Hair Care

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On average, human hair grows about 6 inches every 12 months (1cm/month).[1] It's a myth that you need to cut your hair to stimulate growth (or keep it growing).[2] It just seems to grow faster when your hair is shorter because a 1 cm growth on short hair is much more dramatic than a 1 cm growth on longer hair.

Traction alopecia is a very real hair loss condition that may result from wearing tight ponytails, cornrows or buns over an extended period of time. Over time, hair breakage or loss as the result of tight, stressed styles, can become permanent. Securing your hair with a band that is not totally covered (without any metal showing), can damage your hair. An uncovered elastic (like a plain rubber band from your desk drawer) will snag in your hair, causing breakage and possibly even pulling hair out at the root when you try to remove the elastic. A covered band—secured loosely at the nape of your neck—will protect hair from harm.[3]

Plucking grey hair will not cause multiple grey hairs to grow in its place.[3] However, smoking may cause you to have more grey hairs.[2]

It is not necessary to shampoo your hair everyday, but doing so will not necessarily dry out your hair. Hair care depends on an individual’s hair type.[2] For example, dry hair might need shampooing every other day, while oily hair could use shampooing everyday. Your hair also does not develop an “immunity” over shampoos or conditioners over time.[2]

Contents

All Hair Types

  • Even though it seems to make your hair shinier, repeated brushing can cause your hair to break and your ends to split. Use it when you need to, just not too much.
  • The follicles in the scalp are the birthplace of every strand of hair on your head. And if they aren’t kept clean and healthy, they won’t produce full, strong, healthy hair. While there are many products on the market to cater to the health of your scalp, treating it well can be as simple as giving it a little extra massage every time you wash your hair to stimulate it. And be sure to rinse all product off your scalp before you leave the shower to ensure that there’s no residue left behind to clog hair follicles.

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  • You might see split ends if you look carefully at the ends of your hair. You'll see a single hair that has literally split into two at the bottom of the strand. Split ends can be caused by repeated blow-drying, heat-straightening, or excessive brushing. Once your ends are split, the only solution is to go to the salon to get them trimmed. But you can avoid split ends by brushing less, using less heat on your hair, regularly using conditioner, and protecting your hair from extremely hot or cold weather.

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  • If you are growing your hair out, make sure to get a trim about every two months: this will help with split ends.
  • When using hair shine spray, avoid coating hair from roots to the ends (although runway stylists do this). Instead, apply the shine spray to the bottom half of damp hair and then comb it through to prevent hair from becoming oily and lank.[5]
  • If you are going to tease your hair for volume, try at first teasing only your roots. Using a rattail comb on the length of the hair can cause knots. If you do want to tease your entire hair for volume, use a paddle brush.[6]

Dry Hair

Dry hair looks brittle and feels "crunchy" to the touch. There are many causes of dry hair, ranging from genetics to hair treatments. Inactive oil glands can cause dry hair. If you have dry hair as a result of dry skin, consider washing your hair fewer times each week (every two or three days). Also, pay attention to the type of shampoo and conditioner you use to make sure it replenishes your scalp with essential oils. Words to look for on hair care product labels are "hydrating" and "moisturizing." Be sure to take care with heat and chemicals, especially if you have dry hair. Although electric hair straighteners (flat irons) are popular, they do cause serious damage to hair. When used on high heat, hair dryers can damage hair, too. Decreasing your use of these hot devices (or at least using a less hot setting) will help to keep your hair healthier. Harsh chemicals in hair color, permanents, and relaxers can strip the hair of vital oils. Some hair dyes contain fewer harsh chemicals than others. Bleaches and peroxides are ingredients to watch out for. They can make your hair brittle and cause split ends. Finally, be extra careful in the summer sun. Sunshine and chlorine can both cause dry hair. The easiest solution is to wear a hat, or simply avoid getting too much sun (your skin will thank you, too). You can also protect your hair by wearing a swim cap when you go into the pool. Another option is to saturate your hair with conditioner before heading to the beach or pool. If you swim in a chlorinated pool, wash you hair in fresh water after swimming. If you swim frequently, consider using a shampoo designed to remove chlorine from hair. [4]

Oily Hair

"Oily hair" is really an "oily scalp." Wash your scalp and hair as needed, lathering twice if you need to. You might try leaving the shampoo on your head for at least five minutes before rinsing. And condition your hair on the ends only. An oily-hair "quick-fix" is to dab a bit of talcum powder to the roots of your hair. Stay away from any product that adds "shine" to the hair. It will only add more oil to your already saturated hair. [4]

