Free Hair Hacks

It’s no secret hair health solutions can require some investments. Hair loss treatment is an 8-billion-dollar industry and growing. However, I wanted to share some helpful tips you can easily incorporate into your routine for better hair and scalp health—without spending a dime—that can still yield amazing results. Building good hair habits is integral to our hair health and an important part of treating loss and creating the best scalp microbiome we can.

There are many important behaviors that can significantly impact the health of your hair. Our daily actions can promote growth, ease hair drop, or even cause hair loss!

In the latter example, I am talking about traction alopecia. If we don’t question our hair habits, we may unknowingly contribute to hair loss. My first free hair hack is to avoid causing traction alopecia. What this looks like is refraining from wearing our hair pulled back too tightly. Whether ponytails, slicked-back buns, braids, and even our evening “protective hairstyles” (people telling me they sleep in the pineapple bun). Hair at the front of our heads and hairline is delicate and easily broken.

Often, when clients take their hair down before scalp consultations or hairdressing services, I notice a horizontal breakage line of dry, brittle hair across the middle of their style. This is a telltale sign of frequent tight elastics and pulled-back hairstyles. Most often ponytails and buns. My suggestion is to swap to elastics that are more delicate on the hair, scrunchies, or for free, to wear our hair down and free more often when we can.

We can also change where our hair rests on our head. I like to break out of the habit of wearing the same hairstyle over and over and decide to match my hairstyle to activities I’m doing to try to prevent the same breakage spots from being stressed every day. My hairstyle at the gym is going to look very different than my hairstyle for running errands or visiting a friend.

I would also look at the pre-bedtime hair routine, as we can change some habits here. I’ve heard all sorts of crazy stuff, so I would start with: please don’t go to bed with wet hair or with your hair slathered in an oil treatment. It is not necessary to leave things in overnight. 2024 seems to be the year of doing too much (shoutout to my instructor Ms. Tere!), and leaving your scalp damp for extended periods definitely falls into that category. Maximum benefits from scalp and hair absorption are 4 hours. That’s enough to ensure your hair soaks up all the good stuff but won’t allow the fungus on your scalp to grow out of control and give your demodex buggies a feast. Only specific cases addressed by a dermatologist will be directed to use certain topicals overnight. On top of these lovely things to think about, hair is fragile when wet, so my free advice is to not go to bed with wet hair and to not be ridiculous leaving things on your scalp for 10 hours straight.

It can be beneficial to secure our hair before bed, especially if your texture isn’t silky, if your hair is color-treated, or really long. It’s a fine line to walk, especially if we don’t yet have a silk bonnet or silk pillowcase in our hair journey. We don’t want tugging of the delicate areas of the front hairs, or to pull hair just to have it out of the way. Two semi-loose gentle braids on either side of the neck can be a good direction to go for this, securing the hair but not pulling it out of place, plaiting it so it rests falling into a natural position.

Hopefully, as part of your routine, you brush your hair before bed and then again when you get ready in the morning. Almost everyone owns a brush, right? Of course, there are certain exceptions. Very curly can do the opposite and brush when wet (more on that later). Hair is breakable when dry as well. It is key to be gentle when detangling. It’ll save you money on cutting excess split ends later. Whether a bamboo, steel, or plastic brush, the benefits of brushing our hair and scalp are completely underrated! It can be a tempting step in our routine to skip when we are tired from the day! But if we can stick to this positive habit, we can reap benefits such as increased scalp stimulation and the effect of bringing scalp oils down the hair shaft, polishing the cuticle. Managing the scalp environment is a big deal when it comes to growing gorgeous hair.

I prefer dry brushing over wet detangling. It can be tempting to pull hair to its limit when detangling in the shower. Your hair benefits from your patience whenever you are manipulating it. The bonds inside the hair that lead to the texture changes when the hair is wet like in the shower, or dry like when heat styled, lead it to become springy and delicate when wet. Sometimes, it’s tempting to use a little rubber brush in the shower—but in my professional opinion, these aren’t ideal for wet hair. They’re better reserved for use on dry hair. As a principle, I believe it’s easier for people to be careful when washing and conditioning their hair when they can feel what’s happening with their fingers. My ultimate free hair hack for this thought would be: Use your fingers.

When toweling the moisture out of your hair, lay your towel down on your head at your hairline, put your hands flat on top, and press down. With your mids and ends, think of a ponytail and grab it parallel. Push the towel into the hair and squeeze the moisture out. The cuticle layer of the hair lays like roof shingles. The flatter the cuticle shingles lay, the more shine your hair shows off. Not roughing up the cuticle is a win for reducing frizz and breakage. Remember, brush from the bottom up, and don’t pull for great brushing technique.

Ideally, you’ve detangled your hair before stepping into the shower. This makes the shampoo process smoother and helps prevent tangles and breakage in the long run. The friction of fingertips and shampoo are key in removing buildup and improving our scalp health. The scrub is a mechanical action that is not replaced by any other step in our hair routine; it’s important. Slowing down, being mindful, and giving yourself a good scrub doesn’t cost anything, but the benefits are immense.

Chemical changes are happening within the hair when we are using shampoo, conditioner, and products. It’s good to spend the time to let the bubbles and pH changes work while they are cleansing our scalp and hair for that maximum clean feeling. Allowing your shampoo and conditioner ample time to work are great free hair habits to incorporate into your healthy hair and scalp routine.

When you are a hairdresser or trichologist, you tend to see a lot of the same scalp issues over and over again. Sometimes residue and buildup can remain after we have washed our hair, sometimes due to rushing out the door to begin our day or improper rinsing when we’re distracted. I’m guilty too, of being in a rush and neglecting to rinse my hair as well as I possibly can, especially near the nape. Rinsing our hair well leaves it a blank slate, allowing our scalp to “breathe.” Things left on the scalp can become irritants. Sometimes people believe their hair will behave better if they leave some conditioner in it. My advice would be to rinse your hair well and then either begin adding a mask into your routine or purchase a separate product for your hair type that you will use when you get out of the shower and prepare your hair.

Our hair problems have solutions, and even small, consistent changes can make a big difference. By adopting these simple habits, you’re already on your way to supporting your hair’s natural health and growth. For tailored advice and professional guidance, book a session with me today. Together, we’ll create a personalized plan to help you achieve your healthiest, most beautiful hair yet.

Bonus tip: Get a haircut. It'll be cheaper to have less hair. Less products used and less time. 

Ready to take control of your hair health? Whether you're dealing with hair thinning, scalp concerns, or looking for advanced regrowth treatments, I’m here to help. As a trichologist in Pittsfield, MA, I offer personalized solutions tailored to your unique needs, including scalp care, laser therapy, and growth factor treatments. Book your consultation today and start your journey toward healthier, stronger hair. Let’s work together to create a plan that works for you.

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