Tips To Maintain Healthy Hair With Shampoo

Talk to ten different people and you're likely to hear about ten different hair care routines. From washing every day to washing just once or twice a week, or (gasp) — not washing at all — there are many variations on hair care, with each person insisting that their method works wonderfully.

What makes things complicated is that each one may very well be right; the steps needed to get and keep healthy, beautiful hair can't be reduced to a 'one-size-fits-all' prescription. Instead, the 'right' thing to do will vary according to hair type, lifestyle, and scalp needs. Read on for pointers that can transform any head of hair to fabulous.

First, pay attention to your scalp. Most of us tend to focus only on how our hair looks, but healthy hair actually starts with a healthy scalp. Bring the salon-style scalp massage you love home into your shower by applying shampoo directly to the scalp and massaging away (via MindBodyGreen).

Also, watch for signs that your scalp may be irritated. Sunnie Brook, a Los Angeles-based celebrity hairdresser, explained to Good Housekeeping that "If you notice dryness, itching, or any scalp issues, your hair will be affected by this." Switching to a sulfate-free shampoo may help relieve any scalp irritation (via Bustle).

Next, let your hair do the talking when it comes to how often to shampoo, and what type of product to use. If your tresses tend to be oily, washing daily might be just fine. But if they are dry, you may prefer to wash them less often (via American Academy of Dermatology). In any case, always follow up with a good conditioner that stays on the hair for at least a minute before being rinsed with warm — not hot — water (via Good Housekeeping).

And because our hair will also reflect our general physical and mental health, it's important to make a healthy diet and stress management part of our hair care routine as well. Including enough high-quality protein will help hair — which is made mostly out of protein — grow strong and healthy. And the same idea applies to our stress levels. As Brooks tells Good Housekeeping, "Your hair is an outgrowth of your body; if you are stressed, your skin will be stressed and that includes your scalp."