Home/Blog/Optimal Hair Care Routine: 7 Steps

Optimal Hair Care Routine: 7 Steps

By Ethan Boldt

July 11, 2026

Just like a solid skin care routine to boost your skin health, a regular hair care routine can improve your hair health in multiple ways. We’re talking minimal breakage, impressive shine and moisturized hair, along with a healthy scalp.

To build such a routine that can help make healthy hair a reality, you’ll need to understand your hair type, shampoo and condition regularly, consider certain nourishing treatments, plus protect it from the sun and excessive heat. A healthy diet, supplement routine and lifestyle can also support your hair health.

Let’s begin.

What is a healthy hair care routine?

A basic hair care routine generally follows this order: Cleanse the scalp and hair with shampoo, condition and detangle the strands, apply any leave-in or protective products, and then style the hair as gently as possible.

Deep-conditioning masks, scalp treatments and clarifying products can be incorporated weekly or as needed rather than used every day.

The best hair care routine will ultimately depend on your hair texture, scalp condition, styling habits and primary hair concerns.

What are your hair concerns?

Nobody knows your hair better than you, both in terms of where it might literally fall flat but also its strong points that you want to maintain or even amplify.

Standard hair concerns include:

• Damaged, maybe because of chemicals or coloring

• Dry and brittle

• Split ends

• Hair loss, shrunken hair follicles and less full hair

• Greasy and oily

• Frizzy

• Scalp problems, like oily vs. flaky, dry and itchy

Of course, as one ages, your hair concerns may change because thinning, weaker hair can be a natural result of aging. Perimenopause and menopause can cause hair loss in some women, for example, while men may experience hair thinning, graying and texture changes due to hormonal changes, less melanin and normal aging.

The most common hair changes as one ages include:

• Grayer — due to less melanin

• Thinner hair — less hair density, with hair follicles thinner or not producing new hair; also, more prone to breakage

• Slowing of growth — the rate and volume of hair grown decreases.

• Increased hair loss — hormonal changes, stress and genes can all mean hair loss.

• Texture changes — due to less oil production from the scalp, hair gets more dry, coarse and brittle

Given that background and your own hair, it’s time to set some hair health goals. This can inform your routine, including the potential techniques, products and supplements you use.

Potential goals can include:

• More volume and healthy growth, with plenty of body

• Strong and hydrated

• Shiny and smooth

• Enduring color

• Defined waves and curls

• Overall healthy hair

Hair care routine steps for healthy hair

Before you follow these steps, be aware that your hair type and hair goals may alter how many of these steps and how often. So, consider this a rough outline that you then personalize for your needs.

1. Determine your hair type and its current health

Is your hair straight, curly or wavy? Maybe it’s kinky? Each type usually necessitates its own set of techniques and products.

For example, straight hair often is more oily than curly hair, as the oil travels down each hair shaft more easily.

If your hair gets dyed, bleached or chemically processed in any way, you may not want to shampoo each day because it’ll cause premature color fading and potential drying. You may also need extra nourishment, such as always using conditioner and the occasional hair mask.

Texture is only one consideration. Also evaluate whether your strands are fine, medium or coarse; whether your hair is low or high density; and whether your scalp is generally dry, balanced or oily.

Hair porosity, which describes how readily the strands absorb and retain moisture, may also influence the types and amounts of products that work best for you.

2. Shampoo

Just like with your skincare routine, the first step for your hair is to cleanse. Ideally, select a shampoo suitable for your hair type, such as for dry, curly or oily hair. It should be sulfate-free, so frizz doesn’t occur.

When you wash your hair, concentrate on massaging the scalp (with fingertips, not your nails) to remove dirt, dead skin cells, grease and any kind of product that may have built up. Ideally, wash and rinse your hair in lukewarm to cool water for ultimate hair health.

Apply shampoo primarily to the scalp rather than rubbing it throughout the full length of the hair. As you rinse, the shampoo will move through the strands and help cleanse them without creating unnecessary friction.

How often should you wash your hair? It depends on a few factors:

• For fine or thin hair, wash every 1 to 2 days because this type of hair gets oily more quickly.

• For thick or coarse hair, once to twice a week may be adequate.