Colored Hair

  • Ensure that your shampoo is specific for color treated hair. Also when washing, use warm water as opposed to hot water, which causes color to fade faster.
  • Apply conditioner to the ends and then spread to rest of the hair. Avoid the roots. The driest part of the hair begins at ear level and continues to the ends. Rinse after three minutes and do not expose hair directly under the water for the rest of the shower.
  • Once a week, coat hair from just below roots to the ends with a deep conditioning mask (on fine hair, apply from midshaft down). Leave it on for 10 minutes in the shower (the steam helps it penetrate) then rinse. Deep conditioning masks penetrate the hair and repairs damage, while conditioners only coat the cuticle.
  • Before using a blow dryer or hot iron, spritz damp hair with a heat-shielding spray and comb it through with a wide tooth comb, then style as usual. If you're going out in the sun, apply a UV-protecting spray or cream after your other styling products. Since UV sprays can weigh down fine hair, spray a few spritzes of the UV spray and lightweight wave-enhancing spray in your hands and then evenly distribute the mixture from roots to ends through damp hair. Repeat until your hair is coated.
  • Every three to four weeks, boost color and shine with a tinted at-home gaze in your current hair color. If your color still looks fresh but you just want to increase shine, tyr a clear glaze. After shampooing and conditioning, squeeze out excess water, then comb the formula through. Leave it on for about three minutes, then rinse.
  • Red and auburn tones fade the fastest. Try adding colored glaze once a week with these tones.

All references in this section (unless otherwise noted): [7]

Curly or Course Hair

  • Look for a shampoo and conditioner with silicone, and leave conditioner on for five minutes. (If hair is coarse, shampoo and deep-condition it only once a week).
  • For curly or wavy hair, rub a dime-size drop of anti-frizz cream between your hands and rake through soaking-wet hair. For coarse hair, mix a dab of smoothing cream with alcohol-free gel.
  • Once a week, apply a deep conditioner that contains keratin to just-shampooed hair. Leave it on for ten minutes. The conditioners seal the cuticle to keep out moisture (which helps prevent frizz), while the keratin strengthens hair to resist damage.

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Thinning Hair

Unless otherwise noted, all information from this section is referenced from: "Beauty 101: Thicker Hair". Allure. April 2009.[9]

Some hair thinning is temporary, such as the kind that occurs during pregnancy. When a woman reaches her 40s, hormones cause the diameter of each hair strand to shrink, while the number of active follicles starts to decrease. Always consult your doctor about your hair loss before beginning any kind of hair treatment regiment.

Thinning Hair Tips / Tips for Thicker Hair

  1. Wash hair with volumizing shampoo that contains protein. Follow with a lightweight conditioner labeled for fine or thin hair, and apply it just from the ears down. Once out of the shower gently blot your hair with a towel. Alternatively, try conditioning very fine or sparse hair before shampooing: you'll get just enough moisture without weighing hair down.
  2. Apply volumizer that has panthenol or resins throughout damp hair. Spritz on a heat-protecting spray, avoiding the roots, then gently untanglle the hair with a wide-tooth comb, starting at the ends and working your way up.
  3. If you have to blow-dry, remove your dryer's nozzle, then set the heat to medium. Flip your head upside down and blow-dry while running a vent brush through hair. When hair is almost dry, flip your head up and finish drying with a medium size round brush.
  4. Working in small sections, lift your hair off your scalp with your fingers as you aim the dryer, set on cool, at your roots: this roughs up the cuticle to build volume. Do this all around your head, then lightly smooth hair with a brush.
  5. Once a week, do a hot-oil treatment on damp hair (but do it before shampooing): it's lighter than a mask and won't weight down hair. Pick one with jojoba oil, which protects against breakage, and proteins, which fatten strands. Avoid applying to roots.
  • For haircuts, try styles with minimal layers (heavy ones can look flat), or try deep bangs.
  • To boost volume, set dry hair in Velcro, not hot rollers, for 10 minutes. Roll up, not under.
  • Revive limp hair with dry shampoo. Spray at your roots, then massage your scalp with your fingers.
  • When wearing a ponytail or bun, wrap the elastic around the hair no more than twice to avoid breakage.
  • Doctors advise 500 milligrams of niacin and at least 1,000 micrograms of biotin per day. Always consult your doctor before you begin any kind of hair treatment regimen.

Frizz-Free Hair

When the hair cuticle is damaged, which can occur from chemical processing, UV exposure, or excessive heat styling, it becomes porous, allowing water to enter the hair shaft and swell it open (frizzy hair).

