How Do I Get Strong and Healthy Hair?

Let's face it: we don't exactly make it easy for our hair. Excessive blow-drying, styling, dyeing and washing simply takes its toll.

It's no wonder that at some point it can't take the procedure anymore. Enough is enough.

"A lot helps a lot" quickly backfires when it comes to hair care. Instead of beautiful strong hair, we suddenly have to deal with greasy hair or even hair loss. But that doesn't have to be the case.

If we do it right, we will be rewarded with shine and smoothness.

Let's get to it. Here are our best tips & tricks for stunningly beautiful hair – from the right hair wash to the best hair treatment to a balanced nutrition plan. Bye, bye brittle hair! The time of bad hair days is over.

What Characterizes Healthy Hair?

Is my hair healthy? Not so easy to say. Because what exactly distinguishes a beautiful, strong and healthy mane?

The main feature of healthy hair roots is shine. Supple and silky-shiny hair testifies to freshness and vitality. Here, a lot is done right in the care. Because the more shiny the hair, the more durable the cuticle seems.

Conversely, the less shiny the hair, the more damaged the cuticle. Aggressive hair care and extensive styling have obviously already left their mark.

The second main characteristic for healthy hair is a healthy scalp. After all, the scalp is the basis of intact hair growth. This is where the decision about "healthy or not healthy" is made. So you should not only pamper your hair, but also your scalp.

Treat it to regular massages with rich hair oil and don't drown it in weighing down care products. Less is definitely more here.

But not only the origin, also the ends of our hair reveal a lot about their state of health – especially the tips. Are they brittle, dry and frayed? Then it's off to the hairdresser. The dead ends have to go.

Your tips are thick, strong and smooth-soft? Congratulations, that sounds like beautiful and healthy hair.

How Can I Tell if my Hair is Damaged?

Do I care for my hair properly or do I need to change my hair routine immediately? It's hard to say, after all, we can't just check in with our hair. Instead, we have to read its traces. That's the only way to find out what it needs.

Let's start the search for clues:

• Your hair looks limp, tired and powerless. There's no trace of volume and bounce.
• The situation is particularly dramatic at the tips. They are extremely dry, brittle and frayed - a paradise for hair breakage and split ends.
• Your scalp has also felt better before. It's constantly dry, tight, itchy and burning.
• You are no stranger to hair loss. At times you lose more than 100 hairs a day.
   

Does that apply to you? Then there is still room for improvement in your hair routine. Because split ends, broken ends, hair loss and a dry scalp are among the number one hair problems.

But don't worry: with the right care, you'll soon get them under control again.

Hair Wash – What do I Need to Consider?

At first glance, hair washing is quite simple: greasy hair belongs in the shower – no question about it. But at second glance, hair washing suddenly turns into a much more complex issue. There is more to it than just shampoos and conditioners.

Once the natural dandruff layer has been attacked, it must be handled with care. We will now clarify how to best deal with it and which hairstyles are beneficial for your hair

Washing hair: How often do I have to do it?

If the hair is greasy, it need to be washed. It's as simple as that. Not without reason, many wash their hair every day. And yet, they are always wondering about their dry hair. What's wrong with it?

It's simple: hair is washed too often. Every day we bombard it with shampoos, conditioners and treatments. No wonder it eventually gets fed up. It starts to resist the cocktail of active ingredients.

The sebaceous glands of the scalp have a particularly hard time. They literally drown in the many different active agents.

The result: sebum production starts to falter. And the slower the production of sebum, the faster the scalp dries out. Little by little, it loses its natural protective layer.

The second problem: constant washing dissolves the natural cuticle of the hair, which gives us shine and smoothness. And the rougher and more damaged the cuticle, the drier and more brittle the hair.

That makes sense. But how often can I wash my hair then?

• Dry hair: 1 to 2 times a week
• Oily hair: 3 to 4 times a week
• Fine hair: 3 to 4 times a week
   

Good to know: Long hair often suffers the most from excessive hair washing – especially the ends. The already dry and brittle ends only become drier and more brittle due to over-care.

That's when clever bridging aids come in handy. With dry shampoo, beanies, hats and headbands, the straggly roots can easily be endured for another 1 to 2 days. Or how about out-of-bed hairstyles like a casual messy bun or a stylish sleek look?

Before Washing

Comb your hair thoroughly before every wash - preferably with a coarse-toothed comb. Otherwise your hair will quickly get knotted during washing and you will have to untangle it when it's wet. And that's no easy task.

Wet hair is particularly sensitive. Combing too aggressively quickly roughens the hair structure and causes split ends and hair breakage.

During Washing

Care should also be taken in the shower – especially with long hair. It's best to massage the shampoo into the roots only. It will then automatically spread to the lengths and ends.

Too hot water is also taboo. The extreme heat only stresses the hair structure even more. With lukewarm water you are on the safe side.

Tip: Dry hair needs more than just shampoo. It definitely won't say no to a rich conditioner after shampooing. And once a week, the ends are naturally happy about a nourishing hair treatment.

Simply massage the hair mask into the lengths, leave for 3 to 5 minutes, rinse thoroughly and you're done.

After Washing

Rubbing wet hair dry? Please don't, that's practically the death knell of your cuticle. It roughens in record time and loses shine and smoothness.

