Your New Hair Care Routine: How to Find the Right Routine for You

- If you want healthy hair, making sure that you have the right hair care routine is important.
- Different hair types require different hair care.
- All hair types should aim to avoid ingredients in their products like sulfates and parabens.
- Be mindful of the cut and style of your hair.
If you’re looking to keep your hair healthy, then check out these different hair care routines and find the right one for you.
Introduction
Everyone is unique. We all have different bodies, personalities, and yes – hair!
If you want your hair to look and feel its best, then it’s crucial to make sure that you’ve got the right hair care routine going for your specific hair type. It is because different hair types have different biochemistry.
Curly hair requires a different kind of care than straight hair does. If your routine consists of just a basic shampoo and conditioning, and that’s it, then it might be time to consider what your hair needs.
If you’re looking for ways to up your hair care game, then you’ve come to the right place. Here’s everything you need to know about the best ways to get the healthy, happy hair of your dreams.
Determining Your Hair Type
The first step to setting up your healthy hair routine is to determine your hair type. Someone with straight hair is going to require different care than someone with curly hair.
Here’s how you can determine your hair type.
Straight
It’s pretty easy to tell if you have straight hair. This is hair that falls without waves or curls to it, though there are different types of straight hair.
Type A straight hair is a hair that is super fine and thin. If you have this type of hair, then you might find it particularly prone to oiliness.
Type B straight hair is hair that is a little thicker than type A. You’ll find medium thickness with a little more volume to it.
If you have type C straight hair, then you’ll have very thick and coarse hair. This is pretty stubborn hair, and you’ll find it hard to hold a curl.
Wavy
Wavy hair is hair that’s somewhere in between straight and curly hair. If you have wavy hair, then your hair will have an S-shape to it.
Like straight hair, wavy comes in three different types. Type A wavy hair is very thin and fine while still maintaining that S-shape.
If you have type B wavy hair, then your hair will be of medium thickness. Your S-shape might be a little more pronounced, and you’re likely to have some more frizz to go along with it.
Type C wavy hair is much thicker and coarser. You’ve likely got a significant amount of frizz going along with this hair type.
Curly
Curly hair has pronounced curls that start at the root of the hair and continue down to the tip.
Type A curly hair tends to be pretty fine. Your curls won’t be super tight, and instead will be loose and thin.
If you’ve got type B curly hair, you’ll be able to tell because of your hair’s medium thickness. Your curls will likely be much tighter than type A.
Finally, type C curly hair is much thicker and coarser than the previous two types. Your curls will likely be tighter.
Coiled
Coiled hair is usually even thicker, tighter, and coarser than curly hair. This type of hair requires the most care, as it is surprisingly fragile.
Type A coiled hair is hair that is quite tight and springy. You’ll find a lot of bounce and movement in your hair.
Type B coiled hair has Z-shaped coils, and you might find that this hair type is thicker too.
If you have type C coiled hair, then you will have extremely tight, thick, and coarse coils from the root of the hair to the bottom.
Hair Care Routine by Type
There are different things to consider when you’re determining the right healthy hair routine for your hair.
Of course, hair type is the first thing to think about. If you have type B straight hair, you’re going to need a different routine than someone who has type C curly hair. But your hair type isn’t the only thing you should consider. You also need to take into account the amount of oil and grease in your hair.
Your lifestyle is also something you need to pay attention to. If you spend a lot of time working outside, then you may need to wash your hair more frequently than someone who works indoors.
That said, here are a few hair care tips that you need to know for each hair type.
1. Washing
Straight. If you have straight hair, then you’ll be washing your hair more frequently than someone with curly or wavy hair. Straight hair should be washed 2-3 times a week in general. If your hair is super fine or oily, then you may need to wash it more often. You should look for a shampoo that is sulfate-free since sulfates can dry out your scalp.
Also, use a light conditioner. You’ll want to avoid anything leave-in that will weigh your hair down. Ingredients like coconut oil and jojoba oil are great ingredients for keeping hair hydrated and healthy without making it heavy.
Wavy. Those with wavy hair should be washing their hair every 3 or 4 days since wavy hair is generally dryer than straight hair. Again, avoiding sulfates and parabens is your best bet.
Since wavy hair is usually dryer at the ends, applying some oil after washing will help keep the ends of your hair hydrated. Feel free to apply a leave-in conditioner to this hair type, and scrunching your hair after washing will help bring out the definition of your S-shaped waves.
Curly. Curly hair is much dryer than straight or wavy hair, and so you’ll want to wash it less frequently. You should only be washing your hair about once a week, and again, make sure to avoid sulfates and parabens.
When it comes to curly hair, the most important thing is to condition. Your natural hair routine should involve conditioning every 3 or four days, and make sure to focus on the ends of your hair rather than the roots.
Consider deep-conditioning your hair about once a week. And don’t detangle your hair until you’ve applied your conditioner, using a comb to distribute the conditioner throughout your hair.
Coiled. When you’re washing coiled hair, aim to focus on the roots with your shampoo rather than the ends. Try to wash only about once a week. If that’s not quite enough for you, co-washing with a conditioner 2 or 3 times a week will help keep your hair healthy as part of your natural hair routine.
Deep conditioning your hair once a week will also help keep hair shiny and healthy-looking.
2. Drying
Depending on your hair type, you must dry your hair in different ways. Make sure that you’re using the right hair drying technique for your healthy hair routine.
Straight. No matter what hair type you have, the best way to dry your hair is to allow it to air dry. Heat tools can all damage your hair if used too frequently.
However, if you must blow-dry your hair, straight hair is the easiest to dry. Use your hairdryer on a low setting, and brush your hair through as you dry it.
Wavy. Try to avoid blow drying your wavy hair as much as possible. Air drying is your best option. Once you get out of the shower, prevent frizz by squeezing water out of your hair using a t-shirt or microfiber towel.
If you need to dry your hair fast, opt for a diffuser attachment for your blow dryer, and use as low a setting as possible.
Curly. Curly hair should use even more caution than wavy hair. Again, try your best to avoid the blow dryer. Your diffuser attachment will be your best friend if you do need to dry quickly.
Coiled. Like wavy and curly hair, coiled hair should avoid the blow dryer as much as possible. Use the diffuser if you absolutely must dry your hair quickly.
It’s preferable to shake or squeeze your hair dry. Since coiled hair is so delicate, heat tools are especially dangerous.
3. Cut and Trim
Keeping your hair nicely cut and trimmed will make it look even healthier, which is why it’s an important part of your hair care routine. Make sure to do your research when it comes to your stylist, and look for examples of some of their past work to see if they’ll fit with your hair type.
Straight and wavy hair can be cut wet, which means it can be cut immediately after washing.
Curly hair, on the other hand, should be cut dry to make sure it maintains its shape. If you straighten your hair on occasion, mention that to your stylist, since layers in the wrong places can make your hair look awkward when straight.
Coiled hair should be cut dry, like curly hair.
Bonus Treatments for Every Type
Straight. Invest in a texturizing spray, which will allow your hair to hold better when you’re going for an updo. Texturizing sprays can also give your hair a bit of a beachy wave.
Wavy. You can get even more pronounced waves to your hair by adding in some leave-in conditioner and using your hands or a t-shirt to scrunch the ends.
Curly. Curly hair tends to be dry. Purchasing hair masks and using one once a week or every few weeks will help keep your hair hydrated.
Coiled. If you want long, luscious hair, then investing in some hair vitamins will help your hair grow faster and stay healthy.
Conclusion
If you want healthy, strong hair, then it’s important to treat your hair right. Use the above tips to determine your hair type and find the right hair care routine for you!