On your journey to perfect your haircare routine, you’ll likely navigate endless regimens and recommendations from stylists, influencers, and TikTok. It can be a full-time job just keeping up with all the new techniques and trends! While there’s no one-size-fits-all for care, a few things are essential to all hair types. So whether you have fine, thin hair, or thick curls, there's a basic 101 routine that will work for you.

Basics for all hair types

These are key steps that should be in everyone's regular haircare routine. Of course, feel free to customize the products based on your hair type and concerns.

Nutrition

Here are some nutrient-rich foods that strengthen follicles and support hair at the root, which include:

♦ Eggs contain several amino acids essential for keratin.
♦ Berries are high in antioxidants that support follicle health.
♦ Citrus fruits are high in vitamin C, which supports scalp health.
♦ Veggies like sweet potatoes, broccoli, and spinach contain B vitamins like biotin, which strengthen and promote density.

Nutrition from your diet should be a priority for overall health; however, it's possible to still have gaps in your nutrition intake. Supplements like collagen support follicle health and provide essential compounds for robust hair health. We recommend our Foundation Collagen Elixir with spirulina and keratin. To promote rejuvenated hair and support its overall health, we recommend nutrient-rich Clinical Formula Vitamins with saw palmetto and biotin. 

Cleanse

Shampooing is key to removing oil, debris, and grime, but drugstore options often contain sulfates and unnecessary ingredients that can strip your hair and scalp of essential moisture. We recommend a gentle shampoo like Hair La Vie Shampoo that will purify the scalp, leaving hair silky clean but not stripped.

Condition

This step is uniformly essential to all hair types and hair concerns alike. Whether your hair is dry or overly oily, the scalp and the hair follicle are thirsty for moisture. For most hair, look for ingredients like humectants, which allow deeper moisture absorption into the hair shaft, and conditioners like Hair La Vie Conditioner, which contain silk proteins.

Pro Tip: Use hair masks. Apply these emollient masks to allow extra hydration to soak into the hair strands, leaving them shinier and healthier.

Be gentle while you sleep

Friction, while you sleep will ruin any blowout, causing tangles when you wake up, so it’s best to avoid it. Putting your hair into a loose ponytail or soft bun before bed can ensure that you minimize tangles and will pull the hair far less. If possible, sleeping on a silk pillowcase will preserve the much-needed moisture in your hair and skin.  

Mild temperatures

Using hot water can open your hair's cuticles, allowing moisture to escape. Instead, use lukewarm water to wash your hair and cool to rinse. The same applies to hot styling tools. Use a heat protectant product and keep direct heat to a minimum. 

Regular trims

We all want lustrous hair, so if your ends look tattered, the solution could be as simple as a quick trim. Maintain regular trims every three to four months. This will help prevent breakage like split ends, which can deter your hair length goals and health.

Scalp care

Hair gets all the attention for obvious reasons, but a healthy scalp is key to good hair days. To stimulate circulation, try a scalp massaging brush and or an ACV scalp rinse. This will rebalance, exfoliate, and deep clean your scalp while supporting hair follicles. Give your roots a re-fresh and show your scalp some TLC.

Final thoughts

Each of our haircare journeys will differ, but there are a few basics that should be a priority for everyone, such as proper cleansing of the hair and scalp and supporting proper moisture levels. Just like your skin, hair needs the right moisture balance to maintain its healthy microbiome. From there, you can customize a routine that suits you and brings out the best in your tresses. When in doubt, look for haircare that focuses on hair health, like Hair La Vie® with gentle and naturally-derived products that will benefit any and all hair types.