2024: Building Better Hair Habits

“New goals don’t deliver new results. New lifestyles do. And a lifestyle is a process, not an outcome. For this reason, all of your energy should go into building better habits, not chasing better results.”

James Clear

Happy New Year everybody! Every new year offers a reset, a fresh new opportunity to change the way you’ve been doing things. 2024 is filled with opportunities to take better care of your hair and showcase its full potential. Here are some ways you can build better habits to achieve your hair goals.

Length Retention Strategies

Instead of focusing on finding products and magic potions that will grow your hair faster, focus on length retention. Your hair continually grows. Don’t worry about it not growing. Be more concerned with retaining that new length. Breakage is the biggest enemy of length retention, so if you can prevent it, you’ll be able to showcase the full potential of your hair.

You can minimize breakage by regularly incorporating moisture in your hair. Deep conditioning treatments greatly help with this. Ultimately, deep conditioning is the best thing you can do for your hair this year. Invest in a quality deep conditioner like our Sapphire 2in1 Deep Conditioner and Leave-In Treatment and apply it at least once every 2 weeks and watch how your hair thanks you. From reduced breakage to softer and much easier to manage hair, deep conditioning is the best way to help you retain length.

You can also incorporate moisture by using a water-based moisturizer or simply spraying some water onto your strands! In as much as it may cause shrinkage (which can be dealt with, anyway), water is actually great for the hair.

Another way to retain length is through proper detangling techniques. Let this be the year you adopt gentler techniques like finger detangling and use suitable detangling tools like wide tooth combs instead of those small combs that break your hair. Additionally, be gentle with your hair. Put an end to aggressive combing and brushing if you really want to retain length and reach your hair goals.

Say goodbye to tight hairstyles as well. Yes, the ponytails, slick back buns, tight updos, generally anything that exerts a lot of tension on your hair strands and scalp. While these styles can be cute and there’s no problem doing them once in a while, be mindful when executing them. Don’t hold your hair too tight, especially around the edges and the nape of your neck. The hair around there is especially prone to breakage.

Protective styling is also a great way of retaining length. Explore protective styles like braids, twists or cornrows. These styles keep the ends of your hair tucked away, so you don’t have to daily manipulate your hair hence you don’t have to worry about losing length. One thing to note however, if these styles are done too tight, the reverse is true. You’ll lose tons of old and new length to your dismay. To prevent this, ensure that your hairstylist isn’t doing the style too tight.

Another way the reverse could be true is through improper take down. A lot of us lose the new length we’ve achieved after having in a protective style because of the way we take it out.

When unplaiting your protective style, start by spraying some water to make the hair softer and easier to unravel. Thereafter, apply some conditioner for a swifter detangling process. Use your fingers to gently remove any knots or tangles, then proceed to use a wide-toothed comb to comb through each section of hair, starting from the ends to the roots. With this technique, you can prevent unnecessary breakage and retain your new growth.

And finally, our last tip for length retention is to simply stop cutting off your length. Many times people undergo unnecessary trims every few months even when they don’t have split ends. Unnecessary regular trims basically get rid of any new length you may have achieved. So make sure to schedule a trim only when you have to.

With these tips, you can easily retain your length and unlock the hair lengths you’ve always dreamed of. Here’s a brief recap;

• Regularly incorporate moisture.
• Properly detangle your hair.
• Avoid tight hairstyles.
• Adopt protective styling and use proper techniques when installing and taking the styles out.

Build a Haircare Routine and Be Consistent

Establishing a solid haircare routine is key if you want to achieve any hair goals this year. Tailor your routine to your hair’s unique needs, considering factors like porosity.

A basic haircare routine can look like this: shampoo at least once every 2-3 weeks. If you’ve got in a protective style, aim for scalp cleansing every few weeks. Deep condition after shampooing or once every 1-2 weeks on clean damp hair, seal in moisture by applying a natural oil or hair butter to your scalp and hair. Regularly moisturize with some water or a water-based hair moisturizer, followed by a natural oil or butter twice a week. Protect your hair at night with a satin bonnet or silk scarf, or sleep on a silk pillowcase. Simple as that.

You can adjust your haircare routine to your liking, and even include things like hot oil treatments or steam treatments.

What’s important is staying consistent. Like with gym or skincare, consistency is everything in haircare. If you can stay true to your routine, you’ll get the results you’re looking for. While following a routine is important, try not to do too much. Stick to a simple routine, avoid over manipulating your hair through combing and brushing, avoid using too many products on your hair. Find a brand with products that work for you, say Livara, and use those products instead of having an assortment of products that may not work well together.

Maintain Overall Health

The health of your hair is closely linked to your overall well-being. Take care of yourself by staying hydrated, consuming a balanced diet rich in nutrients like protein, vitamins and minerals, exercise, and get enough sleep as well. By maintaining good overall health, you’ll notice a positive impact on the vitality of your natural hair.

In 2024, make it a point to unlock the full potential of your natural hair. By focusing on length retention, following and being consistent with your haircare routine and maintaining your overall health, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your hair goals.