Hair Care Tips
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but it’s not when it comes to a bad hair day! Your hair may look fine to others, but only you know how you struggled with it before walking out the door. Dry or oily, curly or straight, full of dandruff or prematurely graying, here are some tips to keep your hair looking healthy and feeling manageable.
OILY HAIR is caused by a buildup of perspiration, oils and hair products.
- Use ‘clarifying’ shampoos and conditioners. Be certain to scrub your scalp and rinse your hair thoroughly.
- Use small amounts (only 1 teaspoon) of a ‘light’ conditioner and condition only every other day. Only apply conditioner to the ends of your hair, if possible.
- Avoid using too much styling product.
- Avoid eating overly greasy foods. Fats work their way into the body, producing excess oil in your skin and hair.
If oil creeps up on you during the day, sprinkle baby powder along the root line and comb through.
DRY, BRITTLE HAIR, if not cared for properly, leads to frizziness, split-ends, and breakage.
- Stop shampooing everyday! Most shampoos contain sulfates that strip hair of it’s natural oils. Try switching to a sulfate free shampoo.
- Always condition your hair. This can be done daily, even if you don’t shampoo. In addition, do hot oil or deep conditioning treatments weekly.
- Avoid using a hair dryer. If you must, use the coolest setting possible and apply a heat protection product first.
- Trim your hair every 6 weeks to remove dry, brittle ends and keep it healthy looking.
CURLY HAIR You already know it has a mind of it’s own. Did you know curly hair tends to be coarse and dry?
- Follow the tips above for dry, brittle hair. Use a ‘heavy’ conditioner and a ‘moisturizing’ shampoo. Avoid ‘clarifying’ shampoos.
- Apply styling gel and smoothing cream immediately after showering (1 part gel / 2 parts cream). This will coat the cuticle and lock in moisture.
- Only use a wide-toothed comb. Brushes encourage frizziness. Comb product through hair while wet and then leave it be (or finger comb it only) once dry. The more you play, the frizzier you’ll be.
- Air dry if possible, but if you must blow dry, use a diffuser.
- An anti-frizz styling serum, gently palmed over dry frizzy curls, will help keep your curls fresh looking.
STRAIGHT, LIMP, OR FINE HAIR could be either dry or oily. Follow the tips from above accordingly.
- Use ‘volumizing’ products. They will add much needed body.
- Cropped, mid-length, or longer razored end cuts will keep your hair looking full.
- Blow-dry your hair while it’s still damp. Air dried hair will always hang limp.
- Trim regularly (at least every 6 weeks). Split ends make hair look even thinner.
- Brushing from underneath creates volume.
DANDRUFF is caused from a scalp that is either too dry or too oily.
- Shampoo daily to reduce excess oil and skin buildup.
- Medicated shampoos are helpful, and can be purchased for dry, normal or oily hair. Massage into scalp and let sit for 5 minutes allowing medication to work.
PREMATURELY GRAYING HAIR is caused by stress. You are actually correct in blaming those grays on your nasty boss.
- Get enough sleep at night.
- Find ways to de-stress.
What worked on your hair last year may not work today. Did you know your hair’s texture changes approximately every 7 years? A change in seasons or hormones could effect it’s appearance as well. Your hair could become coarser, thinner, curlier or straighter. You may have to change the way you care for your hair over time.