An effective hair care routine is like a well-designed fitness program—it needs to be consistent, balanced, and tailored to your specific needs. Too many products and steps, and you'll burn out. Too few, and you won't see results. The key is finding the sweet spot that works for your hair type, lifestyle, and goals.
This guide will help you build a personalised routine from the ground up, covering everything from daily essentials to weekly treatments. Whether you're starting from scratch or refining an existing routine, you'll find a clear framework to follow.
Step 1: Assess Your Hair
Before building a routine, you need to understand what you're working with. Take an honest assessment of your hair's current state and what you want to achieve.
Identify Your Hair Type
Consider your hair's texture (straight, wavy, curly, coily), density (how many strands you have), and diameter (fine, medium, thick strands). Each combination has different needs. Fine, straight hair needs lightweight products and frequent washing, while thick, curly hair needs heavy moisture and less frequent washing.
Identify Your Scalp Type
Your scalp condition is separate from your hair type. You can have an oily scalp with dry ends, or a dry scalp with normal hair. Understanding your scalp helps you choose the right cleansing approach and targeted treatments.
Identify Your Concerns
What do you want to address? Common concerns include dryness, oiliness, frizz, damage, colour preservation, dandruff, lack of volume, and breakage. Prioritise your top one or two concerns—trying to solve everything at once often leads to overloading your hair with products.
If you're unsure of your hair type or concerns, keep a hair journal for two weeks. Note how your hair feels after washing, how quickly it becomes oily, how it responds to humidity, and any issues you notice. Patterns will emerge that guide your routine.
Step 2: Establish Your Cleansing Schedule
Washing is the foundation of your routine. Getting the frequency and approach right sets you up for success with everything else.
Determining Wash Frequency
Oily/Fine Hair: Every 1-2 days. Fine hair shows oil quickly, and oily scalps need regular cleansing.
Normal Hair: Every 2-3 days. This allows natural oils to condition hair without becoming greasy.
Dry/Thick/Curly Hair: Every 3-7 days. These hair types benefit from retaining natural oils longer. Curly hair in particular can be co-washed (conditioner only) between shampoo days.
Choosing Your Shampoo
Select a shampoo matched to your primary concern. For most people, a gentle, sulfate-free daily shampoo works well as a base. You might also keep a clarifying shampoo for monthly use to remove buildup, and potentially a specialised shampoo (for colour, dandruff, or volume) used as needed.
- Oily Hair: Shampoo every day or every other day; clarify weekly
- Normal Hair: Shampoo every 2-3 days; clarify every 2 weeks
- Dry Hair: Shampoo every 3-4 days; co-wash between; clarify monthly
- Curly Hair: Shampoo weekly; co-wash 1-2 times between; clarify monthly
Step 3: Build Your Conditioning Routine
Conditioning replenishes moisture and protects the hair shaft. Your conditioning approach should match your hair's needs.
Rinse-Out Conditioner (Every Wash)
This is your daily workhorse. Apply to mid-lengths and ends after shampooing, leave for one to two minutes, then rinse. Choose formulas based on your hair type—lightweight for fine hair, rich and creamy for thick or curly hair.
Leave-In Conditioner (Daily or Every Wash)
Leave-in conditioners provide ongoing moisture and protection. They're essential for dry, curly, or damaged hair, and helpful for most hair types. Apply to damp hair after washing, focusing on ends. Fine hair should use spray formulas; thicker hair can handle creams.
Deep Conditioning Mask (Weekly)
Weekly deep conditioning treatments provide intense moisture that rinse-out conditioners can't match. Apply to damp hair, leave for 15-30 minutes (or longer with a heat cap), then rinse. This is when you address specific concerns with targeted masks—protein for damage, moisture for dryness, bond repair for chemical damage.
Step 4: Add Targeted Treatments
Beyond basic cleansing and conditioning, targeted treatments address specific concerns. Don't try to incorporate all of these—choose based on your needs.
Scalp Treatments
If you have scalp concerns like dandruff, excess oil, or dryness, incorporate scalp-specific products. Scalp serums, tonics, or pre-wash treatments can be used 1-3 times per week depending on severity. Regular scalp massage (daily is ideal) improves circulation and supports overall scalp health.
Protein Treatments
Damaged, colour-treated, or chemically processed hair often needs protein to strengthen. Use a protein treatment every 2-4 weeks, depending on your hair's condition. Watch for signs of protein overload (stiff, straw-like hair) and reduce if needed.
Oil Treatments
Pre-wash oil treatments can protect hair from the stripping effects of shampooing. Apply oil (coconut, argan, or olive) to dry hair 30 minutes to overnight before washing. This is particularly beneficial for dry or porous hair.
Hair needs both protein (for strength) and moisture (for flexibility). Too much protein makes hair brittle; too much moisture makes it limp and prone to breakage. Pay attention to how your hair responds and adjust your routine to maintain balance.
Step 5: Protect and Style
The final layer of your routine involves protecting your hair from damage and styling it as desired.
Heat Protection (As Needed)
If you use heat styling tools, a heat protectant is non-negotiable. Apply to damp or dry hair before any blow drying, straightening, or curling. Look for products that protect up to your styling tool's temperature.
UV Protection (Daily in Summer)
Australia's intense UV requires protection. Use leave-in products with UV filters or wear hats when outdoors for extended periods. This is especially important for colour-treated hair.
Styling Products
Choose styling products based on your desired outcome. Volumising mousses for fine hair, curl creams for curly hair, smoothing serums for frizz, and so on. Less is usually more—start with small amounts and add as needed.
Step 6: Create Your Weekly Schedule
Now it's time to put it all together into a practical schedule. Here's a sample framework you can adapt:
Sample Weekly Routine (Normal Hair)
Monday: Shampoo, condition, leave-in conditioner, style
Tuesday: Refresh with water or leave-in, style
Wednesday: Dry shampoo at roots if needed
Thursday: Shampoo, condition, leave-in conditioner, style
Friday: Refresh or dry shampoo
Saturday: Pre-wash oil treatment, shampoo, deep conditioning mask (15 min), leave-in, style
Sunday: Rest day—protective style or natural air dry
Sample Weekly Routine (Curly Hair)
Monday: Refresh with water and leave-in, scrunch
Tuesday: Refresh with curl refresher spray
Wednesday: Co-wash, condition, leave-in, styling cream, gel
Thursday: Refresh with water
Friday: Refresh or protective style
Saturday: Shampoo, deep conditioning mask (30 min), leave-in, oil, cream, gel cast
Sunday: Second-day curls, refresh as needed
Don't try to implement everything at once. Start with the basics—proper washing and conditioning—and add treatments gradually over several weeks. This helps you identify what actually benefits your hair versus what causes problems.
Step 7: Adjust and Evolve
Your hair care routine isn't static. It should evolve with the seasons, your lifestyle, hormonal changes, and your hair's changing needs.
Seasonal Adjustments
Summer often means more frequent washing (sweat, sunscreen), more UV protection, and lighter products. Winter typically calls for richer moisture, less frequent washing, and anti-static treatments.
Life Stage Adjustments
Hormonal changes from pregnancy, menopause, or health conditions can alter your hair dramatically. Be prepared to reassess and adjust your routine during these transitions.
Goal-Based Adjustments
If you're growing out your hair, colour your hair, or start heat styling more, your routine needs will change. Regular reassessment keeps your routine aligned with your current situation.
Building an effective hair care routine takes some trial and error, but the payoff is worth it. When you find the right combination of products and timing for your unique hair, maintaining healthy, beautiful hair becomes almost effortless. Start with the basics, listen to your hair, and adjust as you learn what works best for you.