sulfate-free shampoo designed explicitly for wavy hair can be helpful.

How To Care:

1. You can nourish your hair with an oil massage before washing it to keep it healthy and hydrated. 
2. Use cold water to wash your hair as it helps close the cuticles and moisturize your hair.
3. Wavy hair tends to be drier than straight hair at the ends. So, use oil to prevent this and always keep your hair shaft and hair ends hydrated and nourished.
4. Always tie your hair in a bun while sleeping to maintain soft waves.

3. Curly Hair

It is quite safe to say that curly hair gives your hair life and adds a sense of fun to your personality. However, they are not always easy to maintain and become dry very quickly.

How To Wash:

1. Wash your hair using a sulfate-free shampoo. Restrict using your shampoo on your scalp, which needs cleansing. 
2. Washing your hair once a week can prevent it from getting too dry.
3. Applying a conditioner to your hair every 3-4 days helps keep it nourished and soft.

How To Care:

1. It will help if you try using a mild shampoo free of toxic chemicals.
2. Too much frequent shampooing can worsen your hair condition. Therefore, avoid excessive shampooing of your hair.
3. Brushing your curly hair can cause significant damage. Try to use a wide-toothed comb on your hair before shampooing.
4. You can try using a curl-defining cream to make your loops stand out.
5. Invest in a diffuser attachment for your hair dryer to prevent frizzy hair. These tools help  your hair dry in a defined pattern to prevent it from getting frizzy.

4. Kinky Hair

The main characteristic of this type of hair is very tight curls. Also, kinky hair tends to appear very dull and dry.

How To Wash:

1. To prevent hair from getting too dry, use a mild sulfate-free shampoo.
2. Shampoos are best for removing natural oils from your hair. Therefore, focus on your roots rather than the shafts.
3. You can also co-wash with a conditioner every 2-3 days a week.

How To Care:

1. Deep-conditioning your hair at least once a week can provide it with nutrients and hydration. This can also prevent hair from getting frizzy and dry.
2. Make use of a moisturizing spray on your locks every day to keep them soft and hydrated.
3. Oil your hair an hour before washing it off with shampoo and conditioner.
4. The detangling process becomes easier if you use your fingers and prevents excessive hair breakage.

Read - Your Complete Guide To A Nourishing Oil Massage For Hair

How Can You Make Your Hair Healthier and Promote growth?

Do you wish to grow your hair faster overnight? The first thing to remember is that there's no such miracle to make it happen. Instead, hair growth is a two-fold approach. 

First, you should try to reduce the damage to your hair. And second, you should maintain an environment that stimulates hair growth. So, below are some of the effective ways in which you can keep your hair healthy and promote hair growth:

1. Try to cover your hair before stepping out into the sun, as direct exposure can cause harm. Try wearing a scarf or hat with a wide brim.
2. If you color your hair often, try out new styles, or cover up gray hair, it is time to minimize that or switch to natural hair dyes. The chemical ingredients can damage the health of your hair.
3. Avoid using Henna in your hair if the source is not verified. It tends to have more harmful chemicals in it. Only use Pure Organic Henna Powder.

1. When choosing hair care products, be careful about their ingredients. Avoid anything containing too much protein or silicones as they cause a buildup on the hair shaft and make it more fragile.
2. Natural hair care products work best for the hair as they do not contain harmful ingredients. 
3. If styling your hair requires heat, the best way to prevent damage is to use a protective hair spray. 
4. Trimming your hair at least every six months is necessary to keep split ends at bay. You do not have to cut it more than half an inch shorter if you do not wish to do so.

1. Tying hair too tightly can pave the way to more hair fall. This practice creates more pressure on the roots and weakens them.
2. If you like any particular hairstyle that requires fixing the hair tightly with pins, make sure not to do it too often. Once in a while should be fine.
3. While choosing the hair color, look for ammonia-free products like Henna Powder or Indigo Powder.

