One of the first things that make an impression on people is your hair. While obviously, appearances aren't everything, there is an element of wanting to look good to make a solid first connection with someone. If you want to improve your hair's health without spending a fortune on salon upkeep, the following tips and tricks may help you.

Topical Products
The first key to getting healthy hair lies with the products you use. While most of your hair's health comes from within, if you use low-quality products that strip the strands of the nutrients they need, you'll be left with dull and flat hair. Hair is mainly made up of keratin, a long helix-shaped protein. Because each strand is mostly protein, your hair needs a steady stream of proteins to stay healthy and strong. Most of these nutrients come from your diet, but many others can come from your hair products.

Examples of topical products that can help protect and restore your hair's health include heat guards, keratin bond treatment, and deep conditioners. Heat guard sprays and creams help seal the porous proteins in your hair from damage incurred from heat styling tools such as curling irons or blow dryers. Keratin bond treatments help to strengthen the actual strands of hair individually, making your hair healthier on a molecular level. When it comes to deep conditioner, the product improves your hair at the cuticle while giving it an added burst of moisture, helping the overall texture look better. When you use these products in your regular routine, you can help boost your hair's health and appearance.

Nutrition
Perhaps the most important step to getting healthy hair is your nutrition. Just like any other part of your body, your hair relies on fuel to grow properly. While any form of nutrition will keep your hair growing, things like junk food or foods that have been highly processed will leave your hair looking dull and lifeless. Additionally, your hair will be weak and brittle, leaving you more prone to breakage and split ends. Even with protective products like heat sealer, you may see an increase in dead ends that leave your locks looking frazzled.

On the flip side, if you maintain a diet high in proteins and healthy fats, your hair will look shiny and soft. The proteins you eat will directly fuel the growth of your hair, so keeping things like fish, avocado, eggs, and dairy products stocked in your home will help your hair grow strong and healthy.

Healthy Routine
The final key step to keeping your hair healthy is having a good care routine. While the products you use matter, the methods you use matter just as much. If you aren't taking care of your hair regularly and properly, all the expensive salon-grade products in the world won't rescue your locks. One of the first steps to a healthy routine is a wash day. You should have a set washing ritual for your hair, whether your strand pattern dictates that you wash every two days or every ten.

The second thing to keep in mind for your maintenance routine is how you wear your hair. If you constantly have tight, restrictive styles like high ponytails or buns, you could be at risk for hair loss from the tension against the cuticle. Consistently wearing these styles can lead to traction alopecia, leaving you with bald spots that could've been avoided otherwise. While these styles are fine for short periods, take care not to stick to one thing for too long. Adding some variety to your look can help your hair stay strong and healthy, while also giving you some flair for your appearance.

Overall, getting healthy, strong hair is more a series of small and regular actions than one drastic one. When you have a good standard of upkeep for your hair, you'll see healthy and luscious strands rather than dull and broken ones.