A Good Hair Care Routine for Every Type

With so many eye-pleasing hair products lining the shelves, it can be hard to see past pretty packaging and choose the right formulas that are best suited for your strands. 

Plus, when it comes to haircare, not only are there a plethora of products on offer — but there are so many different hair types. Whether your scalp is dry or oily, or your locks are damaged and over-processed, we are here to help you find the best hair care routine for you.  

Is there a hair care routine that’s suitable for all hair types? 

According to Trichologist Hannah Gaboardi, there is a basic daily hair care routine that generally suits most hair types. “Regardless of your hair type, whenever your scalp feels greasy, dirty or smells, you should wash your hair. If you go a long period of time without washing there will be a build-up of natural oils, bacteria, dead skin cells and greasy hair. The key is to keep the scalp clean and treat it in the same way as you treat your face,” she says.  

It’s also important to remember to protect your hair against heat damage. “When styling, don’t forget to protect — no matter your hair type. You can style your hair however you want, but if you use heated tools, you will need to protect those locks,” Gaboardi adds.  

Before you invest in specific products, it’s important to identify your hair type. There are characteristics to look out for that should give you a better idea of the hair concern you should be targeting: 

Dry or damaged hair/scalp 

Do the ends of your hair feel lifeless or straw-like? You could be dealing with dry and/or damaged hair. Look out for signs such as: 

• Excess frizz 
• Lots of split ends 
• Breakage 
• More shedding and tangling 
• Dullness 
• Flaky and itchy scalp 

Oily hair/scalp 

If you feel like your hair constantly needs a wash, it’s most probably because you have an oily hair type. Signs of naturally oily hair are: 

• A waxy or oily feel soon after washing 
• Blemishes around the scalp/hairline 
• Itchiness  
• Hair feeling flat and limp 

Combination hair (greasy roots and dry ends) 

This hair type can be particularly hard to deal with. Whilst those with combination hair might experience oily roots, their ends often feel dry which can cause a lot of confusion when it comes to choosing the right routine. Signs of combination hair are: 

• Flat roots with dry, brittle ends 
• Split ends with an oily, itchy scalp 
• Hair tends to get matted easily 

The best hair care routine: a step-by-step guide 

No matter your hair type, it’s usually trial and error when it comes to identifying the best hair care routine for you. Not sure where to start? Once you’ve determined your hair type, follow our hair care routine steps: 

Dry hair 

If you have dry hair, you may feel the need to wash and condition it more frequently. However, this can actually be counterproductive. If your hair is dry, allowing its natural oils build up again after a wash is important. You may be able to wash it twice or even once a week before it gets oily, and you’ll want to stick to the following routine: 

1. Use a mild shampoo 

A mild shampoo with natural ingredients, such as SheaMoisture Hydrate & Repair Shampoo with Manuka Honey & Yoghurt, £10.99 is best for dry hair and scalp. Avoid products that are full of synthetic ingredients like alcohols or sulphates as these may strip the hair of its natural moisture. 

2. Use a deeply nourishing conditioner/hair masque 

Keep your conditioner or conditioning hair treatment as natural but as nourishing as possible. Ingredients like oils, proteins or butters will work well to restore moisture to parched hair follicles. Leave a conditioner, such as Pacifica Vegan Silk Hydro Luxe Conditioner, £13 or try the 90% natural Nourishing Strengthening Hair Mask, £31, and leave on wet locks for around 5-10 minutes to ensure your hair receives the maximum moisture benefits. 

3. Treat damp hair post-wash 

Most leave-in conditioners not only pack the hair full of hydrating ingredients, but they help to protect it against heat damage, too. Moroccanoil Hydration All in One Leave-In Conditioner, £23.95 is perfect for dry hair types as it contains naturally nourishing argan oil. “For in-between care, using natural oils to give your hair some nourishment in between washes works well for maintaining hair health,” adds Hannah.

  

Oily hair 

Although it might feel like greasy hair needs washing more often, this is not entirely true. Just like oily skin, oily hair is caused by an overproduction of sebum by the scalp. The problem with over-washing greasy hair is that it could cause the scalp to overcompensate for the sebum that has been removed, by producing even more. The result? Oilier, greasier roots! 

