Hair Care Routine Steps for Healthy Hair

Finding the right hair care routine for you can be a little daunting, especially with so much information online, an overflow of #HairTok tutorials and new haircare products launching every day. This is why we’ve compiled an overview of simple hair care routine steps to achieve healthy hair! 

Tackling specific hair concerns with your hair care routine

Before you rethink your hair care routine, it’s important to think about your hair concerns and the current state of your hair. Achieving healthy locks will be a different journey for everyone! 

Typical hair concerns:

• Dryness and damage
• Frizz and flyaways 
• Oiliness or greasiness
• Split ends
• Hair loss
• Damage as a result of coloring or chemicals
• Scalp issues: itchy, oily, dry, flaky
• Lack of volume

Setting goals for your healthy hair care routine

Next to the hair concerns you want to tackle with your daily haircare routine, it’s also smart to set some hair goals. This will help you create your routine and choose the right products to achieve your desired results!

Some haircare goals you may set for yourself:

• Smoothness and shine
• Volume, texture and body 
• Strength, repair and hydration 
• Color longevity 
• Wave and curl definition 
• Overall healthy hair 

With your hair concerns and goals in mind, it’s now time to build your routine. 

Hair care routine steps for healthy hair

Every basic haircare routine contains some important steps: cleansing, conditioning, moisturising, detangling, styling and treatment. The frequency of these steps will depend on your hair type, lifestyle and preferences. Let’s cover the basics: 

Step 1: Cleanse

The first step in any haircare routine is to cleanse. Just like you cleanse your skin every evening, your hair also benefits from a cleanse - perhaps not daily, depending on how dry your hair and scalp is and how many products you use which can cause build-up. 

Washing your hair will leave your hair and scalp feeling clean, removing any products, grease, dirt and dead skin cells which might have built up. 

Cleansing tips:

• Opt for a gentle, sulfate-free moisturizing shampoo, which is better for your hair and scalp health in the long run. Here’s why. 
• Use your fingertips on your scalp to create a lather, rather than using your fingernails.
• Don’t wash your hair too often, as this may strip the hair of its natural oils and disturb your scalp microbiome. Washing your hair every 3 to 4 days using a moisturizing shampoo is recommended. 
• Wash and rinse with lukewarm or cold water, as hot water can damage your hair. 

Step 2: Condition & nourish

The next essential step in your washing routine is to condition. Conditioning your hair helps to detangle, seal the cuticles and provide moisture. It replenishes the moisture that your shampoo may have removed, and it will help remove any knots or tangles that were caused by massaging your shampoo onto your hair and scalp.

Conditioning tips:

• Apply conditioner on wet hair. Squeeze out excess water, apply to the lengths of your hair and leave on for 1-2 minutes before rinsing with cool water. 
• Use a wide toothed comb to gently comb through your hair after applying conditioner to evenly distribute the product. 
• Opt for a lightweight, silicone-free conditioner like our Honey Infused Conditioner, which won’t weigh your hair down. 

Step 3: Detangle

Detangling your hair will help eliminate knots and minimize breakage. One product that can smoothen the detangling process is a leave-in conditioner, like our Honey Infused Leave-In Conditioner. This will help smooth your locks, preparing them for detangling with a brush or wide-tooth comb. You can also opt for a hair oil or serum before detangling.

The Honey Infused Leave-In Conditioner can be applied to both dry or towel-dried hair. Spray the product from an arm's length distance onto the mid-lengths of your hair down to the ends, combing through to ensure it is evenly dispersed.

Detangling tips:

• Detangling starts in the shower! After applying conditioner, gently comb through the lengths of your hair with your fingertips to eliminate any big knots.
• Always start brushing or combing through the lower portion of your hair, working your way up to the roots. 

Step 4: Protect, prime & style 

Always make sure you prep your hair before using heated tools such as a blow dryer, curling tool or straightener. This will not only protect your hair from breakage but also enhance styling results and ensure that your hairstyle lasts! 

Use a lightweight styling primer, like the Propolis Infused Polishing Primer, to prepare your hair for your styling routine. Not only will it help prevent frizz, but it also reduces drying time, enhances hair texture and ensures optimal workable hold while using heated styling tools. 

