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Sunday, June 22, 2008
by Skincare-news.com team
If you think having soft, healthy hair is only but a dream, thankfully, you’d be wrong. Attaining a magnificent mane isn’t just possible; it’s also fuss-free. So, clear out your bevy of styling gels and mousses and opt for a gentler approach with these best solutions for beautiful hair.
- Don’t over cleanse. Many people think good hygiene includes washing hair on a daily basis. However, hair doesn’t need to be washed more than every other day.
For those with dry or curly hair, wash just two to three times per week. On days you don’t wash your hair, rinse with water and take the time to give your scalp a good massage (with the pads of your fingers, not the fingertips). This action physically loosens oil to prevent build-up without stripping and over-drying the scalp in the way shampoo does. If desired, use conditioner on just the ends of the hair.
When choosing your shampoo and conditioner, gentle formulas will ensure that your hair isn’t stripped of its natural oils. Look for non-drying shampoos, such as Ole Henriksen Natural Hair Wash with Sea Kelp, followed by a light conditioner like Ole Henriksen Natural Hair Hydrator with Orchid Flower.
- Lather, rinse, but don’t repeat. Some hair salons suggest that you use shampoo twice — perhaps to sell more products — but it’s only necessary to lather up once when washing your hair. Not only are you essentially dumping the excess shampoo down the drain, but it’s actually making your hair dry and damaged.
- Shampoo the roots, condition the ends. Hair starts to look greasy when oil builds up on the scalp, but the ends of the hair tend to be drier and prone to damage. Avoid stripping your hair by just shampooing the crown of your head, allowing the suds to rinse through the rest of your hair. Follow the opposite philosophy for conditioner: Use only on the ends—applying it to the scalp can cause the hair to become greasy too quickly.
- Use less, get more. Notice how much product you’re using. Most people waste shampoo and conditioner every day. With shampoo, some are of the mindset that bubbles = clean, so they figure the more shampoo and bubbles, the cleaner their hair will be. But, this excess shampoo can over-dry and build up on the scalp.
Instead, use just a dime or quarter-sized amount of shampoo. Before applying shampoo to your scalp, rub it together between your palms until it begins to foam. If you feel like you need more bubbles or the shampoo isn’t enough to coat your hair, try adding more water instead of more shampoo.
Conditioner can also build up on the hair and weigh it down, making hair look limp and flat. So use just enough to coat your hair lightly and then distribute with your fingers or a comb. Hair can only absorb so much conditioner, so applying more is a waste.
- Heat safety. While everybody knows that heat takes its toll on your hair, most people assume it's an all or nothing choice—either skip the blow-dryer entirely and let hair go natural or blow-dry away. But there are safe ways to heat-style. Follow these tips:
- Diffuser. Especially for wavy or curly hair or anyone with prior damage, using a diffuser attachment on the end of your blow-dryer will help ensure that the hot air isn’t too focused on any one section of hair and doesn’t cause burning.
- Heat protection spray. Spray on a light formula while hair is still damp every time you use a blow-dryer or straightening iron.
- Choose between your heat styling tools. If you know you want to curl your hair for an event, give yourself enough time to let it air dry before reaching for the curling iron. Same goes with the straightening iron. Less heat means softer, silkier strands.
- The 80 percent rule. Let sopping wet hair dry partway before pulling out the blow-dryer, and then use the hot air until hair is 80 to 90 percent dry. Let it air-dry the rest of the way to cut down on damage and frizz.
- The silicone dilemma. Pick up any bottle of smoothing serum or conditioner and you’ll likely notice one or more ingredients that ends in "cone." These silicone derivatives are known for their ability to create silky strands but do so at a cost.
They create a waxy coating around the hair shaft, which initially leaves the hair looking shiny and frizz-free, but over time these products begin to break down the hair shaft, leaving strands brittle and weakened.
What’s more, they’re difficult to remove from the hair, requiring clarifying shampoos that completely strip the hair’s natural oils. Limit the use of silicones in your hair products to avoid this problem. Instead, try a natural and silicone-free styling gel like Korres Bamboo Styling Cream for Curly Hair.
According to Marie Claire, applying these products before heat styling can do further damage, actually fusing to the hair and stripping moisture. As such, wait until after blow-drying before applying your favorite serum.
- Time for TLC. Most hair will benefit from periodic deep conditioning treatments such as a heavier conditioner or hair mask in lieu of your regular conditioner. Try Tricomin Deep Conditioning Treatment by ProCyte, which contains silk amino acids to leave hair shiny and soft.
- To brush or not to brush? Too much brushing can actually break or weaken the hair strands. Those with curly hair should avoid brushing in general. Not only is curly hair weaker than other hair types, but the brush will actually create frizz and ruin the natural curl pattern.
For everyone else, the best brush includes natural bristles, such as boar bristles, which distribute scalp oils throughout the hair strands and leave you with naturally shiny hair. And the cardinal rule: Don't ever brush wet hair. Use a wide-tooth comb (or your fingers) to detangle. And wait until hair is at least partially dry before using a brush.
- Nourish hair from the inside. According to Marie Claire, your diet is largely responsible for the health of your hair. If you notice that you’re losing hair or hair looks brittle, up your intake of omega-3 fatty acids and protein.
To take the guesswork out of choosing a supplement, pick one up specifically created for your hair, such as Elon Matrix 5000. It provides the body with Biotin, Silica and L-Cysteine for healthy growth and condition. Always remember to talk to your doctor first before trying any supplement.
- Shun the sun. It isn’t only your skin that suffers damage from too much sun. UV rays can cause hair to become weak and brittle, so cover up with a wide-brimmed hat if you're out all day. If you plan on lying poolside, use a protective spray like Oscar Blandi Capri Sun Shield Spray to protect your hair from both sun and chlorine.
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A: WebMD lists the following foods as the top 10 contributors to healthy hair: dark green veggies, beans, nuts, poultry, eggs, whole grains, oysters, salmon, carrots and low-fat dairy products.
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A: Because your hair requires a shampoo that keeps it soft and reduces static, look for glycerin and collagen, which hydrate hair, recommends Real Simple.
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A: Real Simple suggests using a deep conditioning hair mask two to three times a month. Also, immediately after coloring your hair, deep condition it but don’t shampoo for 24 hours.
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