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Clean hair is manageable hair.

You don’t need bad hair days in your life, so let’s make them a thing of the past.

We all love those days when our hair is soft, shiny and manageable. When our hair decides it’s not going to cooperate and takes on a mind of its own, things can quickly go from good to bad, and from bad to worse. A bad hair day can seriously zap our self-esteem and make us want to go into hiding. I have on several occasions wanted to call in sick to work because of my unruly hair! Now, of course, I’ve never done that (wink-wink), but the thought has crossed my mind. Here are some things we can do to help our hair look its best, so we can resist the urge to hide when a bad hair day strikes.

Stop the Bad Hair Days

I confess that I abuse the heck out of my hair. I know it’s not good, but sometimes it’s the fastest way to get my hair under control. Even though I turn to heat styling and pile on products, I know that long term I’m doing more harm than good. This is one of those times when I need you to listen to what I say, not follow what I do. And hair abuse is not gender biased. I know some guys out there who spend way more time fussing with their hair than some of us ladies. The bottom line is this: in order to have more good hair days, we must be kind to our hair.

Stopping the abuse is our first priority. Put down those super-hot hair dryers, curling tongs and flat irons, and give your hair a break. Excess heat is damaging, as it depletes moisture from your hair and scalp and, over time, can strip away your natural protective oils. The result? Hair that’s dry, frazzled and prone to breaking.

Give your hair a break from the heat. If possible, attempt to air dry at least once a week to give your hair a break from damaging styling tools. When you do use heat styling tools, use the lower settings on your styling devices and try a heat protection spray to create a barrier between your hair and the heat to help prevent damage. The sooner you stop the abuse, the healthier your hair will start to look.

Make Time for Hair Care

Some days are so hectic that your hair just doesn’t have a chance. And most bad hair days are really your own fault. You may be better off skipping your morning shampoo if you don’t have the time to do it right.

A few simple rules to proper shampooing

• Scrub your scalp to remove excess oils and product buildup.
• Remove all traces of shampoo and conditioner when you rinse. Most shampoos and conditioners need plenty of water in order to be effective and remove dirt and residue, and to release their conditioning ingredients. Hair that hasn’t been rinsed thoroughly can be limp, oily and unmanageable.
• Just when you think you’re done rinsing, rinse some more. And to help seal the hair’s cuticle and give you more shine, rinse with cool or lukewarm water, never hot. Beware of Product Overload

So, you just put in the extra time and effort to be sure you rinsed all of the shampoo and conditioner out of your hair. Then what do you do? If you’re like me, you start piling on the styling agents: protection spray, hair serum, styling gels, mousse, hair sprays and shining agents. It never ends.

Truth is, the more products you pile on, the greater your chances are of having a really bad hair day. Hair products can weigh your hair down and make it look dull and lifeless. Lighten up on the products and let your hair breathe.

Quick Tips to Make Every Day a “Good Hair Day”

• Look for powerful moisturizing and conditioning ingredients when you choose your shampoo and conditioner.
• Go sulfate free. Sulfates are harsh, drying and can strip the color from your hair.
• Just when you think you’re done rinsing your hair, keep rinsing and count to ten.
• Your hair is weakest when it’s wet, so be gentle when combing wet hair and avoid putting it into a ponytail or braid until it’s thoroughly dry. This will help prevent damage.
• Consider investing in a good hairdryer with ionic technology. It may help your hair dry faster and with less damage. Remember, the louder your blow dryer is, the lower the quality may be.
• Ease up on the products to avoid buildup, which could cause lifeless, unmanageable, oily hair.

Let’s face it: the only thing worse than a bad day is a bad hair day. If you follow these quick and simple tips, you can banish the bad hair days forever. Healthy hair is happy hair!