Hair Care
Often
the first stage in helping hair loss can be in they way you
actually care for your hair, your daily regime should
include proper cleaning and care of your hair.
Shampooing
Clean shiny hair is seen as a sign of good health,
but this is not strictly true as hair is actually dead matter. It is
very much more likely a sign of someone who has looked after their hair
with proper care and attention to detail.
It is important to
choose a shampoo and conditioner that is right for you, hair gets
dirty when sebum, an oily substance secreted by the skins sebaceous
glands, coats the shaft. Dead skin cells and air bourne dirt stick
to the sebum.
It goes without saying that a well-balanced diet is
essential to healthy hair growth. Poor diet can be reflected in hair
quality to quite an amazing degree, dandruff, dry hair and even hair
loss can result.
Stress can also cause a problem in both hair loss and
dandruff. Both of which can be detrimental to a lovely shiny head of
hair.
The type of shampoo that you use is a purely personal
choice, the cosmetic companies that produce them have spent millions of
pounds on research over the years so you can usually be sure that the
shampoo will clean your hair.
Try to avoid using a shampoo that is very
mild, like a baby shampoo as this will make your hair very flyaway.
One
of the best shampoo types to use is a shampoo with a balanced P.H.
value. These shampoo's will return your hair to its natural P.H. level
and make manageability very easy.
Some of today's new line of shampoos have a special
ingredient advertised as a hair thickener as well as a shampoo that will
make your hair look thicker.
These shampoos actually coat each strand of
hair with a layer of protein each time you use it thus making the hair
appear thicker. These shampoos are really very good and can have quite a
beneficial effect on most people.
Check the label on the back of the
shampoo or conditioner to see what it contains. Proteins, keratin and
amino acids all bond to the hair shaft to fill-in the cracks caused by
poor treatment of the hair, these will strengthen and protect your hair.
However egg protein will not bond with your hair so is really just a
gimmick.
Moisturisers rehydrate your hair as they do your skin. Look out
for urea, lactic acid and lecithin. Balsam is a resin that stiffens hair
to add volume, which explains why conditioners containing it are the
best sellers.
Panthenol, vitamin B5, unlike most vitamins, does
penetrate hair and is essential for strength and healthy growth.
Protein shampoos
do not penetrate the hair but they cot it thus providing more bulk.
A protein shampoo acts similar to a shampoo and conditioner in
one.
Silk helps to make hair appear shiny by coating the
hair and reflecting the light. Jojoba is a richly moisturising oil so is
great for dry and damaged hair, but it's also very expensive and the
amount found in conditioners may be minimal. In fact probably just
enough to put it on the label.
You can see how many different
ingredients can be added to conditioners and shampoos to help take care
of the hair. You should try and find the one that suits your own hair
type and not just buy one because the manufacturers say it is the best,
everyone's hair is different.
Choosing the
correct shampoo and conditioner for your hair can be a matter of
trial and error.
You should avoid using the same shampoo all the time
as your hair will eventually build up a resistance to it and your hair
will suffer so about every ten washes you should use a different shampoo
to wash out all your old one.
The results will make rather a noticeable
difference to the shine of your hair.
Hair that is not washed at all and even in some cases
left unbrushed or uncombed will after about three months actually become
self cleaning.
Your hair will be shiny and bright without ever having to
wash it again. A strange but interesting fact, although you would have
to be quite brave to be able to walk about with unwashed hair for three
months.
Try to avoid the use of hair spray or mousse after
you have washed your hair as this will cause the hair to bond together
and thus make it very hard to cover any area that is slightly thinning.
 If possible, wash your hair leaning over a basin or
the bath, so that blood circulation is increased around your scalp and
hair roots.
Continue this by gently massaging your head with your
fingertips while shampooing, begin at the nape of the neck and use the
pads of your fingertips, keep your nails well clear and don't use your
entire hand.
Gently rotate your scalp (not your hair) with circular
movements, travelling towards the crown of your head. Do this in a slow
gentle fashion for a couple of minutes. Next exert a little more
pressure as you move towards your hairline.
At the same time use the
thumbs to move over your ears towards the temples. Take your time and
relax and enjoy your shampooing ritual, you will feel the benefit after
you have finished.
After shampooing rinse your hair well, then pat your
hair dry with a towel as opposed to rubbing it with the towel. If you
can get someone of the opposite sex to shampoo and massage your hair and
scalp for you then you will feel that it relaxes you even more.
Try to use a conditioner after every wash as it
smoothes down the tiny scales that cover each hair. This seals the inner
core of the hair against damage from the weather. Conditioners also help
to prevent static.
Rub the conditioner into the ends of the hair (not at
the roots or they may look greasy) and leave for a couple of minutes.
Rinse off and wrap hair in a warm towel to absorb the excess moisture.
Do not rub the hair dry with the towel just pat dry then brush hair into
required style.
A good brush and comb should be used to keep your
hair in good condition. A comb should have rounded teeth with no rough
edges.
Your brush should be made from a good natural bristle, these
bristles should be firm but flexible, with rounded ends to prevent
damage.
Every time you wash your hair, wash your brush and
comb, and make sure everyone in the household has their own brush and
comb.
Cleanliness is very important in looking after the condition of
your hair.
Your hairdresser should be a friend to you and not just someone who
cuts your hair. Find someone that understands your hair and your style
of haircut.
Tell them about your worries, they will be glad to give
advise to you about anything that is a problem for you.
If your
hairdresser does not give you proper advise change hairdressers, there
are lots of them about, and once you find the one for you stick with
them.
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