The Best Haircare Tips for Any Hair Type

Written by: Cora Gold

Haircare can feel like a full-time job. Whether you’re rocking coils, waves, pin-straight strands or something in between, your hair deserves love that actually works. However, with so many conflicting tips online — Oil it daily! Never oil it! Only use silk! Never towel dry!  — it’s no wonder you’re left with more frizz than facts. To cut through the confusion, these tried and true tips could leave your locks shinier, stronger, and so much easier to manage.

Know and Respect Your Hair Type

Before you dive into the world of hair masks and leave-in sprays, start with the basics. What kind of hair are you working with? Is it pin straight, beachy-wavy, coily-curly or somewhere in between? Understanding your hair type helps you make smarter choices, from how often you wash to what products actually do what they say.

Here’s the gist:

• Straight hair tends to appear oily faster and may need more frequent washes.

• Wavy and curly hair loves moisture and can get frizzy if you skip it.

• Coily or kinky textures often crave deep hydration and gentle handling.

You don’t have to memorize a hair chart, but tuning into what your strands naturally do can save you a lot of trial and error. Once you know what you’re working with, you can treat your hair with the care it actually needs, not what TikTok trends tell you to do.

Wash Your Hair Only When It Needs It 

Raise your hand if you used to think daily shampooing results in clean, healthy hair. Newsflash — too much washing can strip your scalp of natural oils, leaving your hair dry, brittle or even oilier because your scalp tries to overcompensate. If you’ve got:

• Straight or fine hair: Wash every two to three days for your sweet spot.

• Wavy or curly hair: Wash only every four to five days.

• Coily hair: Wash once a week or even less for the ideal nutrient store.

On the in-between days, dry shampoo is your bestie! Look for a clean formula that won’t clog your scalp.

Condition Like a Pro 

Conditioner isn’t just a “maybe” step. It’s the foundation of healthy, happy hair. Even if you’ve got fine or oily roots, your mid-lengths and ends need hydration to prevent split ends, dullness, and breakage. Here are some quick tips to level up your conditioning game:

• Apply mainly from mid-lengths to ends, not your scalp unless it’s super dry.

• Leave it on for at least two to three minutes before rinsing.

• Use a wide-tooth comb in the shower to distribute evenly and detangle.

Once a week, treat yourself to a deep-conditioning mask. Your strands go through a lot — heat, weather and product buildup — and they’ll thank you with extra shine and softness.

Towel-Dry the Right Way 

Think towel-drying is harmless? Think again. Rubbing your hair with a regular bath towel can actually cause more split ends and frizz. Instead, try blotting your hair with a microfiber towel — which has fibers up to 50 times thinner than human hair — or even a soft cotton T-shirt.

Gentler fabrics reduce friction, leaving your strands smoother and less prone to snapping. They also help curls and waves keep their shape! It’s a small swap that makes a big difference, especially if you’ve been wondering why your ends feel dry or your hair always looks a little “meh” after wash day. Your towel might just be the silent saboteur.

Trim Those Ends 

Yes, going to the salon can feel like a chore, but regular trims are so worth it. Split ends don’t just sit there and quietly — they creep up the hair shaft and cause breakage, frizz, and that scraggly look nobody’s going for.

Even just a touch-up every eight to 12 weeks can make a huge difference. Your hair will look healthier, fuller and grow out better. You don’t need to lose inches — just those tired ends holding your glow-up back.

Be Gentle with Wet Hair

Wet hair is fragile because water temporarily swells the hair shaft, making it more prone to snapping. So if you’re ripping a brush through your strands right after the shower, your hair is silently screaming. Here’s what to do instead:

• Gently pat your hair dry.

• Apply a leave-in or detangler while it’s damp.

• Use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to slowly work through knots, starting at the ends and moving up.

And please — put down the bristle brush. Your hair will thank you with less frizz, fewer flyaways and a whole lot more shine.

Protect Before You Heat Style 

You probably love a good blowout or curling wand moment, but heat tools can do some serious damage if you don’t protect your strands first. Every time you skip the heat protectant, you’re basically slow-roasting your hair.

Before you reach for that flat iron or diffuser, spritz on a lightweight heat protectant spray from mid-lengths to ends. Bonus points if it adds a little shine!

Avoid Tight Hairstyles 

Yes, a high pony or sleek bun looks cute. However, wearing your hair tightly pulled back every day can actually lead to breakage and traction alopecia, or thinning around the hairline. Try switching it up:

• Opt for low buns or loose braids.

• Use scrunchies or spiral hair ties that don’t pull. 

• Give your scalp a “down day” with your hair loose.

Letting your scalp and roots breathe is essential for long-term hair health. Also, the effortless, lived-in look is totally in.

Feed Your Hair from the Inside Out 

Great hair starts in your gut. Your strands are made of protein — mostly keratin — so your diet plays a huge role in how shiny, strong and thick they look. Key nutrients for hair health include:

• Protein from lean meats, legumes and nuts

• Omega-3s in pumpkin and chia seeds and salmon

• Iron from leafy greens and lentils

• Biotin and zinc in eggs and whole grains

If your hair’s been shedding more than usual or just feels dull, it might be time to show your plate some love. A daily multivitamin can help, too. Check in with your health care provider on that front.

Hair’s the Deal

At the end of the day, taking care of your hair doesn’t have to mean following 50-step routines or spending a fortune on fancy products. It’s about listening to what your strands need, treating them with a little TLC and making a few smart swaps that add up over time.

Whether you’ve got waves, curls, coils or pin-straight locks, healthy hair is about consistency, not perfection. So condition like a queen, skip the rough towel rub and show those ends some love. Your future self with shiny, bouncy, breakage-free hair will thank you.