Hair Care Tips for Teens

People have been styling their hair since at least 1000 BCE. It’s always been an important part of how individuals stand out and create their identity.

While this obsession hasn’t changed over time, what’s known about hair care has. Not only that, what’s considered in-trend changes almost weekly.

If you’re a teen who wants to rock your hair with confidence, keep reading to learn the best tips for hair care.

Cuts Matter

First thing’s first: don’t cut your own hair.

No matter how tempting it is to give yourself curtain bangs, you should leave the scissor work to the professionals. One mistake could take years to grow back.

That said, you should regularly get your hair trimmed every six weeks. It’s a myth that it causes hair to grow faster, but it does do a lot of good in protecting the growth that’s naturally occurring.

This is because of the structure of hairs. The part of the hair you can cut, style, and dye is known as the shaft. The hidden part of the hair, the root, is where your hair grows from.

So, cutting your hair has nothing to do with it growing out faster. It’s still one of the most important hair care tips because the shaft of hairs can lose their protective coating, known as the cuticle. When this happens, your ends “split” and the hair becomes more susceptible to dryness, frizziness, and breakage.

Getting a regular trim is also a great opportunity to talk to your stylist about an aesthetic makeover. You can choose minimal effort cuts, like a shag, so that it takes less time before school to look flawless.

Stay Hydrated

One of the biggest issues teenagers (and people in general) run into with hair care is dryness.

When hair cuticle layers separate, the hair can no longer hold moisture. This, along with having a dry scalp, washing your hair too much, and environmental factors, can lead to dry and frizzy hair.

In general, hair relies on your scalp to produce oils to keep it hydrated. Some hair types tend to be drier than others, like curly hair.

To avoid dehydrating your hair, be mindful of how often you shampoo. The frequency you should wash it depends on your hair type and the amount of physical activity you do throughout the week.

For example, if you have straight hair or exercise daily, you’ll need to wash your hair more than if you have curly hair and rarely exercise.

Ways to Hydrate Your Hair

To have healthy and sleek-looking hair, you should regularly use light amounts of oil rich in vitamins A and E. Common oils used include acai, Moroccan, jojoba, and carrot oil. 

Apply a small amount of oil to dry hair and worth it in from tips upwards. Remember that oil is already produced from your scalp, so adding more might create a greasy appearance.

For a deep conditioning treatment, consider using Magic Sleek Emergency Repair. It’s a nutrient-rich formula that brings intense hydration back to your hair.

Make Your Hair Your Own

While accepting the hair you were born with is important, it’s also important to feel good about the way you present yourself.

Don’t be afraid to make your hair something you’re proud of, even if that means choosing a style that’s different than what’s “natural” for you.

If you choose to get curl enhancement or semi-permanent hair straighteners, be sure to use 100% formaldehyde-free treatments to keep your hair healthy. The same principle goes for using heat sources. Try to avoid day-to-day heat styling and when you do whip out your flat iron, make sure it delivers heat evenly.

Get creative with the way you style your hair by getting tips and inspiration from #Hairtok, a community of TikTok focused solely on hair tricks. Between buns, ponytails, braids, cuts, and colored hair, you can completely transform the way you present yourself to the world.

Tips for Hair Based On Type

No matter what type of hair you have, find hair hacks that work for you. Not everything you see online will apply to the texture and consistency of your unique look.

Keep in mind that these aren’t comprehensive tips but rather are a starting place.

Straight Hair Tips

For decades, straight hair has been in the spotlight as one of the most desired styles.

If you’ve got pin-straight hair, you may sometimes wish that you had more texture or shape your style. This can be achieved by keeping your hair clean and styling with a volumizing mousse and texturizing spray.

With straight hair, oils tend to travel down the shaft of the hair easier. This can result in a greasy, wet look if unattended. You may have to wash your hair more than other hair types and it wouldn’t hurt to find a good dry shampoo when you’re in a pinch.

Wavy Hair Tips

Wavy hair is the middle child of hairstyles, being that it comes along with an oily scalp and dry ends.

This is easily mediated by going a few days without washing and drying your hair with a microfibre towel to avoid frizziness. You can style your hair the night before school by twisting up tight braids that will enhance your waves in the morning.

It also doesn’t hurt to give your hair a little scrunch with a leave-in conditioner before leaving home.

Curly Hair Tips

Curly hair often needs more help than other textures. Its dry nature and aversion to being brushed make for a little more upkeep.

Use a wide-tooth comb when your hair is dry to avoid an accidental poodle look. You’ll want to find a way to add moisture back into your hair regularly.

This could be a combination of oil, deep conditioning treatments, and curl-defining serums. Play around to find what works best for you and the look you’re trying to achieve.

Textured Hair Tips

Textured hair options seem unlimited, with common favorites being locs, afros, braids, and Bantu knots.

Historically, textured hair has been a point of contention against the Black community. Discrimination based on hair is a still-living history of cultural oppression.

Still, there’s been a lot of progress, and will continue to be justice in the years to come.

If you have textured hair, don’t be afraid to own whatever style feels best for you. Know that your community is backing you up every step of the way.

Keep in mind that you may want to use protective hairstyles to keep your hair healthy. Your hair may be more sensitive to chemicals and heat than other types, so work with a stylist to find a look that represents you and your culture in a way that you’re proud of.

Style Your Hair With Confidence

Now that you have the best tips for hair care, you can stand out in the crowd with these hair hacks and trendy styles.

Keep reading our blog for more beauty tips.