The signs of healthy hair are thick, soft, and shiny locks. Having silky hair is not something everyone is born with. Your hair can become dry and brittle if your diet is not healthy or if you use hair products that are not suited to your hair type.

When your hair fails to retain the moisture from the natural oils secreted by the scalp, it becomes dry and coarse. Here are some changes you can incorporate into your lifestyle and hair care regimen to achieve soft and silky hair.

1 / Choose hair care products suited to your hair type. Focus on your hair type when buying shampoos and conditioners on the market. Hair care product formulations are designed based on hair types, which are oily, dry, or damaged.

2 / Do not shampoo your hair daily. Daily shampooing strips the oil from your hair. Instead, consider shampooing two or three times a week. If your hair is oily, you can try dry shampoos. Shampoo only the scalp, not the ends.

3 / Always apply a conditioner. Never forget to apply a conditioner for 2 to 5 minutes and wash it out after shampooing. Use conditioner only on the ends of the hair and not on the scalp or the entire length. Conditioners help retain moisture. They reduce static electricity between hair strands and can offer some protection from the sun.

4 / Oil your hair regularly. If you have dry hair, do not wash it without oiling it at least an hour before shampooing. You can use any healthy hair oil, such as coconut oil, olive oil, almond oil, or argan oil. Massaging the scalp with oil is particularly good for dry scalps. If you have an oily scalp, apply the hair oil only to the strands and ends and avoid the roots.

5 / Use hair masks. Using hair masks once a week can help retain oil in your hair. Apply one of the homemade hair masks indicated below, leave the mask on for an hour, wash it off with shampoo, then apply conditioner.

6 / Do not wash your hair with hot water. Hot water dries out your hair. You can wash it with lukewarm or cold water.
Rinse the conditioner with cold water. After the treatment, finish washing your hair by rinsing the conditioner with cold water.

7 / Try hot oil treatments. Warm up one of the oils like coconut oil, olive oil, or castor oil, and gently massage your hair for a few minutes. Tie your hair up and cover it with a shower cap. Over that, wrap a towel soaked in hot water. Keep your hair in this position for 10 minutes and wash it with shampoo, then condition your hair.

8 / Use homemade conditioners from time to time.

9 / Limit the use of heat tools. Styling tools, such as straighteners and hot air hair dryers, cause your hair to lose its natural oils and can damage it if used frequently. Stay away from these heat tools and use them only occasionally. Use a heat protectant before using heat tools on your hair.

10 / Avoid certain hairstyles. Certain hairstyles that pull tightly on your hair, such as ponytails and the use of tight headbands on the forehead, can damage it. Tie your hair loosely and not tightly.

11 / Protect your hair from the sun. Cover your hair with a scarf whenever you go out in the sun.

12 / Minimize the use of hair dyes and colorings. Coloring or perm treatments can damage the texture of your hair if done frequently. Limit their use and wait at least 6 weeks between two hair treatments.

13 / Trim your hair. Cutting your hair once every 3-4 months helps reduce split ends and results in healthy-looking hair.
Modify your diet.

14 / Add healthy fats to your diet in the form of omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish and flaxseed oil.
Consume iron-rich foods, such as beets, dates, beans, lentils, spinach, and jaggery (replace sugar with jaggery).
Consume biotin-rich foods, such as eggs, spinach, and almonds.

15 / Incorporate vitamin C into your diet by consuming citrus fruits, such as oranges, Indian gooseberries (Amla), and limes.
Get vitamin D naturally by exposing yourself to early morning sunlight for a few minutes. Consume foods like egg yolks, mushrooms, and fish.