From super easy styling tricks to game-changing products and nutrient-rich foods, here's some extremely valuable advice from the experts and pros on how to have the healthiest hair of your dreams.
1. CHOOSE YOUR SHAMPOO WISELY.
"Hair follicles are only 1.25 mm below the surface of the scalp, so cleansing ingredients really can reach them," says Elizabeth Cunnane Phillips, a hair scientist at the Philip Kingsley Trichological Clinic in New York. Look for formulas enriched with vitamins E and B5, zinc, iron, and copper because they increase keratin production, the building block of hair.
Additionally, “the same ingredients that make your skin amazing can work wonders with your hair,” says Dennis Gross, MD, a dermatologist in NYC. Two of his top picks: peptides, which stimulate hair growth, and salicylic acid, which sloughs the scalp so debris doesn't block follicles. Both ingredients are found in his Root Resilience Strengthening Shampoo, so you'll want to pick that up asap!
2. TREAT YOUR SCALP WITH TLC.
“Healthy hair growth starts with a healthy scalp,” says Franck Izquierdo, co-founder of IGK Hair Care, who recommends exfoliating one to two times a week with a salt-free scalp scrub to increase blood flow, which helps bring inactive hair follicles back to an active growth state. Try IGK Low Key Cleansing Walnut Scalp Scrub, which contains walnut shell powder and sugar to exfoliate and apple cider vinegar and peppermint oil to clarify and rebalance. Izquierdo notes that a scrub like this helps clear away dirt, oil, and product buildup, which can clog your pores (aka hair follicles) and prevent hair growth. The result: healthy hair from the get-go.
3. MAKE MINI-TRIMS YOUR NEW MANTRA.
“It’s important to remove dead ends to help hair continue to grow healthy and strong,” says Izquierdo. Here’s why: If you don't tend to brittle ends, over time they’ll keep splitting up the hair shaft, effecting the rest of the strand, making it appear thinner. Celebrity stylist Peter Butler, who has worked with Kate Upton, Emma Stone as well as Emily Ratajkowski, agrees: Getting rid of dead ends is a must to have gorgeous hair. “Split ends will never regain their shine,” he explains. To reclaim your locks, he suggests asking your stylist to do a half-inch “dusting” six months on the dot. “Your hair will instantly look healthier,” he says. “Hair grows out from the top down, not the bottom up. Let go of the dead ends and start fresh.”
4. GIVE HAIR A DOSE OF HYDRATION BETWEEN BLOWOUTS.
Ok, so you’re skipping the daily mega heat styling and extending the life of your blowout (A+ for effort!). But according to experts, that also means your hair is missing out on the hydrating benefits of a daily conditioner. “If you go three or more days between blowouts, you still need to moisturize your hair,” explains NYC stylist and Oribe Educator, Ashley Brecken, who swears by a light moisturizing spray, like Oribe Mystify Restyling Spray. “It prolongs your style by reactivating yesterday’s products; for example, I love using it on second-day naturally curly hair to reactivate the curl and calm frizz,” she says.
5. TREATMENTS = HEALTHY HAIR 101.
“Treatments are a must,” says Butler, who always has Huile de Leonor Greyl lingering in his tool kit when he's on set with A-listers. “Work it through midway down to your ends with your hands or a brush. But keep it off the scalp and roots—it can make them too oily—leave it in for 15 minutes, and jump in the shower or even let it soak in overnight.”
According to Harry Josh (the mane man of Rose Byrne and Ashley Olsen), where you apply a hair mask and how you rinse it away is key. “I find a lot of women are afraid of treatments because they think it will leave a film on their hair and leave it greasy, but if you’re rinsing carefully, that shouldn’t be an issue,” he explains. “If you have fine hair, you can also focus your treatment on the lengths or ends only—avoid the root where your hair is “fresh” and likely has no damage.”
6. PRACTICE SAFE HEAT STYLING.
Never, I repeat never, reach for a blow dryer, flat iron, curling iron—or any heat styling tool for that matter—without protecting your strands with a shield of product first. Make sure the hair is evenly coated by combing through afterward to distribute the product.
It's also important to note that going super high when it comes to your blow dryer's temperature is not the best practice when it comes to scoring the look you want—it can actually scorch your hair. To save your strands, no matter your hair texture, “lower your settings a bit when you can and move quickly over hair,” explains Izquierdo.
