Beauty
Why a good hair day is so much more than just looking good
Why having a good hair day is so important Image by: Getty Images
Beauty
Why a good hair day is so much more than just looking good
A recent hair study revealed that feeling good about your hair is linked to confidence, health and feeling in control.
Anyone who has had a good hair day knows of its unique power. It’s linked to confidence of course. A good hair day lets you face the world knowing that, if nothing else, you've got your hair handled. Which is why it’s surprising that so many women don’t have a good hair day that often. In fact, according to a study conducted by Professor Marianne LaFrance of Yale University and Pantene, only one in ten women is satisfied with their hair every day. Which means that most of us don’t experience good hair days regularly. And given the benefits, that’s a problem.
Here, we’re chatting about some of the findings of that study—which will hopefully convince you that hair care is more than just vanity—and we have a few tips to help you increase your number of good hair days.
Good hair does more than just improve confidence—it has a real psychological impact
We’ve known for a while that a good hair day can make anyone feel a bit more confident. But this study also showed that “a good hair day was correlated with feeling more productive, less stressed, more socially powerful, more resilient, physically stronger and more in control.” That’s quite the effect. We asked Jeni Thomas, principle scientist P&G Beauty, about these correlations, who said: “I think for some people the way their hair performs and looks is a reflection of how they’re feeling inside—when there’s a match, it’s great and you just put yourself forward.”
It’s no secret that on days when you need to be at your best, looking the part—at the very least—makes you feel like you can get anything done. Projecting how you want to feel on your outside, can actually create a positive impact on your mood, making you less likely to feel like an imposter or down about yourself.
A good hair day is related to your overall health
The study also found that having a good hair day makes women feel strong—as strong as having exercised. While we would never recommend ditching your workout regime entirely and just focusing on how your hair looks, the study found that a good hair day does relate to a healthy lifestyle. Basically, the women who reported being the most satisfied with their hair were also the same women who admitted to exercising regularly and practicing a balanced diet. In fact, exercise and a healthy diet were found to have the highest correlation with hair satisfaction. So actually going to the gym, could make you more invested in how your hair looks.
Thomas thinks this is related in part to people becoming more interested and invested in practicing a healthy lifestyle overall. “The way people may look at getting healthy hair will include products, but also an appreciation for getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, keeping stress low,” says Thomas. “All of that goes into play with the hair that you’re producing.” The bottom line is your interest in a healthy lifestyle can only have a positive impact on your hair—not just how it looks, but its actual health.
TIPS FOR GETTING THAT GOOD HAIR DAY
1. Use conditioner
According to Pantene, 55% of Canadian households don’t use conditioner (compared to 16% in the United States)—which is shocking given that it’s an accessible and relatively affordable way to get a good hair day. “Conditioner can replenish nutrients in your hair and strengthen,” says Thomas. This is especially true if you’re trying to grow out your hair, you dye your hair or if you use hot tools to style your hair regularly. Conditioners have come a long way, and now, instead of just making hair shiny and soft, they actually work from the inside out to heal damaged hair. “If you’re doing things to your hair that you know are inflicting damage, then you really need that extra boost of strengthening that you can get from a conditioner.”
Pro tip: “When you condition, you want to use the product at the lengths where you’re going to be applying heat,” says Thomas. “That’s not something that people do, but you can get heat protection.” This means you may need to apply conditioner from root to tip (instead of just the ends) to keep your hair healthy.
2. Heat is causing damage—but friction is worse
The combination of dragging a tool through your hair and heat is doing a lot of damage to your tresses. The key here is turning down the heat (“try to find the lower temperate that gets you the look you want”) and avoiding pulling at your hair. This includes taking out elastic bands gently, brushing carefully and making sure your hair is as smooth as possible before pulling any heat tools through it.
3. Find the right hair-care range for your hair type
Though there does seem to be a trend for a more one-size-fits-all hair care regime, Thomas still recommends finding products that suit your specific hair type. “I think we need to continue on with the more customized, personalized way of hair care, but take advantage of new technology that allows people to figure out exactly what they need.” You’ll need to start with figuring out your hair type. People who are on the extreme ends of the hair spectrum—very fine/flat or very thick/coiled—tend to have a good idea of what they need. It’s everyone in the middle that could use some help. A few tips? If you colour your hair, start there—you need products that help colour-treated hair. Your hair is probably fine if it tangles easy, doesn’t keep a curl and is typically straighter. Thicker hair is a bit more rigid and often dry at the ends.
4. Lean into the trend of embracing your natural texture
“I do think people are taking better care of their hair,” says Thomas. “I think it’s because there’s the trend—that I think is brilliant—about embracing your natural texture.” This goes hand in hand with heat styling. If you’re constantly trying to straighten your curls or curl your sleek ‘do, you’re doing heat damage in the long term. This is also something that is related to the more psychological effects of bad hair days—the very real frustration that can come from trying to achieve a style that doesn’t come naturally to you—not to mention the time commitment—can completely ruin your day. “I think people end up happier with the results when they find ways to embrace their natural texture because they’re not constantly fighting it.”
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