14 Ways to Improve Overall Hair Health, According to Dermatologists

Establish a Consistent Haircare Routine

Depending on your hair type, you'll want to choose a gentle, moisturizing routine and stick with it. Look for a shampoo and conditioner tailored to your needs, a leave-in conditioner with heat protection, a protein treatment for every other week, and a deep moisturizing treatment for the weeks "off" of the protein treatment.

When choosing your hair products like shampoos, conditioners, and styling products, take care to read the ingredient label for what can help and harm your hair. "Look for ingredients like keratin, collagen, and silk proteins," says Chambers-Harris. "Proteins are the building blocks of hair, and they help repair damage, strengthen the hair shaft, and prevent breakage." Dr. Nazarian adds that ingredients that can strengthen the hair follicle include panthenol, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and oils.

For people who have sensitive scalps, and don't have too much oil production, Dr. Nazarian says sulfate-free shampoos are a good option. "Sulfates offer a deeper clean and strip natural oils that are often needed to nourish hair follicles. I also recommend avoiding formaldehyde, phthalates, and silicone-based polymers that can weaken hair follicles over time," she says.

Avoid Heat Styling as Much as You Can

"Minimize hair care practices that can damage the hair cuticle, especially those that use heat," warns Tan. This includes but isn't limited to blow drying and styling with hot tools. "These practices induce bubbles and breaks in the hair that can decrease luster and actually cause hair breakage," says Tan. If you must use heat, always use a heat protectant on your hair, and keep temperature at a low to medium heat to start. However, if you're taking a break from hot tools try heatless products like curling ribbons and waveformers to get styled hair instead. You'll also want to avoid overworking your hair with daily styling and product buildup, which can eventually take its toll on the health of your strands and scalp, too.

Eat a Nutrient-Dense Diet

When it comes to hair, you are what you eat. A nutrient-dense diet will greatly improve the health of hair follicles, giving you shinier strands. "Make sure that you are eating a healthy diet including lots of leafy vegetables and sources of iron," advises Tan. "Both iron and vitamin D help build and strengthen hair. This is why these ingredients are so often found in hair supplements."

"Fat-restricted, full-protein diets can take a toll on hair health, so I encourage a well-rounded healthy diet, including healthy fats, like omega-3 fatty acids, iron, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin C, and copper," says Nazarian. "A Mediterranean diet is a great start, and incorporate foods like eggs, nuts, avocado, and citrus fruits."

Use Oils on Your Hair

There are many products to aid in hair health. Chambers-Harris says to "look for oils like argan oil, coconut oil, and jojoba oil," as you're shopping for a hair oil. "These oils moisturize and nourish the hair, reduce frizz, and improve overall hair health." She adds that aloe vera also has soothing properties and "helps balance the scalp's pH level, promoting a healthy environment for hair growth." Dr. Nazarian says that coconut oil also helps with hydration, and "rosemary oil has been shown to help with hair growth."

Take Care of Your Scalp

The root of any hair problems start at the scalp, which many people forget to pay extra attention to. While some scalp conditions are due to unhealthy scalp habits such as overuse of dry shampoo or aggressive cleansing, Dr. Nazarian says that unhealthy scalps are also due to natural sensitivity, and require ingredients and treatment to address appropriately. "Don’t ignore a dry, scaly or flaky scalp, or one that itches or burns as this may be a sign of an underlying scalp condition and require treatment from a dermatologist," she says. "Maintain a healthy scalp by cleansing regularly, and avoiding abrasive cleansers or scrubs, and keeping it protected from damaging environmental sources like pollution, cigarette smoke and ultraviolet light." Chambers-Harris adds that scalp massages and monthly exfoliations with products like gentle scalp scrubs can also aid in scalp health.

Sleep on a Silk or Satin Pillowcase

Silk pillowcases—and even satin pillowcases—can make a huge difference in the health of your hair. "Silk is beneficial to the hair because it is a breathable fabric, allowing circulation and preventing the moisture from night sweats from getting trapped at the root of the hair," says Hill. "It also helps to minimize the friction between our hair fibers and cotton fabrics. The texture of the fabric helps to retain natural shine and freshly blown out and styled hair."

Stay on Top of Your Health

When your body is out of whack, it can show in your hair. "See your physician annually to ensure your body isn't lacking some of the basics needed for hair growth," says Dr. Nazarian. "They can check things like your thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), as thyroid dysfunction can be a reason for dull or thinning hair," adds Tan.

Minimize Stress

"Minimize stress as much as possible," advises Tan. "Stress can affect the body immensely, including your hair. When your mind and body are stressed, energy is diverted from making lush, thick hair." Additionally, Tan notes that stressful events such as delivering a baby, being hospitalized, or dealing with a loss in the family can trigger a type of hair loss called telogen effluvium. "But don’t worry, once the stress is decreased and life starts getting back to normal, hair growth typically returns to a healthy state," says Tan.

Try Keratin Treatments

Keratin isn't just for smoothing, it can actually give your hair a boost to make your strands more resilient: Tan notes that hair salon keratin treatments and hair care lines such as Nioxin "can help thicken hair and improve its appearance."

Protect Your Hair From the Sun

"Prolonged exposure to the sun can dry out and damage your hair. Wear a hat or use hair and scalp products with UV protection when spending time outdoors," says Chambers-Harris, who adds that applying sunscreen to your scalp is always a good idea, as most people forget that scalp is skin.

Exercise Regularly

According to Chambers-Harris, regular physical activity promotes good circulation, which can benefit your scalp and hair follicles. Eat a healthy post-workout snack such as something with proteins, fruits, vegetables, or whole grains, which all contribute to the overall health of your hair. Most importantly, stay hydrated, as Chambers-Harris says that drinking an adequate amount of water daily will keep your hair and scalp hydrated.

Listen to Your Hair

An important thing to remember is that everyone's hair and scalp are different. Pay attention to how your own hair reacts to products, practices, and haircare routines. Then, adjust accordingly. Tan reminds that it's okay to wash your hair daily. "Increased frequency of hair washing does not cause increased hair loss," she clarifies. "Everyone’s scalp is different and has different washing needs." Chambers-Harris says that if you notice your hair is more dry and damaged, start decreasing your washes as washing hair too frequently might lead to stripping it of its natual oils. Find a balance and do what works for you.

Be Gentle With Styling

Avoid too tight hairstyles and wearing your hair up so often, which can cause hair to break. Try a loose braid or twist if you want hair away from your face. It also might be a good idea to swap out your rubber hair ties for elastic coils (like these from Kitsch) or silk scrunchies, as silk is very gentle on hair. We love Slip Silk Pillowcase ($88) to cut down on frizz.

See a Dermatologist for a Customized Routine

"If you are getting distinct patches of hair loss, I would recommend seeing a board-certified dermatologist to diagnose and treat your hair loss, as there may be an autoimmune cause, such as alopecia areata," says Tan. Sometimes, hair loss is hereditary and runs in the family. "This is called androgenetic alopecia (hormonal and genetic hair loss)," explains Tan. She says that this typically presents with thinning all over the scalp, but is usually most prominent on the top and sides of your scalp. Tan notes that there are a variety of treatment options available including topical medications (Rogaine), vitamin supplementation (Viviscal, Nutrafol), oral medications (spironolactone, finasteride, dutasteride), and even procedures (injections of platelet-rich plasma, hair transplantation) that can help. "Make sure to see a board-certified dermatologist to discuss your options," she recommends.