  1. Washing - Choose a shampoo and conditioner for your hair type with smoothing ingredients such as silicones. Wash hair, then leave conditioner on for a full five minutes. Once out of the shower, blot, don't rub, hair with a towel.
  2. Prep - Rub a dime-sized drop of anti-frizz serum or cream between your hands; rake your fingers through the length of hair, concentrating on the outer layer. If hair is particularly damaged, spritz on a heat-protecting spray.
  3. Blow-Dry - If you are wearing your hair straight, blow-dry it using the dryer's nozzle attachment and a big round brush. The technique is up to you, as long as you aim the air down the hair shaft and keep at it until hair is completely dry.
  4. Or Diffuse Instead of Blow-Dry - If you are wearing your hair curly, dry from underneath, using a diffuser attachment on the blow-dryer; cup the ends of your hair with your hand and gently lift them up a few inches as you go to help keep curls intact.
  5. Seal - For straight hair, sptritz shine spray into one palm and rub your hands together, then smooth lightly over hair. Do the same for curly hair, using an anti-frizz styling cream; be sure to just skim palms over the surface to avoid flattening.
  6. Treat - Once a week, apply a deep-conditioning treatment with keratin to damp, just-shampooed hair. Leave it on for ten minutes. The conditioners seal the cuticle to keep out moisture, while the keratin strengthens it to resist damage.
  • Shampoo only once or twice a week, if possible; hair's natural oils smooth the cuticle and help prevent frizz.
  • Blot wet hair with a microfiber towel. It produces less friction on the cuticle than a terry towel does.
  • Detangle wet hair with a wide-tooth plastic comb rather than a brush: it's less likely to snag.
  • If air-drying your hair, apply an anti-frizz serum or styling cream throughout, then don't tough hair until it's fully dry.
  • Use hair spray sparingly; its alcohol can cause the cuticle to swell, leading to frizz.
  • To target fuzzy spots around your hairline, lightly mist shine spray on a small brush (a hair-dye brush or a large toothbrush is perfect for this) and skim it over the frizz.
  • Gather your hair in a loose bun instead of in a ponytail; wrapping the hair around itself helps keep it smooth.

All material from this section is from "Beauty 101: Frizz-Free Hair"[10]

Foods

  • Salmon – Salmon is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, a high-quality protein source, and also filled with vitamin B-12 and iron. "Essential omega-3 fatty acids are needed to support scalp health," says Andrea Giancoli, MPH, RD, a dietitian in Los Angeles and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. "A deficiency can result in a dry scalp and thus hair, giving it a dull look." Vegetarians can include one or two tablespoons of ground flaxseed in your daily diet for some plant-based omega-3 fats.
  • Dark Green Vegetables - Spinach, like broccoli and Swiss chard, is an excellent source of vitamins A and C, which your body needs to produce sebum. The oily substance, secreted by your hair follicles, is the body's natural hair conditioner. Dark green vegetables also provide iron and calcium.
  • Beans - Legumes like kidney beans and lentils should be an important part of your hair-care diet. Not only do they provide plentiful protein to promote hair growth, but ample iron, zinc, and biotin. While rare, biotin deficiencies can result in brittle hair. Blatner, who is also a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, recommends three or more cups of lentils or beans each week.
  • Nuts - Brazil nuts are one of nature's best sources of selenium, an important mineral for the health of your scalp. Walnuts contain alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid that may help condition your hair. They are also a terrific source of zinc, as are cashews, pecans, and almonds. A zinc deficiency can lead to hair shedding, so make sure nuts are a regular on your healthy hair menu.
  • Poultry - Chickens and turkeys may have feathers, but the high-quality protein they provide will help give you the healthy hair you crave. "Without adequate protein or with low-quality protein, one can experience weak brittle hair, while a profound protein deficiency can result in loss of hair color," Giancoli tells WebMD. Poultry also provides iron with a high degree of bioavailability, meaning your body can easily reap its benefits.
  • Eggs - However they're served up, eggs are one of the best protein sources you can find. They also contain biotin and vitamin B-12, which are important beauty nutrients.
  • Whole Grains - Sink your teeth into hearty whole grains, including whole-wheat bread and fortified whole-grain breakfast cereals, for a hair-healthy dose of zinc, iron, and B vitamins. A whole-grain snack can also be a great go-to food when your energy is zapped halfway through the afternoon, and you've still got hours to go before dinner.
  • Oysters - The key to their hair-boosting abilities is zinc -- a powerful antioxidant. In addition to getting it from whole grains and nuts, you can also get zinc from beef and lamb.
  • Low-Fat Dairy Products - Low-fat dairy products like skim milk and yogurt are great sources of calcium, an important mineral for hair growth. They also contain whey and casein, two high-quality protein sources.
  • Carrots - Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, which promotes a healthy scalp along with good vision.

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See Also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.pg.com/science/haircare/hair_twh_23.htm
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 http://www.hairboutique.com/tips/tip1135.htm
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-look/everyday-style/article.aspx?cp-documentid=8775223
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/hair-care-tips?page=2
  5. ↑ "Top 10 Things You Need for Spring." Allure. December 2008: page 176.
  6. ↑ "Top 10 Things You Need for Spring." Allure. December 2008: page 178.
  7. ↑ "Beauty 101: Protect Your Color", Allure. August 2008. Pages 74-76.
  8. ↑ "Master Class." Allure. October 2009. Page 76.
  9. ↑ "Beauty 101: Thicker Hair". Allure. April 2009. Pgs. 66-67
  10. ↑ "Beauty 101: Frizz-Free Hair". Allure. June 2009. Pgs. 58-59
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