The best thing to do after washing your hair is to gently pat it dry with a soft towel or put on a towel turban for 5 to 10 minutes. And don't forget: Please do not comb.

Now try to let your freshly washed hair air dry for as long as possible. This way it will get less hot blow-dry air later. Are you in a hurry? Then dry your hair on a low to medium setting.

Oh dear, after washing your hair stands out in all directions? Don't worry, you can save it. Simply spray on leave-in conditioner, leave it on for a while, style with your fingers and you're done. It's so easy to turn a bad hair day into a good hair day.

Styling Hair Gently – Is That Even Possible?

Today's trendy sleek look, tomorrow's casual beach waves, the day after tomorrow's elegant updo – it's got to be there.

We carelessly reach for curling irons, straighteners and the like – often several times a week. But what does our hair think about the styling marathon?

It's not quite as enthusiastic. Because imagine being whipped into shape at up to 200 degrees – almost every day? That can make you run out of breath.

No wonder it's been looking so dry and straw-like lately. Its natural cuticle is at its limit, split ends and hair breakage are just a matter of time.

Too bad, do you have to completely forgo styling now?

Not necessarily, with our tips & tricks you bring your hair out big in a gentle way:

• Less is more: You don't have to give up your hairdryer, straightener and curling iron completely. Just put your beloved styling tools aside more often. 1 to 2 times a week is enough.
• Prevention is everything: Grab your heat protector before every single styling session and protect your hair's natural beauty.
• Hairstyles with brains: Swap tight synthetic elastics with metal pieces for elastic scrunchies made of silk. The soft material is a blessing for the hair.
• Spray sparingly: Did you know that hairspray makes your hair sticky? In masses, the styling product is of course harmless, but too much of a good thing leaves its mark.

Well Groomed - How do I Find the Right Products?

And once again you're standing in front of the well-stocked drugstore shelves in search of the right hair care. But don't panic, together we'll find the perfect everyday helpers for you.

It's best to match your hair care products to your hair type. Thin and fine hair can tolerate volume products with collagen well. Dry hair urgently needs moisture such as shea butter, coconut oil or jojoba oil. Chemical additives such as silicones, parabens and paraffins can be left out with a clear conscience. Oily hair wants light shampoos, conditioners and hair masks with aloe vera or seaweed. They freshen up the stringy roots in no time.

At least as important is a high-quality hair oil, preferably coconut oil. Gently massage it into your scalp with your fingertips, leave it on for 10 to 20 minutes and rinse thoroughly. The oil will make your scalp wonderfully soft and supple. And the softer and smoother your scalp, the silkier and shinier your hair.

Caution: Additives such as silicones, paraffins and parabens should be used with caution. Initially, they conjure up a stunningly soft and supple mane, but in the long run they only suffocate your hair. It threatens to drown under the thick layer of active ingredients. With natural ingredients you do your hair structure the greater favor - whether voluminous or thin hair.

Supposedly Good Hair Care: These Are the Biggest Faux Pas

Would you have guessed that even when we wash our hair, we keep putting our foot in the same mouths - especially these ones:

• We wash our hair too often. Too much is just too much.
• We wash our hair too hot. Less is definitely more in the shower.
• We drown our hair in shampoo - from the roots to the tips. Why don't we give them more air to breathe?
• We bully our hair with pointy plastic bristles and metal elastics.

5 Hacks for Healthy Hair

1. A Healthy and Balanced Diet

Our hair is the mirror of our inner life. Secretly, it indicates our diet. If it is healthy and balanced, it rewards us with shine and suppleness. Is there still room for improvement?

Then, unfortunately, vitality is often a long time coming. The mop of hair makes a tired and lifeless impression.

But what does a hair-friendly diet actually look like? It's simple: these foods are welcome:

• Fresh fruit and vegetables (tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, leeks, blueberries, bananas, apples, etc.).
• Nuts and seeds
• Fish (e.g. herring, salmon, mackerel)
• White meat (e.g. turkey)
• Legumes (lentils, beans, peas)
• 2 to 3 liters of fluid per day

2. Comb Properly

Care should also be taken when combing. Please only brush when dry. Otherwise you will only damage the sensitive hair structure. There are also fixed rules for the combing direction: Only from top to bottom is allowed.

The brush itself plays just as big a role. Soft natural hair bristles are 100 percent preferable to scratchy plastic bristles.

3. Sleeping with a Pigtail

Overnight, tie your hair loosely upwards - otherwise it will get knotted more quickly. Soft hair elastics made of satin or silk are the first choice for a goodnight braid.

4. Autologous Blood Treatment

Did you know that your blood is a real growth turbo for your hair? It's nutrients and growth factors reliably get tired hair roots going.

No wonder that HAIR & SKIN's autologous blood treatment is so popular with alopecia patients. Just a few millilitres of your blood can do wonders for your scalp.

5. No Stress

Stress is poison for the hair roots. It is not without reason that we often lose an above-average amount of hair in acute stressful phases – be it before the final exam, the wedding or the interview for the dream job.

Our tip: Just let it go. Then your hair roots will take it easier again. Try a round of yoga, a long walk in the woods or a hot bubble bath.

Even an evening out with friends in your favourite restaurant or a good book can work wonders. Just try it out, listen to your gut and let it drift.