While short hair certainly requires less care than long hair, it does require some maintenance to keep it clean, healthy, and looking good. Here are some tips for short hair care -
1. Trim your hair every 3 or 4 weeks. Short haircuts tend to grow out of the given style quicker than long haircuts. Regular trimming will both maintain your hairstyle and prevent those dreaded split ends.
2. If you do have split ends, snipping them off is the only cure. Don't fall for hair products advertisements that show split ends joining up again. That's bunkum. Trimming the hair above the split and subjecting your hair to minimum stress - less or no chemicals, hair-coloring, bleaching, perms, curling, ironing, etc - is what is needed.
3. Condition your hair at least once a week. Massage your scalp and hair with warmed oil - coconut or almond oil is fine. After oiling, dip a towel in hot water, wring, wrap it about your hair and keep on for 20 minutes. Then wash your hair. After washing, use lemon juice as the last rinse. This will give your hair a shine. Other natural conditioners include banana pulp, lemon and honey, and tomato juice and honey. Apply these before bathing and keep on for 15 minutes.
4. Use a mild shampoo. Or better yet the ayurvedic 'Shikekai'. With its low pH and medicinal properties, it nourishes the hair and eliminates dandruff.
5. Don't comb wet hair. Wet hair, which is more elastic than dry hair, can easily break if subjected to a vigorous combing. Let your hair dry naturally and then comb with a wide-tooth comb - wooden combs are better than plastic combs. Once you have smoothed out all tangles with a wide-tooth comb, use a fine-tooth comb.
6. Give up using the curling irons.
7. Avoid using harsh chemicals. Hair-coloring, hair-bleaching, and hair-shaping products, whatever the labels assure you, are not exactly great for your hair in the long run. Staying as natural as possible is your best bet.
8. Wear a swimming cap when swimming, and protect your hair from over-exposure to the sun.
9. Exercise more often. The more healthy you are, the better your hair will look. You don't have to head for the gym and pump irons – although, no harm in that – but regular physical activities like walking, running, climbing up and down stairs, gardening, dancing, playing sports, and so on can help immensely. Doing at least 30 minutes of any of these activities every day is fine.
10. Eat better. Can't repeat enough of this rule. You are what you eat, and what you eat affects your hair condition. Drink plenty of water – experts advise 8 glasses per day. You should drink water both before, during, and after exercise. Include fruits and vegetables, especially seasonal fruits and leafy green vegetables, in your everyday meals. They're a great source of minerals and vitamins. Eat bread made from whole-grains. Eat more beans, peas, and pulses. Include natural ghee in your meals. Cut down on red meat.
