We all look at those models and celebs with their hair resting perfectly down their back as it shines healthily. Well, this dream can quite easily become a reality with just a few adjustments to your hair routine and a few tips to follow. How to get soft hair, silky to the touch? Well, I am not one to keep a secret.
So, first things first, if you want smooth, silky and easy to manage locks on the outside, you need to sort them on the inside. You are what you eat is a very true saying. Ensure that you eat a healthy, well balanced diet that is packed full of essential vitamins and minerals. Think foods like avocado, fish, nuts and chicken.
If you think you might be lacking in certain nutrients, take supplements daily. Hair condition and shine can be improved by taking Omega-3 oil and vitamin E. Following a good diet, keeping yourself hydrated, getting plenty of sleep and regular exercise are all essential for soft, well-conditioned hair, as well as other benefits like great skin, a good figure and organ health.
Once you’ve sorted things out on the inside and feel healthy and revitalised, here are some tips you can use for your hair to give it a boost when it comes to softness:
Brushing
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Brush your hair to remove knots and tangles before a shower and at intervals throughout the day. Regular brushing spreads natural hair oils evenly around the hair and scalp, and avoids hair getting tangled or backcombed, which can cause breakages.
Washing
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When you wash your hair, make sure the water is warm, but never hot. Hot water can damage hair follicles. Gently massage a good quality shampoo into your hair. Go easy – don’t scrub away viciously, your hair is fragile.
There are loads of specialized products on the market that add moisture or are best for your particular hair type, so shop around and experiment, and figure out what works for you personally. Finish with a conditioner, and use cool water to rinse this or cold if you feel brave (this closes the pores, seals in the moisture and helps add shine).
Take the time to rinse out all shampoo and conditioner properly, because leaving products in your hair can cause it to be heavy, lifeless and dull. A build-up of product can be one of the main reasons your hair gets greasy quickly.
Use conditioner on the ends of your hair, but use sparingly (or not at all) at the roots, depending on how fine your hair is. Conditioners can make hair appear too heavy rather than soft and bouncy; sometimes it is best to use a wide tooth comb to spread the conditioner through the hair evenly.
It is best not to wash your hair every day. Over washing can strip the hair of its natural oils. Every other day or a couple of times a week is fine, but again, figure out what works for you – everyone is different!
Treatments
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There are loads of things to experiment with when it comes to silky soft hair… why not try some out and see what brings you results? First of all, there are many leave-in conditioners, hot oil treatments or deep conditioning masks to pick from in health and beauty stores that are great for taming frizzy hair, adding moisture and leaving hair feeling soft.
There are also lots of DIY methods as well, and this can be a lot of fun. Grab some of your mates and do a pamper evening, trying out some of these. Try mixing a tablespoon of olive oil, a teaspoon of Vitamin E oil and a small amount of conditioner, and use this on your hair instead of shampoo and conditioner one time.
Leave this to soak into the hair for up to 20 minutes before washing it out thoroughly.
Another treatment is using eggs! Simply separate the yolk from the egg whites (this can be tricky at first). Whisk the egg yolk with a spoonful of mayonnaise and a tiny drop of olive oil if your hair is dry. Add a spoon of honey to add a nice scent.
Pre-wash the hair but refrain from using shampoo, and instead, spread this mixture through your hair (use a comb if necessary) and leave for 20 minutes before washing with warm and then cool water.
Avocado is another fantastic ingredient for hair conditioning. As well as eating plenty of avocados, it is great for putting directly onto hair. Mash one avocado and one banana into a bowl and whip it up into a paste texture.
Use this as a hair mask and leave for up to an hour before rinsing well. This combination helps soften hair, mend damage and split ends and gives your hair bounce. You can also try avocado and egg yolk as an alternative.
Apart from banana, apple is another fruit for hair mask use. Boil one or two apples until soft and remove the water, mixing the apples into a thick paste. Allow it to cool and apply to the hair for thirty minutes before rinsing and using shampoo and conditioner as normal.
And if you’re still willing to try out some more DIY ideas … how about apple cider vinegar? Combine a half cup of apple cider vinegar with one cup of warm water and spritz onto hair after washing it and towel drying. It is advisable to do this perhaps a couple of times a year at most, as the vinegar can be weakening to the hair follicles.
However, it does add shine and help reduce dandruff. Another one is beer! Yes, seriously! Beer adds shine and volume to hair because of the many minerals and vitamins, including Vitamin B. The beer can leave a smell, but this is usually eradicated when using a hair dryer to heat dry the hair.
Not all of these treatments will work for you, some might not take to your particular hair very well – leaving it sticky or heavy or overly moisturised and greasy, but some will feel like a miracle cure and you’ll wonder how you managed without it. The key is to give them a go, grab some ingredients and have a bit of fun with it. Always wash them out thoroughly with cool water.
Drying
Try to refrain from blow drying your hair or using too much heat on it (drying, straightening or curling). Heat damages hair, which will not leave it feeling silky and soft.
If you are able to let your hair air dry, that is the best thing to do, but if you can’t afford the time, towel pat your hair dry first, put the hairdryer on a cool setting and use heat protectant spray or serum before starting.
TLC
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Always give your hair some Tender Loving Care. Use dyes as little as possible, so that the harsh chemicals do not dry out your hair, try to stay away from excessive heat, chlorine or UV rays and take regular trips to the salon for a trim.
It’s about common sense, but sometimes it is all about getting into a good routine, not only with what you eat and do for your body on the inside, but your hair care routine also.
We all know what it is like to be short of time when you’re rushing around in the morning getting ready. You feel tempted to rush the hair washing and blast it with a hair dryer on a high heat setting, before straightening it, before it’s fully dry.
These are all big no-no’s if you’re after soft hair because damage and breakages will leave the hair frizzy and out of control. Get up a little earlier and really take the time to care for it, and once you’re in a good routine and have positive hair habits, it will all click into place. The results – silky, shiny locks – will be worth it!
Silky soft hair looks adorable and best worn down. The key is to work on your health and allow this to shine through, quite literally, into your hair! In addition, try some of the fab conditioning treatments explained in this article to give your hair that extra edge of softness, making it easy to manage, style and wear down all day with minimal effort – and avoid those hair traps!
Over to you … have you tried out any of the conditioning treatments explained in this article? Have they worked? Do you struggle to get your hair soft to the touch? Do you have silky locks and some tips to share with other YouQueen readers? We’d love to hear your comments below.