The Ultimate Editor-Approved Self-Care Routine for Your Hair

Is Getting Your Hair Done Self-Care?

There's a reason so many women see their salon appointments as therapeutic. Taking time out of your day to switch up your hair color, try a new haircut, or enjoy an in-salon hair treatment can be a relaxing form of self-care.

Indulge a bit further by scheduling your hair appointment on the same day as a trip to the nail salon for a full day of pampering. While you’re at it, throw in a massage for good measure. Trying out a trending style like bottleneck bangs, which we’ve been seeing everywhere lately, will make you feel like a star.

What Is a Good Self-Care Routine?

A good self-care routine makes you look and feel like your most relaxed self. For some, that means indulging in a luxurious bubble bath or booking a massage. We encourage you to find ways to incorporate self-care into your everyday routine, like burning your favorite candle while you get ready in the morning.

If you’re trying to apply self-care practices to your haircare routine, it’s all about relaxing and giving your mane much-needed TLC. Below, we’re revealing some of our favorite ways to upgrade your self-care hair routine.

Take a hot shower

Fact: There’s nothing more therapeutic than taking a hot shower after a long day. While we don’t recommend rinsing your strands with scorching hot water, throw your hair into a bun and give yourself a few minutes to unwind and de-stress before finishing the rest of your shower routine. Once it’s time to wash your hair, turn the shower nozzle so the water is lukewarm.

Invest in a shower filter

We hate to break it to you, but your haircare products may only be as good as the water you’re mixing them with. If your hair is often left feeling dry and brittle, no matter how many moisturizing products you use, you may have hard water in your pipes. Water is described as “hard” when there is a high concentration of minerals such as calcium and magnesium present. These minerals, when applied topically, can cause dryness and damage. A shower filter can help eliminate such minerals, and some even come scented to help you truly relax during your self-care routine.

Editor’s Tip: Detoxifying haircare products can also help minimize the effects of hard water damage. Invest in a system like L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Metox Detox (one editor explains why it’s her holy grail treatment here), which features its new Anti-Porosity Filler Pre-Shampoo Treatment. The formula works to fill micro-breaks in the hair fiber so heavy metals can’t seep into your strands and dull your hue.

Wash your hair

Washing your hair may not seem like a luxury, but freshly washed hair will give you the clean slate you need to create any hairstyle. We recommend picking one based on your hair’s needs for the best results.

• If your hair is dry, nourish it with a moisturizing shampoo like Pureology Hydrate Shampoo. This formula quenches and cleanses medium to thick color-treated hair. There’s also the lightweight alternative, Pureology Hydrate Sheer Shampoo, if you have fine hair.
• Those dealing with damage can pick up Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo. This shampoo, which is formulated with citric acid and a concentrated bonding complex, helps rebalance your hair's natural pH levels for healthier-looking, stronger hair. You can achieve 56% less breakage, and 82% less visible split ends when used as a complete system, as highlighted in this editor review.
• Give greasy hair the boot with a little help from Biolage Professional Scalp Sync Clarifying Shampoo. The gentle clarifying shampoo, which is infused with fermented tea and glycolic acid, helps balance scalp moisture levels while restoring volume, shine, and lift to the hair.

Give yourself a scalp massage

No shampoo routine is complete without giving your scalp a massage. While nothing beats the massage you get at the shampoo bowl, this at-home technique can do wonders for your hair (and your stress levels). When you’re in the shower, use your fingertips to gently massage your scalp in a circular motion, starting at the front of your hairline and working your way towards the back for 60 seconds.

Massaging your scalp with your fingers is a quick and easy way to make your shampoo routine feel self-indulgent. But if you want to elevate your shampoo routine, invest in a hand-held scalp massaging device. Silicone and electric hand-held scalp massagers are both popular options.

Good hair day by @sarah_louwho.

Exfoliate your scalp

On the topic of scalp health, take a page straight from Skincare 101 and try exfoliating your scalp. This step is essential for removing the buildup that can lead to issues like dryness or irritation. Both physical and chemical exfoliation are great options for ridding your scalp of impurities. However, chemical exfoliation is often considered the gentler of the two since it doesn’t require manual scrubbing.