• Curly hair also should be around once to twice a week, otherwise the natural oils may dry out.

• Dry vs. oily scalp? Dry means less shampooing to avoid excessive dryness; oily means more washing to prevent greasiness.

• If you work out a lot or are in hot environments, you may need to wash more often.

• If you swim, especially in chlorinated water, it’s vital you wash your hair soon after to prevent hair damage from occurring.

• Do you use a lot of styling products? If so, you may need to wash more often to prevent buildup.

Dry shampoo can aid your hair on days you’re not shampooing in the shower. It can help prevent oily hair. Make sure you don’t overuse, though, as it can dry out the hair.

3. Condition

Part two of cleansing your hair is conditioner. Contrary to the old idea that all you need is shampoo, conditioner plays a major role in your hair health.

Conditioner literally moisturizes your hair, helping to replenish the moisture that your shampoo may have stripped. Conditioner also helps to detangle your hair, seal the cuticles and help it shine.

Where you apply conditioner depends partly on your hair and scalp. If your hair is fine or your scalp becomes oily quickly, concentrate conditioner from the mid-lengths to the ends. If your hair is dry, thick, curly or coily, you may benefit from applying conditioner more generously throughout the lengths, while still following the directions on the product.

Here’s a few to-dos when using conditioner:

• Only apply it from the ends to the middle of your hair, careful to avoid the scalp, especially if you have an oily scalp. (Don’t apply too much, as excess can reach your scalp.)

• Leave the conditioner on your hair for a few minutes before rinsing thoroughly.

You can also try a leave-in conditioner, which you don’t rinse out. They can increase nourishment for dry, damaged or curly hair. It’s also good for dyed hair.

If using a leave-in conditioner, take these steps:

• Squeeze out extra water from your hair first.

• Apply to your damp hair, such as at the end of your shower. Again, keep it away from your roots.

• Use a wide-toothed comb to gently distribute the product throughout your hair.

4. Detangle

The detangle step is next. It’ll get rid of potential knots and help to prevent breakage. For most hair, you likely need to detangle each day to prevent knots from building up.

If you’ve got relatively straight and/or short hair, this is easy and straightforward. But longer, thick, wavy or curly hair? Follow these directions:

Soon after washing out your conditioner in the shower, use your fingertips to comb through your hair to get rid of any big knots.

Outside of the shower, get a wide-toothed comb and comb through the lower part of your hair, working up to your roots.

The ideal timing may differ by texture. Thick, curly or coily hair is often easiest to detangle while it is wet and coated with conditioner, whereas straight hair may be easier to comb after it has dried slightly.

In either case, start near the ends and gradually work upward rather than pulling a comb from the roots through tangled hair.

If hair knots remain, use a detangling spray or serum to advance the conditioning of the hair and make it easier to comb your way through.

5. Protect, prime and style

If you’re using heated tools like a blow dryer, straightener or curling tool, it’s important to prep your hair. This will help prevent breakage but also assist your hair styling efforts.

Never use these heated styling tools on damp or wet hair. Instead, apply a heat protectant (primer) and let your hair dry for a few minutes before using heat. A little primer is all you need.

Hat or UV protectant spray can also protect your hair from sun damage.

Next, use gel, mousse or cream to style your hair the way you want, then let it air dry or use a hair dryer. For those of you who aren’t using any heated tools or avoiding excessive sun, this is the only part of this step you need to follow.

6. Optional: extra treatment

For some, after styling their hair and letting it air dry, you may want to re-hydrate your hair a bit. Or on days when you don’t wash your hair.

For extra hydration and repair of your hair and scalp, consider these treatments once a week or once every few weeks:

• Deep condition with hair masks and hair treatments — Using a so-called “deep conditioner” can help make your hair extra soft and shiny.

• Oil massage with hair oil or hair lotion — For extra hydration, use hair oils or lotions to prevent dryness, lock in moisture and control potential frizz. For both, a little goes a long way. Take a little bit, and warm the product in your palm. Then use your fingertips to apply the product, using combing motions to apply the product evenly.

• Spot-treat — If you have one area of your hair that bothers you, such as too much frizz or dry scalp, use a nourishing product to address.

