Build a Hair Care Routine According To Your Hair Type! - Ingredients, Tips, and More

It's never too late to kickstart your hair care journey! Building your perfect haircare routine is now easier than ever with this curated guide on different ingredients and techniques that you can adapt for your hair type!

Did you know that finding out your hair type and formulating a unique hair care routine is the first and foremost step in maintaining healthy hair? It is true that understanding what your hair needs can seem a bit toilsome and overwhelming at times. Preparing and experimenting with different ingredients and methods obviously demands a lot of your time, energy and effort to realize what's best for your hair. But this tiresome (yet important) process can be made a lot easier if you have a basic knowledge about your hair, especially about its structure and type.

Developing your hair care regimen by figuring out your hair type is possibly the best way to tackle your hair care concerns and thereby, keeping your locks luscious and healthy. Not only does this approach helps in saving a lot of time and money on ingredients and methods that are ineffective for your hair, but it also helps in narrowing down the ideal ingredients and techniques that effectively cater to what your hair really needs.

From finding your hair type to picking out the right ingredients to adapting their perfect usage techniques, you can easily build an easy and beneficial hair care routine right from scratch. And there is no better time to start chasing your goals for healthy hair than now! To help you out in your hair care journey, we provide you with a detailed handbook on building your perfect hair care routine according to your hair type that certainly benefits your hair. So go ahead and start your journey to healthy hair by planning your haircare regimen starting today!

Straight Hair (1A - 2A)

1. Prone to Dryness

If your hair type is straight and prone to dryness, get your hair as much conditioning and moisturizing as it can get on a regular basis. Dry hair, especially if it belongs to the straight hair category, can result in a damaged lusterless look on the hair. In such cases, make sure that you condition your hair before and after shampooing. Deep conditioning your hair ensures prolonged moisturization of the scalp and hair, and can greatly improve the overall health and texture of your hair.

Choosing hair care products that are based on strong carrier oils benefits from dryness and lack of hydration in hair. Since dry hair is the most prone to hair damage, applying avocado oil or coconut oil on hair, especially to the ends of your hair, can prevent split ends and break-off. Also, using lukewarm water to wash your hair and brushing your hair first from the ends and then from the roots can help in preventing breakage and further damage.

Using silk products like silk pillow or a silk scrunchie for hair can greatly improve hair health by reducing friction thereby preventing breakoff and tangles. Preparing a homemade hair mask with banana, oil and egg white on your hair can help in making it appear smooth and shiny.

2. Lacking volume

It is pretty common for people with straight hair type to have a smooth mane which, however, can appear a tad dull and lifeless. But with the right ingredients and techniques, you can perk up your hair for a voluminous and luscious look in the most natural way.

Using an aloe vera mask on hair to improve your hair density can result in thick, shiny and voluminous hair. Aloe vera is known for its impeccable moisturizing action on hair and scalp, which will enable your hair to look fuller and shinier. Also, hydrating your scalp by applying oils like coconut oil or hemp oil can intensify the volume of your hair.

When it comes to shower techniques and hair handling, avoid applying too much oil to your hair while making sure to use an appropriate amount of shampoo. Not only that, but make sure that you avoid applying conditioner near or on your scalp, and only condition your hair ends.
Handy techniques like blow drying your hair with your head tilted downwards can increase the volume of your hair by giving it a vintage bouncy look.

3. Greasy hair

Greasy hair, especially if it's a straight hair type, can be a real hassle when it comes to letting your hair loose and showcasing those locks. Greasy, sticky hair can result in a dull, lifeless look to your hair and can result in several hair issues like dandruff and hair fall. In such cases, feel free to shampoo more frequently and use a mild conditioner so that the excess oil is removed by preserving the moisture of the hair. While shampooing, you can also try adding a tablespoon of salt into your shampoo, as the salt calms down the overactive sebaceous glands and stops the glands from overproducing oil. Speaking of hair wash techniques, if you want to change the greasy look of your hair, avoid washing your hair often will train your hair into becoming greasy less frequently.

That being said, avoid touching your hair all the time as touching it can increase the oil production in the scalp, resulting in greasy hair. If you find yourself in a hurry to go out while your hair is still greasy, apply a bit of talcum powder or baby powder to your hair, leave it on for 5 min and brush it off with a comb. Products like talcum powder, corn starch and baby powder can instantly absorb the oil from your hair and scalp, leaving your hair looking fresh and fluffy.

Wavy Hair (2A - 2B)

1. For Dry and Frizzy Hair

If your wavy hair is prone to dryness and frizziness, including certain moisturizing oils and butters in your hair care routine can help retain the health and texture of your hair. Using shampoo and conditioner having moisturizing ingredients like shea butter and cocoa butter can reduce the dryness of the hair to a large extent. Also, to reduce frizziness, you can start by using defining creams or leave conditioners on your hair that can keep your hair hydrated. For wavy to curly hair types, it is encouraged to use natural butters like shea butter or mango butter onto your hair ends to define the wavy curls.