If you’re new to the world of scalp exfoliation, let us introduce you to Biolage Professional’s Scalp Sync Purifying Scalp Concentrate. This chemical pre-shampoo exfoliant helps clarify the scalp, removing buildup, excess oil, and dead skin cells after just one use. Those searching for a physical scrub, on the other hand, can try Kérastase Scrub Energisant Purifying Fusio Dose Scrub. The purifying and energizing scalp scrub cleanses away buildup and impurities while leaving hair shinier.

Treat your mane to a hair mask

Before you complete your shower routine, give your hair the ultimate self-care gift: a hair mask. While conditioner will do for your regular wash day, sometimes you need a product that delivers more extreme repair. A bond-repairing mask like Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate 5-Min Liquid Mask offers 72 hours of deep hydration, shine, and restoration and is ideal for all hair types and textures. Or, for a more targeted curl treatment, reach for Redken Acidic Bonding Curls Silicone-Free Leave-In Treatment, which is recommended for damaged and chemically processed curl patterns ranging from 3A to 4C.

Detangle gently

Detangling your hair may be your least favorite part of your haircare routine, but it’s important to do it carefully. Taking the time to detangle your hair can mean the difference between long, smooth, shiny strands and a broken, mangled mane. Invest in a detangling brush for your hair type and texture, and detangle your hair in sections. Working with one section at a time, start from your ends and gently make your way up to your roots.

Apply a hair oil

If you want to take your self-care hair routine to the next level, consider scooping up a hair oil. Much like applying a clear top coat to freshly painted nail polish, hair oil can help rejuvenate your mane and give it an extra bit of shine. From the L'Oréal portfolio, we recommend Kérastase Elixir Ultime L’Huile Original Hair Oil. This iconic formula for all hair types can help you achieve radiant shine while providing overall nourishment. Plus, it now comes in a gorgeous refillable bottle so that you can continue stocking up while being kind to the environment.

Use an overnight serum

You’ll love an overnight serum if you enjoy pampering yourself but are a lazy girl at heart. These products nourish your mane while you sleep—which means the product essentially does all of the work for you. Once you’ve gotten your eight hours, get up, wash the product out (if packaging instructions indicate to do so), and enjoy the results.

We’re partial to Shu Uemura Art of Hair's Ultimate Reset Overnight Hair Serum for overprocessed hair. This P.M. treatment can help fight up to one year of visible surface damage on hair in just one use. Come morning, strands will be soft, supple, shiny, and feel stronger.

Salon blondes can opt for a dedicated formula like Kérastase Blond Absolu Serum Cicanuit instead. This overnight recovery serum, which stars hyaluronic acid, hydrates and softens lightened or highlighted hair while protecting against split ends and breakage.

Style your hair

As the old saying goes: When you look good, you feel good! Every salon-goer knows there’s nothing like walking out of the salon with freshly styled hair. Whether a bouncy blowout makes you feel your best, or you love how your hair looks braided, we’ve got all the inspiration you’re looking for with easy-to-follow tutorials.

Good hair day by @georgepapanikolas.

What Is the Best Daily Haircare Routine?

Making the time for an indulgent haircare routine every once in a while is important, but your daily routine is the key to having healthy-looking hair every day. Incorporate these tips into your routine for flawless hair all the time.

Getting regular haircuts

Okay, this isn’t an everyday thing—but your haircut will make or break your daily styling. No hairstyles look good with split ends and damaged hair, so maintaining your haircut schedule can help ensure your mane always looks polished.

Embracing heat-free hairstyles

Heat-free hairstyles are all over social media, and for a good reason—they look amazing and are generally kinder on your hair. As much as we love the looks we can achieve with straighteners and curling irons, the damage often leaves our hair looking worse for wear. Heat-free hairstyles can create the same enviable bounce and body with less damage.

Protecting your hair at night

A good night's sleep is essential to a healthy-looking hair routine, but tossing and turning on a cotton pillowcase all night won’t do your hair any favors. Protect your mane from tangles, tears, and dryness by wrapping your hair in a satin bonnet or scarf before bed. This will protect your hair from becoming a tangled mess and help preserve your style for the next day. If you can’t manage to keep a bonnet on your head, invest in a satin or silk pillowcase for hair protection with a luxurious feel.

Next Up: 17 Ways To Protect Your Hair While Sleeping

Header photo credits: @shuuemura_artofhair and @georgepapanikolas

Are you looking to kick off your self-care routine with a haircut? Use our salon locator to book an appointment with a pro near you.