It's your crowning glory, but some days you just can't do a thing with it! A good hairstyle frames the face and adds to your beauty but not everyone knows how to take care of their hair. Your hair can be fragile and a little bit of pampering and proper care will go a long way to making every day a good hair day.

The desire for beautiful hair is not new. Ancient Egyptians shaved their heads and wore elaborate, heavy, braided wigs to achieve perfection. European history also abounds with torturous hair styles including the ornate, powdered styles wrapped around frames and horsehair which attracted vermin. All in the name of beauty.

Today, fashion still influences a woman's hairstyle but that doesn't mean you have to subject your hair to needless damage. Whether you color your hair, have it styled regularly or go natural, good hair care doesn't have to be hard.

Hair is not a living part of your body. However, your hair still needs proper care for optimum health and beauty. One of the key elements to having shiny, healthy hair is to allow the natural oils in the scalp to lubricate it. The hair closest to the scalp benefits from natural sebum oils the most while longer hair can become dry and brittle from a lack of these oils.

Shampoo removes excess oil as well as buildup from styling products. Since the top couple of inches of your hair has most of the oils accumulated on it, this is where you should concentrate your shampooing. While you should wash all your hair, the ends will not have as much oil so you want to be careful not to shampoo them too much or they will become dry.

Winter can be very harsh on your hair and it is important to use a rich hair conditioner to restore moisture to dried out hair. During the summer or in mild climates you may not need a conditioner at all or you might want to just use it on the ends of your hair if the top inches are oily.

Keeping your hair from frizzing or drying out is key for beautiful tresses and one way to do that is to choose a style that requires the least amount of heat and product damage.

When blow drying keep the blow dryer at least six inches from your hair to prevent excessive damage from the heat. Blow drying in the direction of the shaft (down the length of hair) will create a smoother appearance. Frizzy and dry hair can also benefit from the application of silicone based products. Bear in mind that a little goes a long way and concentrate the product on the ends of your hair.

If you don't care for store bought products, you can try using some maple syrup as a conditioner as this is one of the best natural moisturizers. If you do try this messy but effective method on your hair, make sure you buy syrup that is marked 100% pure. To liven up dull, tired hair, rinse your hair with lemon juice mixed with water when you hair is dull and tired.

If you color or perm your hair, you really must make sure your hair is in tip top shape at all times. A little extra care for processed hair will do wonders. Anytime you use chemicals in your hair you should make sure your hair is in a healthy condition before applying the treatment. Overuse of these treatments can damage hair beyond repair and affect the results of the products.

Taking simple steps to maintain healthy hair will make a big difference in the health and appearance of your hair. And remember if you're good to your hair, it will be good to you in turn!