1. Simple hairstyles are best for maintaining the health of your hair. If keeping your hair open is not an option, try out hair bands or a ponytail.
2. Sleeping with your hair open is not a good idea as it leads to hair fall. Gently tie your hair before you go to bed.
3. Running fingers through your hair feels very comforting and cozy, but do not overdo this as it can lead to unnecessary hair fall.
4. It is necessary to wash your hair often if you sweat a lot. 
5. According to Stanford Health Care, one thing that affects your hair significantly is stress. If you're experiencing a stressful life, it will lead to more hair loss. Hence, it would help if you considered lowering stress to let your hair grow beautifully.
6. Maintaining a healthy diet is vital if you want healthy, strong hair. Ensure to eat fruits and vegetables containing vitamins and other necessary nutrients.

What are Some Natural Home Remedies For Healthy Hair?

1. Coconut Milk

Coconut milk is rich in lauric acid, vitamin B12, iron, zinc, proteins, magnesium, vitamin C, phosphorus, and potassium. Also, Coconut milk extracts help reduce protein loss from the hair and prevent hair damage caused by UV rays. Besides, coconut milk is suitable for all hair types and textures, whether you have straight or curly hair.

How to Use

Take Coconut milk and add half a squeeze of lemon to it and four drops of Lavender oil. Then, mix it thoroughly, apply it to your scalp, leave it on for 4-5 hours, and then rinse it off.

2.  Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar inherits acetic acid, which helps restore shine to hair and reduce dryness, making them less frizzy. Also, the antimicrobial properties of apple cider vinegar make it effective against fungi and bacteria that cause scalp infections. 

Besides, using Apple Cider Vinegar for hair wash can help you heal your scalp and become itch-free. In Apple Cider Vinegar, alpha-hydroxy acid is an exfoliant that cleans up the scalp and reduces dandruff.

How to Use

Mix Apple Cider Vinegar and water. Now pour over your hair after you have used shampoo and conditioner. Leave your hair as-is for a couple of minutes, and then wash it off later with water. Also, if you have a sensitive scalp, try to add more water than vinegar. You can also add essential oils to this mix if you don’t want your hair to smell vinegary.

3. Onion Juice

Using Onion juice is your one-step solution for promoting healthy hair growth, reducing breakage and preventing hair loss. Onion juice also boosts enzymes, leading to a rapid increase in your hair volume. Besides, the sulfur content in Onions helps nourish your strands and stimulate dormant hair follicles to reduce hair fall and boost hair growth. 

Furthermore, since Onion juice is an excellent source of antioxidants, it helps prevent environmental damage. Moreover, periodically applying Onion juice to your scalp is a great way to see a definite reduction in hair fall.

How to Use

Cut a few slices of onion, squeeze out its juice and apply it to your scalp for about 10-15 minutes. Let it work its magic, and then rinse it off with a mild shampoo.

Why Is It Important To Maintain A Hair Care Routine?

Haircare is an essential and hygienic routine for both men and women. Nobody wants to go out with curly, dry, and unhealthy hair. However, just washing your hair doesn’t necessarily mean you've done it right; hair care also involves proper grooming and making sure you are using the right hair care products. A good hair care routine offers a vast list of benefits. Let us have a look at some of them. 

1. Helps prevent hair loss - If you use natural products for your hair care routine and cut-off those chemically induced products, you will likely experience minimum hair fall. Your hair care regimen is meant to strengthen your hair from its roots. Take diligent care of your hair by regular oiling, shampooing, and conditioning with the best natural hair care products. 
   
2. Boosts the hair volume – The hair volume is not determined by the number of hair strands you have but the exact thickness of your hair strand. If you want thick hair, you should include regular hair oiling in your hair care routine. Hair oiling will not only make your hair appear attractive on the outside but also make them healthy from the inside. 
   
3. Provides shine – With regular care, your hair becomes healthier and its natural shine is restored. Timely hair shampooing and conditioning also keeps your hair clean and nourished, making it appear lustrous. 

1. Prevents dandruff-related problems – The white flakes on your hair can drag down your confidence. By keeping your scalp clean and maintaining its pH balance, you can prevent the formation of dandruff. 

Bottom Line

Product buildup, environmental factors and over-styling can make your hair look dead and dry. Fortunately, there are some ways to add more shine and luster to your hair. 

Using the mentioned home remedies and natural hair care products to nourish your hair from the roots may prove to be helpful. Further, it’s also beneficial for hair to avoid heat styling and chemical treatments.