We’ve all made New Year’s resolutions that we end up giving up on a few weeks into the new year, but why not make 2024 different!

We all know that health is extremely important, and we should focus more time on making better choices for our physical as well as mental well-being. But with our fast-paced lifestyles and the seemingly endless amount of tasks we want to get done in a day, it’s hard to find the time to work on ourselves.

Eating healthier, working out, sleeping more and then finding time to relax and enjoy life can become stressful in its own right, which is why making a resolution to work on your hair health seems like a great way to make a resolution you can easily stick with as the year progresses.

These resolutions for hair health are things you can be mindful of when showering or washing your hair, but don’t require you to make any extra time for them like going to the gym would. They can be incorporated into the activities you already do.

Having healthy hair can lead to increased self-esteem which can then help with mental health, which can lead to healthier habits overall, so let’s look at a few simple things you can do this year to help keep your hair as healthy as possible.

Healthy Hair for the New Year

There are a number of easy things you can do to help ensure that your hair is strong and healthy as you make your way through the new year.

Enhance Your Hair Care Routine – Hydrate

Especially now that we are in the winter months, keeping your hair hydrated is one of the best things you can do for hair health.

Hydrating your hair can mean different things. Ensuring that you are using a conditioner that can help lock in the moisture is key. You also don’t want to overdo your shampoo and washing to the point where you dry out your hair. Two to three times a week is sufficient to keep your hair clean, while not washing out the natural oils that help protect your hair.

If you really want to step up your shampoo and conditioner game, you should look for products that are really suited for your hair and hair care practices.  If you color your hair, opt for sulfate-free options that help the color last longer but can also help better preserve the natural oils in your hair. (Olaplex is known for being gentle for color-treated hair) If your hair is very fine, look for one that is not too heavy so that it doesn’t weigh your hair down and make it limp. So, in this case you’ll want to avoid heavy moisturizers and oils (many of our “Angel fine-haired” patients like Pura D’or). If your hair is dry or curly, make sure your shampoo says so on the bottle. Curly hair is naturally more fragile so silicone-based leave-on conditioners are a great way to protect it, just don’t overdo them if you don’t want your hair to look greasy. A little goes a long way (Dr. Krejci likes Fantasia Frizz Buster). If you have “normal” and relatively short hair and like to minimize your time in the shower, a 2 in 1 product can be just right (Good old Head and Shoulders “Smooth and Silky” 2-in-1 is one of our reliable go-to’s).

In addition to shampoos and conditioners, the best way to keep your hair (and the rest of your body) hydrated, is to drink plenty of water. Your water intake can have a significant effect on your hair health.

Overall, keeping your body hydrated will help keep your skin clear, it will help with digestion and other bodily functions, and will also help to moisturize and hydrate your hair. Especially in the winter months when our skin and hair tend to get very dry and frizzy, upping your water intake can help combat the effects of the cold on your body.

Change Your Style

The style that you wear your hair can influence your hair health. Constantly pulling or teasing, and even wearing your hair back in a tight ponytail, can cause your hair to become damaged and sometimes even fall out.

If you’re going to tie your hair back, try using accessories that are a little looser, like scrunchies or silk hair ties. Thank goodness scrunchies are back in style! These will be gentler for your hair when compared to rubber bands.

In addition to adjusting the styling and the accessories used in your hair, limiting the amount of heat used on your hair when styling can also help improve your hair health.

Did you know that some heat devices for hair can reach 450 degrees?!  Dry heat from a hair dryer or heat from a curling iron, can significantly damage your hair over time and lead it to become brittle and dry. Reducing the forced heat on your hair will reduce damage, make your hair easier to work with and will help retain moisture. So put down those flat irons and curling rods and give your hair a break. Go natural this winter, sport a cute beanie, or rock the messy bun.

Get Regular Trims

Even if you are trying to grow your hair out, getting regular trims will help to eliminate split ends and other hair damage from moving up the hair shaft and causing more problems.

In fact, if you are growing your hair out, getting those regular trims to clean up the ends will help your hair grow longer and healthier as it continues to grow out. If you leave the split ends, they can travel up the hair shaft causing them to break and/or become more brittle.

Keep Your Hair Health as We Move into 2024

New Year’s Resolutions can be hard to keep. Thankfully there are some easy things you can do for your hair that will keep it healthy and vibrant as we make another trip around the sun.

Simple things like drinking enough water during the colder months and making sure your hair is properly moisturized and hydrated can make all the difference. Getting regular trims while also being gentler with your hair styles can help prevent damage and breakage as the year goes on.

Healthy hair is a great way to boost your self-esteem which can help boost your physical health as well. Start small and get into a rhythm and soon these things will come naturally, and your hair and body will thank you in the long run.

Happy New Year from all of us here at The Limmer Hair Transplant Center. We hope you have a wonderful and healthy 2024!