Shiny, fabulous, healthy hair is something every teen wishes for.  However, many teens do not realize that the steps they are taking now can damage their hair in a short amount of time.  What you don’t know can hurt your hair.  All it takes to have fabulous healthy hair is a little time, effort, and knowledge.  In fact, the key to healthy hair is knowledge and learning the proper way to care for your hair.

Did you know that most people have about 100,000 hairs on their head?  Each hair shaft contains three layers.  The cuticle is the outside layer that protects the inner layers.  Hair that is shiny is a sign of healthy hair.  This is because the layers of the cuticle lie flat, which allows light to reflect.  When they are able to lie flat, the scales of the cuticle overlap and act as a protective barrier from sun, heat, chlorine, etc.

When your hair has been damaged, the scales can separate, allowing environmental hazards to reach these inner layers.  Therefore, these inner layers are not protected and can become dry and brittle.

Whether you have long, short, dry, or oily hair, the steps you take to care for your hair is what will determine if you have healthy hair or damaged hair.   The following are ten tips to ensure you are on your way to healthy hair.