The Only Guide To Healthy Curls You'll Ever Need

By Jelani Addams Rosa & Powered By L’Oreal Professional Products Division

In the vast world of hair care, the quest for a healthy-looking mane can feel never ending. It seems like there’s a new haircut, style, or product every day. They all promise you your healthiest-looking hair yet and we fall for the gimmick time after time. As it turns out, having healthy-looking hair is actually pretty simple if you know what to look for.

We teamed up with Ashley Brown, Mizani brand ambassador and stylist, to create the only guide to healthy-looking hair care you’ll ever need. Continue reading to find out everything from how to tell if your hair is damaged to what makes a healthy-looking hair care routine. (Spoiler alert: you’re going to have to get rid of those split ends.)

What is the key to healthy hair?

Different hair types usually have wildly different needs, but Brown says the key to healthy hair is the same no matter your hair type or texture.

The key to healthy hair, regardless of texture, is balance and a strong foundation. Hair needs a balance of protein and moisture to thrive and a strong foundation to be stable...A strong foundation can be achieved with regular trims and salon treatments.

Ashley Brown

If you are unsure whether or not your hair is healthy, make an appointment with a trusted hair stylist.

How can you tell if your hair is damaged?

Brown says there are two key indicators to be mindful of when trying to determine whether or not your hair is damaged: elasticity and porosity. Elasticity refers to your hair strands ability to be stretched and return back to its normal state without breaking. Brown says the easiest way to test your strands elasticity is to pluck a few strands from your head and literally stretch them.

“While your hair is wet, hold the strand of hair and stretch it. If the hair stretches and returns back it its original length and shape after being released, then it has good elasticity. If it snaps off, or doesn't return to its former shape, this is a sign of poor elasticity and damage,” she explains.

Porosity refers to your hair’s ability to absorb and hold onto moisture. Porosity is important because strands need to be able to retain moisture to remain as healthy-looking as possible. Low porosity hair often appears damaged or dry and it may have a difficult time absorbing moisture. Once low porosity strands absorb moisture, however, they have no trouble holding onto it. Highly porous hair absorbs moisture easily but isn’t able to retain moisture well, which means high porosity strands often look and feel the most damaged.

While there is no foolproof way to test for porosity, Brown says taking a closer look at how your strands look and feel can usually offer some insight.

“Separate a strand of hair from the rest of your hair and slide your fingers up the strand towards the scalp. If you feel bumps along the way up, that may indicate the cuticle is lifted and your porosity is high. If your fingers slip up the strand smoothly, this may indicate your porosity is low,” she explains.

What is the best hair care routine?

The foundation of any healthy-looking hair care routine is making sure you head to the salon for regular haircuts. Whether you’re trying to grow your hair out and just need a trim or are hoping for a whole new look, going to the hair salon every four to six weeks is the key to healthy-looking hair. This will allow your stylist to track your hair, as well as keep unsightly split ends at bay.

One of the best ways to help protect your strands is with the hair products you use to cleanse, condition, and style your hair. If you’re in search of some new products to make sure your hair looks and feels as healthy as possible, Brown recommends Mizani’s Moisture Fusion line. Brown says the Moisture Rich Shampoo and Intense Moisturizing Mask, formulated with cupuaçu butter, argan oil, and honey, helps to quench hair for soft, moisturized manageability.

“This system adds a deep moisture boost to the hair, giving the hair an ease in manageability without weighing the hair down,” she explains.

If your hair could use a little extra protection, Brown recommends wrapping your hair in a silk scarf at night or swapping out your cotton pillowcase for a satin one. This will help to prevent any harsh pulling as you toss and turn at night.

Now that you have a hair care routine complete with a haircut schedule and moisturizing system of products, you’re bound to have the healthiest-looking hair of your life.

Interested in personalized advice about the healthiest hair care routine for your mane? Use our salon locator to book an appointment with a stylist near you.