1. Use a scalp scrub 

A common cause of oily roots is a build-up of excess sebum. The accumulation of sebum on the scalp can push your scalp’s microbiome out of balance, which means it will struggle to keep your hair follicles clean. The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Scrub, £12.99 has glycolic acid as its main ingredient, which is a natural exfoliator that easily removes dead skin cells and product build-up. 

  

2. Use a gentle cleansing shampoo  

A cleansing shampoo will rid your scalp of excess oil without stripping scalp and strands completely. OUAI Detox Shampoo, £24 gently detoxifies your hair without stripping away any natural moisture. 

3. Use a light conditioner 

Thicker formulas can be too intense for greasier hair types, and cause hair to be too weighed down. “For those with greasy hair, I would advise to use as little conditioner as possible and to avoid applying any product to the roots of the hair,” Hannah says. Steering clear of any conditioners that contain oil is also best. Try L’Occitane Revitalising Fresh Conditioner, £20 which is silicone free and contains refreshing ingredients such as mint, thyme and lavender. 

 

Combination hair 

Trying to treat lacklustre ends and greasy roots at the same time? It may seem impossible. But luckily, there are products you can use for this hair type — and they won’t interfere with your hair’s equilibrium.  

1. Use a mild, gentle shampoo 

While it might be tempting to use a strong shampoo to balance out greasy roots, it’s very important that you don’t over strip your hair of its natural oils. Opt for a shampoo with natural ingredients, that will gently remove excess oil without damaging hair, like Redken Amino-Mint Scalp Shampoo, £18. 

2. Use a nourishing conditioner — but only on the ends 

It’s important to use a conditioner if you have dry hair — but remember to only apply it to your ends if you have combination hair. Applying it too close to the root not only runs the risk of making hair look greasier and more unbalanced, but it can also overload the scalp and make it itchy. A small helping of Rahua Classic Conditioner, £34 massaged through the ends of your hair should help to sufficiently restore any lost moisture.  

3. Use a light leave-in conditioner 

Instead of choosing a spray or cream leave-in conditioner, try a light mist instead. Christophe Robin Hydrating Leave-In Mist with Aloe Vera £30 is gentle enough to be sprayed from mid-lengths to ends without causing any extra unwanted greasiness.  

Read more: Curtain Bangs Are The Biggest Haircare Trend For Summer 

4 top hair care routine tips 

Whatever your hair type is, there are some important rules to follow to keep your hair in great condition.  

1. Wash your hairbrush 

Did you know that your hairbrush is a breeding ground for bacteria? Not only that, but if it’s not cleaned after it’s used on dirty/oily hair, old grease and grime can contaminate freshly washed hair — reducing the longevity of that freshly washed feel.   

2. Avoid heat 

You might not be able to live without your straighteners or curlers, but overuse of heated tools can wreak havoc on any hair type. If you can’t resist heat styling, always make sure to use a generous amount of a good heat protection spray. 

3. Use dry shampoo sparingly 

Even if you get greasy roots, dry shampoo isn’t always the answer. Dry shampoo can be counter-productive, as it zaps moisture from the scalp and can cause it to produce too much sebum in response, making it oilier in the long-run. 

4. Protect your hair when swimming 

A less commonly known culprit of hair damage is chlorine. When swimming, wear a swim cap and use a specially formulated shampoo suitable for cleansing hair of chlorine.  The chlorine will remove your spray tan too – so don’t say we didn’t tell you!

FAQs 

How do I take care of my hair daily? 

The answer to this question varies depending on your hair type. A general rule to follow, though, would be to keep it clean and avoid overloading it with too much product. 

What is the best hair care routine? 

Depending on your hair type, different concerns can be targeted with the use of various products. Once you have treated your hair according to its type, you may want to find a light styling product to define curls, tame frizz/flyaways or add an extra healthy shine. 

How do I take care of my hair daily? 

The best thing you can do for your hair is to leave it as natural as possible. Avoid using heat on it and for particularly dry hair, treat the ends with a small amount of oil each day.  

What should we apply on hair daily? 

It’s important not to go overboard with hair products, and we recommend avoiding products such as dry shampoo if you can. If you are using heat on your hair, it’s advisable to apply a few sprays of heat protection on your strands before you do so.  

Read more: How To Condition Your Hair For Summer