Everyone wants salon-quality hair without paying for the salon or investing in dozens of miracle-promising shampoos and conditioners. Walking down the hair care aisle can get overwhelming, especially when every brand seemingly promises the same thing.

 

Fortunately, you don’t have to change your shampoo or douse your hair in chemicals to make it look healthy and clean. There are a few small changes you can add to your routine to boost the vitamins in your hair and make it stronger. Here are three steps you can take today for better locks.

 

Get Regular Trims

 

Image via Flickr by martinak15

Few women are willing to part with the length of their hair, but a haircut doesn’t have to mean a dramatic new look. Most stylists will take off an inch or less if you just want a healthy trim. These cuts will eliminate split ends and remove the unhealthy and weather-beaten parts of your hair. Getting a trim is a quick way to give your hair a fresh and healthy look before a major event like a wedding or party.  

Most specialists recommend getting a trim every six weeks to three months depending on your hair and length. However, if it’s been more than six months since your last cut, they may need to take off more if your hair is particularly damaged.

 

Turn Down Your Shower Temperature

Next time you’re in the shower, turn down the temperature a little before you wash your hair. Hot temperatures can strip away the natural oils of your hair and leave your roots brittle and dry. While you think you’re getting your hair clean, you could actually be causing damage and making your color fade.  

While you’re turning down the water temperature, evaluate your routines and try to eliminate other opportunities to damage your locks. For example, let your hair air dry for a while before styling it with a blow-dryer, or gently dab your hair with a towel instead of rubbing and twisting all of the water out of it. The less trauma your hair goes through, the better it will look.

 

Evaluate Your Diet

You are what you eat, so dry and brittle hair could mean you don’t drink enough water and need more vitamins. Try to increase your water intake by a glass or two per day, and start taking a daily multivitamin. If you’re still not seeing the results you want, try adding different foods to your diet to see how they affect your hair. For example, you might need to increase your protein intake for stronger hair or add avocados to your lunch to increase good essential oils.

Your body could be trying to send you a message through your hair, and a diet improvement could lead to other body benefits as well.

Think twice before you buy an expensive shampoo brand or your stylist tries to sell you a miracle cure. Healthy hair could be as easy as improving your diet or letting your hair air dry. Try these treatments first and see if there’s a noticeable improvement before you reach for the chemical treatments.