The best Hair Care

What the buying guides say

Good hair care starts with understanding your own hair — its thickness, texture, and oiliness — and building a routine around those facts rather than copying someone else's. Most problems come from doing too much too often.

• Match your shampoo frequency to your hair type. Thick, dry hair can go weeks between washes. Thin or oily hair may need washing a few times a week. Find your own rhythm by dropping one wash day at a time until you land on what feels right.
• Use a conditioner every time you wash, and choose the weight to suit your hair. Thick or dry hair handles heavy conditioners well. Fine hair does better with something light. For damaged or very dry hair, a deep conditioning mask once or twice a week does more than a regular conditioner alone.
• Sleep with curly or textured hair gathered loosely on top of your head with a silk or satin scrunchie, or use a silk bonnet. Hours of friction and body heat against a cotton pillowcase causes frizz and weakens the ends.
• Oil your scalp before washing. Jojoba, argan, and rosemary oil are worth considering. Massage for several minutes to stimulate the scalp, then let the oil sit before shampooing. A warm cap or gentle heat helps the oil penetrate.
• When you dry your hair, pat it gently with a microfiber towel rather than rubbing. If you blow-dry, use a lower heat setting. Apply a leave-in conditioner or serum before any heat to protect the hair.

Synthesised from: Fashion Elitist · OnPointFresh · Jonathan Van Ness · Lavish Krish