If you're into using hair oils on a daily basis, applying jojoba oil, hemp oil or rosemary oil onto your hair will moisturize the ends of your hair, preventing split ends and hair breakage. Moreover, using beneficial oils like avocado oil and hemp oil on your damp hair can strengthen the hair strands and hydrate the scalp.

When it comes to hair care techniques, brushing your hair while it is wet or moist can greatly reduce frizziness by detangling your hair. This technique is applicable for curly hair types as well. After brushing your wet hair, apply a leave-in conditioner for the best results. It is always better to use cold or lukewarm water to wash your hair, as hot water can easily dry out your hair resulting in more frizz. You can also opt for much more practical techniques like using a microfibre towel or a cotton t-shirt to dry out your hair after washing and using silk-based pillow covers and headbands. Also, if you want to protect your hair from overnight frizz and dryness, covering your hair with a silk bonnet will avoid frizziness the next day.

2. Lacking volume

Wavy hair type is that one hair type that looks gorgeous with long voluminous locks that are perfect for almost every hairstyle! And for that reason, maintaining your wavy curls in their luscious form is not any less important. Of course, adding natural ingredients to your hair care routine is the best way to pump up your hair texture and volume. Using ingredients like Moroccan oil and other oils of your preference as leave-on conditioners can help with the volume and definition of your hair locks.

Not only that but applying curl on creams that contain jojoba oil or avocado oil can help define your loose curls and give them a more natural look. Although this is the case, make sure that you don't use too many hair products as it can make your hair sticky, which can result in clamping up of the hair.

If you are going for a more edgy look for your hair, try air drying or hair by blow drying or use a diffuser while blow drying to create more individuality to each strand, which is also a great way to texture your locks. While blow drying your hair, make sure that you focus on drying the roots by tilting your head upside down to increase the volume of your locks.

Curly Hair (2C-3C)

1. Hair Thinning

One of the main reasons for hair thinning is when the regrowth of new hair is hindered due to a lack of nutritional nourishment and effective blood flow near the hair follicles. In situations of excess hair fall and thinning, adding protein products to your routine like coconut milk, avocado and mango butter can help provide enough nutrients essential for hair growth. Also, routine oil treatments by massaging your scalp with hemp oil or avocado oil would be effective in inducing hair growth.

While treating your hair with beneficial oils, try doing asanas, particularly for hair growth and focus on the acupressure points on the scalp for hair growth.

When it comes to hair care techniques for a curly hair type that is prone to thinning, it is best to avoid wearing your hair in braids or tight rollers for longer intervals or overnight, as it can increase the tension around the hair follicles and trigger hair fall and breakage. Make sure that you brush your hair first from the ends and then from the roots to reduce hair breakage and be gentle with your hair by using silk-based products. Getting a hair trim once every month can avoid split ends and frizzy hair on a long-term basis.

2. For Frizzy Hair

Frizziness is one of the most common hair issues that affect curly hair types. Not only does it ruin the natural texture of the curls, but it also gives the hair a damage-ridden look which can be frustrating and overwhelming for those with curly hair, especially when trying new hairstyles and looks. Certain handy tricks like applying shampoo only to your scalp and avoiding the hair can help in reducing frizziness to a large extent. Using a hair serum or essential oil like rosemary oil after the shower can help in taming the frizz, and can give definition and texture to your curls. That being said, keeping your hair locks moisturized is one f the best ways to avoid the frizziness of the hair. Treating your hair with beneficial butters like shea butter or using a hair mask (like banana hair mask) would ensure hydration and smoothness of your curls and can prevent them from turning frizzy and dry.

In the case of curly hair type, hair wash techniques before and after a shower are very important since they can be crucial in maintaining (and changing) the texture of your hair when done with the right approach. It is encouraged to use lukewarm to cold water for washing your hair. Moderately cold water is best to lock in the moisture of the scalp and hair, leaving it looking smooth and healthy after a fresh shower. When drying off your hair, pat it dry using a cotton t-shirt so as to avoid split ends and frizziness, and try not to comb your hair while it is dry. Getting a hair trim once every month can avoid split ends and frizzy hair, thereby inducing healthy hair growth.

3. Greasy hair

Just like any other hair type, the best way to tackle greasy hair is to avoid using products with heavy and harsh chemicals as much as possible. Overusing chemical-ridden products can trigger excess oil production by disrupting the natural sebum flow of your scalp.

Wash your hair less often and whenever you do, do not over-strip the hair by using too much shampoo, as it can increase the oil production of your scalp. Make sure that you hydrate and moisturize your hair with oils as it can reduce the natural oil production. You can also try adding a tablespoon of salt into your shampoo, as the salt calms down the overactive sebaceous glands and stops the glands from overproducing oil.