The Top Habits Women With Great Hair Have

Are you constantly looking on the pages of magazines and blogs of pictures of women with perfect hair? The women who have the most coveted hair in the world do not use expensive and trendy treatments that do more damage to their wallets than help improve the condition of their hair. So, if you want to have a beautiful, flowing mane on your head that will make you the envy of others, you may want to consider some of the top habits that women with great hair implement in their daily routine.

You probably have at least one friend that always has hair that looks freshly styled and picture perfect. Their hair always has bounce and even looks good on a bad hair day. Despite what they may or may not say, your friend has likely incorporated hair habits that you could benefit from.

1. Limit Heat Styling

Although there are times when you must use a heat styling appliance for your hair such as a blow dryer or curling iron, you should use them as infrequently as possible. In fact, most hair stylists recommend using steam curlers or rollers.

Steam rollers are a lot gentler on the hair, and they do not get as hot as curling or flat irons. Steam rollers receive heat from steam that passes through the rollers. However, if you must use a curling wand, curling iron or blow dryer, be sure to use a quality heat protectant before styling your hair.

2. Use Moisturizer

The skin that is part of your scalp requires moisture just like the skin on other parts of your body. This is especially important if you want to have a healthy foundation for hair growth to occur. Most women who have great hair condition their hair every time they shampoo.

However, moisturizing the hair and scalp does not end after your shower is over. Even if you do not plan to use heat on your hair, you should still apply a leave-in conditioner on it or another type of protective product and comb the product through your hair. These types of products can help:

• Reduce frizz
• Reduce split ends
• Reduce dryness
• Act as a protectant for color treated hair

3. Be Consistent With Products

Many women believe that changing hair products often is beneficial for their hair because they think this process will not allow the hair to adapt. Experts, on the other hand, disagree with this theory. It is best to find a set of products that work well on your hair and use the products consistently.

Keep in mind; your hair will not know the difference. In other words, it is perfectly fine to change products while searching for the ones that work best on your hair. When you find the perfect combination, stick with it!

4. Eat The Right Types Of Foods

Women pay a lot of attention to their hair once the strands have erupted from the follicles. However, the battle for healthy hair begins at your dinner table. According to numerous studies, what you eat and place in your body every day has a significant impact on the health and growth of your hair. Believe it or not, the thickness and shininess of your hair are partially determined by the foods you eat.

So, what are the best foods to eat for perfect hair? Your diet should include foods that are rich in:

• Protein
• Fatty acids (Omega-3s)
• Zinc
• Iron

Experts recommend rotating lean proteins such as fish, chicken and lean red meat in your diet every week.

5. Take Vitamins

Even with the best diet in the world, you may still be missing out on some essential nutrients that are essential for great hair. But, how do you know if you need to take vitamins or not? The best indicators for health is to have a look at your nails and skin.

Is your skin dry and flaky? Do you nails break easily? If these areas of your body do not look healthy, chances are your hair is also screaming for help. Fortunately, these signs can be easily reversed by eating a diet that is rich in amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and herbs. By adding these types of foods in your diet, you will see a noticeable improvement not only in your hair but your skin and nails also.

6. Limit Sun Exposure

Just like too much direct heat via styling appliances is not good for your hair, being in the sun for an extended period is not beneficial either if healthy hair is your goal. Women are already familiar with how much damage the sun can do to their skin.

Your hair can suffer as much as your skin does, but it can be more difficult to tell when and if sun damage has occurred to your hair. Sun damage can be minimized to your hair by applying a quality leave-in conditioner to the hair at least three times a week. The leave-in can also protect the hair from salt, chlorine, wind and UV rays.

If you are heading to the beach for summer vacation, you can use a heat protectant that has SPF onto wet or damp hair before you head outside. It can be reapplied after you finish swimming. It should be reapplied the same way you reapply sunscreen for your body.

7. Stay Hydrated

The body is made of over 60% water, so it is easy to understand that the body's vital functions are dependent on a person staying hydrated. The sad truth is that most people in the United States are considered chronically dehydrated.

Being under a constant state of dehydration forces the body to reserve water for essential functions such as heart rate, respiration, movement, and brain function. Hair growth is last on the list when it comes to survival, and the body will cause the hair to become weakened and fall out especially if you are severely dehydrated.

One of the simplest things you can do to improve the health of your hair is to drink plenty of water. Avoid drinks that contain caffeine and alcohol because they can increase dehydration.

These are all simple habits that do not take much time and can be easily added into your hair care regimen. Are there other healthy hair habits you would like to include?