At-home hair care routine this summer

While we are compelled to stay indoors to be safe in this pandemic, hair care is certainly something we cannot do compromise on. Healthy hair is a must but when you are juggling between virtual meeting and household responsibilities, it becomes a challenge to find time and care for yourself.

Aditya Singh, brand-head, Atulya Herbals, shares some quick tips to keep in mind while you oil, wash or style your hair.

Utilise your time at home and massage your scalp with lukewarm oil and avoid applying too much oil on tresses as cleaning it may again lead to dryness and if left oily after wash, your hair will attract more dust leading it to be greasy. A slow massage provides much-needed nourishment and hydration for your scalp; you will be rewarded with healthy hair follicles as well.

Always remember to use a mild shampoo, preferably paraben and sulfate-free, to wash your hair as it reduces the damage to hair even if you want to wash hair more frequently to care for greasy scalp. An ideal shampoo for daily wash should not have pH exceeding 5.5.

Using a conditioner can significantly repairs the damaged hair but the frequency of using it, depends on whether you have oily or dry hair. Conditioner increases shine and strength while creating a protective layer. Dry hair can also be benefitted by reverse hair washing or pre-wash conditioning method wherein conditioner is applied before you wash your hair and without rinsing the conditioner, directly apply shampoo and wash.
If your hair is extremely frizzy, dry and damaged, hair mask is your go-to solution as it can be applied from root to tip and provides deeper nourishment and repair. Masks should only be used once or twice a week unlike conditioner which can be used after every wash.

It is better to avoid using hair styling products like gel and sprays to reduce damage. These styling products tend to attract more dust and do not allow your hair to breathe.

Spending more time at home also means that you may not need to use your blow dryer, hair straightener, or curler for a while. Refraining from performing these treatments for a few weeks is a nice opportunity for your hair to rejuvenate and detox.

If you had your hair coloured before lockdown and you require a touch-up or a total colour change, you may be tempted to try and use a home hair dye kit. Please do not do that as these products do not sit well with treated hair and scalp and can do more harm than good.