How to Build the Perfect Hair Care Routine

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Establishing what to do (and what not to do) on your hair care journey

Written by Courtney Foster | Edited by Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: November 29, 2024 Fact Checked

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Maintaining Healthy Hair

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Protecting Your Hair

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Picking Hair Care Products

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Video

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Expert Q&A

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So, you’ve decided it’s time to start taking better care of your hair. Maybe you want your locks to grow faster, be shinier, or look less damaged after years of coloring. No matter what brought you to this article, we’ve got your back! Creating a hair care routine can help your hair look its absolute best and leave you feeling even more confident, and all it takes is a bit of direction and the right products.

This article is based on an interview with our licensed cosmetologist, certified hair loss practitioner, and cosmetology educator, Courtney Foster. Check out the full interview here.

Basic Hair Care Routine

Wash your hair with lukewarm water.
Use conditioner after each time you wash your hair.
Detangle your hair with a wide-toothed comb when it's wet.
Let your hair air-dry instead of using any heat tools.
Trim your hair every 6 months or when you notice split ends.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Maintaining Healthy Hair

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1
Discover your hair type by avoiding hair products for a few days. Everyone’s hair is different and needs to be taken care of in different ways. Learning what type of hair you have can help you create the perfect hair care routine. Go a few days without using products and observe what your natural hair does.
- Your hair may be:
  - Oily
  - Dry
  - Normal
  - Wavy
  - Straight
  - Curly
  - Coily
  - Thick
  - Fine
- Always treat your hair according to its hair type. Your hair will likely react differently than a friend's to certain products and care.
2
Wash your hair when necessary. You may think you need to wash your hair daily, but most hair types only need a wash every other day or a few times a week. Depending on your hair type, wash it when it's dirty, not just out of habit. In general, people with fine, straight hair need to wash more often than people with thick, curly, or wavy hair.^{[1]
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- If you have dry hair, wash it every third day.
- If your hair is more oily, try washing it every other day; if it looks really oily after just 1 day, wash it every day.
- If you have normal hair (not super dry and not super oily), wash it every other day or every 3 days.
- There’s no perfect formula for how much you should wash your hair. Monitor your hair and wash it when you feel it's dirty.
- Try using dry shampoo between washes to help soak up excess oil.
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Do your best to avoid washing your hair with hot water. Hot water can strip your hair of protective oils that serve as a natural conditioner. So, lock in that shine by washing your hair with lukewarm water.
Brush your hair with a comb when it’s wet. After you get out of the shower, it can be tempting to run a brush through your hair; however, a wide-tooth comb is the best way to remove any knots post-showering. A brush often snags and pulls your hair, causing it to break and become damaged, so use a comb and start at the bottom of your hair, working your way up. ^{[2]
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Blow dryers are a fast way to dry your hair, but the heat from the dryer can damage hair follicles and lead to dry, damaged hair. Allow your hair to air dry when possible, but if you need to use a blow dryer, stick to one that has a cool setting.^{[3]
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6
Trim your hair regularly to keep it healthy. Hair is prone to split ends, and if you go long periods of time without cutting your hair, it can look damaged and unhealthy. Try to give your hair a trim every 6 months or so, and if you’re really prone to split ends, trim your hair every 6 weeks.^{[4]
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- If visiting a salon frequently is too much trouble or too expensive, trim your hair yourself. Invest in hair-cutting scissors and use a mirror to see the back of your head.
- It's easiest to trim your hair when it's wet or straight so you can get even ends.
- If your hair is curly, it’s best to trim it when it’s dry or only slightly wet. Curly hair looks much longer when it’s wet, so it may dry shorter than you expected.
Chris McMillan, Celebrity Hairstylist

Get haircuts frequently for healthy hair. "Cut your hair more often. If you have short hair, you need a trim every four to six weeks; long hair needs a cut every three months."
Because your hair and hands already have natural oils, constantly touching or moving it out of your face can make your hair look greasy. To avoid this, the best option is to get a manageable haircut that won't bother you throughout the day.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Protecting Your Hair

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Try to dye your hair as little as possible. Hair dye has many chemicals that can damage your hair, and if done too often, it can be hard to repair the damage. If you’re willing, stick to your natural hair color, but if you must dye, do it infrequently and stay within 3 shades of your natural color.
The sun can damage your hair just like it damages your skin. Too much sun can dry out your hair, especially if your hair is color treated, so whenever you’re outside for long periods of time, try covering your hair with a hat or using a hairspray with SPF protection.
Throwing your hair back in a ponytail or braid is convenient but be careful not to pull your hair too tight, as this can cause damage and breakage. It's okay to do tighter styles with your hair, but avoid doing them every day and let your hair stay loose and natural at night.^{[5]
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4
Apply natural remedies to your hair. There are a lot of different hair products you can buy to improve the quality of your hair, but some of the best things for your hair are natural ingredients that can be found in the kitchen. Take a look at these natural moisturizers:
- Olive oil: Warm olive oil helps moisturize dry hair. Apply it to your hair and let it sit for 45 minutes, then shampoo and rinse.
- Tea: Unsweetened, brewed tea can bring shine to your hair and enhance your natural color. Rinse your hair with a tea that corresponds to your natural color (black tea for brunettes, chamomile tea for blondes) after rinsing out shampoo in a shower.
- Coconut oil: This serves as a natural conditioner. Take heated coconut oil and apply it to your hair, letting it sit for 30 minutes, then rinse with shampoo.
- Honey: This natural moisturizer can help strengthen hair follicles. Mix equal parts honey and shampoo and rinse.^{[6]
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5
Eat healthy to keep your hair strong and encourage growth. In order to have healthy hair, you need to have a healthy body, which means eating right. Because hair is another part of your body, it needs certain nutrients to maintain strength and growth. Add more foods with these nutrients to your diet to encourage hair growth:
- Essential fatty acids: Flaxseed oil, salmon, tuna, walnuts, and almonds
- Vitamin B6: Bananas, potatoes, and spinach
- Protein: Fish, chicken, eggs, and soy products
- Folic acid: Fresh fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits and tomatoes, as well as whole grains, beans, and lentils
- Talk to your doctor about taking over-the-counter supplements, like MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), to help strengthen and grow hair.^{[7]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Picking Hair Care Products

