Have you ever wished you had the time and money to take better care of your hair? Well, the good news is that you do. Hair care is a matter of learning what you need to do rather than spending a lot of money on expensive hair products. Read on.
If you plan on going swimming you should wet your hair before entering the pool. Most pool water has chlorine in it and it can cause damage to hair. Wetting the hair before going in will ensure that your hair soak up fresh water instead of the chlorine filled water in the pool.
People with curly hair should absolutely avoid using smoothing brushes and other brushes that have dense, fine bristles. You should use a wide-tooth comb for any combing. However, you should take care to use a heavy detangler before attempting to comb out knots and other tangles, as curly hair is susceptible to breakage.
Take care of your hair during the summer. Over exposure to sun and chlorine can seriously damage hair and result in split ends. Wear a hat in the sun, and a latex swim cap while in the pool. Also, wash your hair with a chlorine-removal shampoo in fresh water after swimming in a chlorinated pool.
It is not true that if you pluck out one gray hair, several will grow in its place. It is true, however, that you could damage the hair’s root, cause an infection or leave scarring if you pluck out gray hairs. Additionally, as can be seen in over-plucked eyebrows, when you pluck out hair, it does not always grow back.
Buy the correct shampoo and conditioner. Only buy the type of shampoo and conditioner that is suitable for your hair type. This isn’t necessarily the most expensive brand! Also, don’t wash it too often or you will strip the natural oils from your hair. A good rule of thumb is every other day for oily or normal hair, and twice weekly for dry hair.
Do not shower with extremely hot water. Only set the temperature to a nice warm water. This will help to keep the scalp from drying and becoming irritated. Once your scalp is unhealthy, your hair will quickly become unhealthy. If you get a hot shower, rinse your hair and scalp with cold water before getting out. This will reduce some of the damage done from the hot water.
Wet your hair before you jump in your pool. If you allow your hair to absorb fresh water before jumping in, it will not absorb as much of the damage causing chlorine. Your hair will not dry out as badly if you take this step each and every time you swim in chlorinated water.
If you insist upon blow drying your hair, you should do so with care. If you use a vented, wide-toothed brush and a low heat setting, you can minimize the damage you inflict on your tresses during styling. Ideally, you should keep the dryer about six inches from your head and moving at all times.
If you have long hair you should avoid sleeping it with in a pony tail or braid. This can cause your hair to become damaged and break off. You should either sleep with your hair loose or if you must sleep with it in a pony tail it should be a low and loose one.
In the summer, refrain from staying out in the sun too long. The sun can have very damaging effects on the surface of your scalp and can also cause your hair to dry and color. Try staying indoors, as much as possible, if you desire to maintain a quality hair care regimen.
Choose silk over cotton. Cotton pillowcases can be bad for long hair because it causes breaks and damage to your hair when it catches on the corners, etc. This happens if you toss and turn during the night. Try buying a silk pillowcase to minimize the amount of damage the pillowcase may do.
Although there is no permanent solution for split ends, products are available that can temporarily minimize the problem. These products work by “gluing” split ends back together. Always keep in mind that this is a temporary solution and using these products frequently will not cure split ends. It can even cause additional damage to the hair.
If you use a lot of styling products, add baking soda to your hair cleaning routine. Once a week mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda in with your shampoo. Wash your hair with this mixture and proceed with your routine as usual. This will help get all of the styling product build up out of your hair.
Let your hair dry naturally so you do not cause any frizz to your hair. Also, never towel dry hair. If you must use a towel, blot rather than rub in order to minimize frizz.
When it comes to hair products, it’s best to go natural. Chemicals aren’t always the ideal thing to put in your hair. Try using henna instead of hair dye, and try using home remedies in place of costly products. You’ll be surprised at how much healthier your hair will look.
Wet braids can give you that tussled, beach look that is so popular. If you braid your hair while wet, it is a safe way to get that wavy look to your hair. If you desire waves that last longer, try spraying wet hair with curling mousse prior to braiding it.
Avoid sun-lightening, hair-care products. Lemon’s juice or store-bought treatments for your hair, that allow the sun to “naturally” lighten through exposure, can severely damage your hair. Understand that severe means, you may have to consider a short cut for a while, and allow time for new healthy hair to grow back.
As you read in this article, hair care doesn’t have to cost a fortune or take a lot of time. If you study what you’ve just learned and take the tips to heart, there’s no reason you can’t take better care of your hair and look and feel great.