Caring for your hair can be a hard thing to do, once you let it go. But you do not have to worry about your hair any longer. The tips in this article are here to help you figure out how to manage your hair for good and make it look great again.
Go ahead and forget the old adage about brushing your hair 100 strokes a day. Over brushing can actually lead to hair loss, breakage of strands and increased oil production. Normal brushing of your hair once or twice daily is sufficient to keep it healthy and free of tangles and build-up.
For those with curly hair, nix SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) from your hair care routine, for bouncy, care-free curls. SLS is a harsh stripping agent that robs your hair of essential oils. This creates the illusion of frizz and encourages breakage. You can spot this substance by checking the ingredients of your products.
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.
If you are looking to avoid breaking your delicate tresses, be sure to protect them when you sleep at night. Silk pillowcases are excellent for preserving hair integrity. Otherwise, you can take the time to either wrap your hair in a silk scarf, or loosely tie your hair into a low ponytail before bed.
Living a healthy lifestyle has everything to do with the healthiness of your hair. Eat a balanced diet, and make sure you get plenty of exercise. Excessive smoking, not getting enough sleep, and other unhealthy habits are detrimental to the health of your hair. Take good care of yourself, and your hair will follow suit.
Use a soft brush made out of animal hairs instead of plastic. Do not brush your hair when it is wet and always be gentle. You should start at the end of your hair and work your way up as you gently untangle all the knots. Make sure you take your time!
Many people believe that a new shampoo switch makes their hair look more healthy. Your hair doesn’t know the difference between any given product, nor does it build up a tolerance. If you have a shampoo that has worked for you over time, your hair does not build up a tolerance to it. If you use heavy waxes on your hair, a clarifying shampoo every few weeks can remove any built-up residue.
Use your heat-styling implements, such as curling irons or flattening irons, on the lowest effective heat setting. Heated metal can cause your hair serious damage, especially if you have curly or dry hair. Use conditioners to lock in moisture and add strength to your hair before using these types of styling tools.
Avoid clinging to one shampoo and conditioner brand. By switching your brands periodically your hair will become more responsive to the active ingredients in the products. The new brand may undo the buildup from the other brand and keep your hair and scalp looking good.
Avoid overusing styling products. Using too many lotions, creams, conditioners and the like can be just as destructive to the hair as using none. Hair-care products can build up over time, smothering your hair in a coating of oil and chemicals and irritating your scalp. Stick to a few reliable products and rotate them occasionally to keep them from building up.
Be gentle with the towel on your hair. You can actually damage your hair this way. Gently squeeze excess moisture from your hair instead. Then, use the towel to pat it dry. The towel you use should be soft as opposed to rough.
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.
If you value your hair color, wear a swimming cap before jumping into a chlorinated pool. Chlorine causes hard metals, present in all water in various concentrations, to oxidize, and that in turn can add a green tinge to any hair color. Applying a coat of conditioner before swimming can help, but most public pools frown on that practice. Stick to swimming in lakes and ponds to keep hair from looking like it belongs on a Martian.
Brushing your hair lots of times is not something you should do. Too much brushing can be bad for your hair, even though you might instinctively assume that the process is improving its appearance. Brushing hair pulls hair from the follicles causing it to get damaged.
Try this at home hair mask to improve the health of your hair. Start massaging some olive oil into the hair. Next, beat one egg yolk and massage it into your hair, beginning from the ends up. Leave that on for about 10 minutes, then shampoo like normal. Do this once per week for a month for best results.
Be gentle with hair that is wet. Hair that is wet is weakened because of the extra weight of the water pulling down on it. This means that wet hair is more prone to breaking. Instead of rubbing your hair with a towel to dry it, squeeze and pat instead. This will get the water out without creating the friction that rubbing does. You should also never brush wet hair, and only use a wide-toothed comb.
Hopefully, with all that you learned from this article, hair care isn’t a subject that you’re afraid of any longer. With all of the knowledge that you gained from this article, you should now feel confident with managing your hair properly. So chin up and make your hair look stunning for the world to envy.
