Developing a Good Routine

Everyone with healthy hair has one of those, even the product junkie who is constantly changing products. Even if you don’t realize it, there are a number of things that you do to your hair on a regular basis. Simply put, a routine is a series of activities that you adhere to when it comes to your hair. The point of this post is for you to become aware of your routine and how you can further develop it to increase its effectiveness and better your hair.

The first step is to assess your current practices. Do you wash your hair every week? Do you co-wash? Do you always follow with a deep conditioner? You get the idea! Force yourself to realize how you treat your hair regularly.

Second, decide your goals for your hair. Do you want stronger hair? Are you aiming for health, length, volume, etc.? These questions will help you develop your goals for your hair and inspire you to follow your regimen once it is created. Also note that these can be short term or long term goals.

Now you have a starting point and an objective. The next step is to develop a plan that will take you from your starting point to your goal. This plan is personal to you. Each person has a different starting point, goal, personality and allocated time in which to improve their hair, therefore your have to keep yourself in mind when determining how to go about your routine.

As stated, a routine is a guideline, a footprint for your hair. It does not need to be product bound, but rather should cover various important elements of hair care, such as frequency of washes, conditioning, when to deep condition your hair, how often to moisturize and how best to protect your hair. Consider how often will you do each of the activities listed above. Do you need to schedule a set time in a week that you can dedicate to make sure that this is done? Play around with these practices to determine the best route for you.

A Sample Routine

Wash Condition Deep Condition Moisturize Styling Other
Daily or Every other day Rinse with a conditioner - Ends with butter or pomade -Leave-in conditioner

-Styling gel for hold
- Vitamins daily

- Silk scarf every night

Weekly - Mild conditioner diluted with water - Tea rinses - Deep conditioner for 30-45 minutes with a plastic cap and towel - Use butter to seal moisture into the hair - Leave-in conditioner

- Styling gel for hold
- Steam treatment
Monthly -Pre-wash with oil

- Use a clarifying shampoo or a homemade clarifying mix to remove build up
- Tea rinses - Deep conditioner for 30-45 minutes with a plastic cap and towel - Use oil mix and massage the roots

- Butter the ends to seal in moisture
- Leave in conditioner

- Styling gel for hold
- Trim ends every other month (as needed)

- Length check




Courtesy of Texture Playground