9 Ways to Score Healthier Strands

TURN DOWN THE HEAT

Investing in a blow-dryer or a flat/curling iron that enables you to adjust its heat output can help minimize unnecessary singeing. Most hair textures can be effectively smoothed or curled at 385 degrees (or less), as opposed to the strand-sizzling 450 degrees many irons now reach. Similarly, using a blow-dryer at medium heat, rather than the hottest setting, will cut down on hair-frying.

Pro Tip: Most professional heat styling tools (the kind found at a salon or in a beauty specialty store) are typically better at stabilizing the electricity coming from your outlets. Bargain-priced styling tools often don’t have this built-in feature and may leave your hair vulnerable to an ebb and flow of heat that can burn strands.

BEWARE OF WHAT YOU WEAR

If your hair falls below your shoulders, take note of your tops, sweaters, coats, scarves, etc. because they may be (sneakily) wreaking havoc on your hair. Scratchy wool can abrade your ends and trigger split ends. Turtlenecks or scarf loops can cause hair at your nape to tangle and tear. And zippers or buttons on hoods can get caught on (and rip at) loose strands. The easiest way to safeguard your hair: When you’re wearing something that could cause it harm, just opt for an updo, such as a bun, a braid or a classic ponytail. (Or just twist your hair up while you commute in your coat or scarf, then take it down once you arrive).

Pro Tip: To keep the hair at your nape from tangling, without having to pull all your hair up, create a tiny ponytail in just the underlayer, where strands are most apt to knot.

START AT THE BOTTOM

When you’re detangling, always start at the bottom, near your hair’s ends, and work your way up. Most hair is knottiest at the ends any way—and this minimizes your risk of tearing the hair at the midshaft or root.

Pro Tip: Try detangling in the shower, when your hair is coated in conditioner, slippery and less apt to rip. Just use a wide-toothed comb, or your fingers, to gently work through knots and tangles, again, focusing on the ends first.

PROTECT STRANDS WHILE YOU SLEEP

Believe it or not, the friction between your hair and your pillowcase—especially during a restless night of tossing and turning—can weaken your hair and cause split ends. One solution is to invest in a satin or silk pillowcase to minimize the rub. Another option: Put your hair in a top knot or high ponytail to cut down on chafing.

Pro Tip: To keep from creating a dent in the hair, use a soft scrunchie to secure. Bonus: Sleeping with your hair up, then taking it down in the morning will also boost volume and cut down on frizz.

MASK OFTEN

We often feel guilty about taking a few minutes for selfcare. Stop. Giving your hair a deep conditioning or strengthening treatment once a week can dramatically improve the health and resilience of your hair. At Prose, we create just-for-you treatments that tackle your hair’s specific issues efficiently and effectively.

Pro Tip: If you’re short on time try multitasking. Spritz your hair with water, apply your mask and then continue with your regularly scheduled activities, like your workout or Netflix binge session.

GIVE HAIR A SHOT OF COLD WATER

This popular pro tip really does work: After shampooing and conditioning, quickly rinse your hair with cold water to seal your strands’ outer layer, lock in moisture and nutrients, boost shine, and prevent frizz.

Pro Tip: Start with warm water to open the cuticle before you mask, follow with shampoo and then finish with cold water to seal the cuticle.

Healthy Hair Tip #7: Don’t go out unprotected

You know it ages your skin to venture outdoors sans sunscreen, and your hair is no different. UV exposure dries out hair, saps shine, weakens strands and oxidizes color. At Prose, we’ve developed a complex containing Coconut and Karanji Oils that helps minimize UV damage, and we frequently infuse it into our cleansing and conditioning formulas when a client has colored hair, spends a lot of time outdoors, or lives in a warm, sunny climate.

Pro Tip: Other ways to protect the hair and scalp from the sun include, of course, wearing hats and scarves, or, if you’re spending the day poolside or at the beach, coating the hair with a rich conditioner and slicking it back into a knot. The heavy cream will protect from the sun, as well as deeply treat your hair and scalp.

GET FREQUENT TRIMS

Many people avoid getting consistent haircuts because they’re afraid of losing too much length. But waiting too long in between trims is a recipe for split ends, and when split ends travel up a hair shaft, they can weaken the hair and cause chronic breakage. Translation: you’ll end up having to cut off even more hair than you might’ve originally.

Pro Tip: One reasonable solution is to ask your stylist to dust the ends. This means just skimming about a quarter of an inch off to prevent splits. Ideally, do this every six to eight weeks, though if your schedule is particularly crazed, you can get away with stretching to twelve weeks.

HAVE A SUPPLEMENT INSURANCE PLAN

One of the best ways to maintain good health is through eating a well-balanced diet. However, all of us have off days, busy weeks, or vacations that cause us to overindulge and under-nourish, so having a safety net (a.k.a. oral supplements to fill in the nutrient gaps) may be a smart idea. A multivitamin will help, though finding something specifically formulated with nutrients known to be beneficial to the hair (e.g. biotin, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin C, or folic acid) is your best bet.

Pro Tip: Consult with your doctor to find out the best nutrition plan for you and your lifestyle.

In conjunction with these habits, using a custom hair care regimen will help you maintain healthy hair. To create your customized collection, start here.