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1
Choose a shampoo that matches your hair type. There’s a wide variety of shampoos out there for all hair types in a range of prices. While you should avoid really cheap shampoos, salon shampoos may not provide extra benefits for your hair. Focus more on picking a shampoo for your hair type rather than the price.
- Check the label and ingredients of the shampoo before buying it. See if it’s marketed for your hair type and includes ingredients that’ll benefit your hair.
- For instance, if you have dry hair, look for a shampoo with moisturizing and hydrating ingredients like argan oil; if you have greasy hair, opt for a clarifying shampoo.
2
Condition your hair after every shampoo. Conditioning is important because it moisturizes your hair, prevents damage, and helps restore natural oils.^{[8]
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Go to source} Avoid applying conditioner to your roots as this can create extra oily hair.
- Choose a conditioner that is also right for your hair type. If you have dry hair, you may need a hydrating conditioner; if you have oily hair, you might like a light-weight conditioner.
You may not be able to avoid using styling tools forever, but you can keep your hair as healthy as possible when applying heat. Before blow drying, curling, or straightening your hair, always apply a heat serum or heat spray.

Chris McMillan, Celebrity Hairstylist

Minimize heat styling. "Lay off the styling. Limit blow-drying and flat ironing to once a week, and stretch out the times between styling. Usually, hair looks better one or two days after you blow-dry it, anyway."
Use a deep conditioner once a week. Along with your regular conditioner, it can be good to apply a deep conditioner at least once a week to repair damage. Some popular hair masks are made by Neutrogena, Alterna Ten, Aussie, and Fekkai.
Give your hair extra body with a volumizer spray. Volumizers are great because they help you achieve a thick-bodied look even if your hair is fine. Flip your hair over and spray a few spritzes onto your roots and the rest of your hair. Then, create volume by blow drying or scrunching your hair with your hands.
6
Replace regular shampoo with dry shampoo. Try your best not to wash your hair too much, as washing it too often could strip it of its natural oils. If your hair looks greasy in-between washes, use a dry shampoo to freshen it up. Spray the dry shampoo on your roots, rub it in with your fingers, and then brush it out.
- Dry shampoos are great because they absorb oils without water or soap, keeping your hair’s natural oils intact.

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Question

Do you put heat protectant on wet or dry hair?

Courtney Foster
Licensed Cosmetologist
Courtney Foster is a Licensed Cosmetologist, Certified Hair Loss Practitioner, and Cosmetology Educator based out of New York City. Courtney runs Courtney Foster Beauty, LLC and her work has been featured on The Wendy Williams Show, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, and in East/West Magazine. She received her Cosmetology License from the State of New York after training at the Empire Beauty School - Manhattan.

Courtney Foster

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Apply heat protectant to wet hair. If you're going to blow-dry or heat style your hair, you should always apply a heat protectant, as well as any styling products you're going to use. For instance, if your hair is very fine, you might use a product at the roots to give you more volume.

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Question

What is the best hair routine?

Courtney Foster
Licensed Cosmetologist
Courtney Foster is a Licensed Cosmetologist, Certified Hair Loss Practitioner, and Cosmetology Educator based out of New York City. Courtney runs Courtney Foster Beauty, LLC and her work has been featured on The Wendy Williams Show, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, and in East/West Magazine. She received her Cosmetology License from the State of New York after training at the Empire Beauty School - Manhattan.

Courtney Foster

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Take your hair down out of whatever style it's in and detangle it. This helps prevent breakage when you're washing your hair. Then, shampoo with products formulated for your hair type. Clarifying shampoos work for most hair types, especially if you don't wash your hair every day. You can also use a clarifying shampoo if you have a lot of product buildup or dandruff. However, if your hair is dry, follow the clarifying shampoo with a moisturizing shampoo. Finish by conditioning and rinsing your hair. Use a deep conditioner instead of regular conditioner if your hair needs extra moisture. Opt for a product that's heavily emollient, like a mask or treatment with shea butter, honey, or avocado base. For added hydration, allow the deep conditioner to soak in for 10-15 minutes under a steamer or 15-20 minutes under a dryer, then rinse it out.

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Question

How many times should I wash my hair in a week?

Courtney Foster
Licensed Cosmetologist
Courtney Foster is a Licensed Cosmetologist, Certified Hair Loss Practitioner, and Cosmetology Educator based out of New York City. Courtney runs Courtney Foster Beauty, LLC and her work has been featured on The Wendy Williams Show, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, and in East/West Magazine. She received her Cosmetology License from the State of New York after training at the Empire Beauty School - Manhattan.

Courtney Foster

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

If your hair is very oily, you might need to wash it once a day, but if you can push it, try to wash it every other day. However, for most hair types, it's fine to wash your hair every week, or even every 2 weeks for African-American hair.

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Stress and smoking can damage your hair and make it dull and prone to breakage, so avoid these things if possible.^{[9]
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