If You Want the BEST Hair…

Applying Conditioner At The Roots

Who knew that your conditioner application should actually start at your ends, not at your roots? We’ve all been conditioning our hair incorrectly, according to Tatum Neill, the creative director for Aveda Arts & Sciences Institutes and Elevate Hair.

Or Skipping Conditioner, For That Matter

“I never shampoo or detox hair without adding moisture back in,” said Ash Therese, the salon director and head stylist at The Bird House Salon in New York. “I know that finer hair types, a lot of people feel like conditioner [or] leave-in conditioners can weigh their hair down. In my opinion, there is a product for everyone.”

Only Using Sulfate-Free Shampoo

“I wouldn’t use a sulfate-free shampoo exclusively to wash my hair,” said Titi Bello, a hair coach and founder of Ori Lifestyle, a natural hair care brand and education company.

While sulfate-free shampoos do not strip the hair as much as shampoos with sulfates, Bello said there is a place for both kinds of shampoo in a healthy hair regimen.

Sulfates are helpful in achieving a deep clean, which can help with both scalp and hair health, she said.

Skipping Heat Protectant

“Something I stress, like the number one thing in my chair, is heat protection,” said Shantel Keeley, the co-owner of Platinum Salon in Connecticut. “I never style my hair or any of my client’s hair without using some kind of heat protection product.”

“Heat damage is irreversible. I’ve seen pretty extreme damage come from hot tools,” she added.

Turning The Temperature Of A Curling Iron Or Straightener All The Way Up

It should go without saying that frying your hair is not a good thing, but that’s exactly what you’re doing when you put your hot tools on their highest setting.

While your curling iron may go up to 450 degrees, you don’t want to do your hair at the high setting. “I always tell people to keep it at 350 or lower,” Keely said. Super-high heat can actually toast your hair, she noted.

“The best thing you can do is to try to prevent any damage before it happens, Keely said.