These days, saving money is all the rage. However, when it comes to cutting back on hair care, many people are hesitant to make significant changes for fear that it could impact their looks and the health of their hair.
Dermatologist Paradi Mirmirani, speaking at the American Academy of Dermatology’s SKIN academy, discussed how to have healthy, beautiful hair on a budget.
“There are many ways that we can trim our hair care expenses, from going to the salon less frequently to using fewer products,” said Dr. Mirmirani. “But, the ultimate goal with any type of change in our hair care routine should be to maintain healthy hair.”
Dr. Mirmirani advised that any hair care routine or products used to clean or style the hair should be gentle enough to maintain the structure of the hair fiber and cuticle.
Here are her main tips on how you can make small changes to save money on hair care without compromising hair health.
- Boar bristle brushes are not the best to use
While boar bristle brushes often are touted as the best hair brushes, Dr. Mirmirani said that this is actually a myth. “Boar bristle brushes, which are quite expensive, put a lot of friction on the hair because the bristles come into contact with hair against its natural grain,” explained Dr. Mirmirani. “This can cause a considerable amount of damage, and consumers can save money and keep hair healthier at the same time by buying inexpensive plastic brushes with wide-spaced needles, which are widely available.”
- Shampoo: Less is More
Although shampooing the hair is an important part of any hair care routine, Dr. Mirmirani pointed out that most people could save money on shampoos in several ways. She explained that people could use less shampoo (particularly if they have long hair) by only washing the scalp and not shampooing the lower parts of the hair.
“How often you wash your hair should be based on how oily your scalp is – if it’s oily, you might need to wash it more frequently than someone with a dry scalp. However, most of us are probably over-washing our hair and can save some money by using less shampoo.”
Dr. Mirmirani noted that African Americans should wash their hair no more than once a week, because their hair and scalp tend to be much dryer than lighter-skinned people.
She said that salon formulas (which are considerably more expensive) are not better than drugstore brands. She explained that brand name shampoos sold in stores are just as good as pricier shampoos sold at salons.
- Use conditioner regularly
To maintain healthy hair, do not skimp on conditioner. For those with long hair, conditioner plays an important role in protecting and maintaining the structure of the cuticle, especially at the ends. If hair is damaged, it is even more important to make sure the hair is conditioned regularly.
“If your hair is damaged, I would advise using a 2-in-1 shampoo with conditioner followed by extra conditioner to fully protect and help restore the cuticle,” said Dr. Mirmirani. “A leave-in conditioner for deep conditioning that can be applied at home also is important for people with long or damaged hair, and these products do not need to be expensive or applied at a salon to work well.”
- Heat, Color and Chemicals Can Be Expensive
Many people try to save money by using ceramic flat irons on a very high heat setting to straighten their hair at home rather than spending money for this hairstyle at a salon. However, many problems can occur with these styling products, and it is important to read the instructions before using them on hair. For example, flat irons should never be used on wet hair, the highest heat setting or on an everyday basis. When using any heat-based styling product (including a flat iron, blow dyer or curling iron), Dr. Mirmirani recommended using a styling product specially designed to protect the hair from heat before styling the hair, such as a leave-in conditioning spray.
For those who color their hair, Dr. Mirmirani said hair dyes applied at the salon are basically the same as those that people can purchase from a store and use at home.
“By dyeing their own hair, people can save a considerable amount of money on their hair care routine – especially if they can enlist the help of a friend for quick touch-ups,” said Dr. Mirmirani.
- Fuller Hair for Less
There are a few simple tricks that can make limp hair look fuller that won’t cost any money. For instance, blow drying hair upside down can add volume and hiding the central part of the hair by restyling it can create the illusion of fuller hair.
Many shampoos are available that claim to add volume to hair, and Dr. Mirmirani said that some of these shampoos can be helpful for people with limp hair.
If you have multiple hair care concerns and are unsure what products will work best for your hair type, Dr. Mirmirani recommends that you see a dermatologist for expert advice.
For more information visit www.aad.org.
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