• Hair mask — Apply the product to your damp or dry hair from the middle of the hair shafts to the ends. Avoid the roots. Leave on for 10 to 20 minutes and then rinse well with cool water.

• Scalp treatment — For dry scalp, a scalp oil may be helpful. Massage into the scalp in one-inch sections from the hairline to the crown. Massage gently with fingertips. Leave on for a couple of hours or overnight, before washing out. Not washing out the oil can clog the hair follicles.

• Exfoliate scalp — Use an exfoliating scalp treatment to potentially unclog follicles.

7. Eat a healthy hair diet

A diet rich in essential nutrients can support the health and growth of your hair as well as scalp. The most important nutrients are protein (including collagen), omega 3 fatty acids (wild caught salmon), zinc (red meat), and the vitamins A, B12, C, D and E.

Eggs, for example, contain vitamin A, protein and biotin, all helpful for hair. Leafy greens are high in most of those hair friendly vitamins.

Rather than relying on one “hair food,” aim for a varied diet that includes adequate protein, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables and other minimally processed foods. Individual nutrient needs vary, and more of a vitamin or mineral is not necessarily better.

Certain supplements can also boost healthy hair:

• Collagen boosts protein intake, which in turn helps support healthy hair because hair strands are primarily made up of keratin, a type of protein that can be boosted by collagen consumption, so that the body has the building blocks to make its own collagen. Ancient Nutrition's Multi Collagen Protein and the Beauty + Sleep Support supplement promotes healthy hair thickness and growth while reducing hair breakage.

• Ancient Nutrition's Hair Growth + Collagen capsules can help one get visibly thicker hair with a proprietary blend of key clinically validated superfoods and collagen. This supplement also reduces hair breakage, helps get glossy hair and supports a healthy hair growth cycle.

• Biotin is another supplement that is well known for supporting hair health. Most multivitamins contain at least 100 percent Daily Value of biotin, such as Ancient Multivitamin Women's and Ancient Multivitamin Men's. Ancient Nutrition's Hair Growth Multivitamin contains 1,000 percent DV of biotin along with many other key nutrients for hair health. Get visibly thicker, shinier hair in 90 days and help reduce hair loss by 30 percent.

Frequently asked questions

What is the correct order for a hair care routine?

A basic hair care routine usually follows this order: shampoo, rinse-out conditioner, detangling product or leave-in conditioner, heat protectant, styling product, and a small amount of finishing oil or serum if needed. Hair masks, clarifying shampoos and scalp treatments are generally used occasionally rather than during every routine.

What should a daily hair care routine include?

A daily routine can be very simple. Gently detangle the hair, limit unnecessary heat and friction, protect it from excessive sun exposure, and use lightweight moisturizing or styling products only as needed. Most people do not need to shampoo, deep-condition or apply a hair mask every day.

How often should you wash your hair?

Wash frequency depends on your scalp, texture, activity level and product use. Fine or straight hair with an oily scalp may need frequent washing, while dry, thick, curly or coily hair may require much less frequent shampooing. Adjust your schedule if your scalp becomes excessively oily or your hair consistently feels dry.

Do you need a different hair care routine for curly hair?

Curly and coily hair often benefits from less frequent shampooing, generous conditioning, careful wet detangling and products that help retain moisture. However, the ideal routine still depends on the individual’s scalp, curl pattern, density, porosity and styling habits.

How long does it take for a hair care routine to work?

Some cosmetic changes, such as improved softness, detangling or manageability, may be noticeable immediately. Other changes require consistent use over time. Results depend on your starting hair condition, the products used, and whether an underlying scalp or health issue is contributing to your concerns.

Conclusion

The best hair care routine is one that matches your hair texture, scalp condition, lifestyle and primary concerns. Start with the essentials: Cleanse the scalp as often as needed, condition and detangle gently, protect the strands from excessive heat, and use occasional treatments only when they serve a clear purpose.

Consistency matters more than following an overly complicated routine. Pair gentle external care with a nutrient-dense diet, healthy lifestyle habits and appropriately selected supplements to help support healthy-looking, manageable hair from the inside out.