The saying “having a bad hair day” does not exist for no reason, and many women will tell you that having good hair can completely transform the way you feel about your appearance. With this in mind, it comes as no surprise that there are multiple articles online about healthy hair and the best ways to achieve this, some of which may surprise you.

One of the most interesting things about how to achieve healthy hair is that frequent washing is not the solution, in fact, according to Allure, if you wet your hair less, you can avoid frizz and breakage. The reason is that water makes the hair swell from the inside and reportedly forces the cuticle up, which is why it’s important not to wash your hair more than you have to. Washing your hair every day can also cause it to become dry and removes the natural oils that your scalp produces.

The next thing to consider then is the products that you do put on your hair (use products that are designed to care for the texture of your hair) when you have to wash it, and the publication suggests pre-shampooing before your normal hair care routine as this can protect against the friction caused by shampooing. Also, consider the temperature at which you wash your hair because very hot water can cause more damage.

Once you have washed your hair, don’t wring it out with the towel but instead pat dry and gently wrap it up to prevent damage. It is also recommended to use a comb or something that can prevent breakage because a brush can lead to split ends and cause your hair to break. If you intend to continue to style your hair, then ensure it is dry first (allowing it to dry naturally is best) as this will limit the damage — wet hair can be damaged easier than dry hair.

While your hair care routine is incredibly important, it also helps to give your hair a little added TLC every now and then, and these can be done using special treatments and masks. Reader’s Digest recommends a few DIY creations, which include an avocado rub to help with shine, coating your hair in botanical oils to rejuvenate it, and a vinegar treatment to aid lifeless hair.

_{[Image via Shutterstock]}