Welcome to our hair care guide
Imagine you could have a good hair day, every day? That would be great, right? Here at Tangle Angel hair is important to us and we know how important it is to you, which is why we want to help you get the fabulous hair you deserve.
Changing fashion and research into haircare means it’s difficult to wade through all the different advice to find information that’s right for you and your ‘do. Luckily for you, the experts at Tangle Angel have put together the ultimate guide to looking after your hair. So if you’ve been wondering what happens if you don’t brush your hair, or how to look after naturally oily locks, we’ve got you covered.
Whether you’re a curly Sue or a poker straight Sally, we’ve put our heads together to make sure you can go away with the knowledge to look after your hair the right way.
Is brushing good for your hair?
Trends in hair care change so much it is hard to keep track of what you should and shouldn’t do to your tresses. The old golden rule of ‘100 brush strokes a day’ has gone out the window - your hair type will dictate your brushing needs.
As a general rule, brushing your hair is a good thing. It just depends on how you do it. If you have curly or coily hair you may stick to in-shower combing whilst your hair is wet and covered in conditioner. Others among us with straight hair benefit from brushing while it’s dry in order to distribute naturally occurring oils and keep your hair looking sleek and shiny.
So yes, brushing is good for your hair. You just need to make sure you’ve got the right tools and the right knowledge, which is what the experts at Tangle Angel are here for!
Our Guide on How to Look After Your Hair
Using the right tools
Not all hair styling tools are made equal. You will need to make sure you have the right brush in order to get the best results.
Detangling brushes: These are suitable for all hair types, and are especially effective at detangling both wet and dry hair. As hair is more delicate when it’s wet, it’s worth investing in a detangling brush with flexible bristles that can easily undo stubborn knots without breakage.
Paddle brushes: Paddle brushes are great for blow-drying and can be used on a whole variety of hair types. The flat, rectangular surface allows you extra control while you brush. For thick hair, long hair, choose sturdier bristles that can run smoothly through textured hair.
Wide-tooth combs: Those with thick, curly hair should have a wide-toothed comb in their beauty toolkit. The wide-set teeth moved easily between curls without damaging or breaking them, making them ideal for wet or dry hair.
Tail combs: Tail combs are the ideal tool for parting your hair into sections when you are brushing it, and can also be used for backcombing and to tease your hair into particular styles. Tail combs have another benefit too - they can help you keep your brushes clean.
Hairdryer: A well made, salon-quality hair dryer will help your hair look great and cut down drying time. Make sure you have one with multiple heat settings so that you can use the cool setting at the end of your drying session to close the cuticles and leave the hair feeling healthy.
Use the right products
Leave-in conditioner: Not the same as normal conditioner you’d use in the shower, leave-in conditioner has a whole range of benefits. It helps you detangle your hair more easily, reducing damage and acts as a primer before applying styling products.
Heat protection: Everyone who uses heat styling tools should use protection first, no ifs or buts. Modern-day straighteners, hairdryers and curling wands can reach exceptionally high temperatures so make sure you use a heat protection spray every time you style. Your hair will thank you for it.
Dry shampoo: Dry shampoo is a girl’s best friend. While washing your hair less means a healthier scalp, it can mean greasy roots. Reach for a can of dry shampoo to help on those in-between days, to get rid of any oil build up and add volume to boot.
Brushing your hair
Brushing your hair is a vital part of looking after your barnet, but how do you do it right? Our experts have put together tips to help keep your hair happy.
Brush when your hair is dry
For the majority of hair types, the best time to brush your hair is right before you get in the bath or shower. The exception is curly hair types which benefit from working out tangles in the shower with the help of a conditioner and a wide-tooth comb.
Start at the bottom
Start brushing at the bottom of your hair in sections and work your way up to the roots. This is because going straight in at the roots can damage your scalp and your delicate hair follicles.
Avoid over-brushing
Brushing your hair too much can actually damage it. Limit your brushing to just once per day, you will be able to tell when you’ve finished as you will have worked out all the tangles and distributed the natural oils.
Our Top-Tips For Looking After Your Hair Type
Curly hair
Start at the bottom: Brushing from the roots downwards can really damage your tresses, and not to mention cause you pain! Start from the tips of your hair and work your way up. After you have finished this you should be able to brush from root to tip smoothly without any snagging.
Always use conditioner: Curly and coily hair can look dull and dry if it doesn’t get enough moisture. Invest in a good quality conditioner that’s curl specific: look for ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil to help keep your hair in tip-top condition.
Straight hair
Get regular trims: Having a trim every 6-8 weeks is good practice for all hair types, but especially important for straight hair which can be more prone to the dreaded split ends. Discuss with your stylist what kind of cut is best for your face shape.
Don’t overload with product: For those with straight hair, there can be the temptation to overload it with a product to encourage volume, but it ends up just weighing it down. Use just a small amount of product to keep your hair healthy.
Wavy hair
Avoid heat styling: Lots of us use heat styling tools such as wands to encourage our waves. However using too much heat can be detrimental to your hair, damaging it and making it look frizzy. Try to use your styling tools in a cool setting to help keep your naturally wavy hair looking great.
Sleep in satin: Tossing and turning on cotton pillowcases can wreak havoc on your poor hair. Investing in satin pillowcases or a satin sleep cap will reduce friction and frizz, keeping your waves looking wonderful.
Fine hair
Use protection: Make sure you use a good quality heat protection spray or serum. This locks in moisture and reduces potential damage. Stylists recommend waiting until your hair is 75% air dry before using a heat styling tool.
Get the right cut: There are particular styles that bring out the best in fine hair. Next time you’re at the salon, chat with your stylist about the best styles for you. Generally, shoulder-length styles look great on fine hair, creating a fuller look.
Thick hair
Don’t wash too often: Washing your hair too often can dry it out and get rid of the natural oils which keep your hair smooth and shiny. If you can, try to cut back to one or two washes a week and you’ll really notice a difference.
Play it cool: We all love a boiling hot shower but sadly it doesn’t do your hair any favours, especially if it is naturally thick. Hot water can strip your hair of its oils and leave it looking dull. Try showering in cooler water, it will help seal your hair’s cuticles and leave it with a healthy-looking shine.
Taking care of your hair is easy once you know how. Once you’ve identified the type of hair you have, you can use our guide to make informed decisions on how best to care for your locks. Whenever you’re thinking of changing your routine or products, make sure you take special attention to your hair’s current condition. After all, you don’t want to make any changes that could have adverse effects on your ‘do.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I shampoo my hair?
We recommend that you shampoo your hair at least once a week, to help remove residual styling products and shift dead skin cells. Depending on your exercise and activity level you may need to shampoo more than this. Be cautious and try not to shampoo your hair more than a few times a week, or you could strip your hair of its natural oils and cause dryness.
How can I get my hair to grow quicker?
There are many factors that can affect hair growth such as hormonal changes, heat styling and your diet. Your hair IS in fact growing all the time, so what you want to do is reduce breakage as much as possible. Avoid heat styling whenever possible (or use a cooler setting), and don’t pull at or stretch hair while it’s wet.
How often should I get my hair cut?
This is a common question our experts get asked. We recommend getting a trim every six to 12 weeks in order to keep your hair healthy and keep split ends at bay. You can tell it’s time for a haircut when you can’t nail your favourite style anymore, your hair has visible damage or when your waves or curls start to disappear as they get weighed down.
How do I get stronger, healthier hair?
Genes play an important role in your hair type, volume and strength. You can help encourage healthier hair by going easy on shampoo and heat styling, and by having a cool rinse when you do wash your hair.