How to Get Healthy Hair: 9 Habits for All Hair Types
We might say we want shiny hair or frizz-free hair or stronger hair, but at the root of all those goals, there's just one thing that we should all be striving for: healthy hair. Optimal hair health means your strands glow better, and getting there is a marathon, not a sprint, which means a clear and consistent regimen (that's easy to commit to) is the key.
So, what if we told you that just 9 habit changes could make a major difference to the health of your hair? Get your regimen in check with these easy upgrades for all hair types...
1. Set Your Wash Day Schedule
If you’re wondering if you’re washing your hair too much, ask yourself this: how often does it actually take for your roots to start looking or feeling oily? It might be 1-2 days or it might be 4-5, but whatever the answer, that’s how often you should be reaching for your favorite shampoo. Despite common myths, skipping wash days isn’t the secret to healthier hair; a clean scalp is a healthy scalp, and the right shampoo won’t strip or dry out your strands. But if you’re worried about dry ends, you can give yourself a pre-shampoo treatment to protect the lengths while the roots get a refresh. Simply smooth ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum through damp mid-lengths and ends, then lather up and rinse. Balance will be restored.
2. Get Your Tailor-Made Hair Care Regimen
The shampoo and conditioner you use can mean the difference between a good or bad hair day, so you need to get your formulas right to unlock a happy, healthy mane. Take the guesswork out of building your regimen with Wella’s new virtual consultation tool, which tailors recommendations based on your hair type, condition, styling habits and unique goals. Whether you need the gloss-boosting power of ULTIMATE SMOOTH or the restoration of ULTIMATE REPAIR, the tool targets your needs with a tailored regimen. It’s like having your stylist on a 24/7 speed dial.
3. Level Up Your Masking Technique
First, choose your perfect hair mask for a weekly treatment. We’ll make it easy…
If you have damaged hair caused by UV rays, heat styling tools, extensions, elastics and bleaching, use: ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask, which harnesses smart conditioning agents to identify and treat the areas that need the most care.
If you have dull, frizzy hair that’s calling out for intense nourishment and shine, use: ULTIMATE SMOOTH Intense Mask, with Squalane and Omega-9 fatty acids to moisturize hair from the inside out.
If you have curly hair or coily hair and crave specialized care for extra texture definition, use: NutriCurls Deep Treatment Mask, infused with Jojoba Oil and Panthenol for soft, bouncy, healthy curls and coils.
If you have delicate hair that’s prone to breakage and split ends, try: Fusion Intense Repair Mask, with a boost of amino acids to improve your hair's resilience against day-to-day mechanical damage.
Then follow these steps to level up your hair mask regimen:
- Squeeze excess water out of your wet hair before you apply your hair mask. By smoothing the formula through damp hair, you prevent diluting the nourishing ingredients.
- Maximise your mask's benefits by mixing in a drop or two of ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum. Blend the formulas in the palm of your hand, then apply to the mid-lengths and ends to drench parched strands in deep nourishment.
- While your mask is absorbed (which usually takes around 5-10 minutes), wrap your hair up in a warm towel to help it penetrate the hair cuticle deeper.
4. Transform Hair with this Leave-In Treatment
The steps you take just after washing your hair, when it's still damp, have a huge impact on its overall health, so this is when you need to take the nourishment up a gear. Your healthy hair essential is ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue, a leave-in treatment with results so transformative that stylists have been raving about it all over TikTok.
The weightless mist repairs hair damage in 90 seconds¹, while leaving you with 99% less breakage², so you get instant results and long-term benefits in one. The skincare-inspired dose of AHA works deep within to repair the inner cortex, while a dose of Omega-9 fatty acids cares for the outer layer to give your hair nourishment from every angle.
5. Get Long-Lasting Frizz Control
You already know that excessive heat is one of the key culprits behind hair damage, but a heat protectant spray isn’t the only way to reduce the impact. By using care and styling products that give your freshly styled hair extra mileage, you can limit how frequently you need to use hot tools to reach your favorite styles.
That’s where ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum steps in. The nourishing oil not only acts as a heat protectant, but it also gives you 96 hours of frizz control³. No more pulling out your flat iron to tame flyaways; you can use it to prep for a wash day blow-dry, then enjoy heat-free smoothness for up to 3 days afterwards³. Layer it over the top of ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue, and the power pair will deliver on deep repair and irresistible natural shine worthy of a hair commercial.
6. Don't Give Up on Your Hair Dryer
Is it better to let hair air dry or should you use a blow dryer? Even though you want to avoid heat damage, using your blow dryer may be the better choice for healthy hair. When your hair is wet, it has to carry the water molecules, which can put a strain on the hair shaft and eventually lead to breakage. So, if your hair tends to take a long time to dry, apply a heat protectant like ULTIMATE REPAIR Protective Leave-In, then give yourself a blow-dry, making sure you don't hold the nozzle too close to your hair.
7. Work On Your Scalp Condition
Get ready for the ‘skinification’ of your hair care regimen. At last, the beauty industry is putting scalp health at the top of the agenda, and giving it the same attention the rest of your skin has enjoyed for so many years. From scalp serums to root masks, the answer to a sensitive scalp begins with soothing, hydrating formulas that get to the root of healthy hair, like Elements Calming Hair Serum. The glycerin-infused lotion soothes and nourishes without weighing even fine hair down, so you get fast relief that feels wonderfully weightless. Combine it with a scalp massage to get blood circulation flowing to the hair follicles; a simple trick that contributes to strong hair growth.
7. Reduce Daily Wear and Tear
If you struggle with stubborn knots (which is often a sign of damaged hair), invest in hair products that help you run your wide-tooth comb through strands with ease. ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask is your go-to; not only does it leave your hair 6x easier to detangle⁴ but it also repairs hair from the inside out, no matter what kind of damage you're dealing with. That quicker detangling means less friction through dry, brittle hair strands, leading to an overall healthier mane over time.
Don't forget to swap your hair elastics for silk scrunchies, too, and skip tight hairstyles where possible. Letting your hair loose is an easy way to reduce hair breakage and split ends.
8. Follow a Nighttime Hair Routine
Those with the healthiest hair know their night regimen is as important as their day regimen. It doesn't have to be complex. (It is bedtime, after all!) Simply apply an overnight treatment, like ULTIMATE REPAIR Night Serum, to dry hair and let it work its magic while you rest. The lightweight gel-serum sinks in fast to deliver a dose of nourishment while protecting your hair from damage-causing friction caused by your pillow. Come morning, you'll wake up to 6x smoother hair⁴ that's easier to style. No more morning frizz; hit snooze on your alarm and streamline your AM regimen.
9. Keep Hair Healthy From the Inside Out
Certain foods are believed to contribute to healthy hair, and while research is still ongoing, only good things are gained from enjoying a varied and balanced diet. So, make sure you're eating plenty of foods rich in protein, like eggs, beans and lentils, as well as green leafy vegetables, fatty fish, nuts and seeds, berries and beta-carotene-rich sweet potatoes.
A healthy menu and a proper hair care regimen are the building blocks for the best hair of your life. Start these habits now, stick with them, and your hair will thank you in the long run…
¹ When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.
² When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue instrumental test vs. non-conditioning Shampoo.
³ When using ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum, if unwashed for 3 days, vs. untreated.
⁴ Vs. non-conditioning shampoo.