7 Healthy Hair Habits to Adopt from Our NYC Beauty Salon

Improve the health and quality of your hair with these simple habits.

When it comes to healthy hair, many people assume it’s all about genetics. And while our natural hair type, texture, and growth patterns are largely predetermined, the overall health, shine, and resilience of our strands are greatly influenced by daily habits. The truth is: your lifestyle, routine, and even environment can play just as big of a role as DNA.

Luckily, small changes in your routine can make a dramatic difference. With a little consistency and salon-backed guidance, you can transform your hair into its strongest, shiniest, and most beautiful version.

Here are seven healthy hair habits our NYC beauty salon recommends adopting right now for stronger, smoother strands that look and feel incredible.

1. Choose Products with the Right Ingredients

The foundation of great hair care begins with your products. With endless shampoos, conditioners, serums, and styling aids on the shelves, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. The secret? Learn to read ingredient lists and look for formulas that work with – not against – your natural hair.

For hydration and repair, ingredients like coconut oil and argan oil are classics. They penetrate the hair shaft, locking in moisture and smoothing frizz. Aloe vera is another powerhouse, soothing the scalp while providing lightweight hydration that won’t weigh hair down. If your hair is prone to breakage, keratin-enriched products can help reinforce the protein structure of your strands.

On the flip side, avoid products that contain excessive sulfates, parabens, or alcohol, which can strip natural oils and cause long-term dryness. Investing in quality salon-grade formulas tailored to your hair type ensures that every wash and style is helping your mane.

2. Use the Best Brush for Your Hair Type

Brushing may seem like a simple step, but using the wrong brush can actually cause unnecessary stress and damage. At our NYC beauty salon, we emphasize that not all brushes are created equal.

• Fine or thin hair: Opt for a boar-bristle brush. Its natural fibers are gentle yet effective at distributing oils from the scalp to the ends, boosting shine and creating the illusion of thicker, fuller locks.
• Curly or textured hair: A synthetic fiber brush with flexible bristles helps detangle without snapping strands. Wide-tooth combs are also a must for reducing breakage.
• Thick or coarse hair: Paddle brushes with nylon pins provide control and help smooth down cuticles for a polished finish.

Choosing the right brush for your texture makes styling easier and reduces split ends in the long run. Think of it as one of the simplest upgrades you can make to your daily routine.

3. Brush Your Hair Before Showering

This is one of the most underrated habits for keeping hair healthy. Brushing before you shower does two important things:

• It detangles strands while they’re dry, which is safer. Wet hair is up to 50% more fragile and prone to stretching, snapping, and breaking.
• It redistributes natural oils, ensuring your mid-lengths and ends stay nourished.

Spend just 30–60 seconds running a brush gently from scalp to tips before hopping in the shower. Not only will it prevent knots later, but it also helps your shampoo lather more evenly and allows your conditioner to be absorbed more effectively.

4. Limit Heat Styling Tools

Flat irons, curling wands, and blow dryers may deliver red-carpet-worthy looks, but frequent use takes a serious toll. High temperatures strip away natural moisture and weaken the cuticle, leaving strands brittle and prone to breakage.

That doesn’t mean you have to ditch your tools entirely. Instead, follow these heat-smart guidelines:

• Use heat sparingly. Aim to limit hot tools to 1–2 times a week.
• Always apply a heat protectant spray. This creates a barrier, minimizing direct damage.
• Opt for lower settings. Many tools reach 400+ degrees, which is often unnecessary. For most hair types, 300–350 degrees is plenty.

When you do need to style, consider air-drying overnight with braids or rollers for heatless waves. These simple tricks preserve your strands while still giving you polished results.

5. Protect Your Hair from the Sun

We’re all familiar with applying sunscreen to protect our skin – but what about our hair? UV rays and humidity can be just as damaging, especially for color-treated strands. Prolonged sun exposure fades pigment, dries out hair, and weakens the cuticle.

Simple preventative steps go a long way:

• Wear a hat or scarf during long days outdoors.
• Use UV-protectant sprays or leave-in conditioners designed to block sun damage.
• Stay hydrated. Just like your skin, your hair needs moisture inside and out.

If you’re someone who spends a lot of time outside, building sun protection into your routine is a must.

6. Don’t Ignore Your Scalp

Healthy hair starts at the root. Your scalp is the foundation, and neglecting it can lead to dryness, flakiness, itchiness, or even thinning over time. At our NYC salon, we often remind clients that scalp care is just as important as hair care.

A few key scalp habits include:

• Exfoliate your scalp once a week with a scrub or exfoliating shampoo to remove buildup from products, pollution, and oils.
• Incorporate nourishing oils like tea tree, peppermint, or jojoba to soothe irritation and improve circulation.
• Massage your scalp regularly. A 2–3 minute massage increases blood flow, stimulating hair follicles and encouraging growth.

Think of scalp care as skincare for your head. When the scalp is balanced and healthy, your hair grows stronger and more resilient.

Review our guide to men’s scalp care on our blog.

7. Schedule Regular Trims

We get it: if you’re trying to grow your hair long, cutting it may feel counterproductive. But here’s the reality: split ends only make hair growth appear slower. When the ends are dry and fraying, they eventually travel upward, causing breakage and thinning.

By trimming every 6–8 weeks, you remove damaged ends before they worsen, keeping hair looking fuller and healthier. Even cutting off half an inch can make a noticeable difference in shine and manageability.

Plus, regular salon visits give you the chance to consult with professionals who can recommend treatments, adjust your style, and ensure your hair is on the right track.

Find the hair of your dreams at our NYC beauty salon.

At Warren Tricomi, we’re passionate about helping clients achieve the hair of their dreams. Whether you’re looking for expert product recommendations, a restorative scalp treatment, or a precision cut to keep your ends looking fresh, our stylists are here to guide you every step of the way.

With locations serving Midtown Manhattan, the Upper East Side, Sag Harbor, and Greenwich, CT, we bring world-class salon expertise to every client.

Learn more about what to expect when visiting a salon like Warren Tricomi on our blog, then head to our website to book an appointment today.