The next essential step in your styling routine is using a heat protectant, which protects your hair from heat damage caused by blow-drying, styling tools and the sun. Gisou Propolis Infused Heat Protecting Spray protects hair from heat up to 230ᵒC/446ᵒF and contains a UV-filter to prevent sun damage. Section hair and mist evenly from an arm’s length distance onto dry or damp hair before applying any heat tools or exposing hair to UV.

Protect, prime & styling tips:

• Never use heated styling tools like a curling iron or straightener on wet or damp hair. After applying a heat protectant, let your hair air dry for a couple of minutes before applying heat. 
• When using a primer, apply a pea-sized amount - a little goes a long way!
• If you want to further enhance your hair texture after styling, consider using a texture spray as a last step in your styling routine.

Step 5: Moisturize 

After styling your hair or letting it air dry, you might want to add back in a little moisture. Also on days where you’re not washing your hair, your strands may benefit from a moisture boost. This is where hair oil comes in, our favorite multitasker! Hair oils are also great for controlling frizz and preventing dryness. 

Our Honey Infused Hair Oil is infused with Mirsalehi Honey, which helps to attract and retain moisture. With regular usage, your hair will become softer, stronger and healthier overall. You can apply it on damp hair, dry hair, in the morning or before going to bed. 

Moisture tips:

• When it comes to hair oil, a little goes a long way. We recommend 1-2 drops for fine hair, 2-3 for medium hair and 3-4 for thick hair.

• Before applying the hair oil to your hair, warm up the product between your palms and fingers. Then, apply the product using your fingers in combing motions to distribute the product evenly.

• You can also use a leave-in conditioner in between washes to give your hair that much-needed moisture boost. 

Step 6: Treatment

There are three types of treatments which you can add to your weekly routine to give your hair some extra TLC: a mask treatment, oil treatment or a scalp treatment. Regular hair treatments will help tackle specific hair concerns such as damage, dryness and an oily, flaky or dry scalp, and improve the overall appearance and health of your hair.

Mask Treatment: Apply a generous amount of the Honey Infused Hair Mask to damp or dry hair from mid-lengths to ends. Leave on for 5-7 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with cool water. 

For a more nourishing treatment, apply to damp or dry hair from mid-lengths to ends. Leave in overnight, then wash your hair the next morning. Repeat twice a week for optimal repair and restoration. 

Scalp Treatment: Apply small increments of scalp treatment directly onto scalp in 1” (3cm) sections from the hairline to the crown. Gently massage in with fingertips for 5 minutes to distribute and allow the active ingredients to absorb. Leave on overnight. Do not rinse.

If you experience residue or oiliness in the morning, simply wash your hair. To tackle recurring irritation, use twice a week. Move towards weekly application when scalp concerns subside. Use twice a month to prevent irritation, itching, flaking and improve overall hair health.

Oil Treatment: Section your hair into 2 sections, then take 1 full syringe of the Honey Infused Hair Oil for each section and fully coat hair. Braid hair and let it absorb for a few hours or overnight. If the product isn’t fully absorbed, then give hair a light rinse or cleanse.

Discover different 5 ways to use hair oil for healthier hair

5 hair care routine tips for healthy hair

Next to your basic routine, here are some extra tips on things you can do to improve the health of your hair:

1. Mind the water temperature: wash and rinse your hair with lukewarm or preferably cold water. Washing your hair with hot water can dehydrate the scalp and strip your hair of its natural oils, which can lead to dryness and breakage.
2. Get regular trims: Get a haircut every 6 to 8 weeks to reduce breakage and split ends.
3. Assess your diet: You can also improve your hair from the inside out by eating the right foods. A diet rich in essential nutrients, such as protein, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin A, B12, C and E, vitamin D and zinc will support the health and growth of your scalp and hair.
4. Massage your scalp: Give your scalp regular scalp massages to promote blood circulation and refresh your roots. Combine with a scalp treatment to give your scalp a nutrient boost. This will be especially beneficial if you suffer from a dry scalp.  
5. Limit the use of heat tools: We all know that heat tools can damage your hair, no matter how much heat protectant you use. If you do use heated styling tools, opt for a tool with a range temperature settings, so you can style your hair at lower temperatures. 

Wrapping up

Everyone’s hair care routine is going to look different, but we’ve listed a few important steps which will help your hair look and feel its best. If you’re looking for specific advice or tips for your hair type, take our Hair Quiz to find out which products work best for your hair type.