When you’ve been neglecting your hair-care, the signs are apparent—you may have noticed that your hair hasn’t really grown past your shoulders in months or that it’s breaking off more than usual. Maybe your strands feel lighter and more fine that they typically are, or it just doesn’t have the same shine. 

While you can’t transform damaged hair overnight, there are definitely changes you can make to your routine in order to help your hair regain its former glory. The key is making sure your hair is as healthy as possible—which basically means that you have to show your hair the same consistent love and attention that you show your skin. Below, you’ll find eight tips that will help promote hair growth, strength, and quality.

Sleep on a silk pillowcase.

Make the switch to a silk or satin pillowcase. Because silk and satin are softer and smoother than your traditional cotton pillowcase, they help to retain moisture and prevent friction while you toss and turn.

Skip the cotton towel. 

Wrapping your hair in a plush, white cotton towel might sound luxe, but it’s actually doing more harm than good. Because your hair can get caught in the small woven fibers, it can cause breakage. Use an old t-shirt or a microfiber hair towel to dry off instead. 

Cut back on shampooing.

Unfortunately, a lot of shampoos are packed with harsh sulfates which can strip your hair dry and remove the natural oils you need to maintain healthy strands, so try not to lather up every day. When you do cleanse, opt for a sulfate-free product.

But don’t skimp on conditioner.

Conditioners are chock-full of moisturizing ingredients—like argan oil and vitamin E—that work to transform your dry and dull hair into smooth and shiny strands.

And don’t forget to do a weekly deep conditioning treatment. A protein mask penetrates deep into the hair shaft to repair bonds, leaving your hair softer, stronger, and more conditioned in the long run. 

Treat your scalp.

When you show your scalp love, you’re making sure that nutrients can enter the hair follicle, improving your hair growth, strengthening your hair fiber, and decreasing the amount of breakage. Work a serum onto your scalp and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it out.

Hit pause on heat tools.

I know—this one hurts me, too. I love using hair straighteners and playing around with curling wands, but if you’re trying to restore your hair’s health, you’re going to have to take a break from those tools since they’ll make you more prone to heat-damage. But if you must use a hot tool, ensure that you’re spritzing on a heat protectant beforehand, every single time.

Get regular trims.

Split ends can travel up your hair strand, thinning out your hair and causing even more breakage, so frequent trims are a must for healthy hair growth