How To Know If Your Hair Is Healthy

The ultimate goal of any haircare routine is to get healthy, beautiful hair. But what exactly does healthy hair look and feel like? If you want to find out the answer to this and more, just read on! This article will look at some of the trademark signs of healthy, damage-free hair. 

Your hair has elasticity 

Elasticity refers to the amount of stretch your hair has before it breaks. Healthy hair is able to stretch without snapping and return to its natural state. Elasticity shows that your strands have the right amount of protein and moisture. Want to know how elastic your hair is? Simply grab a dry, product-free strand and pull it at both ends. Your hair is healthy if it stretches slightly before bouncing back in place! 

Your hair has plenty of shine 

There’s a reason why silky, shiny hair is universally considered a sign of good health. Shiny hair comes from having a smooth, flat cuticle. Your cuticle–which is your hair's outermost layer–protects your hair’s delicate sponge-like core. 

The tighter and more intact your cuticle is, the smoother and shinier your hair will be. It’s important to note that not all hair textures have the same amount of shine. Kinky and curly hair doesn’t reflect light as well as straighter strands, so they won’t appear as shiny. 

Your hair is frizz-proof

While both healthy and unhealthy hair can develop frizz, healthy hair is significantly more frizz resistant than damaged hair. This is because healthy hair has a tightly sealed cuticle that acts like a barrier. So, when humid air hits healthy hair, the water molecules are kept out, and you won’t experience much, if any, frizz.

This doesn’t apply to all hair types, though – curly hair (no matter how healthy) is more prone to frizz than looser hair types due to the twists and turns that make up its texture.  

You aren’t shedding like crazy

Another sign of healthy hair is minimal shedding. While losing some hair each day is natural, it's essential to recognize what constitutes a healthy amount. Each strand on your head has a predetermined lifespan that determines when it grows, rests, and falls out. 

You should only lose about 100 strands a day if your hair is healthy. So, a small handful of strands falling out when you wash or brush your hair is completely normal! It simply means your hair is growing and aging like it's supposed to. 

Your hair is growing

One of the main hallmarks of healthy hair is long, lush locks. That means your hair and scalp are healthy enough to support healthy growth. It also shows that your strands are resilient enough not to break off. Just remember, everyone’s hair grows at a different rate. So, you don’t have to have inches upon inches of new growth for your hair to be healthy. 

The good news is that figuring out whether your hair is healthy or not is pretty straightforward. Healthy hair looks and feels good, while damaged hair is dry, brittle, and hard to manage. Once you determine that your hair is healthy, your primary focus should be on maintaining it. We hope this article has helped answer all of your questions! 

Author: Andrea Reyes

Andrea is a mother, wife, writer, and natural hair enthusiast of 15 years. Currently on her natural hair journey, she’s been trying countless products and techniques to understand and embrace her natural hair. She is the creator of NaturallyTextured.com, a new website featuring informative articles that share tips, tricks, and techniques aimed to help others learn to love their hair through proper hair care. She writes with the hope of making hair care easier to understand and implement.