As someone who has had her fair number of hair struggles: from dandruff and dry scalp to hair loss and greasy hair, I have learned a few tips and tricks in order to minimize hair-loss and maximize scalp health.
I have never really had thick hair however when I started law school my hair began falling out due to stress. Since this time, I have been very self conscious about my thin hair. I have learned how to make my hair appear thicker and how to maintain optimum scalp health which is also key to healthy hair.
For context, I have untreated virgin hair. I am also Filipino so my hair is generally pretty straight, dark (it is pretty much black) and although the strands of my hair are fairly thick, I do not have a lot of it. I also generally like to keep my hair long.
When I experience period of stress, my scalp becomes very dry and begins to flake. If you have experienced similar issues or have the same hair concerns as I do, I hope you find the following tips and tricks helpful which I have tried and tested over the years:
1. Stop washing your hair everyday
I used to wash my hair every single day so I totally understand the struggle of trying to break this habit. The reason why I no longer do this is because each time I wash my hair, I need to style it to maintain the longevity of that hair wash and also so that my hair looks the way I like it to look. Styling my hair each time I wash it means increased exposure to heat and damage which is never good.
Even if you do not heat-style your hair each time you wash it, I still think limiting the frequency of hair washes also limits the amount of times you strip your hair of the natural oils and nutrients it needs. (which happens each time you wash you hair). “Training” your hair so that it only needs to be washed a couple of times a week is a REAL thing. I had to slowly wean myself off the daily hair-wash habit and now I wash my hair about twice a week which works great for me and my lifestyle.
2. Use a scalp treatment
Another thing that I started implementing into my hair care routine a few years ago is a scalp treatment. Think of a scalp treatment as similar to a face mask. Sometimes our scalps just need some love and clarification or revitalization. A good scalp treatment will really help revitalize your scalp especially for those that experience dandruff or flaky scalp. There are tons of different ones out there so I encourage you to try out different types of treatments to see what you like.
One that I truly love and that I have purchased over and over again is the Kerastase Initialiste Advanced Scalp and Hair Serum (here is the link for my American friends).
3. use good quality shampoos and conditioners
I have been using salon grade shampoos for about 4 years now. Strangely enough using these shampoos has truly saved me money. Prior to this, I was always purchasing drugstore shampoos and conditioners, half of the time I was purchasing new products to replace something that I purchased on a whim and did not like. If you find a product you like, stick with it. A 24 oz (or 710mL) sized bottle of Shampoo and conditioner has lasted me about a year and a half. The reason that it took me so long to use these bottles up was because I was only washing my hair twice a week. Finding the right products and “training” my hair really helped me with being able to do this comfortably. As a general rule, I do not use shampoos with sulfates (understand the ingredients and be aware of what you are using and the potential dangers).
Scroll to the end of this post for my favourite products.
4. brush you hair before you wash it
If you brush your hair well and make sure it is tangle-free prior to shampooing it really helps reduce the amount of hair that falls our during the washing process. It is totally natural that hairs will fall out while you are washing your hair but to limit it, I find this trick very very effective. This also really helps when brushing your hair after you wash it because you will have a lot less tangles to work through.
5. think about your hairstyles
This is a part of “training” your hair to get to the point where you can comfortably wash it twice a week. Think about how you are going to style your hair the day you wash it and the days between washes. As I said earlier, I always blow out my hair with a blow dryer on the days I wash it. When I do this, my hair stays looking fresh for the next 2-3 days.
First day hair is my favourite because I love the blow-out look and it is when my hair is the most voluminous. Back when I had events to go to (pre-pandemic) I would always structure my hair washes around when I would want my hair to look good.
I can usually wear my hair down during the second day. On the third day my hair will usually be its oiliest so I will throw it up in a bun or ponytail to keep the oils at bay.
In terms of hairstyles that limit hair loss, I would 100% recommend leaving your hair down as much as possible. Ponytails and buns can cause tension and pulling which is not always the best for your hair. If you want the hair pulled back, try loosely clipping it back. I try and make ponytails a last resort. When I opt for a bun or ponytail I always use a **silk hair tie or scrunchie and I secure my hair as loosely as possible.
6. Use a silk or satin pillow case
This small change can really help with tangles and hair breakage. Switching my pillow case to a silk one has led to less hair fall-out and tangles. Using a silk pillow case has also allowed me to prolong my blow out. Not to mention, t is also much more comfortable as the fabric is naturally cool. The satin or silk texture reduces the friction between your hair and the pillow which I find helpful in reducing bed-head as well!
I use a pillowcase I purchased from **Amazon.
7. Tie your hair in a loose low bun when going to bed
This is another thing I did wrong for many years. In order to prolong my hair washes and blow outs I will always brush my hair out before bed and twist it into a low bun. I will secure it with a silk hair tie just enough to keep it put (not too tight). I used to sleep with my hair in a high bun all the time and I would make sure the bun was tight (for whatever reason). The pulling causes tension and may be damaging to your hair and scalp. I was also finding that when I slept with a tight bun, my scalp would hurt and feel sore the next day when I let my hair down. So a loose, low bun is key to prolonging a hairstyle or a hairwash.
And there you have it, all of my key tips in my arsenal. I hope you found this post helpful, if you suffer from thin hair and hair loss I would also encourage you to see your doctor about this because sometimes this is stress-related or even health related and perhaps there is a solution that is more suitable for you.
Here are some links to some of my favourite tried and true hair products:
LINKS FOR MY CANADIAN READERS (links are affiliate links):
LINKS FOR MY AMERICAN READERS (links are affiliate links):
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