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Dive into the 12 best self-care habits for healthy skin & luscious hair!
When it comes to glowing skin and strong, healthy hair, believe it or not, consistency matters more than expensive products.
The best beauty routines aren’t about complicated steps — they’re all about simple, sustainable self-care habits you can actually stick with.
In this guide, we’ll break down the 12 best self-care practices for your skin and hair, organized into daily, weekly, and monthly rituals that will keep you looking and feeling your best year-round!
Let’s dive in!
Daily Self-Care Habits
1. Gentle Cleansing (Morning & Night)
You’ve probably been told again and again about the importance of cleansing, and make sure to thank whoever has been nagging you about it. Cleansing twice a day removes dirt, oil, and buildup without stripping your skin.
It is important to choose a gentle cleanser that not only keeps your complexion balanced, but also fresh.
Listen to your skin and pick the products that are best for you and your skin, not simply the ones you’ve heard are the best.
2. Moisturizing Skin + Using SPF
While cleansing is absolutely vital, it can sometimes leave your skin feeling dry, especially if you have dry skin to begin with. This means, hydration and sun protection are the core and the true foundation of healthy skin.
A lightweight moisturizer and a daily SPF 30+ help keep your skin smooth, soft, nourished, and protected!
Here’s a list of some of the most loved and highly celebrated moisturizers and SPF, but always remember to look at the ingredients and descriptions of each to know which will work best for you!
3. Drinking Enough Water
While proper external care for your skin (moisturizing, cleansing, etc.) are very important, they cannot replace the internal processes that are always occurring. Proper skin hydration always has and always will start from within.
I know the vast majority of us are probably mildly dehydrated from either forgetting to drink enough water or simply not liking it, but drinking enough water throughout the day supports elasticity, glow, and overall skin health (and body health).
You’ve probably heard that the average adult human body is made up of 50% – 70% water, and I want you to let that sink in for a moment.
Even if it’s tiresome, if you want the skin results you’re looking for, you have to focus more on what’s happening on the inside, and one of the easiest steps you can take is drinking a little more water every day.
4. Brushing/Detangling Hair Gently
While all the three daily steps above focused more on caring for your skin, know that step 3 (drinking enough water) affects all processes in the body including healthy hair growth and maintenance.
An external step you can take, however, is using a wide-tooth comb or gentle brush every day as it can also prevent breakage and keep your hair manageable.
Some exceptions are, of course, if your hair is in braids or cornrows, but make sure to only keep them in 2-8 weeks maximum as any time longer can lead to scalp issues, hair breakage, and/or other damages.
Always remember to start detangling from the ends and gently work upward.
Weekly Self-Care Habits
Now that we’ve discussed some daily habits for healthy skin and hair, we can dive into an even easier and more manageable set of steps as you’d only have to do these things once a week!
5. Exfoliating Skin (1–2x)
While our skin exfoliates naturally on its own, this process can slow down with age and can also be affected by factors such as dehydration (see how important it is to drink enough water?) and stress.
If you want a little something more to boost and help this process along, gentle exfoliation helps remove the accumulated dead skin cells, revealing a brighter and smoother complexion underneath.
Stick to 1–2 times a week to avoid over-exfoliating.
6. Hair Mask or Deep Conditioning Treatment
The weekly section is where hair care shines as our hair usually requires a little less attention than our skin.
Weekly masks help restore moisture to your hair and repair damage, keeping your strands shiny and healthy.
Focus on your mid-lengths and ends for the absolute best results and most nourishing care, and keep the mask in for 5-30 minutes to allow the deep conditioning ingredients to fully penetrate.
Here are some of the best deep conditioners for all hair types!
7. Scalp Massage for Circulation
Not only are they completely soothing, but even a 5-minute scalp massage boosts circulation, promotes relaxation, and can even support hair growth.
You can use your fingertips or a gentle scalp brush, and also add on a soothing scalp oil with nourishing ingredients, especially if hair growth is what you’re seeking!
8. Changing Pillowcases & Towels
Come here, be honest with me for a second, when was the last time you changed your pillowcase? Okay, when’s the last time you changed your towel? It’s okay, this is a safe place, but if it’s been longer than a week for either (or both), then we absolutely have to do something about that.
Fresh fabrics (and a fresh new pillow case and towel) reduce bacteria buildup that can cause breakouts or scalp irritation.
It is of the utmost importance you remember to wash your pillowcases and towels weekly for both skin and hair health because not doing so may just be the sneaky culprit preventing you from reaching your goals.
Here is a bestselling mulberry silk pillowcase and microfiber hair towel to explore because not only is changing pillowcases and towels important, but the quality service they provide to your skin and hair cannot be forgotten.
Monthly Self-Care Habits
In our final section, we’ll discuss the least tiresome of all the steps outlined in this post as you’d only have to do these once a month! Self-care cannot get any easier than this.
9. Clarifying Shampoo Treatment
As we briefly stated before, your hair tends to require much less attention than your skin, but this does not mean we cut back on intentionality. Once a month, it is very important to use a clarifying shampoo to remove product buildup and reset your scalp.
This simple but mighty step will leave your hair feeling lighter, bouncier, and instantly more refreshed.
Here are some of the best clarifying shampoos for you to explore for all different hair types!
10. Trimming Split Ends
While this can be dreaded by many, regular trims actually serve a much greater benefit, one of the most important being that they keep split ends from traveling up the hair shaft.
Even a small dusting every 4–6 weeks highly maintains healthy growth, but it is also important to pay attention to and listen to your hair, figure out what schedule it follows, and give it what it needs most.
If you’re feeling bold and trusting of your own skills, here’s a simple haircare kit you can use to try trimming split ends yourself!
- HUMANIZED DESIGN : Silver tension and adjustment screw can easily tighten or loosen the shears. Soft rubber finger reduc…
- UPGRADE PROFESSIONAL COATING AND LATEST DESIGN: The hair cutting scissors are made with an upgrade modern and soft inner…
- WIDE APPLICATION : A DIY haircuts that suitable for children, women and man. A great gift of beauty products for any occ…
11. Restocking/Refreshing Products
While this may pertain more to daily use products such as cleansers, moisturizers, SPF, etc., it is important to replace products as needed and also check expiration dates.
Refreshing your routine ensures you’re using formulas that actually work, but also that you remain consistent because if you do not have what you need on hand, it is much harder to keep doing what you’re doing and see the results you seek.
12. Skin Check-In (Adjust for Weather/Needs)
Last but certainly not least, each month, it is very important to reassess your skincare routine. This is so you can get an understanding of what is working and what isn’t so you can adjust and make some changes as needed.
For example, you can swap lightweight products for richer formulas in winter as your skin can experience more dryness due to the colder temperatures, or adjust exfoliation during warmer months to account for increased sweat, increased oil production, and even SPF buildup from protecting your skin from the sun.
The best way to learn what your skin needs is by paying attention and listening to it because it’ll always give you signs of what it likes and what it doesn’t like.
Final Thoughts
If you take anything from this post let it be this: healthy skin and hair aren’t about quick fixes, but all about consistent care. By following these daily, weekly, and monthly self-care habits, you’ll build a routine that keeps your complexion glowing and your hair strong year-round.
There are certain parts which go without saying such as washing your hair at least once a week to maintain moisture, but it is important to start small and build from the routines you already have, not strip away.
Stay consistent and intentional, and watch your beauty routine become a form of self-love that truly lasts!
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