7. PLUMP UP STRANDS WITH DRY SHAMPOO.
"Dry shampoo is non-negotiable," says colorist Charles Baker Strahan, who swears by a cocktail of Herbal Essences Naked Volumizing Soufflé mousse in damp hair, followed by the Naked Volume Dry Shampoo once the hair is dry. "The dry shampoo temporarily increases the width of strands and helps them stand up at the root," he says.
For even more oomph allover, aim a dry shampoo spray throughout strands—not just the roots—to get the appearance of thicker hair. “Apply at the roots and massage in, then apply over mid-lengths and ends,” adds Izquierdo. And for the ultimate volume, "brush your hair after you apply it, and then spritz a second spray.”
8. AMPLIFY SHINE IN THE SHOWER.
“Healthy hair is shiny, so keep your hair healthy and hydrated,” says Izquierdo. One trick to impart megawatt shine if you have coarse hair: leave about 10 percent of your conditioner in your hair–don’t rinse it out completely,” he suggests.
For super dull strands, opt for an in-shower gloss treatment. These work to smooth down roughed up cuticles and fill in tiny holes in the outer layer of strands that prevent the hair from reflecting light. When the cuticle lies flat and the hair reflects light that's when your strands are the shiniest.
9. MASTER THE OFF-DUTY MODEL BUN.
Letting your hair dry naturally just one to two days a week can completely transform the texture and health of your hair. “Air drying allows your hair to be worn in a natural, organic way that will give it a rest in between hot tool usage and allows it to [relax],” notes Brecken. “It also gives your ends a break from heat styling, which helps aid in growing your hair out longer.”
10. YES, EVEN THE BRUSH YOU REACH FOR MATTERS.
“Boar bristles are a natural fiber that helps to smooth down your cuticle and polish your hair,” explains Brecken. Avoid super harsh metal bristles and tearing through hair when it’s wet, especially since this is when it’s most susceptible to tears.
11. OILS ARE YOUR HAIR'S BFF (TRUST).
“Hydration is the key to shine,” says Brecken, who is all about Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil because it contains a blend of healthy hair essentials such as shea butter, vitamin E, as well as omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Add a light coating of a featherweight oil to dry ends or cover dry hair from root to tip.
Next, channel your inner Hailey Baldwin and embrace a slicked back style even when you aren’t heading to a sweat session. This gives the oils ample time to work their hydration magic on dehydrated strands.
12. FEED YOUR HAIR FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
Literally! “Feeding the body the proper nutrients it needs is key,” says Brecken. “A healthy diet filled with vitamins, zinc, iron, biotin, essential fatty acids and protein will help to prevent brittle hair, skin and nails.”
According to Josh (who Gisele Bundchen has on speed dial, so definitely listen up!): “There are lots of products and tools and tricks, but I highly recommend taking a supplement to support everything else you’re doing.” His top pick? SeroVital or Nutrafol because both “contain vitamins that help promote hair growth, leaving you with stronger, healthier hair,” he says.
13. TURN FLAT HAIR INTO SEXY BEDHEAD STAT.
“Brush your hair up into a super high pony right on top of your head,” says Butler. “Make sure it is straight up from your ears and as you are pulling it up, spray hairspray in your roots as you are pulling your hair up.” Use an elastic to keep roots lifted and leave it in place for about 30 minutes. Right before you leave for your night out: “Drop the knot for instant volume,” he says. “ Your hair will be super full and lush looking.”
14. NEVER BLOW DRY SOAKING WET STRANDS.
“Towel dry your hair thoroughly and direct hot air throughout it to remove as much dampness as possible before you start to actually blow it out with a brush,” recommends Butler. When done this way, "your hair will dry quicker and you’ll put less tension on the hair as it's being dried.”
Once your hair is one hundred percent dry and styled, use a light serum, such as Leonor Greyl Serum de Soie, to finish. “It’s so weightless and helps to smooth and fill in dehydrated ends, making them look super healthy and shiny but not greasy,” he says.
15. BUT NEVER BLOW DRY TOTALLY DRY HAIR EITHER.
“The biggest mistake I see is when clients try to smooth and dry already dry hair, which results in creating heat damage and more porosity,” notes Brecken. “If the ends of your hair start to dry before the rest, apply a mist before applying more heat.”
And reach for quality hot tools, says Josh, who curated his namesake Harry Josh Pro Tools collection, a pro favorite backstage at runway shows and in the hands of many celebrities (like Gisele). “The dryer blows out hair faster and the curling irons and flatirons distribute heat evenly, meaning your hair will needs less passes (and less exposure to the heat) to get the style you desire,” he explains.
