Photo courtesy of Heather Hazzan / The Licensing Project
What can I do about dull, dry hair?
When your hair is in poor condition, you know it. “It’s hair with split ends, no jumps or shine, little or no flexibility that breaks super easily,” says the top hairdresser in New York Harry Joshwho definitely sees his part of it. (To his list we can add dullness, flatness, constant dryness and color that has lost its luster.) The potential causes – from overworking, overstyling, hard water, sun damage and chlorine damage to something as basic as a poor diet – are many, but the road back to shiny, bouncy, healthy-looking hair is the same no matter: a consistent hair routine designed to nourish and revive.
1
Shampoo less often
This allows your hair’s natural oils to moisturize your hair – something every hair type benefits from. When washing, avoid harsh shampoos (like those with sulfates, for example, which can strip your hair). Instead, use those made with moisturizing oils and botanicals to keep your hair smooth and elastic.
2
Condition Religious
If there is one key to keeping your hair soft and silky soft, it is to smooth out the right nourishing hair treatment after each shampoo – it makes a huge difference in the way your hair looks and feels. Check the ingredient label for moisturizing oils like jojoba or carrot; Josh also loves lactic acid and aloe vera to keep hair strong and shiny.
3
Pretreatment for shine and good texture
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This preshampoo treatment forms a protective layer around your hair so that you do not remove too much moisture when you wash, and the result is shiny, softer and more manageable hair with a noticeably better texture.
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GOOPGLOW Restore + Shine Hair Serum
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4
Smooth in Leave-In
Unless your hair is very fine, add leave-in conditioner to your routine (after conditioning when you are out of the shower). “Lint, fine hair can get greasy and too shiny, so you only need the slightest amount of leave-in at the ends if that’s your hair type,” says Josh. But every other hair type benefits enormously from an extra leave-in step, whether you use a spritz, a cream or an oil. Smooth or spray it through towel-dried hair from the mid-lengths to the tips before styling it as usual.
5
Deep-Condition as you mean it
The color-treated, heat-styled, chemically smoothed and pool-, sea- or sun-soaked should never skip a weekly hair mask. “If you regularly dye your hair and you start to see it dry, a powerful hair mask once a week for about three to five minutes will perform miracles,” says Josh.
6
Use stylers of the highest quality
When using heating tools, never turn up to the maximum heat setting to finish styling faster. Think of it like cooking: If you put oil in a scalding hot pan, smoke and burn the oil. To avoid burning your hair, choose tools with adjustable heat settings, Josh says. “And for an extra layer of defense, apply heat protection before using any hot tool,” he says. “It really works.”
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Josh’s dryer is made with eight heat, speed and ion settings:
Harry Josh
Pro dryer 2000
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Emollient, color-protective spray:
Rahua
Hydration Detangler + UV Barrier
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Smoothes leave-in and heat protective cream:
Augustine Bader
Leave-In hair treatment
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7
Take vitamins to support healthy hair
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Eating a diet full of omega-3 fatty acids (think salmon) and antioxidants (berries and spinach) helps support super-soft and shiny hair. You can also get essential healthy hair nutrients from this daily multivitamin, which supports healthy hair, skin and nails with biotin, niacin, zinc and iron, plus the antioxidant nutrients beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, lycopene, selenium, and more. *
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GOOPGLOW Everyday Glow Multivitamin
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8
Schedule regular trim
A good trim helps a lot in making your hair look and feel healthier. “Everyone’s hair grows at a different rate, but a general rule of thumb is, look to get your hair cut every two to three months to keep it healthy,” says Josh.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.