Everyone wants healthy looking hair. Looking through dozens of sites with tips on how to get healthier, shiny hair, I compiled the best tips for my hair and yours. In fact, it seems relatively simply to give your hair that extra shine and bounce without spending hundreds of dollars.

My hair is important to me. However, I know I don’t have the time or money to buy those 50$ bottles or to go to a hair salon every day. The long day can be stressful on your hair. Heat and cold can damage it, the pollution can make your hair look grimy and unattractive, and finally, split ends just look bad.

The tips below show how hair is not as hard to take care of, as I thought, and can save you a fortune.

1.Brush before bed. Everyone agrees that this will remove dirt and damaging particles. It will also stimulate circulation which, in effect, allows for the increased production of natural oils that gives your hair that shiny look.

2. Use a pH balanced shampoo. Make sure that it is designed for your type of hair, for example dry or oily hair will need different products.

3. Rinsing with cool water will give your hair extra shine.

4. I’ve heard from many friends to leave conditioner in overnight. Apparently, this is not a good idea. The only conditioner that should be left in is one that indicated to do so. Why is leaving conditioner in bad for your hair? Simply put, it can damage your beautiful looks.

5. Use moisturizers to add shine and prevent damage caused by dry hair strands. Make sure you follow the directions to maximize the effect.

6. “Air dry” your hair if possible. If you live in a cold weathered place however, make sure you blow dry it before going outside. Freezing the wet hair will damage it.

7. Wait until your hair isn’t soaking wet before brushing. Soaking wet hair is elastic like and will be more easily damaged.

8. You are what you eat. Eating healthy will produce healthier looking hair. Drinking plenty of water will make sure your hair is moisturized and add extra shine.

9. Trim the ends of your hair every now and then. This will get rid of damaged; split ends and allow your hair to grow longer and healthier.

10. Shape.com suggested using an ionic dryer. According to this site these hairdryers “bathe your hair in negative ions, which help break up water molecules faster and cancel out hair-damaging positive ions”. As a bonus, the amount of time spent drying your hair is cut in half.

Did these help, or can you add your own?

photo by flannalette