Better Hair Care
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What's in a Follicle?
By Samantha Willows
Who doesn't feel better on a 'good hair day?
Those bad hair days... Sometimes they come right out of the blue - often just as
soon as you make up your mind to get a new cut or color because you can't do
anything else with it! Why is it so hard to get your hair to do what you want?
Sometimes our hair just seems to always be right
on someone else, never on our own heads.
They History of Hair - Yep, There Really is One
You'd think that the mysteries of maintaining beautiful hair would have been
discovered by now. However, many women can't seem to find a simple way to keep
their hair looking beautiful. It is as elusive today as it was to women hundreds
if not thousands of year ago.
Women seeking those golden locks or perfection by way of their hair is not new.
Did you know that the ancient Egyptians shaved their heads and wore elaborate,
heavy, braided wigs to achieve this look of what they felt was perfection. Can
you imagine time spent in just trying to maintain that sort of look?
Hours and hours of hair tugging, pulling,
stroking and combing, not to mention hours of twiddling your thumbs as someone
else did the chore for you.
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. Sort of reminds me of the
days when the Chinese would bind their feet all in the name of beauty.
Today, fashion is still the Queen of the castle and has great influence on a
woman's hairstyle. Yet that doesn't mean you have to subject your hair to
needless damage. Instead, have a look at some pretty good hair tips. You just
might prefer these things to torture.
What About Removing Grime and Dirt?
Hair is not a living part of your body. Although it does hurt when pulled or
yanked, it's your scalp screaming in pain, not your hair.
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, even with a lot of exotic ingredients it's made up of, performs a
simple job of removing excess oils, pollution and styling product build up from
the hair. So, hey, why spend all that money on the expensive stuff, when all you
want to do is get rid of the dirt and grime?
All of your hair needs gentle cleansing but it is
the top two or three inches that is most weighed down with natural oils and
dulling hair products. Concentrating the washing in that area will reduce the
amount of oils removed from longer areas of hair which can be over dried from
the stripping of oils and extended contact with shampoo.
Conditioning on the other hand should be used sparingly, if at all, on the top
inches of the hair while concentrated on the ends. Conditioning is an important
step to replace needed oils and provide protection from styling agents such as
blow dryers and irons.
Let's Talk Coloring and That Stinky Perm Thang
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.
Woo! The Styles - The Rock and Sometimes They Plummet Just Like a Rock
Your hair will look its most beautiful when you choose a style that requires the
least amount of heat and product damage. Protecting your hair with conditioners
is key, but choosing a style that suits the texture of your hair will eliminate
the need for more torturous styling tools.
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 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.
Just Cut The Dang Thang!
Your hair will look shinier and feel thicker when you remove dried and split
ends. Trimming the hair every 6 to 8 weeks will keep it looking its best. Of
course, if your hair doesn't grow that fast, you may want to make sure you tell
the person cutting your hair to be ever so careful not to cut too much off.
Taking these simple steps to maintain healthy hair, avoiding the hype on what
will really create a head of beautiful hair, will put you on track to more 'good
hair days' than you ever thought possible!
Article by Samatha Willows - Hair Care Specialist
- Choosing to follow her whims on hair styles, because she can.
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