Here is Your “New-Year-New-Hair” Guide :)

Tis the season for setting and incorporating goals. As the new year begins, many of us are setting various goals, health, wealth and all of the above. Building habits is the key to achieve any of your desired goals, but here's the catch—forming habits takes time, patience, and consistency. In this article we are not only going to give you your year-long schedule to healthy hair, we’re also going to give you tips on how to create habits, drawing inspiration from literature like James Clear's Atomic Habits. Let’s dive in!

The Science of Habit Formation

Before talking about the hair care plan, let’s explore the principles of habit formation. At its core, forming habits is about creating systems that make positive actions feel natural and easy to maintain over time. In Atomic Habits (I highly recommend you read this book if you haven’t), James Clear introduces the habit loop, a cycle that consists of four essential components:

1. Cue – The trigger that initiates the behavior. For instance, seeing your hair products on the bathroom counter could remind you to moisturize your hair.
2. Craving – The motivation or desire to take action. For example, wanting your hair to feel soft and manageable creates a craving to apply leave-in conditioner.
3. Response – The action or habit itself. In this case, it’s following through with your hair care routine.
4. Reward – The benefit you gain from the action. Healthy, vibrant hair reinforces your desire to maintain the habit.

To successfully build a habit, Clear emphasizes four strategies:

• Make It Obvious: Establish clear triggers and visible reminders. For hair care, placing your tools and products where you can easily see them creates a visual cue.
• Make It Attractive: Pair the habit with something you enjoy. If you love relaxing music, play your favorite playlist during your routine.
• Make It Easy: Start with small, manageable steps. Instead of committing to an elaborate regimen, the guide below will help you through this.
• Make It Satisfying: Celebrate progress to reinforce the habit. A simple acknowledgment of how your hair looks and feels after consistent care can be highly motivating.

Another key insight from Clear’s work is the idea of “identity-based habits.” Instead of focusing solely on results, align your actions with the person you want to become. For example, telling yourself, “I am someone who prioritizes healthy hair” shifts your mindset and solidifies your commitment.

Building habits also involves patience. According to a study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, it takes an average of 66 days for a behavior to become automatic. This means that persistence through the early stages is crucial, even when it feels challenging.

Your Year to Healthier Hair: Month-by-Month Plan

January – February: Start Small with Consistency

• Goal: Establish a consistent wash routine.
• Action Step: Choose at least one wash day a week and stick to it. For some once a week is sufficient for other you may need more than one wash day
• Why This Works: Regular cleansing lays the foundation for healthy hair and scalp.

Click here to learn how often you should wash your hair

March – April: Introduce Scalp Care

• Goal: Add weekly scalp oiling and massages.
• Action Step: Apply oil to your scalp prior to washing your hair, this should be done at least once a week. And also massage your scalp for 5 mins every day before going to bed.
• Why this works: Stimulating your scalp is essential to activating your hair follicles to product healthier stronger hair long-term

Click here to learn the importance of massaging your scalp

May – June: Enhance Your Night Routine

• Goal: Switch to a satin pillowcase or scarf.
• Action Step: Replace your current pillowcase with satin, reducing friction and preventing breakage.
• Why This Matters: Small changes in your sleep habits can yield big results.

July – August: Hydration & Moisture Maintenance

• Goal: Learn to properly hydrate and seal your hair.
• Action Step: Apply a light nourishing hair oil to your hair every day to help protect your hair from damage. Commit to moisturizing your hair midweek, even if it's just a quick spritz of water and leave-in conditioner.
• Why this matters: Hair breakage, hair damage, it occurs from lack of moisture and hydration.

Click here to learn how to protect your hair from breakage

September – October: Focus on Nutrition

• Goal: Incorporate hair-healthy foods.
• Action Step: Add at least one nutrient-dense food daily (e.g., avocado, nuts, or leafy greens).
• Why This Helps: There is no two ways about this. Healthy hair starts from within. Your body cares about your hair the least, so it becomes even more important to eat a healthy diet so those “leftover” good nutrients go to your hair follicles.

Click here for ten easy-to-access foods that will serve your hair follicles

The ESSENTIALS for your healthy hair journey. Addressing itchy scalp, dry scalp, hair loss, hair regrowth and more.   Click here to learn more

November – December: Reflect & Adjust

• Goal: Assess progress and tweak routines.
• Action Step: Celebrate wins, no matter how small, and set goals for the upcoming year.

In Conclusion

The journey to healthier hair is a marathon, not a sprint. I know you want to hear about how we can get you to your healthy hair goals super fast, but that’s just not possible. This plan will not only get you to your healthy hair goals, it will also let you understand your hair better. By focusing on small, consistent habits, you’ll make sustainable progress that lasts beyond the year.