Hair care is an important aspect of everyday life. The rules of hair care are simple, but many people forget to follow them or don’t understand why they are so important.

For starters, hair should only be washed two to three times per week. Your scalp produces natural oils that are vital for keeping hair healthy but are removed by shampoo. Shampooing too often will lead to the elimination of too many of these oils.

The colder the water the better when washing your hair. Using hot water will lead to dry and damaged hair.

Conditioner should only be used on the ends of the hair because of the natural oils the scalp produces. The scalp doesn’t need any extra oils because they make hair become greasy faster. The ends of the hair need the extra moisture because it is hard for natural oils to reach the ends. This is why it is necessary to only shampoo the roots of hair to remove excess oils.

Avoid brushing your hair with a brush after showering. Use a comb for a more gentle pull on the tangles. Whether it’s after a shower or in the middle of the day, always start brushing your hair from the bottom and work up. Brushing from the bottom up will create less damage to your hair and is not as painful if your hair is full of tangles.

An overlooked aspect of hair care is clean brushes. Excess product and oils from hair build up on brushes, creating a breeding ground for bacteria. Use a mixture of baking soda and warm water on an old toothbrush to clean bacteria buildup about once a month.

Cutting back on heated styling tools is always a challenge for some people, but it’s an important hair care step. Heat causes hair damage that is hard to repair. You can make your hair wavy without curling it by putting it in braids before going to bed. If styling tools are too much to give up, make sure to use a weekly protective treatment, store-bought hair mask or an easy homemade hair mask.

Always remember to make time for a hair trim about every six weeks to optimize hair health and get rid of dead ends.